"So you've been waiting for me for a long time."

Li Qing's fingertips gently tapped on the table; with each tap, it seemed to resonate deeply in their hearts.

"Yes!"

The bearded Gu Shi, neither humble nor arrogant, bent over and said, "Thank you for coming!"

Li Qing glanced at the people in the conference room, each one vigilant, as if on pins and needles. He suddenly felt a bit emotional, eyes reflecting memories.

Reflecting deeply, the current situation and the era of Atabia, the first contact and exchange with the Atabians, seemed not so different.

The first exchange will decide the stance of the two civilizations in the future.

But in that era, he was outside the glass, unable to extend goodwill to the Atabians in the room, only malice, leading to that war, the Great Flood, ultraviolet rays.

Because at that time, he did not have the right to extend goodwill.

At that time, it was a scenario of life and death.

At that time, he had the original sin.

Weakness was the original sin.

But now, it is different.

With depth, with enough strength and deterrence, the one holding the initiative this time will be himself!

"The current situation is of big countries bullying small countries, even signing one unequal treaty after another."

"Even if they don't know my true identity, as a superior civilization shepherding them, they can only compromise... how to handle, how to deal with this emerging millennial budding civilization, is in my hands."

Li Qing's thoughts were continuously being sorted out.

Throughout human history, weak nations are bound to suffer!

Even sending beauties, sending sons as hostages, sending princesses for marriage... if he wants them to sign unequally, as long as it's not too excessive, it should be possible.

"Wait, why do I feel the more I think, the more rotten I sound? More like a villain?" Li Qing touched his nose, "Like a street thug and bully."

Li Qing certainly didn't think of himself as a villain.

Because he would also provide some civilizations with benefits and sponsorships.

Some obsolete "technology," letting them develop technology and become a qualified client.

He began to organize his thoughts one by one, since, after all, his identity was that of a superior civilization, naturally needing to focus on this point, acting with this identity.

"What do you think should be done?" At this moment, Li Qing spoke.

The people of the Black Star Empire in front of him hesitated for a moment, exchanged glances, and then the bearded one stood up:

"We hope to be given enough freedom, and, the right for advanced talents to acquire citizenship of your Empire! Enter the Upper World!"

"A very reasonable request." Li Qing nodded.

The bearded one breathed a sigh of relief.

Their think tank had deduced various routes and plans, naturally also preparing various corresponding terms.

At the same time, this was something beneficial to both parties.

If the civilization being shepherded below doesn't resist, it's very easy for the civilization above.

And the advanced talent of the civilization below can enter the entire Upper World, gain citizenship and identity, extend life, and also help shepherd the lower civilization.

"I accept this point, five percent of your Empire's top talents can enter the Upper City District."

Li Qing directly replied, smiling, "I have only two requirements, first, talent transfer, a large number of Empire talents, need to attend the academies of the Upper World, including your children, descendants."

"Second, territorial expansion, every hundred years, you must collect and gather thirty Space Fragment continents."

Li Qing proposed two conditions that were somewhat hard to accept.

The first one is clearly to hold their families as leverage, continuously transferring talents of his civilization for indoctrination.

The second one treats them as slaves, with huge work quotas, crazy reclamation, mining labor.

These two conditions, in reality, attack not just their actions but their psyche.

Smart geniuses are sent to enrich the intellect.

Common people are sent to mine in Space Fragments.

Li Qing indifferently tapped his fingers, scanning around, "If you accept, everyone present can join the superior civilization and become a small management tier, but must be branded with the Empire's mark."

The crowd looked at each other.

They certainly anticipated various treaties.

And this one seemed difficult to accept, but in fact, these high-ranking individuals were the beneficiaries.

Having entered the Upper World, enjoying privileges, yet still ruling the subjects below, merely sending the lower class people to mine.

It's very simple.

Military conscription system, all citizens have the duty to serve, a 100-year service system, sent to the frontier to explore, and gather Space Fragments.

The larger the Star Domain continent, the better, after all.

The bearded one asked, "What is the brand?"

"It's the citizenship status."

Li Qing would certainly not say it was to trick them into becoming his subordinates, putting a dog chain on them, seriously said, "Just a simple identity marking, which won't affect your personal freedom."

The bearded one had no doubts about this citizenship status, only thoughtfully considering those two conditions.

"Please allow us to discuss." The bearded one stood up.

"Of course." Li Qing replied.

Several of the members present also walked out.

Li Qing sat quietly in place, waiting for their feedback.

