Chapter 440: Ch
"But I do not particularly like the idea of dealing with each and every one of you individually. Please forgive my forwardness, but I believe that individual dealings and partnerships are not only inefficient, they also fail to bring everything each party has to offer onto the table."
"Let us take, for example, what the Celestial Void Empire currently needs most. We require vital material resources of every tier, though naturally the higher-tier resources are preferable. Along with that, we need large markets through which we can distribute our products and establish our own trade channels."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Something that each of you possesses in abundance, and something many of you are not even fully utilizing, as your current needs are already being fulfilled by your existing output."
"Am I right?"
Looking across the gathered dignitaries, he asked the question calmly.
To his amusement, nearly every dignitary present found themselves unconsciously nodding their heads in agreement.
"And beyond that lies the true turning point. What if..."
Kallus paused, letting the words sink in before continuing.
"What if all of you, whom we might potentially sign separate agreements with, instead formed an alliance? An alliance led and governed by all of its members together."
"A space where the needs of everyone could be met."
He gestured toward Tharx. "Take Sovereign Tharx, for example. His territory possesses vast amounts of Mobenight, a Tier 4 vital resource. It is something they wish to sell, but currently lack sufficient markets through which to do so, correct?"
Along with it came many other resources of various tiers and countless other goods.
Tharx nodded, a look of surprise appearing on his face as he suddenly realized where Kallus had been steering the discussion all along.
But this was something he genuinely felt was worth considering above all else. After all, he stood to gain many things from it.
Seeing this, the smile on Kallus’s face widened even further. He gave an approving nod toward Tharx before turning his attention back to the audience.
"Mobenight is something my Empire would very much like to acquire. And I imagine there are many other resources here that quite a few of you would be interested in obtaining as well, no?"
Hearing this, many leaders of Tier 2 factions, and even several Tier 1 powers, nodded their heads once again while looking toward Sovereign Tharx with shining eyes.
"Many of you possess something that others present here, or the factions, kingdoms, empires, and nations they represent, require a constant supply of. Forming an alliance among all of us would only make the exchange of such resources easier and more efficient."
"And not only that. Every one of you, including my Empire, faces difficulties of a rather similar nature. Is that not true?"
"Supply chains disrupted. Trade routes restricted. Access to resources limited. All because of the greed of some nations or the arrogance of others."
He let his gaze sweep across the gathering.
"An alliance would give us all the opportunity to combine our advantages for the benefit of our respective nations in a positive and mutually beneficial manner."
"It would bring forth countless advantages while carrying little to no disadvantage in return."
"You all possess resources that others need, and each of you produces goods that someone else requires. My Empire has technology and various other advantages that many of you may find valuable, while all of you possess resources that we ourselves need."
"And from that, a cycle of mutual exchange would naturally form."
"A cycle in which each of us possesses something the others require, creating a network of reliance and stability. Such a system would only provide even more reasons for us to come together and form this alliance."
"After all, when every member benefits from the prosperity of the others, cooperation ceases to be a choice and instead becomes a shared interest."
"And not only that. The major benefit, which should already be clear to all of you by now, would be the relaxation of embargoes and the reduction of the heavy-handed pressure imposed by nearby Tier 1, Tier 2, and even Tier 3 powers. At least from an economic standpoint."
"And that would begin happening almost immediately."
As those words fell, Kallus remained silent, giving everyone ample reason to seriously consider the proposal. His words held truth, and more importantly, what he proposed was entirely achievable with a reasonable amount of effort from all sides involved.
At that moment, everyone took advantage of Kallus’s silence to absorb what had been said. Discussions quickly broke out once again as dignitaries exchanged information and began learning what each faction could potentially offer.
They already knew about Sovereign Tharx and the resources his Empire possessed. Many Tier 2 powers were extremely eager to obtain them, developing immediate interest once they learned the quantities available.
Then there was Matriarch T’Kala and her Hegemony. Her nation possessed several hyper-grade alloys used in the construction of critical structural components for warships, particularly keels and hull frameworks. That alone attracted immense attention.
When the gathered powers learned about the production yield and price per ton, they were even more surprised to discover that the alloys were nearly forty percent below average market cost while maintaining a significantly higher purity level. The revelation excited many beyond measure, including Tharx, Valoria, and several other Tier 3 powers. They understood better than anyone just how important such materials were and how enormous their market value could be.
Then there was Lord Vaelen of the Krynn Hegemony, a Tier 3 power. His nation specialized in synthetic medical technologies and other advanced technological products that were both vital and widely applicable, from everyday civilian use to large-scale emergency situations.
What surprised many even more was that the cost of these technologies was considerably lower than comparable products produced by the Seven Great Galactic Medical Enterprises.
This revelation especially caught the attention of many Tier 1 powers, as advanced medical technology was one of the sectors in which most of them remained heavily dependent on outside suppliers and had little leverage of their own.
Not to mention that these corporations used their leverage to inflate the prices of even the most common medical equipment to absurd levels. It was something many powers had long been forced to tolerate, helpless to do much about it.
But now, upon learning that the Krynn Hegemony not only possessed similar technologies, but in some cases even higher-tier versions of them, along with abundant supply and prices that were more than reasonable, excitement spread through the gathering.
After all, products being offered at nearly fifty percent below standard market value were not something one encountered every day.
The revelation made many of them favor the idea of the alliance more and more with each passing moment. The only reason they had not already jumped to their feet and eagerly accepted was because a single glance at Kallus made it obvious that he was not yet finished speaking.
But by observing the atmosphere in the hall, everyone already knew where things were heading. The room had become lively, filled with countless murmurs and conversations between different parties.
Some were gasping in astonishment, surprise, and disbelief, while others appeared genuinely upset. Most of that dissatisfaction came from the realization that they had been heavily overcharged by their so-called reliable trade partners.
Learning that many of the products they routinely purchased had been sold to them at prices forty to even one hundred percent above what they could have cost elsewhere left a bitter taste in their mouths. It also made the idea of the alliance far more appealing.
After all, the benefits Kallus had placed before them were not only practical but highly attractive.
Frankly, they were good enough that many found them difficult to refuse.
What Kallus was offering was, in essence, a direct marketplace. A place where every faction could present its products, attract buyers, and establish stable trade relations without relying on outside intermediaries. In turn, this would generate new streams of income and provide much-needed relief to economies that were struggling in their own ways.
Many of those struggles had been caused by restrictions, sanctions, monopolies, and the various pressures imposed by the powers surrounding them. An alliance like this offered a chance, perhaps for the first time in a long while, to loosen those chains.
"But just that much won’t be enough, would it?" Kallus suddenly spoke those words, causing everyone to stop their conversations and look toward him in confusion. They did not understand what he meant.
"Not enough? What do you mean?" many thought.
"While all of this sounds good, before long it would become a source of tragedy."
The confusion only deepened.
"You all haven’t forgotten the rule of the universe, have you? Strength rules," Kallus said.
Almost simultaneously, Valoria, Tharx, and several other Tier 1 rulers echoed the same words under their breaths.
Immediately, many realized what he was getting at.
"Without sufficient strength,
