32: Meeting

"Can the imperial reinforcements not arrive in the short term?"

Zhang Huaiyuan frowned slightly as he looked at the information in his mind.

If he remembered correctly, the information An Yu had previously revealed was that the imperial reinforcements would arrive in about two months.

Clearly, this Viscount Kane had lied earlier.

"This is bad."

Zhang Huaiyuan's heart sank sharply.

While gathering all forces together was indeed much stronger than acting alone, it also meant that all the Galaxy Beast attacks would be concentrated here.

Once an encirclement was formed, there would be no other way out except to hold the position and wait for death.

He couldn't help but look up at the highest person in charge of the mining area.

At this moment, Viscount Kane was holding court from the main seat.

"...The mutated Galaxy Beast has always been our greatest threat. I hope everyone can temporarily put aside their grudges and cooperate sincerely to overcome this disaster."

"After this is over, I will report your achievements to the Empire and reward you accordingly."

"Thank you, Viscount."

The crowd squeezed out smiles and responded sparsely.

"It seems my ability is of no use to these powerful guys."

Seeing this, Viscount Kane understood that empty promises were useless. After all, these people were not hot-blooded youths from the Imperial Academy; they were all old hands. He immediately changed the subject.

"Of course, to better cope with the impending crisis, all energy consumption and supplies during this period will be covered by the mining area. You can also propose any special resources you need, and I will dispatch high-level Star Mechanics from the Empire to personally guide and help you complete the modification of your weapons and equipment."

"In addition, according to the Empire's emergency wartime regulations, if the battle becomes critical, I will temporarily issue the Imperial standard-issue sets for your use."

"Forces that perform outstandingly will also gain the friendship of my Adolu Family."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the meeting suddenly became enthusiastic.

"Viscount, what are you saying? We are all citizens of the Empire; fighting for our home is our duty."

The representative of the "Ghost Shadow" mercenary corps took the lead in expressing his stance.

"That's right. Come to think of it, we should thank the Viscount for gathering us together. Otherwise, with our individual strength, we would have no way out when facing the Galaxy Beast tide."

"Thank you, Viscount..."

Seeing that there were tangible benefits, one representative after another began to flatter him.

Watching this scene, Viscount Kane sneered in his heart.

If the mining area could be held, as the person in charge, he would naturally be rewarded by the Empire, and it wouldn't hurt to leak some benefits to these people then.

If it couldn't be held, these people could also buy him time.

They might make a small profit, but he would definitely not lose.

Thinking of this, Viscount Kane piled a smile on his face again:

"Since a consensus has been reached, I will now arrange the positions you need to guard according to the best results deduced by the smart brain. I hope you will cooperate."

"An Mie Mercenary Corps is responsible for East Zone 1 to East Zone 7..."

"Ghost Shadow Mercenary Corps is responsible for West Zone 3 to West Zone 5..."

"..."

"Something seems wrong..."

Zhang Huaiyuan, who was on the side, looked at Viscount Kane, who showed no signs of panic, and felt suspicious.

The other party knew very well that reinforcements were nowhere in sight, yet still chose to hold the position.

Even for the sake of family interests, he wouldn't risk his own life. No matter how you looked at it, this guy was not the type to sacrifice himself for righteousness.

So either... this disaster was not as serious as imagined, and the other party had the confidence to hold the ground.

Or... the other party had a way to leave at any time.

That would make sense.

"Asroth."

A flash of brilliance appeared in Zhang Huaiyuan's eyes as he silently communicated with the smart assistant in the communication device on his wrist.

"Master, I am here."

"Is there any way to try to hack into the network system here?"

"Wait a moment, Master. I need to confirm the defense program here before I can give an accurate answer..."

"Okay, as soon as possible."

After giving the order, Zhang Huaiyuan raised his head calmly and continued to listen to the meeting information.

At this time, the defense line allocation seemed to have been completed, and they were discussing supply issues.

After all, it was simple for various forces to transfer personnel, but many fixed mineral resources and facilities could not be taken away.

"Zhang Huaiyuan, what resources do we need?"

An Yu suddenly turned her head and asked in a low voice.

Other forces were doing the same, starting to consult their own Star Mechanics.

"At least three million tons of Star Stone ore, at least two sets of high-precision power supply equipment, the more blood crystals processed from C-level or higher Galaxy Beasts, the better, and also..."

Zhang Huaiyuan thought for a moment and answered quickly.

As the chief Researcher of the An Mie Mercenary Corps, he was naturally very clear about these combat supply resources.

"Okay."

After An Yu recorded them one by one, she handed them to the man on her right and said naturally: "Dad, you are the leader, leave the application to you."

"Okay... uh..."

"An Lin" took a look and his mouth twitched slightly.

Good grief, they asked for requirements, not for a wish list.

100,000 tons of Star Stone ore was enough to refine energy for a full small fleet to fight at full capacity for a month, and this opening request was for three million tons.

As for the others, he didn't understand them very well, but he figured they were all rare items.

"Mr. An Lin, what's wrong? Is there any difficulty?"

At this time, seeing the An Mie Mercenary Corps had not yet submitted their application, Viscount Kane couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Uh... it's nothing..."

Hearing this, "An Lin" could only bite the bullet, stand up, and hand over the listed list.

"Eh..."

Viscount Kane's brows furrowed slightly when he first got the list, but after seeing the resources behind it, a flash of surprise suddenly crossed his eyes. He looked at the few people from the An Mie Mercenary Corps and said with interest:

"Blood crystals of Galaxy Beasts are used to make some Transcendent weapons. It seems that your An Mie Mercenary Corps has a Master-level Star Mechanic?"

"Master-level Star Mechanic!"

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the representatives of the other forces were shocked. Their eyes focused on them instantly, scanning back and forth between the few people, and finally stopped on Zhang Huaiyuan.

—Only he was a stranger.

"Is it him? He looks too young."

"No way, a Master-level Star Mechanic? Aren't masters of that level only available in the Empire..."

"Maybe it's bluffing, wanting more benefits? What a greedy guy..."

"Viscount..."

At this time, "An Lin" stood up, hesitated slightly, pointed to Zhang Huaiyuan and introduced: "This is our An Mie Mercenary Corps' chief Researcher. He has indeed manufactured Transcendent-level weapons, but he has not taken the assessment at the Star Mechanic Association, so I don't know exactly what level he is at."

"Oh?"

Viscount Kane's gaze swept over, and he reached out to press the smart device by his hand, quickly retrieving information from the Imperial database.

Name: Zhang Huaiyuan.

Age: 27.

Identity information: Chief Researcher of the An Mie Mercenary Corps.

Supplement: Discovered in the main star of the Adolu Galaxy in the 3992nd year of the Star Dome Calendar. Because his origin was unknown, he was sentenced to be sent directly to the Blackstone Star System as a mining slave.

In 3997, he awakened the special mysterious ability "Rapid Learning" at the Transcendent Association branch in the Blackstone Star System, which was rated as a lower-level ability by the third-level deacon Doke, and was not admitted to the Transcendent Association.

Later recruited by An Lin, the leader of the An Mie Mercenary Corps, and joined "Dark Annihilation".

"So, if the other party is not lying, it only took one year from awakening the ability to becoming a Master-level Star Mechanic?"

Viscount Kane's eyes suddenly narrowed.