Lu Yin appeared to have fallen deep into thought. Since there was an allied military, then a commander would definitely have to be selected. However, choosing that person would be a sensitive topic. “Let me think about it.”

“Your Highness, in addition to the Allied Forces, we can also set up a secret, quick response team to deal with the thorny issues,” En Ya suggested.

Lu Yin’s eyes lit up. “Special forces?”

“Something along those lines. This quick response force would ideally be made up of space-exploring powerhouses. We should also aim for this team to be the most deadly force in the entire Outerverse, assembled solely to carry out matters of the Great Yu Empire,” En Ya said.

Lu Yin agreed. “Alright then. This team can’t be made known to anyone else. I’ll leave it to you to set up this team’s organization while I look for the decision makers of the various weaves and have private discussions with each of them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After En Ya left, Gavin was the next to visit Lu Yin. He had requested to meet with the Minister of Finance to discuss the budget for the Allied Forces’ establishment. As for matters regarding economic cooperation among the alliance members, he was not interested in discussing such things at this time. However, Gavin brought with him some surprising news; Endless Borders was interested in establishing a presence in Frostwave Weave.

“Endless Borders? The company that’s one of the four biggest corporations?” Lu Yin asked in astonishment.

Gavin replied, “Yes, Endless Borders. Your minister has already met their regional manager for Frostwave Weave, Di Nuo. Many other people have also already met with the people from Endless Borders.”

Lu Yin started pondering this news. As one of the four major corporations, Endless Borders could move about the Outerverse unhindered, and they naturally had control over many secure and secret star routes. It was quite common for powerful organizations like them to establish a presence in Frostwave Weave, but it was quite unusual for their leader to personally seek out Gavin. This showed that the company valued Frostwave Weave.

Even though Endless Borders had a route that ran through Frostwave Weave, the supply vessels typically did not stay there for long. The fact that the corporation wanted to establish a presence in Frostwave Weave now was definitely related to what had happened on Sourcepeak Planet.

“Your Highness, after the arrival of Endless Borders, our local transport companies in Frostwave Weave have seen a significant drop in their market value. Some companies are even on the verge of bankruptcy, and they have been forced into desperation. About a dozen companies have already sought me out and requested that the empire expel Endless Borders from our region. There are more than a thousand people from various transport companies who are gathered outside of my residence right now, and all of them are seeking protection from the empire,” Gavin respectfully informed Lu Yin.

Lu Yin knitted his brows. “Get Di Nuo to come and see me.”

Gavin acknowledged Lu Yin’s orders.

The place where Di Nuo had chosen to temporarily reside was rather close to King Zishan’s palace. It seemed that he had already guessed that Lu Yin would request a meeting with him, and he had been waiting outside King Zishan’s palace for a while now.

Soon after, Lu Yin met with Endless Borders’ regional manager for Frostwave Weave. His appearance made it clear that he was a businessman; he was not particularly well dressed, but his disposition indicated his high intelligence.

“Di Nuo pays his respect to the Royal Regent of the Great Yu Empire.” Di Nuo respectfully bowed when he saw Lu Yin.

Lu Yin raised his hand and smiled. “There’s no need for such formalities, Mister Di Nuo. Please, have a seat.”

Gavin silently stood to the side as he watched the two men interact.

Di Nuo sat down as Zhao Ran offered him a cup of tea.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Di Nuo said.

Lu Yin looked at the man. “I heard that you are in charge of Endless Borders’ activities in Frostwave Weave, correct?”

Di Nuo bowed slightly. “Yes, Endless Borders humbly requests to enter Frostwave Weave and establish a presence here. We hope that you can facilitate this for us, and for this, you will have Endless Borders’ eternal gratitude.”

“Frostwave Weave is not a prime location for trade, and it doesn’t have any well-known specialty products either. As one of the four big corporations, why has Endless Borders chosen to expand to this place?” Lu Yin asked, staring intently at Di Nuo.

Di Nuo laughed. “Your Highness, you must be kidding. Frostwave Weave has an illustrious history, and it has also produced skilled individuals such as Wendy Yushan, who is in the Top 100 Rankings. Endless Borders would be blind to underestimate a place that has been able to produce such rare talents. Moreover, Your Highness has brought the entire eastern region of the Outerverse together in the Great Eastern Alliance. Needless to say, Frostwave Weave is at the core of the Great Eastern Alliance. Businesses are flourishing in the east, and the alliance might even expand further, so this is the best time for transport businesses. Endless Borders also wants a piece of this lucrative pie, and we hope that Your Highness will not mock us for our ambition.”

What Di Nuo had mentioned were all good reasons.

Lu Yin tapped the table with a finger, deep in thought.

Di Nuo took one look at Lu Yin, and after a slight moment of hesitation, said, “Is Your Highness troubled by this? I have heard that there are many people within Frostwave Weave who do not welcome Endless Borders. If I may be blunt, they are worried about nothing. We at Endless Borders are not unreasonable, and we will obey the laws and prices of any region that we enter, and we will not overstep our boundaries. We simply want to run a business, and we are not looking to establish a colony.”

Lu Yin looked at Di Nuo. “When did you receive word that you would become the regional manager of Frostwave Weave?”

