Chapter 1 Li Hao's Predicament

Li Hao explained the situation to Ma Long and the others, and cheers erupted back on Earth. Establishing an interstellar shipping company required more than just a pass; it involved countless details and would inevitably attract envious eyes and sabotage attempts. With the Dalivon family's assistance, however, it was a different story entirely. It was like going from a bicycle to a motorcycle, only now they were riding a rocket to the sky.

Romero's style was as swift as ever. Ignoring the Solar System Council's belated "inquiries," he suppressed a wave of resistance, directly sending the orcs to mine. After killing a few instigators, the previously arrogant orcs suddenly became docile, diligently working and even learning to curry favor with the human supervisors. After establishing a few new orc leaders, they suppressed their own kind even more ruthlessly than the humans.

It turned out that dealing with the Lartu orcs required beating them until they submitted. Once subdued, they were the best laborers.

The feared Lartu Empire's fleet, or intervention from other advanced civilizations, never materialized. Only Lartu diplomats lodged a severe protest with the Star River Alliance, demanding severe punishment for Kepler's violation of the Star River Pact. However, the evidence submitted by the humans was even more shocking, and their consistently poor reputation garnered no support. Furthermore, since humans had not yet established a Sanctum, their proposed Sanctum War was not authorized.

They had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill. The once-weak humans, after landing this heavy blow, earned considerable respect within the Star River Alliance. Recently, aliens visiting the stargate had become much more polite and began to follow human customs.

After this commotion, the Solar System Council also realized that sometimes you had to fight to earn respect. If you feared everything, you would gain nothing.

The proposal to establish a human "Sanctum" organization in Kepler was no longer rejected but placed on the agenda. The Solar System Civilization was not a small one and possessed immense potential for development. Establishing a Sanctum sooner or later would help establish the Star River Alliance's authority. Of course, being a newly established Sanctum would not lower the standards. However, it had to be admitted that establishing a Sanctum in Kepler had significant advantages in terms of gravity alone, which would at least mask some of humanity's shortcomings. In short, humanity needed a development period while quickly integrating into the core rules. Humanity's greatest advantage was its ability to learn.

Starting with imitation.

Kepler began publicly recruiting researchers and guards, which immediately attracted a large number of people. Many veterans and even some military academy cadets submitted applications. Working on scientific research in Kepler was also very attractive to many scientists, as it meant they could directly participate in Kepler's construction and development and have immediate access to alien technology. The Solar System was simply too far removed.

The council had objections. What were Kepler's intentions in attracting talent?

If you recruit them, I can prevent people from going there. But Romero was also straightforward: if you don't let people come, then no one comes. Everyone suffers. If the Solar System doesn't help Kepler, Kepler will go and rely on aliens, finding a strong backer would be easy.

The Solar System Council initially wanted to test the waters, starting with a pair of tens, but Romero countered with a royal flush. Then they played a pair of queens, and Romero countered with another royal flush. No matter what they played, Romero would break the pot and threaten to switch sides. Perhaps another person couldn't do this, but the insectoid, especially his decisive ruthlessness towards the Lartu orcs, was aiming for mutual destruction, and no one dared to take it lightly. Moreover, how much concern for humanity did Romero still have?

If Romero was forced into the arms of aliens, who would they complain to then?

So the council quickly caved and started talking seriously. The Human Heart faction within the council, which had always supported embracing Romero, seized the opportunity to stand up. Humanity always had more than two ideas; they never reached a consensus from the start. It was only after experiencing one event after another that they could determine the correct path.

Romero was steadfastly guarding a human heart; wouldn't it be foolish to force him away? Moreover, in the face of the Star River Era, racial prejudice was unacceptable. Instead, they had to unite all forces that could be united to defend the interests of humanity as a whole. 说壹2З

It seemed like just one event, but it had a significant impact on the power structure of the Solar System Council.

Kepler had already begun researching the Tianren Armed, without a doubt.

This was the most pressing matter. The council sent people over directly, including Kevin, Jeris, and others. They also pulled people from the former Apocalypse project at the Academy of Sciences. Some were delayed by the council, but now they all received clearance. It was also confirmed that Kepler would be an important human outpost in the future. Once the strategy was determined, they began to release goodwill. Of course, Romero welcomed them with open arms.

Li Hao's... days were not easy. He wanted to run. Why hadn't the Sanctum come to judge him yet?

As an instigator, he had committed heinous crimes. Shouldn't he be brought to the Sanctum for judgment?

