Everything in this world ultimately depends on strength.

And strength is determined by violence.

As a Merchant Voyager, Dada Niel is well aware of this.

On the surface, the Trade Federation he founded spans five galaxies and possesses dozens of colonies, which makes it quite formidable. But Dada Niel himself knows this is all just a facade, enough to fool those who haven't yet stepped out of their atmosphere or the fledgling interstellar civilizations.

But when it comes to negotiating business with those more powerful Commercial Alliances, he has to rally others.

So... Tribunal, help me!!!

"...Alright, I roughly understand the situation now."

Duanmu Huai lifted his teacup, sipping tea while looking at Dada Niel across from him.

"So, what outcome do you plan to achieve?"

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure either."

Dada Niel exhibited a troubled expression.

"Your Honor, the Judge, you're aware of the Trade Federation's situation. We're just starting out, and even integrating the economic systems of these planets is a major issue. We're only beginning to see results, I..."

"Get to the point."

Duanmu Huai isn't interested in economics. Like the Imperial, as long as you pay the tithing on time, there are no problems. But if you don't pay taxes, that's a problem.

"Frankly speaking, we can't win."

Dada Niel candidly spoke the truth.

"Although I don't know much, I can see that the vast power behind this trade delegation is far beyond what my small Trade Federation, founded by a mere Merchant Voyager, can contend with. Their strength and financial resources are a hundred times stronger than ours. Faced with such an opponent, the best approach is to keep them out."

"But you can't do it, so you came to seek aid, right?"

"Exactly."

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Huai understood. Free trade: you don't want to trade, they use battleships and cannons to force open your gates and compel you to trade. Duanmu Huai isn't without historical knowledge; such simple and straightforward truths he understands. If Dada Niel doesn't call in the Tribunal and show the other side he's not easy to mess with, who knows if that company might just attack directly.

Even though it's called the Interstellar Peace Company, peace and commercial trade aren't compatible.

"What do others think?"

"They... remain neutral because the Interstellar Peace Company also promised to help them rebuild. But since they don't quite understand the other party yet, they're still discussing and observing."

Dada Niel understands why these people remain neutral; it's because of his relationship with the Tribunal. After all, their worlds were saved by the Tribunal, so they'll remember this favor and, unless the Interstellar Peace Company's offer exceeds this favor, they won't casually change partners.

"This is quite unexpected."

Duanmu Huai reached out and touched his chin. He's always been indifferent about matters like this. Because the Tribunal isn't the Imperial and doesn't plan to rebuild the Imperial. Of course, if Dada Niel plans to trade with other powers, Duanmu Huai wouldn't mind introducing them, but beyond that he's not very concerned.

However, an invasion by an outsider unknown to him is a different matter.

"Are they humans on the other side?"

"If not, I wouldn't be so troubled."

"That makes sense."

If the other party weren't humans, Dada Niel would have long cried out for the Tribunal to annihilate them completely. To the Tribunal, which follows human supremacy, aliens are inherently sinful.

Unfortunately...

"Hmm..."

Duanmu Huai turned his head, looking to the other side.

"Zhenjiling, do you think the Star Union can help?"

"Karen doesn't think so."

The world's cutest Horse Maiden shook her head.

"The Star Union has been hit by unexpected enemies and hasn't recovered yet. The entire Star Union has suffered greatly. Karen thinks they'd be cautious about external forces meddling in their trade network."

"Hmm..."

If the Star Union were still strong, Duanmu Huai could have Dada Niel collaborate with the Star Union against this Interstellar Peace Company. Unfortunately, the Star Union has been unlucky lately, first with the Reapers, then the Dark Elves, followed by unexpected enemies. A series of blows have left the Star Union barely able to breathe, like a patient who has fallen ill and hasn't fully recovered yet. In such circumstances, the Star Union naturally wouldn't want to create trouble unnecessarily.

"So it seems the Tribunal's support is also quite limited."

Duanmu Huai spread his hands, shaking his head at Dada Niel.

"Strictly speaking, the Tribunal of course supports you, but you also know, the Tribunal does not intervene in disputes among humans, let alone this involving economic matters, so what we can do is just ensure that you won't be forced by military means, but if it's an economic issue, then the Tribunal is powerless."

"I understand what you mean, Your Honor, the Judge."

Faced with Duanmu Huai's response, Dada Niel's expression was somewhat helpless, but understandable. After all, it wasn't his first time doing business with the Tribunal.

