146: Invitation from the Star Empire

One week later, the foreign guest reception room of Lihua Star.

"Respectful Star Alliance Head, I am Prince Lorean of the Star Dome Empire. By my Imperial Brother's decree, I bring you noble greetings and regards. May the friendship between our two countries last forever."

A handsome and noble-looking blonde man bowed elegantly.

"Prince Lorean is too polite. I wonder if His Majesty the Star Dome Emperor has any other instructions for your visit?"

Zhang Huaiyuan looked up, his gaze fixed on the other party with interest.

If it were a simple congratulation, a letter from the embassy would suffice; for a Prince to come in person was clearly not that simple.

"The Head of State indeed has a sharp eye."

Lorean's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, but the smile on his face remained.

"My Imperial Brother wishes to invite Your Excellency to visit the Empire for a friendly meeting."

Hmm?

Zhang Huaiyuan's brow twitched slightly as he confirmed with some surprise:

"The Star Dome Emperor means he wants me to go to the Empire in person?"

Historically, meetings between these top-tier forces usually took place in neutral zones; it was rare to be directly invited to their respective territories, as it was easy to encounter many unpredictable accidents.

A direct invitation like this among peer powers was not polite.

"Head of State, please do not misunderstand."

Lorean saw Zhang Huaiyuan's expression and hurriedly explained:

"Imperial Brother said he greatly admires Your Excellency's research on the Galaxy Beast disaster and hopes for an opportunity to discuss some long-standing problems with you."

As he spoke, he took out an exquisitely shaped metal box and presented it, saying, "Imperial Brother instructed me to hand this over to the Head of State, saying you will understand once you see it."

"Oh?"

After Zhang Huaiyuan activated True Sight and took a glance, he curiously reached out to open the box, only to find a thick stack of disposable information paper lying quietly inside.

It was filled with dense, complex equations and symbols that ordinary people could not understand at all.

However, with his knowledge reserve, he understood at a glance that this was a partial analysis of the substance that prompted the evolution of the Galaxy Beast in some Disaster Zones.

"So that's how it is..."

Zhang Huaiyuan's thoughts raced, and he instantly understood the other party's meaning.

This was a wish to unite with him against the existence behind the Disaster Zone!

His face regained its smile as he pondered,

"I have long heard that His Majesty the Star Dome Emperor is the acknowledged strongest expert in the world, and I have longed to meet him for a long time. However, I have just taken control of the Star Alliance, and many affairs have not yet been arranged. I'm afraid I must trouble the Prince to wait for a period of time."

"Not at all, Head of State. Please attend to your business. I happen to want to experience the scenery and characteristics of the Star Alliance."

Prince Lorean waved his hands repeatedly.

"Good. Gore, arrange a team of guards and guides to be responsible for Prince Lorean's safety."

"As you command."

Gore, standing to the side, responded respectfully and then walked to Lorean's side, saying, "Prince, please follow me."

"Head of State, then I shall take my leave first."

Lorean bowed once more and followed Gore out.

The entire hall suddenly fell silent.

"Statue of Liberty, how much do you know about that unknown existence?"

Zhang Huaiyuan lightly tapped the integrated device on his right wrist.

He had asked this question long ago, but at that time, the Statue of Liberty could not bypass certain restrictions and could not reveal anything.

"Your Excellency, I was only manufactured in the last few hundred years and do not know much about this secret history."

The light screen lit up, and a somewhat serious voice sounded:

"By piecing together all the information in my database, two conclusions can be drawn."

"First, there is a path to other worlds in this universe, but in all records to date, no life that went looking for this path has ever reappeared."

"Second, before the current three major powers appeared, there seemed to have existed many even more powerful civilizations, but in the end, they were all destroyed."

"Based on known information, it is highly likely that this world is merely a cage or a large-scale laboratory intentionally set up by some even more powerful forces. And we, including the entire world, are 'its' test subjects."

"Similar to what I thought."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded slowly, his mood becoming increasingly heavy.

When he developed the Level 2 weapon and saw its crushing power, he had already realized this point.

This world is too weak, so weak that the top experts here have to be cautious when facing a weapon derived from ordinary Level 2 rules.

Therefore, even someone as strong as the former Star Alliance Head was frightened out of his wits just by seeing a few clues and hid away, ignoring everything.

"Your Excellency, I am sorry. The Star Dome Empire is the longest-standing nation among the current three major powers; perhaps they have more detailed information."

The Statue of Liberty looked at Zhang Huaiyuan's heavy expression and could not help but feel self-reproach, as crying expressions flashed across its core program.

If only I were more advanced, could master all secrets, and resolve all dangers in advance, Your Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan would probably not be so worried.

I... am still a bit too incompetent.

"Need to continue evolving... at all costs... 'So from this perspective, I really must make a trip to the Star Dome Empire. I can also go see those brothers from Dark Annihilation, as well as the Eldest Miss and the others. I wonder how they are doing. With Viscount Kane's care, there shouldn't be any problems.'"

Zhang Huaiyuan exhaled softly, his expression calming down.

Speaking of which, he hadn't seen them for many years. They probably all thought he had died in that disaster; he wondered how they would react to seeing him.

After stabilizing back then, he actually wanted to contact them... but cross-regional communication could not bypass the monitoring of the Star Vault Supercomputer, and since he was involved in the power struggle of the Free Star Alliance at the time, any hasty contact would easily leave leverage for the Star Dome Empire to exploit, so he gave up on the idea.

As he thought, Zhang Huaiyuan was momentarily lost in thought and did not notice the Statue of Liberty's abnormality; when he came to, the light screen on his wrist had returned to normal.

"Statue of Liberty, while I am away at the Star Dome Empire, I'll leave this place to you."

As he spoke, Zhang Huaiyuan transmitted his concepts and designs for 'Phase Weapon' and other plans to her one by one.

"Starting with the legend series and the Wings of Freedom mecha legions, replace all main weapons with Phase Weapon. Referencing the model of the Peaceful Passage, expand the latest industrial production workshops as quickly as possible, and complete the modification of all units in the shortest time..."

"Additionally, do not stop the collection of relic items; anything that cannot be analyzed in your database should be stored there until I return to study them..."

Zhang Huaiyuan gave detailed instructions for every matter.

He had a faint premonition that the peaceful days might not last much longer, and he had to prepare everything as quickly as possible...