120: Tianjinzuo? That sounds familiar...

"Buzz!"

After a long voyage, Xi Hai and Kelaifu finally left the Void Channel and arrived at the empire's center — Aquila V01.01.

Along the way, while passing through a system called Aquila V77.198, Kelaifu changed his flagship to a larger, more impressive starship.

Due to protocol and safety considerations, Xi Hai's fleet was not allowed to enter the empire's core star sector, leaving only the storm as his flagship, while the rest stayed behind.

"Finally here."

Looking at the massive Node Space Station, Kelaifu sighed, then looked at the accompanying storm — because they had just exited void travel, the two fleets were very close.

In Kelaifu's eyes, that silver-white giant ship didn't look like a weapon at all; if you set aside the ferocious ion cannon on the bow and the two large torpedo launchers, it was more suitable as an artwork, a ceremonial ship.

On the way, he had confirmed through the star marker network the empire's policy toward Xi Hai — find a non-core star sector of the empire to enfeoff him, and while maintaining friendly relations, gradually acquire and fully understand his technology.

After all, according to Kelaifu's report, these guys he encountered were essentially different from lucky people who accidentally discovered relics of the old era — they were R&D personnel who mastered the technology, the kind you could "milk" for a long time.

In the current cesspool-like environment, finding a researcher with normal development ideas who could even produce finished products was truly rare.

Although the empire did not value scientific research, faced with things like the Warp Engine that could significantly boost the combat power of the Imperial Navy, the people above really wanted it.

Interrupting his thoughts, Kelaifu watched the approaching barge and dialed the communication of the storm.

"Mr. Xi Hai, we are about to proceed to the Imperial Council Hall to see His Majesty."

"You cannot bring Frigates, nor can you carry weapons."

"We will send a special flagship to the storm to pick you up. I hope you can cooperate."

Soon, a prompt reply came back — "Okay, received."

"We will follow your arrangements."

Xi Hai's attitude was naturally indifferent; after all, his entire group were Clones, none of them were the original body — oh, no, except for that guy whose original body was buried in the refrigerator mecha.

Hearing Xi Hai's reply, Kelaifu breathed a sigh of relief; his mission was about to be completed.

Having gone out once and achieved such a great merit, his position as the head of the military department should be secure, right?

"Mechanical arm docking complete, connecting corridor."

"You may disembark."

A mechanical notification sounded in the cabin. Xi Hai stood up and locked eyes with Kelaifu, who made a "please" gesture and walked out.

"Clack, clack, clack —"

The soles of his shoes hit the steel floor, making a crisp sound.

Xi Hai truly stepped onto the heart of the empire — the Thousand Faces Peak Space City.

This magnificent megastructure consisted of a main body and nine sub-entities surrounding it, echoing the lucky number "9" in the Imperial Religion.

It was renovated from architecture of the fourth era.

"Greetings, respected sir. By His Majesty's decree, I will now lead you to the Imperial Council Hall."

Just as Xi Hai was observing other parts of this megastructure through the window, a person wearing a large blue robe, holding a long pole with a blue double-headed eagle carved on the top, walked over.

Nodding, Xi Hai followed.

The corridor here was very retro; the bronze-colored walls were covered with divine patterns — patterns resembling eyes, patterns resembling scarabs, and some fine lines with unclear meanings.

The leading Follower walked steadily in front, muttering prayers from time to time. During this, he also tried to promote their deity to Xi Hai — the lord of ten thousand changes, Blubulder.

That charlatan said the lord of ten thousand changes loved change, presided over wisdom, loved ingenuity, and everything happening in the universe was under His control, and everything happening in the universe was in His plan.

Xi Hai just listened, getting more and more confused, until the night lamp woke him up. Only then did he realize he had been hypnotized.

Listening to the still-preaching Follower, Xi Hai quickly covered his ears with something and quickened his pace — he had a bad premonition.

It wasn't that he was afraid of being hypnotized again, but that if these Followers kept praying like this, a certain Great Blue Bird from a cesspool universe would sooner or later be attracted, and then turn this place into a big cesspool too.

Fortunately, the road was not long. Soon, they reached the entrance of the Imperial Council Hall.

Two Followers pushed open the iron-cast gate.

Instantly, a golden light spilled out, falling onto the dim corridor, as if it were holy light from heaven.

"Name, Xi Hai, no surname."

"Any questions?"

A majestic voice came. Xi Hai looked forward; the huge tiered conference room was empty. A somewhat old-looking man sat on the main seat.

Beside him stood a dozen guys in formal attire, all looking like high-ranking officials of the empire.

"We have mostly understood your situation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted an agreement."

"You should take a look yourself."

As soon as the words fell, a Follower who didn't know where he came from held up a heavy document and walked to Xi Hai.

It was a contract, and the content could be called generous.

Basically, it divided a whole area of Tianjin Seat V89 to him as a fief.

Inside, there were over five hundred star systems, more than four hundred of which had or were modified to have habitable planets.

It also gave him a Grand Duke title, and a nominal title of Governor of the Tianjin Seat V89 Cluster.

The price was to provide Warship technology and finished products to the empire, while consolidating the empire's border defense, and also to prevent the outflow of products and technology.

This was very simple, so simple that Xi Hai's first reaction was that this was cheating him.

Also, Tianjin Seat, why was it a bit familiar?

He always felt he had heard of this place somewhere. Let the night lamp compare it first.

Emperor Vladimir Laklei just watched Xi Hai, who was reading the treaty seriously, quietly from the stage.

Honestly, after seeing the documents Kelaifu sent back, he immediately realized how valuable that thing called the Warp Engine was.

An irrelevant border star sector, a few titles he could give just by opening his mouth, could be exchanged for such a technology that would subvert the war situation — it was simply a huge profit.

Moreover, the guy in front of him seemed to be able to continuously produce new technology.

The empire was not stupid enough to cut open a fish's belly to get a lump of fish roe; it preferred to slowly nibble away until the fish had no value left before swallowing it in one bite.

Thus, both sides just waited quietly.

The council hall fell into an eerie silence, and the scent of incense gradually rose in the air, attempting to slowly cover the foul smell of conspiracy and schemes.