"It's actually simpler than I imagined — threats and inducements..." Li Qing thought about the negotiation that just happened.

They thought those two conditions were the main show, a super exploitation, little did they know...

The real target was that seemingly insignificant attached condition: inclusion of citizenship.

They even thought it was a benefit, a symbol of identity.

Indeed, careful planning surpasses unpreparedness, secretly scheming, they had no idea it was a leash clause, and they willingly put it on themselves.

"This is all about information asymmetry."

Li Qing smiled.

Back in the days of Herodotus and Minis, when they surrendered to the Light Ancient God and accepted the baptism, they thought it was a gift.

But what happened?

Who could foresee this!

Though it feels a bit cheap, very unseemly.

But still quite appealing.

...

In another meeting room.

A massive Subspace Interference Device was activated.

"This is our most advanced anti-eavesdropping equipment, it shouldn't be probed, it shouldn't..." An official spoke.

"What do you think?" asked the bearded man.

"Bastard!"

At that moment, an official stood up, cursing, "You guys, how is this different from selling out our entire Empire?? Betraying your own people to exchange for joining the enemy's citizenship and even help them!"

"This is just a colonial district!!" Another official, with clear eyes and a resolute demeanor, slammed the table angrily, "Mining! Collecting and piecing together space fragments, with such a huge task volume."

The bearded man laughed, "What do you warmongers want to do? If a real fight starts, do we have a chance of winning?"

An official cursed angrily, "We don't have a chance! That space barrier move just now, with a flick of a finger, is clearly beyond our Civilization's understanding, it must be a planted mechanical weapon!... According to analysis, it might be above nanomachines, the molecular machine technology we've always dreamed of; finger-sized, it can fit three hundred large space colliders."

"But we can preserve our dignity, our nation's elite and those from the lower city district escape alike, build a space ship, navigate outward, sail through the space fragment ocean, this is the fire of hope! Returning in the future, to overthrow them!"

"Ridiculous."

The bearded man sneered, glancing at the indignant crowd:

"Joining the Upper City Civilization's citizenship is the best choice, what is this so-called dignity? Can it be eaten? Moreover, as long as the civilization in the Lower City District is brilliant enough in the future, they will join the Upper City District, it's a transcendent path, not necessarily war."

"Moreover, even if we overthrow them, what will we do?"

The bearded man sneered, "We will be just like them, grazing a new Lower City District, grazing civilization is inevitable, what difference does it make now?"

"So, since the ultimate goal is the same, why not reach the end easily and painlessly now, join in grazing the Lower City District?"

Clearly, the entire leadership is not united.

There are traitors and warmongers.

Currently, the traitors have the upper hand, starting to let the enemy in...

"Ha? It's cheap for me after all."

Li Qing next door exclaimed "Goodness."

This analysis is spot on.

Moreover, Li Qing listened further, seeing that the big-eyed, upright-looking bearded man was actually a master of sycophancy.

He had already begun studying how to send beauties, how to send treasures to curry favor.

Simply a marvel.

Too skillful, even prepared to send some interstellar celebrities, although they are naturally ugly beauties, what is happening...

Li Qing leisurely tossed comments.

To be honest, Li Qing has always hated those who betray their country, lacking morality and conviction, selling out the people.

But there are exceptions.

Unless the traitor sells the country to himself.

Bang bang!

At this moment, explosive sounds suddenly came from next door.

Soon, Li Qing saw the bearded ancient temple leader bringing back the officials, but their numbers had decreased by a third.

"Your suggestion, our Empire has accepted!" The big bearded ancient temple leader smiled, "I have also communicated with other kings and reported to the majesty."

"Good." Li Qing nodded, "It's worth mentioning, do you know what the world outside is like?"

The big bearded ancient temple leader said, "It seems to be a planet-like existence, a void? Some stars emitting light? Various celestial bodies?"

"No."

Li Qing shook his head, "You received incorrect information, the outside world is not as you imagine."

The big bearded ancient temple leader's eyes showed suspicion!

He received information that this place called a livestock farm is supposedly a grazing field of an Upper World Civilization, like a farmer raising pigs.

Their knowledge of the outside world is sparse, could it be, there is a real error?

Li Qing seriously said, "Forget it, forget it, let me take you out once, to the Upper World, then you'll know the rules and structure of the Cosmos."

He reached out, and suddenly a crack appeared in the sky, exuding an overwhelming aura, with a twisted sensation inside, as if it existed in the Otherworld.

"Let me show you the truth of this world."

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