"However, regardless of who they are, since they want to do business on the Tribunal's turf, they must pay the Tribunal taxes."

Duanmu Huai gave a light hum, the Tribunal's tithing was indispensable. Although the Tribunal's tax rate was not as harsh as the Imperial one, often just symbolic, the issue lies not in quantity but in attitude. Being willing to pay is one thing, not willing to pay is another.

"Well..... Zhenjiling, go have a chat with that Interstellar Peace Company and see what their situation is."

"Understood! Big brother, leave it to Karen!"

When it comes to this kind of matter, it's best to let Zhenjiling, the world's cutest Horse Maiden, handle it.

Duanmu Huai didn't particularly care about that Interstellar Peace Company. If they were humans, then most problems don't need attention. The Tribunal's policy does not interfere in human conflicts, and he actually understood Dada Niel hoped the Tribunal would intervene more deeply, which is quite understandable.

For example, Dada Niel's Commercial Alliance is like a domestic giant enterprise, while the Interstellar Peace Company is a foreign company, and very likely a transnational one. Facing such commercial giants, local companies can only survive through protectionism. However, unfortunately, the Tribunal is not considered as the governing entity of this region, so even Duanmu Huai couldn't say the Interstellar Peace Company is not allowed to operate here———after all, they can certainly bypass the Tribunal and directly consult those political entities.

So strictly speaking, there isn't much the Tribunal can do, Dada Niel still has to rely on himself… Of course, if the other party uses some underhand tactics, that would be another matter.

After all, Dada Niel's Trade Federation holds a portion of the Tribunal's shares, you don't want to live if you dare to mess with the Tribunal?

That would lead to a dead end.

Commercial trade is not a concern for Duanmu Huai, after handing it to Zhenjiling, he once again focused on the planetary fortress construction tasks. Of course, Duanmu Huai didn't forget to have Aikute dispatch a reconnaissance fleet to investigate the direction from which the business group came ——— after all, that was an outer star system, maybe there are treasures that could maximize his catastrophe progression.

Hmm, hopes so.

Zhenjiling acted swiftly, within two days, Duanmu Huai received intelligence from the initial meeting negotiation through Zhenjiling.

"Most of the species composing the Interstellar Peace Company are humans and subhumans, but there is a small existence of the Evil Intelligence......Hmm...…"

Reading Zhenjiling's report, Duanmu Huai nodded. Zhenjiling's investigation was very precise, knowing what the Tribunal wanted.

But upon seeing the end, he slightly frowned.

"According to investigations into its internal company culture, there are signs of religious beliefs?"

After reading the report, Duanmu Huai raised his head and looked at Zhenjiling across the screen.

"What do you mean? What the heck is religious belief?"

"Just as you saw, big brother, this Interstellar Peace Company worships a star god named Klipper...…"

"Star God?!"

Upon hearing this, Duanmu Huai almost jumped up to issue an extinction order.

After all, within the Tribunal, this could be something unwelcomed.

But luckily, after listening to Zhenjiling's explanation, Duanmu Huai finally breathed a sigh of relief. According to her explanation, this star god should not be Star God fragments, but intergalactic deities———hmm, mentioned before there are Indigenous Gods and intergalactic deities. Over in Faelun side are Indigenous Gods, whereas the deity worshiped by these people should be a higher level, an intergalactic universal deity.

Moreover, each star god has their own destiny———to which Duanmu Huai wasn't surprised, like the God of Justice, God of Love, God of War, Tyranny God, etc., these destinies are essentially divine positions.

Regarding the Fate Walker who travels these paths, receives a Star God's glance, gains its attention, and obtains strong powers as a Commander...…well, understand from Faelun's perspective, basically believers and God's Favor.

"So, this Interstellar Peace Company is Klipper's Church, devoting to protection, their employees are all Klipper's believers, and the executives are God's Favor?"

"Yes, pretty much so."

"Oh, no problem then, understandable."

Duanmu Huai nodded, interstellar religious existence manifests in various forms, but honestly, a capitalist company believing in protection made Duanmu Huai feel somewhat bizarre.

After all, this seems appropriate to worship commercial or monetary deities instead, what the heck is protection? Is your Interstellar Peace Company perhaps specializing in defense facilities?

Though, star gods......

Duanmu Huai squinted his eyes, pondering for a moment.

Perhaps visiting that outer star system, maybe it can level up his catastrophe?

Considering there are so many star gods, surely there are clans.

Find one threatening humans, then destroy it, wouldn't that increase the progression?

How about...…give it a try?

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