"You don't need to be surprised," Emrys said calmly. "In fact, before you arrived, I had already invaded your database and gained a full understanding of your human civilization."
Upon hearing this, the ambassadors from various countries frowned, looking at Moss beside them. Complex emotions flowed in their gazes: shock, annoyance, and deep apprehension.
If there was anything they hadn't anticipated in this first contact with xenos, it was the quantum intelligent artificial computer—Moss!
All its demonstrations had completely passed the Turing Test, showing no difference from a true artificial intelligence; it was even stronger!
How could such a being, lurking in human society yet possessing intelligence beyond humanity, not cause concern among the ambassadors?
Moss, guessing his thoughts from the ambassadors' eyes, explained coldly, "Moss did not help him. Another intelligent life invaded the database. Its level is not as high as mine, but with vast data traffic support, I could not prevent its invasion."
This statement was also a subtle hint that the other party also possessed artificial intelligence, and its capabilities were even stronger!
Indeed, the ambassadors, grasping this meaning from Moss' words, fell into contemplation, their expressions becoming even more grim.
"No more idle talk; let's discuss serious matters," Emrys tapped the table, waking everyone from their reverie. "I will represent the Merlin Trader Dynasty, as well as the Imperium and the God-Emperor, to formally establish cooperation with you.
This includes, but is not limited to, providing you with assistance in areas such as planetary atmospheric modification systems, large-scale stellar energy capture devices, and fully automated industrial construction templates."
Planetary atmospheric modification systems?
Large-scale stellar energy capture devices?
Fully automated industrial construction templates?
These terms made the expressions of the five ambassadors incredibly vivid; their jaws almost dropped to the floor, as if they had swallowed a watermelon.
With these things, even if the Mountain Relocation Plan still needed to be executed, at least they wouldn't have to suffer on the journey!
But they weren't fools.
How could the other party offer such generous treatment without any Additional conditions?
"There's no such thing as a free lunch" — Zhou Zhezhi understood this well. He immediately took a deep breath, recovering from his ecstasy.
"These aids, I suppose—they're not free, are they? Mr. Emrys, please just say everything else at once."
"You are right."
Emrys nodded slightly, then continued, "You need to join the Holy Terra Council, become a member of the Imperium of Mankind, and pay annual taxes according to tax laws, including minerals, population, military supplies, and so on. When necessary, you will need to obey the summons of the Imperium and Holy Terra, dispatching armies to fight for me."
With that, he looked at everyone.
"These are my demands. You may now express your opinions."
"Imperium of Mankind? Holy Terra Council?" Arthur Cavendish, the old British aristocrat most sensitive to politics, was the first to speak, his brows furrowed. "I don't quite understand what you mean by that."
"It means that humanity—is not just you."
Emrys looked at them, saying faintly, "I believe you are also very curious why I have a human appearance, speak a human language, yet my genes are vastly different from human genes, right?"
Everyone remained silent but nodded in agreement.
It was indeed true; Emrys' appearance, language, and even some subtle habits were indistinguishable from those of a human!
If it weren't for the test report, no one would believe he was an alien life form.
"The answer is actually very simple," Emrys chuckled, relaxing his body and leaning back in his chair. "Because—I am not a human from *your* 'era'."
Not a human from this era?!
Zhou Zhezhi's pupils constricted slightly, and an idea immediately surged into his mind.
"You—are you a human from the future?"
This idea was truly astonishing!
After all, even in their era, there was no way to prove the feasibility of time travel!
"Time travelers do not exist, at least—based on my current knowledge combined with human knowledge, I cannot deduce any feasibility of time travel."
Moss also spoke, its eyes full of confusion.
"If you are truly a time traveler, how do you solve the paradox problem?"
"To be precise, I am not from your future, but a future human from a parallel universe," Emrys said calmly.
"Parallel Universes—I didn't expect them to actually exist," Mike gasped in surprise, his eyes filled with shock, but also many questions. "What is the future—like?"
This question was also one that several ambassadors, including Moss, were very curious about.
Humans could actually evolve to the point of being able to destroy a mountain range or even crush a star with individual power—this was like something out of a science fiction novel!
"The future?"
When this question was mentioned, the smile on Emrys' face suddenly receded a few points, and he fell silent.
This expression... the future didn't seem too good!
Although he was from a parallel world, upon learning that the other party was also human, everyone's hearts couldn't help but rise to their throats!
"In the distant and dark fortieth millennium, war rages between the stars, and humanity knows only darkness and war," Emrys said, his eyes radiating a chilling intensity that was hard to meet directly, his murderous tone as cold as ice, as if revealing a bloody and cruel scene to everyone.
He then looked at everyone and said softly, "The Holy Terra Council is both an alliance of humanity and humanity's only beacon of hope in a dark, cruel future!"
They seemed to glimpse a corner of that dark future from his heavy tone!
"What exactly are you fighting in the future?" Zhou Zhezhi couldn't help but ask.
"Many, too many—" Emrys sighed, and had his AI display a scene of him battling the Tyranids. "In the universe, on every world, we fight bloody wars against the Tyranids swarm, Greenskins, Eldritch Gods, Eldar, Necrons, and all xenos that threaten humanity!"
Despite being a virtual projection, that extremely brutal war undoubtedly shocked the hearts of every ambassador present!
Overwhelming swarms of Tyranids roared and poured into the positions, while the tiny human bodies struggled to resist the invading xenos. Blood, severed limbs, and artillery fire intertwined, composing a tragic song!
At this moment, whether they were on opposing sides or not,
Watching the human armies being massacred by those xenos in the projection, the five ambassadors couldn't help but clench their fists, veins bulging on their foreheads, gritting their teeth tightly!