Chapter 1207: Chapter 618: Negotiation and Torment_2
"How is this different from doubling the buyback price arbitrarily?"
"When I purchase something, I usually exclude any premium. Itâs you calculating it at market price that makes me lose out." Li Ming shook his head.
"The premium canât be as high as 50%!" Costate said bitterly, "High-tech alloys have extremely high technological costs, and their prices are already very expensive. Those who would make a purchase know the inside story and wouldnât allow such a high premium."
"Then how much do you say the premium is?" Li Ming was displeased.
"At most 30%!" Costate said coldly, realizing immediately upon speaking, but Azure Dragon spoke immediately, "Then letâs settle at 30%!"
Costateâs face turned from red to green, then to purple, and Li Ming was worried he might get pissed off to death.
Zhang Hengyu sighed deeply, just wanting to end this torment quickly, "Lord Azure Dragon, next is the buyback price for those ordinary soldiers and related warships..."
There wasnât much room for maneuver this time, as these three had wised up, having already discussed the major items beforehand.
Azure Dragon also bore the sunk costs and would not back down easily.
Thus, the negotiations for ordinary soldiers extended much longer, taking a full three days to completely finalize.
The overall price was not low, even reaching half that of an X Level life form.
Diwusi took the cue: "The total price is eleven trillion five hundred billion Star Coins, which will be settled in metal materials. We need time to gather it, so this buyback will be done in five batches, delivered over three years."
Their high-end metal material stock had long been depleted by Hecklerâs side, with Azure Dragon plundering once in the interim.
The remaining low- and mid-level alloys were not wanted by Azure Dragon, requiring time to gather truly wasnât an excuse.
"Youâre not a single entity; obviously itâs being gathered separately, so why take so much time? Do it in three batches, finish within a year." Li Ming shook his head.
"We can only say weâll try our best." Diwusi frowned.
Li Ming did not give them a chance to delay: "Just one year. One more day, and Iâll kill someone. Rest assured, the killing wonât require you to pay."
Under Azure Dragonâs aggressive pressure, the three were nearly numb, mentally exhausted.
"Also, the redemption ratio will be calculated based on todayâs alloy prices," Li Ming said again, "to prevent you all from returning and conspiring with other civilizations to intentionally drive up alloy prices to reduce redemption."
The three realized with a start that there was such a loophole, a method they hadnât thought of.
Glancing downward, Azure Dragon had already printed a real-time alloy price list and sent it over, densely listing 99% of high-tech alloy materials.
Truly watertight, the three agreed with resignation in their hearts.
Negotiating with Azure Dragon these few days truly wore them out.
It was most obvious with Zhang Hengyu, with a few more strands of white hairâthough it couldnât be ruled out he dyed it himself.
After thoroughly settling the matter, both parties signed a contract. Although it was just a formality, it imposed some constraints.
Finally, Costate emphasized, "Although this contract is just a piece of paper, I hope Your Excellency will strictly adhere to it, as our time in the interstellar will be long-term."
He was still worried Azure Dragon might cause trouble midway and tear up the agreement, his speech containing a slight undertone of lacking confidence.
"Whoever breaks the agreement shouldnât blame me for being impolite." Li Mingâs response was straightforward.
Once everything concluded, Li Ming also breathed a sigh of relief, mentally fatigued; only by having the upper hand did he acquire such benefits.
He estimated that, through various means, he could receive around 120 billion to 140 billion metal energy.
Exceeding his maximum initial forecast, it was an exceedingly substantial amount, enough to make him rub his fingers in anticipation.
"However, how did the Three Great Civilizations learn about the âbiological virusâ affair?" Li Ming considered another matter.
Only when he first arrived at the Chaotic Star Gap, seeking a foothold, did he use this ability to intimidate the Holy Mother Church.
Since then, he rarely displayed this ability to the outside world.
All those whose genetic essence he absorbed, whether proactively or passively, basically all died, so none should have fallen into the hands of the Three Great Civilizations.
Holy Mother Church... Li Ming frowned, but couldnât figure it out.
Perhaps it was leaked from the Holy Mother Church, later discovered by the Three Great Civilizations.
Though, not being able to absorb genetic essence wasnât a problem for him this time. He didnât need it now; when needed, capturing a few opposing X Level life forms would suffice.
Unable to think of a clear answer, he shook his head and temporarily set the matter aside.
Yet, upon reflection, he recalled his last request, not helping a quirky smile appear on his face, "The price of metal materials... hehe..."
Then he took out his intelligence terminal and sent a message to Mikhail.
Thus, ten days after the High-level Life Form Union meeting concluded.
Mikhail, under the name of the Three Great Masters, called upon all the Casting Star Mechanics to remotely descend upon his base.
This gathering also took longer than all mechanics had anticipated.
In Mikhailâs base, an open hall gradually formed with virtual projections.
The projections, mostly composed of Casting Star Mechanics in the form of Mechanical Transformations, were chatting with each other, creating a lively atmosphere, numbering no less than two hundred.
The classification of Casting Star Mechanics was broad, among which some controlled X Level Mechanical Bodies.
But most were cobbled together, heavily reliant on the support of guys like Reynolds and Mikhail.
"...Kutsk, last time we met, we worried about the Mechanic Associationâs future, thinking it would eventually become a fading relic under various civilizationsâ erosion."
"Who wouldâve thought Azure Dragon Divine Craftsman was so formidable, reversing the situation single-handedly."
"Indeed, from being under supervision for just a few years, my business has dwindled by a third. If more years pass, there might be no one left."
"...When Hammer Divine Craftsman was around, there wasnât such power."
"..."
Many Casting Star Mechanics were excited, with someone inevitably asking, "This time for assembling us, there should be new development plans, right?"
"Having been stifled recently, we must reclaim the market this time."
"Hmm... Lord Azure Dragon previously didnât involve himself much with the Mechanic Association. I heard his pupilâs Mechanical Court is preparing to open branches among various civilizations."
The room paused, and the atmosphere immediately turned subtle. It equated to taking their cake, but was soon brushed off with a laugh.
Everyone present was well aware they needed Azure Dragon, not the other way around.
This magnate truly wanted to take over some business; theyâd have no choice.
"Everyone..."
Amidst the chatter, a clear voice overshadowed all other arguments.
"Mikhail?"
Someone immediately called out as Mikhailâs real form entered the door.
More than two-thirds of the Casting Star Mechanics present gradually toned down their expressions. A portion, even staring with anger, rudely said:
"Why is it you, whereâs Lord Azure Dragon?"
Mikhail was notorious within the Mechanic Association, a reputation not built overnight, but rooted in years of accumulation.
Yet, those daring to rebuke directly were not ordinary â they belonged to Reynolds.
"Lord Azure Dragon will arrive soon." Mikhail was used to this.
He had allies within too, but had long ordered them not to stand up for him in such occasions like this.
Then, another virtual image outlined, it was Reynolds, with a deep voice and hearty laughter, "Long time no see everyone."
Many Casting Star Mechanics treated him much more amicably, many greeted him, behaving courteously.
However, still, a small number of people remained calm, unclear if they were Mikhailâs supporters or at odds with Reynolds.
Itâs hard for anyone to earn everyoneâs respect.
"...Not that simple..." Reynolds suddenly laughed loudly, "Today isnât just about having a casual chat with you. Thereâs a significant matter, an extraordinarily significant matter concerning the interstellar configuration."
Hearing him say this, the numerous mechanics present were intrigued, repeatedly asking.
Reynolds, however, remained cryptic, mysteriously saying, "This matter should be unveiled by Lord Azure Dragon."