Resurrection Empire

Chapter 1317 - 499: Clash_3

Sosgate choked on the latter half of his sentence, his face turning a deep crimson.

He hadn’t expected Ren Zhong’s challenge to come so suddenly.

"What the Earl said is absolutely right, let’s move on from the first issue. Now, there’s a second issue. The Super Network Node of Source Star was initially guaranteed by our nine Viscount families together to lease it from the Empire. Now, since the Tracer colony has completed its return journey, according to the Imperial Leasing Management Law, the lease period automatically ends, and we must repay..."

Ren Zhong raised his hand again, "Firstly, what you leased was only the core program of the Super Network Node and did not include the large-scale grid computing power center that Source Star civilization built using Source Mercury as materials. Secondly, before leaving the Observatory Space Station, I had already commissioned Royal Viscount Wen Yuanbo to communicate on my behalf, to apply to the Empire’s Ministry of Commerce, using my War Merit Points as valuation, for the privatization of the Source Star’s Super Network Node. The relevant documents have just arrived here; you may take a look. So, from now on, the Super Network Node of my Source Star Fleet has nothing to do with you.

Gazing at the electronically signed and stamped document from the Empire’s Ministry of Commerce, Sosgate was dumbfounded on the spot, "This..."

He hadn’t anticipated that his second move would also fall into Ren Zhong’s trap.

After hesitating briefly, Sosgate steeled himself once more, "The ownership of Tracer 154332..."

Yet again, he didn’t finish his sentence.

Ren Zhong interrupted him once more.

"Indeed, Tracer 154332’s ownership is in your hands. I reckon even if I wanted to buy it from you, you wouldn’t agree. After all, you’re Liu An’s dogs, and Liu An sees me as a foe. Not much I can do about that." Ren Zhong shrugged, "However, I must clarify the situation. Now, many of my fleet’s core departments are on the Tracker Spaceship, and it’d be a while before they can all be moved off. Plus, the ship is home to many residents, so I will propose a rental at market price until I complete the landing. The rental contract is right here; you must agree, whether you want to or not. If you choose to seize it forcefully, then you’ll have to resort to military might, and you can try. Let’s see whether your people perish first or my citizens cannot endure anymore."

In front of his own people, Ren Zhong appeared very timid, often overestimating the Augustus family’s combat capability, but in South Nine b, he acted the opposite, intentionally appearing fearless.

He was betting on the fact that the opponent would be wary of his record of defeating a fourth-class Mother Empress Ship and unable to accurately gauge the true combat strength of the Source Star Fleet.

Sosgate indeed was severely deterred by this blow, gritting his teeth hard, unable to speak for a while.

Ren Zhong smiled again, "I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. According to the supplementary provisions of the Empire’s Special Service Bureau management methods concerning Tracer colonies, situations like the Source Star Fleet do occur. I can legally extend the lease period by twenty years. As long as you waive the rent, I can clearly promise you that in twenty years’ time, I will return the Tracker Spaceship on schedule. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, Sosgate’s eyes shifted.

Ever since he met Ren Zhong, he hadn’t gained any upper hand. Now, he could finally score a favorable deal.

Given South Nine C’s environment and the swarm assaults launched there earlier, the Source Star Fleet definitely couldn’t complete a full landing within just twenty years.

By then, when they take away the Tracker Spaceship, it would certainly inflict significant damage to Ren Zhong.

Sosgate breathed a sigh of relief, having thought he would be humiliated throughout the day.

Luckily, you’re getting overconfident.

"Good! That’s settled then!"

Sosgate resolutely agreed.

After Ren Zhong and his group left, feeling satisfied, Sosgate immediately communicated with the Special Service Bureau head at the Nanxiang’s Earldom.

Employing a bit of cunning, he spoke thusly: "According to the Earl’s requirements, I have successfully compelled Ren Zhong to voluntarily use his valuable war merits to exchange for the ownership of the Super Network Node. Additionally, I have signed a letter with him, demanding that at the latest twenty years later, he must exchange the Tracker Spaceship. By then, given South Nine C’s natural environment and my prior arrangements, the Source Star Fleet would absolutely still be wandering in space. Without the Tracker Spaceship, he’ll surely suffer greatly. Moreover, I have already begun arranging for numerous companies and nobles within the Southern Nine Star System to impose strict resource, trade, and economic blockades on South Nine C. I guarantee he absolutely won’t easily acquire any materials or have any channels for earnings."

Heard this, the Special Service Bureau head at Nanxiang’s Earldom was indeed greatly pleased, and immediately facilitated the Augustus family in securing a trade route leading out of the Star Cluster, as a gesture of reciprocity.