“Coercion?”
Heiyu Ao frowned, “We can’t violate the laws and regulations of the Alliance.”
The cost of violating the laws and regulations of the Alliance was enormous, and he, Heiyu Ao, would only consider doing so at a critical moment.
For instance, when competing for the position of clan leader.
To do it for Lin Yuan… still wasn’t worthwhile.
“Of course.”
Bei Zhao nodded.
He too had never thought of violating the laws and regulations.
“The reason Lin Yuan is unwilling to join the young master’s ranks is probably due to his feelings for Canglan Star, his nostalgia for his homeworld.”
Bei Zhao began to speak.
The homeworld indeed held a unique place in many evolvers’ hearts.
Powerful evolvers roamed the vast expanse of the universe, witnessing planets with diverse customs, but they only had one homeworld.
“Continue.”
Heiyu Ao looked at Bei Zhao.
“Given that, we could start with Canglan Star.”
Bei Zhao paused for a moment and then continued, “If I remember correctly, the Heiyu Family has had quite a few trade dealings with Canglan Star in past years?”
As one of the five major forces in the Chikun Star Domain, the Heiyu Family’s extensive scale meant it had interstellar trade with most of the planets within the star domain.
This was normal; certain rare ores and scarce raw materials on Canglan Star needed to go through the Heiyu Family’s trade association to be quickly monetized.
There were also various shopping channels that went through the Heiyu Family.
“You mean?”
Heiyu Ao’s eyes lit up.
“With the young master’s status, he completely has the power to sever the family’s trade with Canglan Star.”
“When that time comes, the young master can say that the family’s refusal to trade with Canglan Star is entirely due to that Lin Yuan’s lack of appreciation.”
Bei Zhao smiled slightly, “Unless something unexpected happens, Lin Yuan will inevitably endure the verbal and written condemnation of countless citizens of Canglan Star, perhaps even become the sinner of the entire planet. By then, he will understand the young master’s power and status, and will likely come over and submit of his own accord.”
“Excellent, excellent.”
Heiyu Ao’s face showed a smile.
Severing trade with Canglan Star did not violate Alliance laws and regulations, after all, human civilization advocates free trade. If I don’t want to trade with you, surely the three goddesses won’t force us?
“This method might cost the young master some of his connections, as severing interstellar trade with Canglan Star is a method that harms both sides.”
Bei Zhao cautiously inquired.
Heiyu Ao was still in the stage of being tested by his family and had limited resources and means at his disposal.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Heiyu Ao shook his head.
Severing trade with Canglan Star could simply involve selecting other planets, merely increasing the cost somewhat.
As someone of noble status, he, Heiyu Ao, certainly had that right.
“You may leave now.”
Heiyu Ao looked down at Bei Zhao.
“Yes.”
The elderly man named Bei Zhao, dressed in a black suit, vanished into the distance.
Sitting on the throne, Heiyu Ao pondered for a while before starting to contact an elder.
After a short while.
A holographic screen appeared in front of Heiyu Ao.
A man dressed in a loose coat looked at Heiyu Ao.
“Xiao Ao, what do you need?”
The man in the loose coat asked indifferently.
“Second Uncle.”
Heiyu Ao had already risen from his throne and bowed respectfully.
“Second Uncle, I want to sever all trade between our family and Canglan Star.”
Heiyu Ao stated his intention directly.
“Canglan Star…”
The man in the loose coat pulled up information on the planet and furrowed his brow, “It’s just a middle-grade life planet; how did it offend you, Xiao Ao?”
The man in the loose coat, a senior member of the Heiyu Family, was in charge of all the family’s trade in the Dawn Star System. With a word from him, severing trade with Canglan Star was a simple matter.
“I wanted to recruit a genius evolver from Canglan Star to participate in the star domain-level arena battle for me, but he refused.”
Heiyu Ao said.
“Just for that?”
The man in the loose overcoat furrowed his brows tightly.
If it were merely about failing to recruit the desired person and thus resorting to using the power of the Heiyu Family to oppress the other party—
the man in the loose overcoat would be very disappointed with Heiyu Ao.
