Everyone's playing Red Giant? I, Black Hole, devour everything!

The silence in the meeting room did not last long.

Old Chen's gaze slowly swept across each person's face.

Then he spoke.

"Those who agree to negotiate cooperation with the President of the United States, please raise your hands."

The first hand was raised.

Then came the second one.

The third one.

The fourth one.

The fifth one.

The sixth one.

The seventh one.

Seven hands were raised in unison on both sides of the conference table.

Not a single person was left behind, and not a single person hesitated until the very last moment.

Old Chen watched this scene and slowly nodded.

"Seven votes in favor, zero votes against, and zero abstentions." His voice carried an indescribable emotion, like relief, yet also something deeper. "The resolution is passed."

Lin Tian sat quietly at the end of the long table.

He did not raise his hand because he had no right to vote.

His titles—commander of the Black Hole Task Force, head of the Black Hole Research Institute at Xinghua University, and senior colonel—would be enough to break the back of any eighteen-year-old.

But here, he is still just an observer.

But this is not important.

The important thing is that he already has the answer he wants.

"Lin Tian." Old Chen turned to look at him. "Next, you'll come with me to meet the President of the United States."

"Yes," Lin Tian replied with only one word.

……

The presidential ship of the United States, located on the outer perimeter of the first star sector.

There are still more than 20 hours left until the 48-hour deadline.

"Mr. President," the adjutant said in a low voice, "you haven't slept for almost twenty hours. Would you like to rest for a bit?"

"No need." The president waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on the screen. "Any news from the Great Xia Kingdom?"

"Not yet, but according to the communication signals we intercepted, the highest levels of the Great Xia Kingdom are holding an emergency meeting, and the results are expected soon."

The president did not respond.

He knew, of course, that the Great Xia Kingdom was holding a meeting.

From the moment Mr. Chen disconnected, he had been waiting for the outcome of this meeting.

The longer he waited, the greater the pressure he felt, but he couldn't show it.

Because he is the president of the United States, the supreme leader of the most powerful country on the planet.

Even if he is here to ask for a favor, he cannot let people know that he is asking for one.

At least it can't be too obvious.

"Mr. President!" The adjutant's voice suddenly rose an octave. "The Great Xia Kingdom—they've replied! Elder Chen requests to speak with you again!"

The president's finger paused on the table.

He didn't get up immediately, but took a deep breath first.

"Bring them in."

The light screen lit up.

Old Chen's image appeared on the screen, and just like last time, there was still a vast starry sky behind him.

"Mr. President, I apologize for keeping you waiting." Old Chen's voice was as calm as ever.

"Not long." The president chuckled, a hint of tension in his smile that he himself didn't realize. "Less than half of the forty-eight hours have passed. Mr. Chen, your efficiency is higher than I expected."

"Because we don't like to beat around the bush." ​​Old Chen cut to the chase without any more pleasantries. "Mr. President, we have already discussed your proposal."

"Oh? And the result?"

"In principle, the Great Xia Kingdom agrees to cooperate with the Lighthouse Kingdom."

A barely perceptible shift crossed the president's face.

But before he could fully exhale, Old Chen's voice rang out again.

"However, there are three points we need to clarify regarding your proposed cooperation plan."

"First, formal cooperation negotiations can only begin after the complete annihilation of the Sakura Kingdom."

"Second, the specific details of the cooperation need to be finalized by the highest levels of both parties, including but not limited to the scope of data sharing on black hole routes, the joint development model of ancient relics, and the specific details of the so-called 'Pacific co-governance' plan."

"Third, before all the above matters are formally agreed upon, the Great Xia Kingdom will not provide your country with any core data regarding the black hole's trajectory."

The president remained silent for a moment.

These three conditions are not considered harsh.

In fact, it was much milder than he had expected.

He had assumed that the Great Xia Congress would be asking for an exorbitant amount and would include a bunch of additional clauses in the cooperation agreement that would be unacceptable to the United States.

But they didn't.

They simply pushed all the substantive issues to the point of "formal negotiations".

This gave him a sense of relief, but also a vague unease.

"Mr. Chen, I can accept these three conditions," the president said slowly, "but I also have one request."

"Please speak."

"I need basic technical intelligence and training information about black hole trajectories. Give it to me now."

Old Chen's brow twitched slightly: "Mr. President, as I just said, the Great Xia Kingdom will not provide any core data until all formal agreements are reached."

"It's not core data." The president shook his head, his tone revealing a hint of urgency that he probably didn't even realize himself. "It's just basic intelligence, such as the basic theoretical framework of black hole routes, the general structure of the training system, the minimum threshold for transfer... These things don't involve core technology, but they're enough for me to report back to the party."

He paused here, as if considering his words.

"To be honest, Mr. Chen, my itinerary for this trip to the Great Xia Kingdom was kept completely secret. The Democratic Party still doesn't know that I've left Washington, let alone that I'm having this level of contact with the Great Xia Kingdom."

"If they find out about this deal, they will probably immediately initiate impeachment proceedings in Congress. Once public pressure builds up, I might have to resign."

"By then, any deal will be nonsense."

"So I need something, something that will allow me to prove to the party that 'this deal was worth it' when I get back home."

Even if it's just the most basic technical intelligence.

Old Chen did not answer immediately.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

In those few seconds, the president's heartbeats were practically counted.

He knew his request was somewhat presumptuous.

Demanding intelligence before a formal agreement is reached is not in accordance with any diplomatic practice.

But he had no other choice.

He cannot go back empty-handed, nor can he be without a decent bargaining chip in the face of attacks from Congress and the media.

"Mr. President," Old Chen finally spoke, "I can give you the basic information, but the core data can only be delivered after the fall of the Sakura Kingdom and the formal transaction begins."

"Moreover—" his tone turned slightly somber, "this basic information cannot be given away for free."

The president's heart relaxed for a moment, then tightened again.

He knew, of course, that the Great Xia Kingdom wouldn't give it away for nothing.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially between countries.

"What's the price?" the president asked directly.

"Fifty billion Star Coins, plus ten 10 billion-year acceleration cards."