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

The president's expression changed slightly.

Five billion Star Dollars is not a crippling amount for the United States.

But ten 10 billion-year acceleration cards are not something you can just take out casually.

The value of a 10 billion-year acceleration card is far greater than that of a 1 billion-year acceleration card, and it is even more beyond the reach of basic acceleration cards like those with 100 million or 10 million years of acceleration.

Even with the resources of the United States, it can only produce less than one hundred of these cards per year at most.

"Mr. Chen, isn't this price too high?" the president said slowly. "It's just basic intelligence. I can decide on five billion star coins, but ten 10 billion-year acceleration cards—"

"Mr. President," Old Chen interrupted him, his tone still calm, "you should know that any information about the black hole's trajectory, even basic information, is priceless and unavailable on the current international market."

"Your Congress approved the New Manhattan Project, and the funding of 3.5 trillion Star Dollars has been allocated. But even with all that 3.5 trillion, your scientists haven't even touched the threshold of black holes."

"The basic information I'm giving you now can shorten your research and development cycle by at least one year."

"How many Star Currencies is a year worth to the United States? Ten 10 Billion-Year Acceleration Cards are not something your country cannot afford. Moreover, we will not use these acceleration cards for free."

"In future formal cooperation, the scope of data sharing on black hole routes can be appropriately broadened—of course, the extent to which it can be broadened depends on your country's sincerity this time."

The president remained silent.

He knew that Old Chen was right.

The United States is indeed in a very awkward situation right now.

The funding for the new Manhattan Project has been approved, but scientists, facing the completely unfamiliar field of black holes, don't even know where to begin.

If they could obtain basic intelligence, even just a framework, it would at least save them a year of detours in their research and development.

A year is incredibly precious for the United States right now.

"Five 10 Billion Year Acceleration Cards." The president gritted his teeth and announced a number. "The 5 billion star coins remain unchanged, but the maximum number of 10 Billion Year Acceleration Cards is five."

"Mr. Chen, it's not that I'm stingy, it's just that our current inventory is indeed limited."

"The antimatter bomb operation has already depleted a large portion of our strategic reserves, and we are now short of the billions of years of acceleration cards."

Old Chen did not respond immediately, but turned his head to the side, seemingly whispering something to the person next to him.

The president couldn't see who was next to Old Chen, but he guessed that it must be Lin Tian.

That young man always seemed to appear beside Old Chen at these crucial moments.

After a while, Old Chen turned back around.

"Ten. However—" He paused, "it can be delivered in two installments. The first batch of five will be paid along with five billion star coins; the second batch of five will be delivered after the fall of the Sakura Kingdom and the official commencement of the transaction."

"Can the President accept this condition?"

The president gritted his teeth.

He could tell, of course, that Old Chen was giving him a way out.

The two-stage delivery means that he only needs to provide five 10 billion-year acceleration cards and 5 billion star coins now, and the remaining five can wait until the formal transaction.

This debt isn't too bad; at least it's enough for him to explain himself when he gets back.

"Deal." He uttered those two words.

……

After the communication was lost, the president sat in his chair for a long time.

Five billion Star Coins and ten 10 Billion Year Acceleration Cards can be exchanged for a set of basic information.

"Mr. President, the five billion star coins have already been allocated, and the first batch of five 10 billion-year acceleration cards are already en route to the First Star Sector of the Great Xia Kingdom." The adjutant's voice was very low. "Delivery is expected to be completed within twelve hours."

The president nodded and said nothing more.

Fifty billion Star Coins and five 10 billion-year acceleration cards were exchanged for nothing more than basic information that wasn't even considered core.

If this gets out, the United States will probably lose face on the international stage.

But are there any other paths to take besides this one?

He had asked himself this question countless times, and the answer was always the same.

No.

Black hole paths have become the most crucial strategic resource of our time.

Whoever controls black holes controls the future.

No matter how powerful the United States is, it is nothing more than a slightly larger lamb to the slaughter in the face of a black hole.

He wasn't unaware of how ridiculous his demands were.

This is an unfair calculation no matter how you look at it.

But so what?

There has never been absolute fairness in this world.

It's just a matter of how much leverage you have and how much demand I have.

Right now, the country with the greatest demand is the United States.

He rubbed his temples and then said something to his adjutant.

"Once we obtain the basic intelligence, we will immediately arrange for our return flight."

"Yes, Mr. President."

About a day later.

Fifty billion Star Coins and the first batch of five 10 billion-year acceleration cards were delivered within the agreed time, and basic intelligence was also sent to the President of the Beacon Nation's special ship through an encrypted channel.

There's no question of who profited or lost in this deal.

Both sides got what they wanted, and both paid the corresponding price.

As for whether the president of the United States can stabilize his poll numbers, withstand the pressure from the Democratic Party, or retain the Republican Party's ruling position in the next election after obtaining basic intelligence... Lin Tian had no interest in caring about these things.

……

Time flies.

The two-week break came to an end before we knew it.

The inventory of spoils in the Eighth Star Sector has been basically completed, and the star mineral resources seized from the Sakura Kingdom are being continuously transported back to the mainland of the Great Xia Kingdom.

The overall national strength score increased by nearly one billion in just half a month.

Meanwhile, the members of the Black Hole Legion have completed a new round of evolution in the past two weeks.

Su Li's mass exceeded 700,000 times the mass of the sun.

Fang Yan followed closely behind, reaching 650,000 times.

Lu Xuejian's progress was also astonishing—her black hole mass had increased to 530,000 times, firmly placing her among the top five within the legion.

As for the second batch of expanded trainees, most of them have also completed the evolution from ordinary black holes to Kerr black holes.

The average mass of the entire black hole legion has increased from tens of thousands of times the mass of the sun before the war to more than three hundred thousand times.

More importantly, the total number of people in the legion has exceeded six hundred.

A few months ago, no one would have dared to imagine this number.

But now, that is reality.

On the day the rest period ended, Lin Tian's order was promptly transmitted to the legion's command channel.

"Attention all troops, rest period over. From now on, the Black Hole Legion will continue its advance. Target—from the Seventh Star Sector to the Second Star Sector of the Sakura Kingdom."

"Do not take prisoners; devour all enemy celestial bodies."

There was a moment of silence on the channel.

Then, Su Li's voice rang out first.

"receive!"

Next up is Fang Yan.

"receive!"

Then came Li Changying, Zhao Zheng, Lu Xuejian, Wang Heming...

The Black Hole Legion is activated once again.