"Ahem, Paulina, can we put down the knife and talk? You keep waving it around, don't hurt yourself." Li Hao was helpless. Whenever he was seen, he was dragged into the lab, which gave him a headache.

"Brother Li, don't you like this one? I have so many here. How about this one?" Paulina was finally living her dream. She pulled open her lab coat, revealing a row of various-sized tools like hammers and awls, all polished to a shine.

"Nana, how about I take your place? Brother Li, you've been researching for so long without any progress. Maybe you should give up." Romero finally offered help. At this, Paulina became a little discouraged. Her current abilities in biology were unique, and she wanted to research the ultimate human-based organism, but the ultimate organism was right in front of her, and she was helpless. It was frustrating.

"Ahem, Paulina, how about we go take a look at the research on the Tianren Armed? Change our thinking?" Li Hao quickly said.

Romero nodded vigorously, "Yes, I heard they've made some progress. Let's go take a look. There are many old friends there too."

Paulina pondered for a moment and thought it made sense to change her thinking. Li Hao and Romero quickly ran away, arriving at the research institute where Kevin and the others were located. The institute had hundreds of researchers, and the level of security was the highest. It was truly three layers deep. The Tianren Armed was a matter of absolute secrecy. Currently, the Tianren gave the feeling of being aloof and hadn't shown any malice, but what would happen if they knew that humans were already researching their core power?

The three arrived, and the numerous staff members were all busy. The defeated orc armed forces were concentrated here, but now everyone's attention was focused on the Tianren's sword, surrounded by dense drills and instruments in the center.

It was still a sword.

Kevin, Jeris, Eisen, Chen, and others were all core members of the project. No one paid attention to the three when they arrived. They were truly working day and night. When these people heard that they had obtained the core weapon of the Tianren, they were as excited as monsters. This was also a characteristic of humans.

"Ah, what are you doing here?" Kevin finally saw everyone, but he was clearly disgusted until he saw Li Hao, and then a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Kevin, how is it going? Is there anything we can help with?" Li Hao was grateful. Finally, someone was willing to pay attention to them. He would rather be here than stay with Paulina. That girl was not quite right in the head.

Kevin's eyes lit up when he saw Li Hao. "That's right, how did I not think of that? Second Brother, why don't you help me do an experiment?"

Li Hao felt nauseous as soon as he heard the word experiment. It was one thing to be tormented by Blee, but why did his own brothers also like to torment him so much?

"Can you find someone else? Romero, he's sturdy and can take a beating!" Li Hao quickly pointed to Romero.

"It's different. We analyzed human DNA and compared it to Tianren DNA chains, and they are very, very similar. They just have a few more unknown sequences." Jeris said, "Romero can't do it."

"Then what does that have to do with me? Paulina has been tormenting me for days. I've been tested for everything. I'm really a human, and I only have one heart, so don't dissect me." Li Hao felt a little creeped out by his brothers' gazes.

"We didn't suspect that you weren't human..." Kevin laughed, "Second Brother, don't be nervous. Jeris is just talking nonsense. We want to use your blood to see if we can activate the Tianren Armed. This thing you brought back is very strange. It's indeed a Tianwu, but it's not. It's completely different from the orc armed forces. Although we don't have any other Tianwu samples here, theoretically speaking, the orc weapons are just a low-end version of Tianwu, but this thing you brought back is too different.

It feels like it's not the same level of thing. It seems to have a certain consciousness, um, it should be a subconscious, it's very strange."

Everyone had been scratching their heads over the weapon Li Hao brought back for some time. It should contain a huge secret. After contacting the orc armed forces, Kevin and the others could fully understand the structure of the armed system: an energy core that matched the soul's waveband, combined with nanotechnology, which was a more advanced technology. Moreover, recent intelligence indicated that His Highness Arths already possessed the Tianren Armed. The message was that humans could use the Tianren Armed without any obstacles, but the one in front of them was very disobedient.

Kevin and the others were also worried that they were just making a fuss over nothing.

"Yes, I think it's missing some kind of ritual!" A group of researchers nodded in agreement, looking eagerly at Li Hao and the others.

"Blood sacrifice? Is it that backward?" Li Hao was a little anemic, "I'll just try once, don't torment me."

"Okay, okay, hurry, hurry!" Kevin pushed Li Hao all the way over. Li Hao had no choice under the watchful eyes of the crowd. He bit his finger and dripped a drop. Kevin couldn't bear to watch, pinched Li Hao's finger, and smeared it on the sword.

Truly... good brothers.