Chapter 200: Chapter 145: The Empire’s Demands

Lin Lan liked dealing with smart people.

At least the other party could find a place to sit down, politely exchange interests, rather than waste time with tantrums like an oversized infant.

Even if both sides couldn’t reach an agreement for now, they could wait for the next opportunity to cooperate, instead of pushing things towards the worst-case scenario of war.

Lin Lan observed the form of the Imperial Envoy.

The man’s cheekbones were slightly high, his facial lines were rugged, his brows and eyes sharp as a knife, and the surface of his rough knuckles was covered with scars.

He was a typical image of a Northern hardman.

Although Lin Lan could send messages to several Imperial Dukes anytime, last night Frost Falcon made a brief and earnest reply:

For the Empire, the information communicated by machines is a burden.

The Celestial Calamity watches over the Empire’s territory, and maintaining long-distance communication comes at a cost, often driving a few mental stress-bearing Empire officials insane.

Moreover, the more crucial the information, the stronger the oppression brought by the Nightmare. Absurdly, it even twists and modifies the messages received by machines.

Although it wasn’t clear what the Nightmare exactly was, Lin Lan naturally wouldn’t go looking for trouble and unnecessarily worsen relations with the Empire.

He made an agreement with Frost Falcon that unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn’t transmit messages via chat channels.

In fact, for many Empire officials, cultivating loyalists to transmit information was much more reliable than machines.

"Based on my observations, the Ark Kingdom does indeed have the ability to harness the Celestial Calamity, but your fundamental conditions are truly poor."

Osguta continued to explain his side’s conditions: "The Empire can entirely help the Ark make up for these shortcomings, not only in terms of food and shipbuilding, we can even send personnel to assist the Ark in constructing territory, so you won’t have to worry about the Alliance’s bloodsuckers disturbing you in the future."

The intention of the envoy’s words was full of wooing.

"So, what does Frost Falcon intend to gain from the Ark?"

Lin Lan didn’t express much joy, instead, he looked directly into the opponent’s eyes with a smile.

Osguta met that scrutinizing gaze, looking at the young man before him, the man instinctively swallowed.

He couldn’t see through the thoughts of the Ark Leader at all.

Osguta had observed Lin Lan’s figure from afar.

Whether it was ordinary civilians or special-status foreign princes, in his eyes, they all seemed the same.

At this moment, Osguta felt like he had fallen into a boundless abyss, and the sweeping snowstorm seemed completely swallowed by a dark shadow, leaving nothing behind.

The man suddenly snapped back to reality.

He resisted the unseen pressure, striving to keep calm before the Ark Leader: "First, the Duke would like you to return the imperial pilot of the Night Owl."

"Of course, no problem."

Lin Lan nodded readily, raised his arm and snapped his fingers: "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a solemn figure clad in a bear cape entered the vision of the Imperial Envoy.

In Osguta’s complex gaze, the Empire-proud Night Owl Hunter silently stood behind the Ark Leader.

In standby simultaneous follow mode, the ’Brass Scavenger’ could still receive simple commands.

Lin Lan asked, "How should I return it?"

Osguta cautiously took out a palm-sized spherical contraption from his pocket.

"This treasure is called the Soul Cage, capable of preserving and locking ordinary souls, an important collectible in the Imperial Research Institute."

He solemnly handed the sphere to the hand of the Ark Leader: "Please place No. 444 inside."

[Identifying item for you!]

[Item: Portable Consciousness Entertainment Device]

[Quality: Bai]

[Function: Creates limited consciousness storage space]

[Description: Want to enjoy life anytime, anywhere? Unlock specific scenarios, and the portable device will satisfy all your mental desires!]

Lin Lan: ...

It can only be said that this thing fits deeply with his stereotypical impression of Celestial Principle civilization being amused to death.

The Empire’s tough iron-willed man seriously held an old civilization’s toy, earnestly giving it a formal name, evoking an incongruous sense of absurdity mixed with deep comedy.

In Osguta’s reverent gaze, the Night Owl Hunter bowed, Lin Lan grasped the Philosopher’s Stone, stepping into a dream woven by intelligent machinery’s computational power.

No. 444 was curled up in the corner, still looking utterly dejected.

"Alright, it’s ugly to keep that mortified look all day."

Lin Lan waved the treasure in his hand towards the person: "You can go home."

No. 444 stood up blankly, his eyes both hopeful and fearful.

He knew he was the first sinner since the Empire’s founding to lose the Night Owl, and the anxiety and guilt tormented the officer’s mind constantly.

"Need me to change the scene skin for you?" Lin Lan toyed with the treasure in his hand, considerately asking.

"No...no need."

No. 444 forced a hard smile: "Thank you for your kindness..."

Without further ado, Lin Lan swiftly drew the imperial officer into the entertainment device.

He left the dream, tossed the toy to the envoy: "There, it’s inside."

Osguta hurriedly caught the treasure, watching the Soul Cage emit a glow of fulfillment, the man finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Cultivating the Night Owl’s pilot wasn’t an easy task.