"We believe that legitimate intelligent civilizations should cherish every encounter, for this universe is too vast, and intelligent civilizations, especially legitimate intelligent civilizations, are too rare; every encounter is incredibly precious.

We believe that every encounter, every exchange, is a valuable opportunity to promote the development of both civilizations. In the face of widespread natural disasters, only through exchange can the survival chances of legitimate intelligent civilizations be improved.

Based on this, we have adjusted our previous decision and are willing to yield a planet for your civilization to station. We can absolutely coexist peacefully within a single solar system, engage in multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation, and jointly improve and progress.

Having abruptly changed course, we believe your fleet's supplies are running low. To compensate for the losses caused by our previous mistake, we have dispatched a supply transport fleet, carrying a large amount of materials, to rendezvous with your fleet.

After acquiring these supplies, we believe your fleet will have enough materials to change course and enter the solar system.

We eagerly hope to engage in exchange and cooperation with your esteemed civilization.

Respectfully, from the Head of the Havilah Civilization and all intelligent life."

Tom's heart instantly grew heavy as he looked at the message before him and then at the bright tail flame within the solar system.

He realized that the civilization calling itself Havilah did not intend to let him leave this solar system!

Tom didn't actually care whether the Havilah Civilization's fleet, which had already set sail and would rendezvous with his fleet in the future, was a supply fleet or a warship fleet.

That wasn't the point.

The point was a possibility: if it were a warship fleet, then once a war broke out with his side in deep space, even if his side could win, the already limited supplies would be heavily consumed, leading to insufficient supplies for his side to even travel to the next solar system.

He would be trapped to death in this vast space.

Such a possibility was the key.

And without mutual trust between the two sides, a truly benevolent civilization, even if it genuinely wanted to resupply his side, would deliberately avoid this possibility to prevent his side from misunderstanding.

Yet, it was clear that the other party had not avoided the emergence of such a misunderstanding.

Communication between civilizations differs from communication between individuals.

It's like communication between two countries. If a country deploys nuclear missiles along its border, there's no need to consider whether the other party's actions are for research or war; merely deploying nuclear missiles on the border itself can be considered a declaration of war.

Just like now, the Havilah Civilization dispatching a fleet to rendezvous with his fleet, regardless of its actual purpose, this action itself can be considered a declaration of war!

From this, Tom immediately made a judgment: the other party did not intend to let him leave this solar system.

But… why? What happened?

The other party's attitude, after such a simple back-and-forth exchange, and in such a short time, had undergone such a drastic change?

Tom pondered rapidly.

"Clearly, this Havilah Civilization initially had no intention of causing trouble.

Accidental encounters, where both sides avoid each other, that is the unspoken understanding between space civilizations.

But… why did they suddenly change their minds?

Is it because they detected that my fleet's technological level is inferior to theirs?

No, impossible. If it were merely about technological level, they could have analyzed it roughly from my tail flame trace long ago, even before the first message was sent. They would have known then.

At that time, they would certainly not have been willing to make contact with me. Otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to send any message; they could have just waited for me to come to them.

Therefore, the reason for their change of mind can almost only come from me.

So, what did I do during the period they changed their minds?"

Tom had only done two things. One, changed course. Two, sent a reply message, clarifying that his side would leave this solar system and seek another station.

"Changing course is a natural response; no matter how you look at it, it's unlikely to have made them change their minds. So, the only thing that could have made them change their minds seems to be one possibility: the message I replied with?"

Tom quickly retrieved that message and read it carefully, top to bottom, tens of thousands of times again.

But, no matter how he looked at it, it was a very normal reply message, and the content had nothing noteworthy.

You asked me to leave, and I left;

Your message, at least on the surface, maintained peace, and my message also maintained peace on the surface.

No matter how he looked at it, the other party should not have harbored hostility towards him. But the truth was, the other party had suddenly changed their mind and developed strong hostility towards him.

This change left Tom completely baffled, unable to understand why.

But now didn't seem to be the time to ponder this matter.

The crucial issue now was that the other party seemed determined to keep him and not let him leave.

What should he do?

Tom realized that the other party had left him no other choice.

Because once war broke out, regardless of victory or defeat, he would be trapped to death in space.

The only way out was… to change course again and head into the solar system!

Tom gritted his teeth and looked at the bright star.

"Since that's the case… then I won't leave! I'll go into the solar system and seize a planet first!"

So what if this Havilah Civilization's technology was superior to his own!

So what if his fleet's supplies were running low!

If you don't give me a way to live, I can only fight to the death and carve out a bloody path.

It's a good thing my technology just broke through, and my strength has greatly increased; it's a good time to test your mettle!

Fortunately, it hadn't been too long since he changed course, and he hadn't left this star too far, so there was still time to change course again.

Having made up his mind, Tom no longer hesitated. He immediately initiated course adjustment procedures again, heading straight towards that star.

While the fleet's speed continuously decreased, Tom also launched numerous probes, sending them at a faster speed to conduct preliminary reconnaissance in this solar system.

Soon, these probes transmitted the information they detected back.

On the surface or around the three large planets, moons, and dwarf planets, Tom saw continuous, mountain-like colossal industrial facilities, giant spacecraft one after another, countless large and small spacecraft shuttling between different planets, countless colossal industrial facilities roaring day and night, and Space Elevators towering on the planet surfaces, with countless materials flowing between different planets along these "sky ladders."

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