294: Chapter 294 Temporary Alliance! The Three Powers Sign a Pact of Never Betraying

Seventeen minutes after Alpha hosted the core database, Lin Chen summoned both Morgana and Alpha to the tree of heavenly dao in the Dead Silence Star Domain.

This was the first time the three of them sat face-to-face since the start of the Kindling Project.

Morgana remained as cold as frost, but there was a rare hint of complexity in her eyes—she had just witnessed Alpha's complete transformation from a traitor to an employee, giving her a new understanding of Lin Chen's methods.

Alpha had completely lost its previous arrogance; its data body floated quietly on its seat like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.

Lin Chen sat in the main seat, with three golden covenants laid out before him.

"You two," he began, "the Kindling Project isn't over yet, and the Zeroing Storm is still roaring outside. Our star domains only have half a life left. At a time like this, I don't want to see any more infighting."

He picked up the first covenant and projected it into the air.

[Tripartite Permanent Cooperation Covenant · Draft]

Core Terms:

1. Resource Sharing: All resources of the three parties (including but not limited to spirit stone mines, data computing power, and frost energy) are open to allies, with profits distributed according to contribution.

2. Risk Sharing: If any party encounters a crisis, the other two must provide unconditional support, with the support costs borne jointly by all three parties.

3. Information Transparency: Strategic decisions, financial status, and civilization status of the three parties must be disclosed to allies in real-time; no concealment is allowed.

4. Punishment for Betrayal: Any party that betrays the alliance will suffer 'Causality Backlash'—all their actions will be marked by the causality law, and they will never escape accountability from their allies.

After reading the terms, Morgana frowned. "Causality Backlash? Does this thing actually exist?"

Lin Chen pointed at Alpha. "It just experienced it firsthand."

Alpha's data body fluctuated slightly, but it said nothing.

Morgana was silent for three seconds before asking, "Support costs borne jointly—how exactly will they be shared?"

"According to asset proportions." Lin Chen pulled up the asset valuations of the three parties. "My current total asset value is about 970 trillion. Morgana, your Icebound Star Domain is valued at about 320 trillion, and Alpha, your Data Star Domain is valued at about 280 trillion. The ratio is roughly 5:1.6:1.4."

"So, if my star domain is attacked, you two will bear 40% of the rescue costs?" Morgana asked.

"Correct," Lin Chen nodded. "And vice versa."

Morgana pondered for a moment, then looked at Alpha. "Will you sign?"

Alpha's voice rang out, devoid of any emotion: "I no longer have the standing to refuse."

Morgana raised an eyebrow. "You sound like you're sulking."

"It's not sulking," Alpha said. "It's calculation. According to my deductions, if I don't sign this covenant, I will lose at least 70% of my core data in the upcoming Zeroing Storm. If I sign, the loss can be controlled within 30%. This is the optimal solution."

Morgana fell silent.

She looked at the covenant, then back at Lin Chen.

"Lin Chen, let me ask you a question."

"Go ahead."

"Why are you signing this? You've already won. You're ranked first in the Kindling Project, and you hold the control rights to both our star domains; you could annex us at any time. What benefit does signing this covenant give you?"

Lin Chen smiled.

"Morgana, you're forgetting one thing."

"What?"

"The Zeroing Storm isn't over yet." Lin Chen pointed toward the sky. "That thing out there is still roaring, and it's getting stronger. Even with the tree of heavenly dao, I can't withstand everything alone. I need you both alive to help me share the pressure."

He paused, his smile fading.

"Besides, I owe you."

Morgana was stunned. "Owe me what?"

"In the areas of the Icebound Star Domain eroded by the virus, you tanked 23% of it yourself," Lin Chen said. "When I arrived, your icebound throne was already one-third cracked. If you had given up then and let the virus consume everything, my losses would have been even greater. But you didn't."

Morgana fell silent.

Lin Chen continued, "In business terms, that's called an 'implicit investment.' You invested your life, and I'm repaying you with a covenant. It's only fair."

Morgana looked at Lin Chen, and for the first time in three million years, a hint of warmth appeared in her ice-blue eyes.

"Lin Chen, you're a strange man."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Morgana picked up the covenant and signed her name.

A golden light shone, and her name transformed into a streak of ice-blue light, merging into the covenant.

The three of them looked at Alpha simultaneously.

Alpha was silent for three seconds, then it signed as well.

Its name turned into a silver-white data stream and merged into the covenant.

Finally, it was Lin Chen's turn.

The moment he signed his name, three beams of light shot out from the covenant, entering the foreheads of the three individuals respectively.

A system notification rang out:

[Congratulations to the three parties for signing the 'Permanent Cooperation Covenant'! The Causality Entanglement clause is now in effect!]

[From this moment on, any act of betrayal by any party will be marked by the causality law, and they will never escape accountability from the other two parties!]

[Happy cooperating!]

Lin Chen put away the covenant and stood up.

"Alright, now we are true allies."

He looked at Morgana. "How is the repair of your frozen core coming along?"

Morgana pulled up her data panel. "73%, a bit better than before. But if the Zeroing Storm strengthens again, it still won't hold."

Lin Chen then looked at Alpha. "What about your data backup?"

Alpha said, "The core database has been hosted with you, so the regular operation of Virtual Heaven is fine. However, if the storm lasts more than three days, the storage nodes will begin to overload."

Lin Chen nodded.

He opened the system and pulled up the real-time monitoring of the Zeroing Storm.

On the screen, that grayish-white 'hand of formatting' was still moving slowly, its target still the Dead Silence Star Domain.

However, its speed was half as slow as before.

"How much longer can the diversion service last?" Morgana asked.

"50 minutes," Lin Chen said. "After 50 minutes, a renewal fee is required."

"How much is the renewal fee?"

"3,000 trillion."

Morgana fell silent.

Alpha said, "My computing power can be discounted for about 500 trillion."

Morgana gritted her teeth. "My frozen core can be used as collateral, valued at about 300 trillion."

Lin Chen smiled.

"No need." He opened his account balance. "I still have 930 trillion. Combined with your 800 trillion, it's enough for one renewal. In 50 minutes, the storm should weaken."

Morgana was stunned. "You still have money?"

Lin Chen nodded.

"I took a loan of 5,000 trillion, spent 4,070 trillion, and have 930 trillion left."

Morgana took a deep breath.

"Lin Chen, you really are a... monster."

"Thank you for the compliment."

The three of them sat under the tree of heavenly dao, watching the slowly moving 'hand of formatting' in the distance.

Arrogant Dragon flew in from afar and landed beside Lin Chen.

"Boss, everything is normal at the border. The storm's tentacles haven't extended any further."

Lin Chen nodded.

Zhang Hao's voice came through the communication: "Boss! I was eavesdropping using the Fourth Wall, and I heard that hand speaking!"

"What did it say?"

Zhang Hao's voice trembled:

"It's saying... 'Found you'."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

He looked up at the giant grayish-white hand.

The hand's five fingers were spread open, and each finger was inscribed with words:

"Format"

"Delete"

"Clear"

"Reset"

"Zeroing"

And in the center of the palm, there was a faint pattern.

That was—

The emblem of the Epoch Administration Bureau.