200: "trade"

Li Yang's heart was churning like turbulent seas, greatly shaken.

This was a General-level officer, two major ranks higher than Major General Yatelang, whom he had previously encountered, and was considered a rare high-ranking figure in the entire military system of the Empire.

At this moment, the Five-Star General slightly turned his head, looked gently at Li Yang, and asked.

"Martin, who is this person next to you?"

Martin quickly and respectfully replied, introducing him.

"This is Comrade Li Yang, the one I mentioned to you before—Comrade Li Yang, who is currently implementing military-political integration."

Li Yang quickly stepped forward, stood tall, rendered a standard military salute, and spoke in a clear and resonant voice.

"Greetings, respected Leaders. I am Li Yang, currently holding the military rank of Grade Two Captain, and concurrently serving as the special inspector of galactic affairs for the Milky Way Galaxy!"

His voice was firm and powerful, standing out clearly in the slightly quiet room.

Hearing this, the faces of the three people, whose expressions had been calm as water, immediately showed considerable surprise.

A mix of surprise and curiosity flashed in the Five-Star General's eyes, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and he enthusiastically greeted him.

"So you are Comrade Li Yang! Come, don't be shy, please sit down."

As he spoke, he gestured toward the soft sofa nearby, his eyes full of anticipation and welcome.

Although Li Yang felt somewhat uneasy seeing this, it was inappropriate to refuse, so he steadily walked over to the sofa and sat down gently. His posture was upright and natural, showing his good demeanor.

"Hahaha, very good, very good."

The man in the Imperial Official uniform standing nearby scrutinized Li Yang with piercing eyes, filled with admiration, and couldn't help but genuinely exclaim.

"To remain so composed and unhurried when facing a few old men like us—you are clearly someone capable of great things."

His hearty laughter echoed in the room, adding a bit of ease to the slightly serious atmosphere.

"Enough, all of you are being long-winded..."

The Seven-Star General, who had been sitting quietly without saying a word, finally spoke slowly.

His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority that instantly silenced the room.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily focused on him.

The Seven-Star General slightly tilted his head, looked at Li Yang, and continued.

"Comrade Li Yang, I personally dislike beating around the bush and being superficial. Let's get straight to the point. The reason we specifically asked Martin to bring you here to meet us is indeed to propose a transaction and cooperation with you."

His words were concise and clear, like a heavy hammer, pounding silence into the room and instantly making Li Yang realize the importance and seriousness of the matter.

Hearing the Seven-Star General speak so directly, Li Yang immediately understood the profound meaning behind the so-called "transaction."

After all, in such a setting, the matter discussed when several high-ranking figures specifically summon someone must be significant.

The Five-Star General and the Imperial Official sitting next to him exchanged knowing glances, a hint of helplessness flashing in their eyes, and then they could only shake their heads slightly.

They understood the Seven-Star General's style of conduct—always decisive and outspoken—and at this moment, they could only let him continue speaking.

"May I ask what this transaction entails, Leader?"

Li Yang replied with a solemn expression, meeting the Seven-Star General's gaze frankly.

The Seven-Star General nodded slightly, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes, and continued.

"It's nothing complicated. To put it plainly, we are all optimistic about your future and believe you are a talent worth cultivating. Therefore, we are willing to use the resources at our disposal to fully support your continuous promotion. You should understand what we mean..."

His words were concise and powerful, without any ambiguity. This statement directly revealed their intention—to provide comprehensive support and assistance while Li Yang had yet to fully make his mark and mature, hoping only that when Li Yang achieved success in the future, he would not forget the favor they extended today.

Upon hearing this, even the usually steady Li Yang was astonished by the almost naked frankness of the words, momentarily freezing on the spot.

His mind was a jumble of thoughts, with various ideas flooding in—on one hand, shock and excitement over the sudden opportunity, and on the other, a deep understanding of the responsibility and pressure that came with it.

Seeing that Li Yang hadn't spoken, the Seven-Star General did not rush him, but merely watched him quietly, his eyes holding a hint of expectation, as if waiting for Li Yang's internal deliberation and decision.

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat heavy for a moment; only the faint sound of breathing could be heard, and time seemed to freeze.

"Let me give you the lowdown. I currently serve as Deputy Army Commander Wan Yi of the 73rd Army, the Empire's Frontline General Combat Legion."

Before Li Yang could fully recover from his previous astonishment, Wan Yi immediately continued introducing the other two.

He slightly turned his body, his eyes revealing a sense of boldness and straightforwardness, seemingly proud of his identity.

"This gentleman here is Deputy Army Commander Cang Xi of the Imperial Homeland Security Force. Don't let his rank fool you—it's two grades lower than mine—but the Homeland Security Force is directly administered by the Empire. Its status and importance are not something my Frontline Combat Legion can easily compare with."

As Wan Yi spoke, he gestured toward Cang Xi, and while his words were teasing, they were also full of recognition for Cang Xi's unit.

"Not at all, Commander Wan, please don't say that. Your Frontline Legion is the true main force defending the Empire against external enemies."

Upon hearing this, Cang Xi immediately showed a humble smile, quickly waved his hand, and responded.

"As for this gentleman..."

Wan Yi turned his gaze to the man in the Imperial Official uniform beside him and continued.

"This is Galaxy Speaker Hu An, the highest authority of the AN01 Galaxy, holding an administrative rank of C3 Grade. Furthermore, the AN01 Galaxy is also a Galaxy directly administered by the Empire; it is not managed by the Galaxy Cluster above, but reports directly to the Empire's high command, giving it a crucial status."

Wan Yi provided a detailed introduction, every word clear and forceful, giving Li Yang a deeper understanding of the identities and statuses of the two people before him.

After finishing the introduction, Wan Yi leaned slightly forward, staring intently at Li Yang, his eyes full of expectation, and asked.

"How about it? With our current statuses, should we be qualified to support you at this stage?"

His tone carried an undeniable confidence, seemingly certain that Li Yang would be tempted by this opportunity.

Even though Li Yang had made many mental preparations beforehand, hearing Wan Yi's blunt question at this moment still caused a rush of excitement, and his breathing involuntarily quickened.