Gutierrez snorted coldly; he had been dealing with the aftermath of the last defeat these days.
He didn’t know how much benefit he had sacrificed to barely hold onto his position as Star Alliance Chairman; he had no time to focus on the Azure Dragon.
Malcolm couldn’t help but sigh:
"The Azure Dragon was ready a long time ago. Li Ming’s Mechanical Court has already acquired mining rights in several places and the preferential purchase rights of mineral stars within various civilizations."
"With the surge in metal material prices, he can make another profit, not to mention the ransom we settled, which he also trapped us into."
Thinking of the finalized redemption agreement, Gutierrez’s heart bled, and he couldn’t help but emphasize, "We must find a way to curb his arrogance. The outside world already hails him as someone who can suppress us single-handedly. If we don’t show some means, we’ll become a laughingstock."
"How is that matter progressing?" he pressed further.
Adam’s gaze was profound: "Almost there. Once it’s successful, it should make many realize we aren’t without means to counterbalance."
At this point, Malcolm and Gutierrez looked slightly more relieved.
......
"The price increased!?"
At the Holy Castle Base, Costate stared at the virtual screen, his expression dark to the extreme. His aura was unstable, with strands of energy leaking, and the surrounding space faintly distorted.
"So this is where he was waiting for us!"
Costate never imagined that the Azure Dragon’s demand for settlement at the metal materials price on the day of negotiation would also be a trap.
He initially thought metal materials’ prices fluctuated, not a big problem.
Who would have thought that this guy would launch a whole Evolution Path that heavily depends on metal materials?
As soon as the news came out, the average price of metal materials increased by 10%, and it would be a minor increase to shoot up another 20% when the Mechanical Seed actually starts selling.
To gather so much high-end alloy within the Azure Dragon’s time frame, they had to purchase externally. The skyrocketing price forced them to sink a considerable sum into it.
He might have to buy the materials from a smelting company controlled by the Azure Dragon at a high price.
Recalling himself demanding that the Azure Dragon couldn’t breach the contract, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Dealing with the Azure Dragon was full of pitfalls; a slight misstep, and you’d take a big tumble. Costate felt utterly exhausted physically and mentally.
"Azure Dragon..."
Heins and Schmidt weren’t ridiculing the Prince of the Empire at this moment.
The Azure Dragon wasn’t just trapping the Empire; in their anger, they also felt powerless.
"No one has ever toyed with us like this." Heins breathed heavily, gritting his teeth.
"Sigh..." Schmidt shook his head with a bitter smile.
"If we don’t curtail his arrogance, we might as well disband early." Heins said solemnly.
Standing not far away, Heckler said indifferently: "If the Federation is organizing a coalition army, the Empire won’t join."
Heins paused. The coalition army couldn’t defeat the Azure Dragon, and high-level combat power couldn’t counterbalance him, leading to the current situation.
He was just venting; organizing a coalition army was out of the question.
"It’s said that the higher-ups have found a method to counterbalance, and it will be announced soon." Schmidt asked, "Do the two princes have insider information?"
Costate’s eyes flashed; he and Heckler, both princes of the Empire, knew more than these two guys and did have insider information.
Heckler said blandly: "They are planning something else; our current primary target is the Holy Castle."
"Of course!" Heins questioned solemnly, "So, Your Highness, can you tell us exactly what method you intend to use to open the Holy Castle?"
"So many resources have been poured in without any concrete information. Although we’ve closed the Star Gate, who knows if the Azure Dragon would come charging if this drags on."
"Soon, soon, don’t worry, everyone." Heckler was dismissive but confident in his tone, "I guarantee we’ll certainly open the Holy Castle and curb the Azure Dragon’s arrogance."
...
Li Ming’s operations were continuously stirring the interstellar waves, and it had only been a little over a month since he arrived at Shepherd’s base.
The various potions here were plentiful, and when the development progress reached 73%, Shepherd finally came to find him.
"Tell your teacher that the Genetic Seed can now enter the official final phase of modulation."
There was a trace of exhaustion on Shepherd’s face, as if he had aged significantly.
To see such an expression on an x-level life form was enough to prove the toll it had taken on him during this time.
Li Ming’s eyes flickered slightly but didn’t hesitate. The Azure Dragon’s alias came online, and the Tank Guard’s pupils lit up.
Shepherd’s expression immediately became more solemn, "Lord Azure Dragon, the final modulation process has already begun."
He didn’t know why the Azure Dragon wanted to intervene at the final stage. If the other party was also proficient in biological modulation technology, they should have intervened earlier.
It shouldn’t have been at this time. Although he was puzzled, he remembered the Azure Dragon’s instructions well.
"Good." Li Ming nodded, "Let’s go; I’ll help you."
Help me?
Shepherd had a strange look on his face but said nothing more, leading the Azure Dragon to the modulation center deep within the base.
...