Chapter 8

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The sudden change of scene in the VIP room made Li Wenyuan instantly alert, and he gradually understood.

The alien named Blenning probably thought that the synthetic humanoid under his control was an emissary from the AI civilization.

The AI civilization was a civilization made up of intelligent machines. They were usually data with consciousness. The entire civilization was a derivation of a huge consciousness, and only a few special individuals had semi-independent consciousness.

In the interstellar era, the bionic skin on the surface of a synthetic humanoid didn’t have much of a concealing effect, after all, and to discover it was a robot was quite easy.

After careful consideration, Li Wenyuan decided to continue according to the other party’s words.

If he could make them think that the being sitting opposite them represented a “civilization” and not an “individual”, then his living environment would be much safer.

He always speculated that the interstellar society had the worst intentions.

“…The process has been arranged,” Li Wenyuan mimicked the voice he often heard in the virtual world, and he also saw that Blenning was relieved.

Then, Blenning asked his first question in a deep voice, “Then, do allow us to first ask, how much living metal do you have to sell?”

As one of the rarest metals in interstellar space, living metals had always been in high demand, but there simply was none in the market. Almost all of them were monopolized by a few larger enterprises, with some scattered living metals coming from the interstellar adventurers.

Although Coribo was powerful, the company had not been able to get a share of the pie because its startup had been too late.

Due to this, when the news that there was living metal on this border galaxy’s No.13 enclave came, the upper echelons of Coribo immediately placed great importance on it.

When they found out that it was not an adventurer who took out the living metal, but an AI from an AI civilization, they immediately felt that they had struck it rich.

Other than those mysterious ancient civilizations, no other civilization in interstellar space would let go of a chance to get the living metal.

It was not only because of the living metal’s rarity but also because of a certain technology related to the upgrade of civilization which required a sufficient stock of living metal.

Li Wenyuan, who was in deep thought, decided to use a method that might only be used by the AI civilization to display the living metal he brought.

With that, the artificial eye of the synthetic humanoid flickered and shot out a projection beam. A square piece of silver metal was projected into the center of the conference room. At the same time, a large amount of data was marked next to the projection, regardless of whether the aliens understood it or not.

Blenning’s pupils constricted, and he said in disbelief, “Such a big piece? This amount… It’s almost the annual output of the entire Milky Way…”

Li Wenyuan naturally heard the surprised voice, and he was very curious about the metal.

After all, on a universal scale, a cubic meter of living metal was not even comparable to a grain of sand. Why were the interstellar civilizations fighting over it?

He was curious, but the synthetic humanoid remained expressionless. There was no change in its signal.

The blurry projections of Coribo’s upper echelons also began to tremble as if they were whispering to each other.

After a while, Blenning seemed to have received an order from his superior and suggested, “We are very willing to trade with you, and we are willing to purchase living metals at a premium of 50%. If you are willing to entrust Coribo Trading Company as the exclusive dealer, the price can be raised to 200%. What do you all think?”

“A 200% premium?” In the virtual world, Li Wenyuan was speechless. While sighing at the profiteering nature of the living metal, he rejected Blenning’s proposal.

After all, he didn’t know how to produce this thing. What if he needed it in the future?

Moreover, he understood the principle of not revealing one’s wealth. If this interstellar company confirmed that he had the ability to supply living metal in bulk, they might make a move on him in the next second.

Li Wenyuan’s answer seemed to be within their expectations, and Blenning continued as if nothing had happened, “Although it’s a pity that I was unable to reach this agreement with you, Coribo will always be your best trading partner. Then, the energy coins needed to purchase this batch of living metals, should I transfer them to your civilization’s credit account through the interstellar bank, or will you personally transport them?”

Bank account? Transport?

Li Wenyuan, who was controlling the synthetic humanoid, was stunned. After thinking for a while, he decided to answer, “…We do not accept energy coins for the time being. Target requirement includes Karis-standard strengthened alloy, level 3 energy core, and Czero.”

He was not clear about the transaction process, but he knew that the less information he revealed, the more other civilizations would look at him with a surmising mindset and not make a move on him immediately.

He was planning to bring the resources back to the mother planet and not go out for at least 50 years. He would only go to interstellar space to take a look after he had developed a big move.

When he revealed the materials needed to repair the energy facility, the level 4 singular point, on the mother planet, the entire conference room fell into a strange atmosphere.

Not only was Blenning looking at the synthetic humanoid in shock, but the projections of the Coribo higher-ups were also shaking. It seemed like they were arguing over his request.

Blenning couldn’t help but confirm again, “You’re saying that you need the Karis-standard strengthened alloy and… Czero?”

“…” The strange behavior of these people made Li Wenyuan, who was in the virtual world, nervous. He subconsciously nodded.