158: That's hard to say.

Thinking about it carefully, the preparation period is the perfect opportunity for rapid troop expansion, and no one would suspect it.

He Ming: "I did get some inside information. I heard we're going to war with the Glorious Empire in a year."

Wan Xingying: "So, are we still discussing the business deal?"

He Ming: "Yes, name your price."

"One thousand tons of grain for one ton of Star Marrow Ore, one hundred million people for ten tons, one hundred trillion for one hundred tons."

He Ming chuckled after hearing the price: "Your price is quite steep."

"Take it or leave it. Star Marrow Ore is in high demand right now. Producing a bit more means building a few more Star Destroyers."

"I can trade with you using Tier 1-10 genetic agents."

Hearing this, Wan Xingying leaned forward slightly, her expression becoming more serious.

"How much do you have?"

"How much do you want?"

"Ten billion sets of agents for each tier, can you produce that?"

"[With the resources I currently control, if I fully produce Tier 1-10 genetic agents, what will the total output be?]"

"[Tier 1-10: 3.5 billion sets]"

"I can produce that. How much Star Marrow Ore can you give me?"

Wan Xingying: "If you can really produce that, I'll give you the entire mine."

He Ming shook his head: "Impossible. Even if I mine at full capacity, I can't dig out too much in a year. I need to trade with existing stock."

Wan Xingying cupped her chin, furrowing her brows in thought.

If she had ten billion sets of Tier 1-10 genetic agents, she could raise an army of ten billion genetic warriors, with a total combat strength equivalent to ten billion pseudo-planetary level fighters.

The reason they are called pseudo-planetary level is that their physical strength merely meets the standard, but they are internally hollow, unable to exert the true combat power of a planetary level.

Genetic warriors are products that realize potential prematurely, with damaged foundations. At most, they can reach Tier 20, and their true combat power might not even be as good as a single planetary-level fighter, making them disposable consumables.

But as long as the numbers are there, it's still an extremely formidable fighting force.

"I don't have much in stock, only about twenty million tons."

This time, it was He Ming who fell into contemplation.

"[Can twenty million tons of Star Marrow Ore build a Titan-class battleship?]"

"[No]"

"[How much is needed?]"

"[100,000 tons]"

He Ming immediately abandoned the idea of building a Titan battleship.

"[Can twenty million tons of Star Marrow Ore build a space-class shuttle?]"

"[Yes]"

"[Specifically, how many tons are needed?]"

"[1,600 tons]"

He Ming leaned back, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

As long as space-class shuttles could be built, instantaneous troop deployment within 100 light-years would be possible, and it would also be extremely convenient for transport.

Even the Star Empire only possessed three such high-level battleships; they were national treasure-level strategic equipment.

"[Based on the current situation, who benefits more from this transaction?]"

"[Wan Xingying]"

"[How much more does she benefit?]"

"[39.98%]"

He Ming had a rough idea in his mind, thinking, "Indeed, knowledge is the primary productive force..."

The preciousness of Tier 1-10 genetic agents lay in their synthesis cost and difficulty. Even the Star Empire's most advanced laboratories would definitely not exceed an output of ten thousand sets a day.

But He Ming was different. He possessed the most optimal, cost-saving synthesis formula, coupled with jarvis's error-free mass production, making his production efficiency hundreds of times higher than the Star Empire's.

He Ming: "Add another condition."

Wan Xingying raised an eyebrow slightly; she hadn't expected He Ming to agree.

"What condition?"

"You have to marry me."

Wan Xingying scoffed: "Impossible."

He Ming: "Why?"

Wan Xingying: "How could I possibly marry you?"

He Ming was choked by this statement but couldn't refute it, as the Wang Chao persona truly was a scoundrel.

He Ming leaned on the armrest of the chair and said calmly: "People change."

Wan Xingying: "But it will definitely not be you."

He Ming: "There's always a 'what if'. You can tell me your requirements for a spouse; maybe I'll suddenly meet them in the future."

Wan Xingying: "If you want to marry me, reach the Star Lord level first."

He Ming was speechless for a moment.

As long as he could increase the luck of the imperial seal of china, reaching the Domain Lord level within seven years was not a problem.

But reaching the Star Lord level would require at least ten times that amount of time.

In seventy years, Wan Xingying would have already lost her utility.

He Ming: "Then let's just have the title of a political marriage."

Wan Xingying: "Are you serious?"

He Ming: "Serious. If you agree, I'll start sending you genetic agents next month, one hundred million sets a month."

Wan Xingying agreed almost without hesitation: "Okay, but this title must have a time limit."

"Seven years."

Wan Xingying thought for a moment, then immediately nodded in agreement.

He Ming raised his hand and said calmly: "Draft an electronic contract and get it certified by the Star Empire."

Soon, a contract confirmation message arrived on Wan Xingying's terminal.

She opened it and saw that the contract terms were fine.

She also checked the Star Empire's certification code, which was also fine.

The two quickly completed the online contract signing.

He Ming: "Since the contract is signed, in front of outsiders, you are my fiancée."

Wan Xingying snorted lightly: "I suppose so."

"But don't overthink it. I won't marry you, unless the Star Empire is destroyed."

"Well, you never know."

He Ming checked the time; it was still early.

"How about we go down and play another round?"

Wan Xingying: "No interest."

"Are you not interested in money either?"

"I just won ten billion, plus two billion slaves and a Star Marrow Ore mine at the casino."

Wan Xingying raised an eyebrow slightly, seeing that He Ming didn't seem to be joking, and then suddenly recalled the commotion from the casino earlier; it seemed there was such a thing.

Wan Xingying: "Did you cheat?"

He Ming: "I was just lucky."

"Shui Meng, let's go."

Shui Meng trotted to He Ming's side, as obedient as a child.

Watching He Ming leave the room with Shui Meng, Wan Xingying chuckled. She was indeed curious, so she followed them out.

The three returned to the casino.

Compared to before, the venue had significantly more people.

He Ming looked down at Shui Meng and asked: "What do you want to play?"

Shui Meng was startled and instinctively replied: "The card drawing game from before, I guess."

Because she had only played at two card tables, and among them, she still hadn't figured out the rules for 50 points... Although the card drawing game was simple, many people played it because winning relied solely on luck.

The vast majority were people who were not confident in their card skills but firmly believed their luck was better than others, and there were many who, like Wan Xingying, treated the gathering as a task.

He Ming found a card table with only three people and sat down. Wan Xingying didn't sit but stood behind He Ming, watching.

After one round, He Ming pushed Shui Meng to the front.

"You go."

Shui Meng watched a round of card drawing. The rules were simple: whoever had the higher score won.

"I'll try a hand first."