"The honeymoon period is almost over; it’s quite normal not to want to give anymore," Li Ming pondered for a moment.
The Collector wanted him to work for himself, rather than providing him with various conveniences. At first, they didn’t mind giving him a sweetener, but now they were unwilling to offer more benefits.
This was within his expectations, he shook his head and continued to develop gene seeds.
The Floating Islands of the Land of Stars operated along special trajectories, and various flying vehicles shuttled nonstop.
During the absence of the Star King, for various reasons, many had shattered, including several A-level Life Forms like the Collector who tried to replicate the Floating Island reconstruction technology, but none could achieve a 100% restoration.
Five days later, Saber arrived, carrying a metal case.
Without needing to voice it, Li Ming invited him into his room. Saber appeared hesitant, as if unsure of how to begin.
Li Ming took the initiative, "What did that person behind you say?"
At these words, Saber immediately said, "The lord asked me to thank you first."
Li Ming nodded with a faint smile, quietly waiting for what came next.
Saber, sensing the expectation, picked up the case he had brought, opened it, and mist of liquid nitrogen poured out, covering the floor in a white fog, and the temperature dropped several degrees.
A cooling box? Li Ming was surprised.
Then Saber used metal tongs from the case’s compartment to pick up a test tube filled with black reagent.
Responding to Li Ming’s puzzled look, he explained, "Whale Origin Reagent, this is a genetic medication made from the heart essence of a Dome Giant Whale."
Li Ming examined it closely—quite dense with specks of starlight, like a brilliant starry river.
Li Ming had never heard of such creatures, and suspicion involuntarily showed in his eyes; he did not accept it immediately.
Seeing Li Ming’s hesitance, Saber promptly activated his smart terminal, opened the Black Hole Network in front of him, and accessed a piece of data he had purchased not long ago.
Li Ming took it and found it to be the relevant basic information about the Dome Giant Whale, which matched what the other had said.
The Dome Giant Whale was a communal interstellar creature, with the strength of an adult able to reach the level of an A-level Life Form.
Its heart essence had an extremely special effect, capable of stimulating the genes of most life forms and bringing about an enhancement.
When this was discovered, an interstellar whaling frenzy had erupted, but due to large-scale slaughter, it was now a key protected species of the interstellar alliance.
Because of the particularity of the gene evolution path, most enhancing medications carried the risk of inducing genetic mutations.
Reagents that don’t affect the organism’s own gene sequences yet enhance their capabilities are extremely rare, even in the vast interstellar.
Li Ming nodded but still did not accept the offer, instead saying, "Such a precious gift, I dare not accept it lightly."
"You probably already guessed the specifics," Saber carefully put the reagent back and said in a low voice, "I want to ask you to take action and repair the arm’s owner."
"Repair?," Li Ming wasn’t surprised but shook his head, "Maybe I didn’t make it clear before, the price of repair is too great; these three vials of medication are far from enough."
After Saber had left last time, Li Ming roughly estimated that, according to the Black Hole Network’s data, the Star King was a fully mechanized body.
Not counting additional mechanical components, just to completely clear the erosion from those nano-mechanical insects in his body.
It would require no less than ten billion in metal energy, a terrifying amount, almost like going through his entire body, maybe even more.
Not to mention these three vials of medication, even thirty vials or three hundred vials would not suffice.
"I understand..." Saber wasn’t surprised either and said, "These items are just a greeting gift from the lord, as well as a small reward for the last repair."
"Oh?" Li Ming was slightly stunned, was the Star King so wealthy?
Since that was the case, he did not pretend, and reached out to accept it. Saber hesitated for a moment and, while handing over the case, added, "The lord’s circumstances are special, the cost is something he currently cannot afford."
Li Ming paused, not wanting to be exploited. If I accept it, will I be asked to operate on credit?
He stressed, "Let’s make it clear, I’m not being stingy. Cleaning up that arm last time already used up a good share of my reserves; I don’t accept advances."
"The lord isn’t looking for a complete repair, just to get him moving. Once he can move, he can retrieve more of his possessions to pay the compensation," Saber explained.
Li Ming was then reassured; he accepted the cooling case, also quite astonished, not expecting the Star King to be completely immobilized now.
An ordinary civilization, probably lacking such means, as a ruler of the Land of Stars surely isn’t just a simple A-level Life Form.
Now, in the divided Land of Stars, there are five A-level Life Forms ruling, let alone in the past.
"He wants to move?" Li Ming mused, "Having not seen the specific injuries, I can’t estimate how much repair is needed for him to be able to move."
Saber immediately replied, "Having suffered deep erosion for many years, he knows himself well; he only needs his energy engine repaired to about 30%, with some cleaning of the mechanical components, he should be able to move around."
"What do you need as compensation? Star Coin? Or something else?"
He asked this now—one reason for coming was to gauge the other party’s attitude, whether they were willing to repair, and whether the existence of the Star King would be revealed.
The other reason was to show goodwill and to verify exactly what Li Ming required.
"Hmm, it’s best to give me precious metal materials, the more valuable, the better," Li Ming pondered, Star Coin would mean trading through the Black Hole Network, and he would still need to buy materials, like a scapegoat.