237: Chapter 237: He mentioned a Level 5 civilization right off the bat, and Keros immediately knelt down!

Su Che stood in the pure white space, not touching the hand Star Speaker extended.

Behind Star Speaker, eight creatures with similar blue skin stood on both sides, their silver robes trailing to the ground.

Quite a display.

The highest diplomatic official of a late-stage Level 3 Civilization appearing with eight attendants—Su Che acknowledged this level of protocol.

"The messenger is well-built."

He spoke first; both sides had translation equipment for communication, and Su Che's was the system.

Star Speaker retracted his hand, his posture remaining composed.

"Does Your Excellency not wish to perform the courtesy of contact?"

"Level 4 Civilization stopped relying on physical contact to verify identities tens of thousands of years ago." Su Che took a step forward. "As for your methods, same old rules."

The space fell silent for a moment.

Star Speaker turned to the side to clear a path.

"Please."

The two walked to the center, where a translucent circular platform rose from the ground; it had no table legs and hovered in mid-air.

Star Speaker took a seat, and the eight attendants retreated three steps behind him.

"Friend from the future, I must see the actual carrier for the data of a peak Level 3 Civilization with my own eyes." Star Speaker made his point clear. "Kairos does not accept empty promises."

Su Che had anticipated this step.

Inviting him aboard for a face-to-face meeting—this was what the other party was aiming for.

"System, can you come out directly from my consciousness space?"

He asked internally.

[Correcting your terminology: what you often call consciousness space is academically standardly named dimensional space.]

[This system can manifest; tell them it is the Star Core Terminal.]

[Additionally, this system will secretly provide you with relevant information.]

Su Che raised his hand and made a grasping motion.

A silver light emerged from above his palm, condensing into a palm-sized thin sheet with layers of light patterns flowing across its surface.

Star Speaker stood up.

The eight attendants stepped forward half a pace simultaneously, but were held back by a gesture from him.

"This is the universal portable Star Core Terminal of a Level 4 Civilization." Su Che held up the thin sheet. "It is standard equipment for the entire population; everyone has one."

The thin sheet unfolded on its own, spreading out into a three-dimensional energy structure diagram in the air.

Star Speaker stared at the diagram and gave a low response.

"This is… a creation of a Level 4 Civilization."

"To you, yes." Su Che retracted the thin sheet into his palm. "To us, it is just a portable tool."

Star Speaker sat back down, leaning forward.

"Since you have such a carrier, the data can be transferred at any time."

"It cannot be transferred." Su Che shook his head. "This terminal traveled with me for one hundred thousand years; its energy is depleted, and the database is locked and cannot be opened."

Star Speaker paused for half a beat.

"What do you need?"

"Recharging."

Su Che received a prompt from the system and pulled up the terminal's status, which was a dark red.

"The nuclear fusion energy level of ordinary stars is too low to support the encryption threshold of the database."

"Stars are not enough?"

"Not enough." Su Che pulled up a set of celestial coordinates. "We need to use a black hole."

One attendant leaned closer to the circular platform and saw the coordinates clearly.

"Gaia BH1." Su Che tapped the marker. "A dormant stellar-mass black hole with no violent flares and no directional high-energy jets."

"The rotation structure is stable, allowing for continuous energy extraction." He put away the coordinates. "The operational risk is controllable, making it the current optimal solution."

Star Speaker was silent for a few seconds, then nodded slowly.

"I believe you." He stood up, his posture lower than before. "Your Excellency, Kairos is willing to assist with all our strength."

"I have a few conditions." Su Che did not acknowledge his politeness.

"Please speak."

"First, the data must be given in batches. Even if the system is fully charged, it cannot support reading it all at once; it must be divided into at least one hundred parts."

"Second, have the messenger escort me to Gaia BH1. Once the terminal is fully charged and the database is unlocked, I will deliver the data in batches according to the agreement."

"Third, dispatch a fleet capable of holding off Tayake Civilization to be stationed on the far side of the Moon."

Su Che's tone leveled out. "If Tayake Civilization acts up one day and fires a few shots at Earth, Earth will be gone, and it will be too late for you to save us."