“Second uncle, this person is very important to me…”
Heiyu Ao gritted his teeth as he divulged the matters of the family’s “Think Tank.”
“So it’s a genius Evolver selected by the ‘Think Tank’…” the man in the loose overcoat’s expression turned grave.
Over tens of thousands of years, the Heiyu Family’s ‘Think Tank’ had accrued innumerable merits.
Especially that Chief of the Think Tank who had initially advised Heiyu Mo to move the entire clan to the Chikun Star Domain.
That was what led to the present glory of the Heiyu Family.
“I’ll cut off trade with Canglan Star.”
“Little Ao, you must also try hard to show those in the clan.”
After speaking, the man in the loose overcoat ended the call with Heiyu Ao.
…
“Mr. Lin, since you’ve rejected that Heiyu Ao’s recruitment, the other party will definitely take follow-up actions. It’s highly likely that they will tamper with the interstellar trade of Canglan Star.”
Within the main building of the manor, Captain of the Guard Troops Hou Ming analyzed.
“I think so too.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
His parents and younger sister were all in the manor, the whole family was under the protection of Canglan Star’s Planetary Defense System, and coupled with the surveillance from the Goddess of Wisdom—
Heiyu Ao simply couldn’t find a place to threaten Lin Yuan.
With the influence of the Heiyu Family, all they could do was cut off trade with Canglan Star, then transfer the pressure onto Lin Yuan.
“That Heiyu Ao thinks that, because I’m not accepting recruitment, I immensely value Canglan Star and don’t want to part with this place…”
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
“Even if they cancel trade with Canglan Star and blame everything on you, Mr. Lin, at most it would just cause other citizens of Canglan Star to have some opinions.”
“As long as Mr. Lin doesn’t mind these, it will be of no consequence.”
The Captain of the Guard Troops stole a glance at Lin Yuan.
In fact, while he made it sound simple, when one actually becomes the center of endless public opinion, the person in the midst of it all might feel differently.
“I won’t mind it.”
Lin Yuan shook his head as he spoke.
Even when he was the most vilified demon of the Five Domains known as Xiahou Yuan during his fourth traversal, Lin Yuan didn’t care, so why would he now?
“What we need to be cautious about now is, after Heiyu Ao cuts off trade with Canglan Star and realizes that it doesn’t affect you, Mr. Lin, whether they might make other extreme moves…”
A trace of worry appeared on Captain Hou Ming’s face.
People aren’t AIs—they have emotions, desires, and thus, impulsiveness too.
Hou Ming was worried that Heiyu Ao, driven to desperation, might take reckless actions, no matter how unlikely that possibility.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Lin Yuan’s expression remained calm.
He had already met the senior brother and informed him about Heiyu Ao’s actions.
The senior brother had also assured that nothing untoward would happen.
“I wonder what measures or methods the senior brother plans to use to defend against Heiyu Ao?”
Suddenly, Lin Yuan felt a bit curious.
…
The spaceship landing area of Canglan Star.
A bald, burly man stepped out.
“Wuwuwu, is this Canglan Star? The place where my junior brother grew up from childhood?”
The bald man took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and savored the moment.
“If my junior brother wants to cultivate quietly on Canglan Star without being disturbed by that Heiyu Ao, the most foolproof method is naturally for me to come over and personally sit in on Canglan Star…”
“With me on Canglan Star, Heiyu Mo himself wouldn’t dare make a fuss…”
After leaving the spaceship landing area, the bald man casually found a place to stay.
With his strength, a single thought was enough to envelop the entire Canglan Star, and not even the Planetary Defense System detected his presence.
“This Avatar of mine, recently refined, is unknown to the outside world. With my true body situated on Chikun Main Star, those ‘Divination’ Class Evolvers unaware of this Avatar can’t possibly divine any useful information.”
The bald man gazed in the direction of the Central Mainland.
He merely sensed the aura of the Central Mainland without probing deeper, so Lin Yuan wouldn’t detect it.
“Just a few decades. As long as I can leave a good impression in my junior brother’s heart, it’s completely worth it…”
Now, the bald man even hoped that Heiyu Ao would become more impulsive.
At the very least, it would allow him to demonstrate his value and not make this trip in vain.
…