Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 956 - 670: Sanctions (Part 2)

"So, according to what you're saying, our vast Alliance can't wage war without Bai E?"

Xing Zhuo lowered his eyelids, unwilling to argue, "I didn't say that..."

Before the debate could escalate further, a voice previously absent from the proceedings spoke up for the first time in the council hall.

"Esteemed lords, have you perhaps overlooked one crucial point—"

"Human strength is built upon generations of tool usage. Each time our technological level advances, the problems that once troubled us suddenly vanish."

"And just recently, we confiscated a fragment from the 'Divine.' That fragment has been under the scrutiny of our Academy for several days, and just yesterday, we made some preliminary gains. The fragment contains data on a very powerful attack capability; should it be manifested through human technological means, it will completely surpass our current fleet's main guns of the fifth even sixth generation."

"When that time comes, not just a few bugs, even those Galactic Empires at the Galaxy Center wouldn't dare underestimate our Peak Alliance."

"What?!"

"There's a result from the research on that Divine Fragment?"

"When will the results be out? When can it be installed on the fleet?"

The words of this researcher instantly ignited excitement throughout the council.

The former Bauhinia leader sitting among them felt slightly flushed, uneasy in his seat.

The fragment they spoke of was the very one Catherine had risked everything to bring back.

What was meant to be Bauhinia's opportunity for soaring high had transformed into the backbone of their entire Peak Alliance.

The value of the Divine Fragment is undeniably significant, but its research difficulty is equally daunting.

Like giving a modern computer to a primitive person, they might never figure out how to use it in a lifetime.

Human civilization today might not be as ignorant, yet the progress on the Divine Fragment's research remains quite pessimistic.

In fact, Bauhinia was forced to compromise with the Alliance precisely because of this aspect.

With the fragment in their possession, they realized that successfully researching and implementing the fragment's knowledge might take decades, perhaps an endless path considering Bauhinia's national power and talent reserves at the time.

The wait was simply too long, a timeline they couldn't abide by.

And had the Alliance truly uncovered something of fundamental significance?

This was indeed genuinely good news.

Even Xing Zhuo, who felt dead inside, was suddenly filled with hope upon hearing this—

Yes, the enemies they couldn't defeat at present technological levels might be nothing after a technological upgrade.

If the Alliance's researchers could truly extract usable technology from the Divine Fragment, and its power exceeded the current limits of the Alliance's sixth-generation experimental main guns, then the gigantic ships of the Bug Race might truly not be an issue anymore.

"Yet we encounter some issues now..." the researcher under everyone's scrutiny bowed slightly.

"What issues!" the questioner looked at him intently.

Given our current hope and aspirations placed on the Academy, no matter what problems the Academy faces now, we could certainly overcome them!

"It's concerning the research funding..." the researcher had fingers pinched.

The Academy's appointed spokesperson felt incredibly tense at that moment.

Ultimately, it was an opportunity to ask for money.

Indeed, the Divine Fragment is precious, but everyone is aware of the research difficulty.

The Alliance always allocated funds, yet never to pivot its entire focus onto this... only forces like Bauhinia on the brink of collapse considered it as a sudden reversal opportunity, those capable of self-development wouldn't place all hope onto it.

Hence, past funding for this field in the Academy was limited, yet they unexpectedly unveiled a mystery from the Divine Fragment.

Whether spurred by a yearning for knowledge or responsibility towards building their own force, scientists of the Academy desired seizing this moment for substantial funding, aiming at a complete technological breakthrough.

Since it involved critical fund allocation within the Alliance, the questioning senator dared not make unilateral decisions, "This..."

Seeing this, one of the senators among the three giants took charge, "How much is needed?"

"Let's conduct a vote then..."

...

The vote resulted in overwhelmingly passing.

The Alliance thereafter pledged "full support" towards researching the Divine Fragment!

Following the meeting's adjournment, a senator from the Thousand Stars Commerce Alliance privately approached Xing Zhuo, "You might still reach out to Bai E privately."

From the Alliance's perspective or the Commerce Alliance's standpoint, talents would never be forsaken.

Even if the battle against the Bug Race didn't necessitate him, a powerful Legendary Mechanic was still what they or the Alliance needed.

The current contest was merely about gaining initiative.

A true genius often requires some tempering.

"I heard he's planning to rebuild the Bauhinia on the Mine Star with that woman from Bauhinia; he's destined to fail, but you could perhaps use some means."

Blind recruitment is pointless; people will just bide their time for better conditions.

However, letting them glimpse the world's harshness makes them naturally understand their pride and reserve has little value.

Many in their youth believed themselves capable of anything, realizing otherwise when truly facing obstacles.

The senator had witnessed too many youthful geniuses around the world, genius being just his threshold for observation...

Upon the senator's advice, Xing Zhuo's eyes flickered; he neither refuted nor agreed, merely lowering his head slightly, listening to the counsel.

"You've always wanted him within the Alliance, supporting you, haven't you? Here's an opportunity."

The senator remarked, turning around to leave with a stride.

...

"Bai E, we've encountered trouble."

On the third day after returning to Mine Star with the Pirate King Salvador's legacy, Catherine, almost a master under Bai E's command now, hurriedly approached with urgent steps.

"What's wrong?"

"Our resources might be hard to sell."

"How's that possible? Wasn't Salvador's inventory supposedly easy to unload?"

"It was, but now the merchants in the market demand the origin of our goods..."

Typically, oversight was moderate, except for heavily monitored contraband, generally unclear origins wouldn't prevent merchants from accepting them.

This time, hearing their goods were pirate loot, merchants simply shake their heads.

Even Catherine's willingness to sell below market value at prices reduced by 20% gets no buyers.

"I even looked into the black market, but to no avail. Clearly, someone's targeting us, and they're of significant influence."

Catherine almost outright named them.

In this Stellar District, there's likely no one but the Thousand Stars Commerce Alliance capable of such measures.

Even if the Alliance imposed a blockade, it could at most affect open market merchants; black market merchants were likely outside their jurisdiction.

Provided the price was right, the black market folks dared accept anything.

Yet now, even the black market lay controlled, achievable solely by the commerce-savvy Thousand Stars Commerce Alliance.

Since intending to establish New Bauhinia themselves, the awareness of potential resistance or scrutiny from Peak Alliance or the three giants had long dawned upon them.

Now facing actual sanctions, they realized their adversaries' strikes were precise and ruthless.

Release substantial action, or none at all—one strike for the jugular.

Unable to trade, the inventory sat as a collection of visually appealing yet ineffectual commodities.

Rare minerals, potentially useful in technological research or high-end product manufacturing but only long into the future.

For now, the primary objective was sustaining billions on the Mine Star!