The three conditions were dropped, and Star Speaker did not reply immediately.

Su Che began to calculate internally.

He was unsure if the system's interstellar material database was complete, and he was also unsure if high-level materials would require skill points for exchange later.

The skill points had long been cleared.

He had experienced how hungry rare material exchanges were for points.

As technology advanced, materials became increasingly obscure, and the types multiplied; relying solely on saving points to acquire them might not be enough even in decades.

So…

Su Che did not wait for their response and continued.

"Fourth, send one hundred scientists, engineers, and experts from various fields to Earth, bringing the core materials needed for research and production to help us raise our technology to the level of a Level 3 Civilization."

Fleece Kairos Civilization, ensure multi-channel protection—there was free stuff to be had, so why not take it?

Star Speaker exchanged a few low-voiced words in the Kairos language with the attendants behind him.

One minute later.

"Kairos can agree to all four conditions." He paused. "But there is one thing I must state beforehand."

"Speak."

"Significantly modifying the evolutionary process of Earth civilization will trigger the butterfly effect."

Star Speaker's voice sank. "It is highly likely to cause the future timeline you came from to collapse, causing the entire timeline to be completely annihilated."

Su Che did not rush to answer.

The system's golden light emerged at the right moment.

[Citing the basic theory of Level 4 Civilization space-time, interference at the current node will split off an independent parallel timeline.]

Su Che took this point and said, "This concern of yours is based on your current physics."

He pulled up the Star Core Terminal again and spread out a diagram of branching space-time.

"Every action I take at this node will split off a brand-new parallel timeline."

"The two lines will each go their own way without interfering with each other." He pointed to the branching point. "The original human timeline from one hundred thousand years later will not be harmed in the slightest."

Star Speaker stared at the branching diagram for a long time.

"Parallel branches…" He repeated in a low voice. "So that's how it is."

The attendants also leaned in, watching intently.

Star Speaker sat up straight again, his concerns dissipated. "Since that is the case, Kairos has no other doubts."

Su Che did not stop; this was exactly the momentum he wanted.

"Let me tell you one more thing." He retracted the diagram. "One hundred thousand years later, Kairos Civilization is still in the late stage of a Level 3 Civilization."

Star Speaker froze, and the silver robes of the eight attendants swayed simultaneously.

"Still… the late stage?" Star Speaker's voice trembled. "We have worked hard for tens of thousands of years…"

"Yes." Su Che nodded. "Including the next one hundred thousand years, for over one hundred thousand years, you have been standing still."

In the white space, the several blue-skinned creatures that were just full of enthusiasm were now completely dispirited.

Su Che saw that the time was right and shifted the topic.

"But there is a way. To break through to the peak of a Level 3 Civilization, or even step into a Level 4, Kairos must open up a new parallel timeline, otherwise, it will only rot in the long river of the universe."

Star Speaker looked up abruptly.

"Also, let me be honest with you." Su Che leaned closer to the circular platform. "One hundred thousand years later, Kairos Civilization is an affiliated civilization of human civilization."

"My true purpose in traveling back to the ignorant home planet this time is to split off a new parallel timeline."

"To lead humanity back to a Level 4 Civilization and eventually break through to Level 5." Su Che spoke with conviction. "And while I'm at it, I'll raise Kairos Civilization, this affiliated civilization, to Level 4 as well."

[Host.]

The system's golden light flickered violently.

[You can brag even better than this system. This system at most brags about being a Level 4 Civilization, but you actually dare to brag about Level 5. I'm impressed!]

Su Che felt smug internally.

When it comes to bluffing, it has to be human thinking.

Daring to brag, daring to scheme.

Across the circular platform, Star Speaker did not make a sound for a long time.

Among the eight attendants, one fell directly back to the ground.

Level 4 Civilization.

A true Level 4, an existence above the peak of Level 3.

Kairos had worked hard for tens of thousands of years to move from the late stage to the peak, but could not see a glimmer of hope.

Now, the guide has arrived.

The person who decides the destiny of the entire race has arrived.

Star Speaker walked out from behind the circular platform and bowed deeply to Su Che.

