513: Chapter 513 Each Gets What They Need

The inspection team's reports arrived at the hubs of the Company and the Eastern Federation respectively.

The contents of the reports caused a stir on both sides—small in scale but high in level.

On the Eastern Federation's side, an emergency cross-departmental joint meeting was convened.

Heads of key departments such as Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Strategy, Science, and Military gathered together; those truly unable to return appeared in their seats as holographic projections.

The report was projected in the center of the conference hall. The conclusions regarding historical reservation zones, the social control System combining theology and technology, and atomization and nihilism left the power-holders in attendance silent for a long time.

"The situation is more complex and darker than we anticipated," the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke first, his tone grave.

"Though I don't want to say this, however—" a middle-aged man with general's stars on his shoulders tapped the table with his finger, "this report still illustrates a basic fact. That is, the Shankong Civilization is the only interstellar civilization we have encountered within reachable range so far that has climbed to a considerable height on the technology tree, has a relatively stable social form, and possesses the possibility of basic communication with us."

"Though it is spine-chillingly stable, it is better than having no stability at all."

The conference room fell silent for a moment.

He was telling the truth.

Since being dragged—almost by force, along with their planet—into the interstellar age by that mysterious Company over a hundred and fifty years ago, the Eastern Federation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had long been in an awkward position of having strength but nowhere to use it.

Dealing with other political entities on their home planet, Blue Star, who were still playing house with their diplomacy? It felt like a doctoral supervisor teaching kindergarteners calculus.

Not only was it exhausting, but more importantly, it was meaningless. The other party couldn't understand your way of thinking; many of your concepts and demands seemed like gibberish to them.

They were clearly the same species with the same genes, yet the chasm between them was deeper than the Mariana Trench.

As for those civilizations and nations that couldn't even light a fusion furnace and were still huffing and puffing to send things into low Earth orbit with chemical rockets?

That was purely like playing a lute to a cow. Not to mention most of them didn't even have the ability to launch rockets when they were discovered.

As for engaging in formal diplomacy with the Company? The mere mention of it gave the big shots at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a headache.

Although it sounded strange, to the Eastern Federation, the other party was a mysterious master and "Sect Elder."

Essentially, the Company was a commercial entity. Exchanging ambassadors and establishing formal diplomatic relations with a company, or signing some memorandum of peaceful coexistence? It just felt a bit weird.

After so many years of adjustment, many diplomatic rules and etiquettes were inapplicable. Moreover, the Eastern Federation found that the most effective department for dealing with the Company was actually the Ministry of Commerce.

Discussing contracts, deals, technology transfers, and market access—that was what you'd call professional alignment and smooth sailing.

Therefore, the appearance of the Shankong Civilization was like a long-awaited rain after a drought for the Eastern Federation's diplomatic System.

An independent, sovereign civilization; one with a high level of technology, especially with stunning achievements in the Biotechnica Domain; an alien civilization with a complete social structure capable of effective communication—and there were several of them at once!

Not to mention they were tens of thousands of light-years away from the Eastern Federation's core sphere of influence, so there was absolutely no risk of geopolitical conflict in the foreseeable future.

It was simply a perfect diplomatic target and potential partner.

"Their social problems are their internal affairs," the representative from the Ministry of Internal Affairs spoke, rational and pragmatic. "Based on the norms of international relations and our principle of non-interference in internal affairs, we have no right and no need to point fingers at their internal governance model."

"As long as they do not export that model or threaten our country's security and interests, establishing normal, mutually beneficial diplomatic and economic relations is entirely feasible—even necessary."

"I believe Elder Zhao understands what I mean."

"Indeed," the representative of the Academy of Sciences, a gray-haired but sharp-eyed old academician, nodded excitedly. "Their achievements in the Biotechnica Domain are truly extraordinary."

"The report mentioned that the average lifespan of the Shankong people is close to their race's theoretical upper limit. This implies they must have unique understandings and technological paths in gene regulation, cell repair, anti-aging, and even directed biological evolution—some of which we may not yet have mastered."

Having said this, he adjusted his glasses, a complex expression appearing on his face. "As everyone knows, our Eastern Federation's Enhancement Serum technology was a gift from the Company. For over a hundred years, we have conducted the most thorough reverse engineering."

"Although the Company provided all technical information at the time, and we can now produce and apply it, there are still some core principles we haven't fully grasped."

"The Company is generous enough, never asking questions or demanding returns. But this matter has always been a sore point for our Academy of Sciences' biological Domain and a knot in everyone's hearts."

"If we can gain their unique insights and techniques in Biotechnica through exchange with the Shankong Civilization—even limited technical exchange, even just a portion—it would be a massive help in filling our own gaps and achieving technological autonomy."

"This can even be seen as a beneficial choice for strategic security."

This reasoning convinced most of those present.

Technological shortcomings, especially technical dependence in core areas like racial enhancement and life sciences, had always been a sword hanging over the Eastern Federation's head.

The temptation to have the chance to acquire complementary technologies from another independently developed civilization was irresistible.

"The Shankong people have shown great interest in our space technology, especially in engines, ecological cycles, and the construction of large space structures," the Minister of Foreign Affairs added. "We can propose that both sides exchange international students and visiting scholars to engage in deep exchange and cooperation in designated fields."

"We can learn the essence of their Biotechnica, and they can acquire our space technology foundations. Each takes what they need, for mutual benefit and win-win results."

"As for their social structure issues, we can include them in our risk assessment models as long-term observation items. But for now, they do not constitute an obstacle to establishing relations."

"I suggest that the inspection team strictly adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs in subsequent contacts, focusing primarily on technical and economic exchanges."

"Although I reckon the probability of us outcompeting the Company in the market is near zero, the Company has never been one to keep everything for itself; there are always some benefits to be had."

Afterward, those present discussed some details, then held a show of hands, and the resolution was passed.

The Eastern Federation's high-level leadership instructed Lin Qingyuan to actively promote the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with the Shankong Civilization under the premise of adhering to basic principles, and to finalize the first batch of cooperation frameworks, including the exchange student program, as soon as possible.

As for the less pleasant parts within the Shankong Civilization, just understand, respect, don't judge, and don't participate as much as possible—just keep it in mind.

Of course, secret observation and risk assessment are indispensable.