NOVEL NEXT Chapter 809 Meeting III
Chapter 809 Meeting III
"The next topic for discussion," the AI referee announced, her voice calm and deliberate, "is the establishment of a communication framework to seamlessly connect both sides. This will ensure the smooth execution of official duties, facilitate business transactions, and promote the exchange and integration of cultures."
Her holographic form rotated slightly as if surveying both sides of the room, pausing momentarily to invite engagement. Then, she fell silent, allowing the attendees to take the lead in the discussion.
Although she was formally guiding the meeting, her role resembled that of a highly advanced assistant. Her primary responsibility was to ensure that all key agenda points were addressed thoroughly and accurately recorded in the meeting minutes.
“Can your side explain how you maintain communication between different civilizations and keep it active?” Aron asked, his tone steady but curious. He saw this as a valuable chance to clarify what he already knew—most of which came from the perspective of soldiers, individuals who had spent the majority of their lives in service. While their accounts were helpful, they lacked insight into the civilian side of things, leaving gaps in his understanding.
Liasas leaned forward slightly before she started answering his question in a formal demeanor. “Each civilization operates its own communication network internally. However, as a Conclave, we’ve established a shared, Conclave-wide communication network. This network ensures connectivity between member civilizations, but its use is heavily restricted. Maintaining it over such vast distances requires significant mana resources, so access is limited to government entities and businesses. It’s rarely accessible to the broader population.”
She paused, as if gauging his reaction, before continuing with a touch of reassurance in her voice. “That said, we will provide you with the schematics of this communication system. With this, the Terran Empire will be able to establish active communication with Conclave members and the council. It’s an important step toward fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.”
Aron listened intently to Liasas’ explanation, his expression calm and composed, but beneath the surface, his thoughts were racing. When he heard the first part of her explanation, a subtle gleam flashed through his eyes—a fleeting trace of amusement he quickly suppressed. He fought back the urge to laugh or even let a smirk slip. The revelation filled him with a sense of satisfaction; here were civilizations capable of interstellar travel, yet their ingenuity in certain areas seemed surprisingly limited. It was as if they had missed out on the relentless human drive for innovation, fueled by something as simple—and complex—as greed.
The thought left Aron inwardly delighted. This oversight on their part was an opportunity, one he could leverage to maximum effect for the benefit of his empire and its burgeoning businesses. While it didn’t entirely simplify his plans—moving from “super extreme difficulty” to “mild extreme difficulty” wasn’t a small leap—it was a step in the right direction, and Aron was willing to take whatever edge he could get.
As he mulled over what Liasas had said, the pieces began to fall into place. The Conclave’s unity was more a facade than reality, and Aron now understood why. The lack of a mass communication system and the absence of fast, reliable transportation between civilizations had left their citizens isolated. Despite being part of a "union," these civilizations were still fundamentally disconnected, with years separating one side from another in terms of travel alone.
Even worse, the limitations on who could access the Conclave-wide communication network exacerbated this isolation, creating a situation eerily reminiscent of Earth before the discovery of the radio—when news traveled at a crawl, and people existed in pockets of isolation despite living on the same planet.
It was clear the leaders of these civilizations either didn’t understand the immense benefits of universal access to the Conclave-wide network or were held back by the prohibitive costs of operating such a system. Perhaps they had deemed it an unsustainable luxury. But their reasons didn’t matter to him. What mattered was the glaring gap in their infrastructure—a gap he could exploit.
To Aron, this wasn’t just an oversight; it was an opportunity. A chasm of possibilities stretched before him, and he was determined to bridge it—for his empire’s benefit and, more importantly, for the strategic leverage it would afford him.
Aron didn’t stay silent for long. He began by expressing his gratitude for their willingness to share the schematics, acknowledging their cooperation with a polite nod. Then, without wasting time, he delved into a series of follow-up questions, determined to address every gap in his understanding of their communication systems. For him, this was an invaluable opportunity to ensure no detail was overlooked.
The representatives from the other civilizations reciprocated, posing questions about the Terran Empire’s communication infrastructure. However, it quickly became apparent that their inquiries—particularly from the lower-tier civilizations—were more perfunctory than genuine. Their tone suggested courtesy rather than genuine curiosity, as though they were asking out of obligation rather than a true desire to understand.
Aron, ever observant, noticed this dynamic but paid little attention to it. While their questions lacked depth, his were deliberate and probing, designed to extract as much insight as possible. Where they treated the discussion as routine, he saw it as a chance to solidify his knowledge and uncover opportunities to refine and strengthen the Empire’s position.
The discussions continued until both sides reached a mutual understanding. They moved on to other pressing topics that required their joint presence, such as delineating the borders between the Terran Empire and the Conclave territories. This negotiation ultimately granted the Empire a defined border, at least on the side facing the Conclave. Everything within this newly established boundary was now officially imperial territory, and access to it required visas and explicit permission from the Empire. These agreements solidified territorial sovereignty and clarified jurisdiction, marking a significant step in formalizing relations between the two sides.
Several more hours were spent addressing additional matters, ranging from trade regulations to security protocols, before the meeting was finally brought to a close.
At the end of the session, Aron proposed a unique arrangement that was unanimously accepted. For the next month, an open period would be established, allowing representatives from each civilization to request private meetings with him or vice versa if they had matters to discuss. This period would also be used to facilitate crucial discussions between each civilization and the newly formed Imperial Mana Agency. These meetings would focus on determining individual quotas for mana stone trade, outlining regulations, and negotiating what goods or resources would be exchanged during this initial barter trade phase.
Until a standardized currency was agreed upon, this barter system would remain in place, ensuring that trade could continue without unnecessary delays. The period would conclude with the formal signing of agreements, enabling the representatives to return to their civilizations with clear terms and arrangements in place.