Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station-Chapter 665 - 202: The Empire’s Direction_4

"So, after discussion, the Empire’s leadership decided to abandon the attack on the Dusk Star Realm."

"However, opportunities don’t wait for anyone. The Empire hasn’t completely abandoned this idea; instead, it has shifted its target to the Mechanical Race."

Bai Quan sent Chen Ming a complete star map of the surroundings of the Gallo Star Realm, with the boundaries of the Dusk Star Realm and the Mechanical Race Star Realm marked on it.

The star system of the Mechanical Race that Chen Ming visited last time was also specially marked.

Bai Quan continued: "The Mechanical Race itself doesn’t have much value. Although White Cloud Steel is decent, it isn’t considered rare, and you have to fight the Mechanical Race to acquire it."

"Moreover, the chip of the Mechanical Race has yet to be deciphered. Besides being traded with Dusk or dismantled for materials, it holds no value."

"But another civilization’s legacy held by the Mechanical Race is highly valuable."

"In some sense, it can be equivalent to the harvest from Dusk over there, or even higher."

Bai Quan paused and continued with the latter part of the sentence: "Of course, it might be lower. This is a risk, but because of your presence, the Empire is willing to accept this risk."

Chen Ming pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

Without waiting for Chen Ming to speak, Bai Quan continued: "Let me ask you a question, you can control the Mechanical Race, right?"

"Yes."

This question Chen Ming could answer, and there was no need to hide it, especially since he had previously controlled those few Mechanical Race cruisers in front of the entire Pirate Space Station Star System and sent them back to his temporary base.

After receiving Chen Ming’s affirmative answer, Bai Quan said: "But we haven’t found anything similar to the situation with Dusk over at the Mechanical Race."

"Your control over the Mechanical Race is different from your control over Dusk; your spiritual energy cannot spread through the Mechanical Race."

This statement surprised Chen Ming, prompting him to ask: "What do you mean?"

"In the video from when you encountered the Phase Giant Beast, it was clear you were attacking and looting the Mechanical Race colonies."

"But logically, you already had experience from Dusk, and you could have sent a Mechanical Race unit to infiltrate deep into the Mechanical Race territory and gradually take control of their cities."

"Like a parasite, continuously acquiring more resources and eventually taking them all away at the right moment."

"This would certainly be the easiest and most effective method."

"Yet, you didn’t do this; instead, you chose the most direct way to plunder the Mechanical Race’s resources, and also summoned follow-up reinforcements from the Mechanical Race, nearly getting trapped in the star system. This explains a lot."

"Therefore, we speculate that the hive mind of the Mechanical Race, unlike Dusk’s, has affected how your spiritual energy works on them."

Chen Ming paused for a moment and replied: "That’s correct. All individual entities of the Mechanical Race that I’ve controlled have detached from their hive mind, unable to help me spread further in the original location like Dusk."

After finishing, Chen Ming immediately added: "I also have a question to ask. Isn’t the Empire already at war with both Dusk and the Mechanical Race on various border fronts? Why start a new battlefield?"

"Moreover, haven’t Dusk and the Mechanical Race been blocking the borders for years? Why decide to do this now?"

Bai Quan replied: "You can combine these two questions into one, which is why the Empire is opening a new battlefield in the Border Star Realm of the Gallo Star Realm at this particular time."

"The answer is actually quite simple."