On the float-car returning to the Rainbow Palace, Ling couldn't help but ask Bai Zhongqi, "Your Majesty, since you say that a lion does not concern itself with the feelings of an ant, why then did you personally come to meet these people?"
Bai Zhongqi sat in a seat with modified comfort, resting his chin on his hand, looking out at the still brilliantly illuminated Durag outside the window, and responded casually, "Because when ants gather in sufficient numbers, they can form a very useful force."
"So, you want to bring Lingge Star into the Star Alliance as well?" Ling's eyes sparkled, very interested in Bai Zhongqi's thoughts.
"It's not impossible. The Star Alliance possesses strong technological power and now even has a considerable fleet, but our civilization's foundation is weak, lacking the population to support and evolve the civilization, especially the population influenced, acknowledged, and supportive of this civilization. In the First Universe, there are far fewer civilizations than in our Second Universe, where we are located. Considering our civilization's technological orientation, we are not particularly fixated on population. However, now, we face a situation far more complex and perilous than before; we must continuously strengthen ourselves if we wish to survive."
Ling nodded, Bai Zhongqi's words had gradually become a consensus among the people of the Iridium Star. The Second Universe was very different from the First Universe, and the people of the Iridium Star were quickly adapting to the new environment.
On her beautiful face, devoid of flamboyance, was a look of focus: "But to assimilate Lingge Star as part of the Iridium Star-Earth civilization will take time, which will not be shorter than the transformative reforms Earth is currently undergoing. I would also like to remind you, Your Majesty, that the acceptance level of Lingge Star might not be especially high, even though we liberated them from the Teizene. Moreover, with a population of over two billion, more than a quarter of the existing population of the Star Alliance, the cultural influx from Lingge Star will indeed impact the civilization of the Star Alliance."
Bai Zhongqi shifted his gaze from the window to Ling, "Building our civilization will take a considerable amount of time, which I am prepared for. As for the influence of Lingge Star's culture, that concerns me less, as we are continuously exposed to many different civilizations and cultures, assimilating their superior aspects, thus transforming them into our advantage. Moreover, each planet has its own characteristics, Lingge Star will retain its identity, and Earth will carry its own traits."
He turned his gaze back toward the window, saying lightly, "Right now, I am more concerned about those stubborn Teizene."
After the Star Alliance took over Lingge Star, Bai Zhongqi learned that the Teizene commander at the Lingge Star base had contacted the fleet of the Teizene Empire. It might not be long before this area becomes a new battle zone.
Deep down, Bai Zhongqi very much wanted to fight another battle with the Teizene. This time he was well-prepared, and the scale of his fleet might even surpass that of the Teizene. Bai Zhongqi believed that another severe blow to the Teizene Empire would force the Teizene to reconsider how to confront the Star Alliance, as they could not defeat such an opponent.
Although it was unlikely that the Teizene would choose peace talks with the Star Alliance, they might adopt a strategic posture with aggressive local offensives.
For Bai Zhongqi himself, he did not wish this war to drag on endlessly. There were numerous civilizations in the Galaxy much more powerful than the Star Alliance, none of which wanted to eradicate the Teizene, for good reason. Destroying a civilization on the scale of the Teizene would involve vast energy and waste potential opportunities for civilizational development.
The Earth civilization was also at a critical stage of formation and development. Even though building fleets and training armies were part of the development of civilization, focusing more energy on civilization development itself would clearly be more effective.
As the float-car was about to reach the Rainbow Palace, a sudden loud noise interrupted Bai Zhongqi's contemplation.
He immediately jumped from one side of the car seat to the other, and through the window glass, he saw the south-western district of Durag City engulfed by a huge fireball that had devoured thousands of square meters of land.
Ling's pretty face immediately took on a resolute expression; she quickly contacted the nearby stationed Delta Corps, "Hurry to find out what has happened."
Then, she said to Bai Zhongqi, "Your Majesty, it seems Lingge Star is not so peaceful after all. For safety, we should return to the warship."
Bai Zhongqi showed no sign of alarm and merely said, "No matter."
In a dilapidated apartment in the district, Jenna looked terrified at a corner of the district.
"What a terrible explosion, what exactly happened?"
Boli Weicai maliciously guessed, "Could it be those Earthlings' doing, intended to scare us?"
Fang Jiye dismissed this possibility, "They have no need for that."
Jenna covered her mouth, her blue eyes filled with fear, "That looks like the factory area I was thrown into before."
Fang Jiye pushed his glasses up on his nose, "It must be sabotage."
This intellectual's deduction was quite accurate; less than ten minutes later, Bai Zhongqi received the on-site investigative report. A man named Sali Ji from Ives, also a minor leader in the fake government controlled by the Teizene, had detonated a heavy bomb in the factory he was overseeing, causing the death or injury of approximately eighteen hundred workers and their families.
Knowing he had no way out after being caught, Sali Ji took vengeance on the city that offered him no refuge in his final act.
The factory explosion caused the people of Durag to become even more panic-stricken, and the organization planned by Fang Jiye and others gained quicker acceptance from local various sectors, becoming an acting authority of Durag.
The next morning, Fang Jiye and several Durag representatives came to the Rainbow Palace to meet the "new occupying force" Chancellor. However, Bai Zhongqi did not receive them; instead, a few Universe Army civilian officers welcomed the representatives. Although disappointed, Fang Jiye and his colleagues proceeded to inquire about the post-conflict plans for the Ives Federal Republic with these Earth officers.
The Star Alliance's proposal was not much different from the most country-assimilation plans on Earth. As a quasi-member, Ives joined the Star Alliance and followed the Star Alliance's strategic commands, while the specific local management was not directly interfered with by the Star Alliance.
At this time, Bai Zhongqi had not allocated extra construction resources to Lingge Star, 271 light years away, and even temporarily had no plans to recruit Lingge people into the Universe Army. For a few other Lingge Star countries outside of the Ives Federal Republic, Bai Zhongqi also subjugated them with a strong hand.