"Your Excellency, this matter is no longer something I can handle at my level. I must report it to the Supreme Commander of Kairos immediately."

Su Che waved his hand.

"Go ahead."

Star Speaker took two attendants and retreated toward the hatch, his pace very fast.

The hatch closed.

In the white space, only Su Che and the two remaining attendants were left.

He sank his consciousness into the dimensional space.

[Host, you've bragged, how will you round it off later?] The system was unhurried. [This system doesn't know the details of a Level 5 Civilization either.]

[When you are exposed, this system will not save you. If all else fails, I'll just bind to someone else.]

Su Che almost lost his composure.

Damn, it hasn't even started yet, and you're already thinking about cheating?

He replied internally.

"Don't worry, things will work out in the end. When it comes to bluffing, no race dares to claim second place if humans are first. I have my own ways."

[I hope so!]

The hatch opened again after about fifteen minutes.

Star Speaker walked back quickly, stopped in front of Su Che, and his posture was extremely respectful.

"Your Excellency, the decree from the Supreme Commander has arrived."

Su Che waited for what was next.

"From this moment on, you are the most distinguished guest of Kairos Civilization. The Supreme Commander also invites you to serve as the Chief Advisor of Kairos, a position higher than mine as the highest diplomatic official."

Su Che accepted it calmly.

"And there is one most important point." Star Speaker continued. "Kairos will not send a fleet to the far side of the Moon."

"The Supreme Commander has decided to gift you an interstellar mothership directly." He pulled up a projection of the ship's hull. "It is at the true top level of a late-stage Level 3 Civilization, equipped with interstellar combat units, and can wipe out Tayake Civilization without any effort."

Su Che stared at the projection; the mothership was extremely huge, and the projection did not show its full appearance.

It made him feel very envious.

But there are always strings attached to a pie falling from the sky.

"It is not a free gift." Star Speaker seemed to see through him. "This mothership has one hundred doors."

"The first door is open, allowing you to use the basic functions of the mothership." He pointed to a hatch marker on the projection. "The subsequent ninety-nine doors must be unlocked by you; only when all are unlocked will you gain full control of the mothership."

Su Che understood; this was the final threshold of the test.

"How to unlock them?"

"You break the data of the peak Level 3 Civilization into one hundred parts." Star Speaker explained. "Once the first transaction is completed, we will pilot the mothership to the far side of the Moon and hand it over to you."

"For every subsequent door, you input a part of the data into the activation device, and the door enters unlock mode; you must answer the questions correctly or complete the corresponding tasks."

Star Speaker added, "For those with bad luck, some doors have punishment mechanisms; failing to unlock them will result in random penalties."

"We do not force you." He stepped back half a pace. "Your Excellency can take your time to consider."

A fleet sent by others is always theirs.

A gift from others is one's own; Su Che understood this logic perfectly.

As for unlocking those doors, he would gather the strongest brains on Earth, and he still had the system to back him up.

If that doesn't work, he would grind it out slowly.

He did not deliberate further. "I agree."

Star Speaker was taken aback, then bowed and said, "Since Your Excellency has agreed, Kairos and Earth are formally allied today."

Su Che nodded.

"The messenger will set sail immediately to escort Your Excellency to Gaia BH1." Star Speaker turned and instructed the attendants. "Everyone, take your positions."

Outside the white space, the massive hull began to hum.

Su Che retracted the Star Core Terminal into the dimensional space.

His palm was empty, but he felt as though he had grasped the entire lifeline of Earth civilization.

Su Che calculated in his mind.

The iteration of the Nantianmen Project must also be pushed forward simultaneously.

Obtaining a mothership of a Level 3 Civilization does not mean Earth has stepped into Level 3.

The steps of civilization must be climbed one by one to be stable.

Having the people sent by Kairos work on it together, combined with sufficient materials, the progress could be significantly faster.

Unlocking and the Nantianmen Project—neither would be delayed.

In the direction of the porthole, the far side of the Moon slowly receded.

Further away, 1,560 light-years away, a black dot from which even light cannot escape was quietly rotating among billions of stars.

That is Gaia BH1.

It is also the first stop for Earth's comeback.