Di Nuo’s eyes twinkled. “Seven days ago.”

Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. Seven days ago… He had already left Sourcepeak Planet by then. In other words, it was certain that this decision had been made precisely because of what had happened on Sourcepeak Planet. This was not just a business move.

What was Endless Borders trying to do? Were they a friend or foe?

“Mister Di Nuo, could I meet with someone from a higher management level in Endless Borders? Perhaps a member of your board of directors?” Lu Yin asked.

Di Nuo respectfully answered, “I will let my superiors know about your wish for a meeting right away. My leaders would definitely be thrilled to speak with you.”

“Alright then, I’ll wait for your good news, Mister Di Nuo.” Lu Yin smiled.

Di Nuo then asked, “What about us establishing a presence in Frostwave Weave?”

“You may do so. However, please remember to act fairly. The Ninth Squadron of the Great Yu Empire is dedicated to combating corruption, and I hope that you will not overstep any boundaries,” Lu Yin said.

Di Nuo was overjoyed, and he quickly stood up to offer his thanks.

After Di Nuo left, Gavin asked, “Your Highness, are we really going to allow Endless Borders to set up shop here?”

Lu Yin gave him a faint smile. “Frostwave Weave is trying to integrate with the other seventy two weaves of the Outerverse. We have to deal with these powerful Outerverse companies sooner or later.”

“What about the local transport companies?”

“It’s simple: don’t start a business if you’re not capable of maintaining it. Relying on the empire or the filament for protection is not a sustainable practice, and things are only going to become more unbalanced in the future. Prices and services will not correspond to each other, and life won’t be fair to the citizens either,” Lu Yin said decisively.

Gavin had no choice but to agree in exasperation. But just as he was about to leave, something suddenly popped into his mind. “Your Highness, when I was talking to Di Nuo, he said something that I found strange.”

“What did he say?” Lu Yin asked.

Gavin pondered for a moment before responding, “He brought up Aegis several times, and over the course of our conversation, he mentioned that I should be wary of Aegis.”

Lu Yin’s heart stirred a little. “Alright, you may leave now.”

“I will take my leave then.”

Di Nuo had been very cautious during his interactions with Lu Yin, and he had not said much to Lu Yin himself. Instead, he had used Gavin to pass on this message. Lu Yin laughed at himself. He felt naive for believing that Di Nuo just wanted to spread the company’s business ventures for even a second. Endless Borders’ reasons for wanting to establish a presence in Frostwave Weave were definitely not that simple. For them to remind Lu Yin that he needed to be wary of Aegis, it seemed that they really wanted to be friends.

After Gavin left, Lu Yin turned his personal gadget on and immediately contacted the alluring Madam Nalan. He wanted to understand the four major corporations of the Outerverse better, and there was no one better to ask than Madam Nalan, who was the head of one of the four major corporations herself.

After a considerable amount of time, Madam Nalan finally picked up Lu Yin’s call. She was absolutely beautiful as always, with flawless skin reminiscent of jade. Behind her, Lu Yin could see a stunning backdrop of the starry sky illuminating the lustrous sea. This background was also bathed in silver light as the dawning sun peaked above the horizon, making her look like a fairy from a fantasy. Lu Yin found himself inexplicably attracted to the woman.

“How does the scene look?” Madam Nalan smiled as she greeted Lu Yin. While her eyes exuded a sense of exceeding gentleness, Lu Yin felt indescribably attracted to her.

“Beautiful, absolutely stunning,” Lu Yin responded.

Madam Nalan let out a laugh. “This is the view that I love the most, and to prevent this wonderful sight from suffering any damage, I bought the entire galaxy so that this unique scenery would be preserved. I can bring you here if you would like.”

Lu Yin let out a cough and showed an awkward smile. Madam Nalan had been referring to the backdrop while Lu Yin had been referring to her.

“Your Highness, what can I do for you?” Madam Nalan asked as she looked at Lu Yin.

Lu Yin coughed yet again. “Endless Borders has started establishing a presence in Frostwave Weave.”

Madam Nalan did not seem surprised at all. “Oh? It looks like one of our partnerships will soon come to an end then.”

“Are you referring to transport?” Lu Yin asked.

Madam Nalan laughed. “Of course. With Endless Borders entering the scene, the Nalan family’s transport business will suffer a severe blow. Furthermore, since they are establishing a foothold in Frostwave Weave, they will make sure to give the Great Yu Empire the best services and prices available. Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“Can you tell me more about Endless Borders?” Lu Yin asked.

Madam Nalan took a sip of juice before continuing, saying, “Do you think that Endless Borders wants to establish a presence in Frostwave Weave because of the events at Sourcepeak Planet?”

“Is that not the case?”

“Partly. Ultimately, regardless of whether it is Endless Borders or the Nalan clan, we are all commercial giants. Our instincts will drive us to wherever we can make the most money. The establishment of the Great Eastern Alliance and the integration of its members’ resources heralds a golden age for transportation services. During this period, there will be no fewer than a hundred thousand transport companies that will be established. Of course Endless Borders would want a piece of this lucrative pie.”

“It won’t just stop at Endless Borders. After the establishment of the Great Eastern Alliance, many other well-known corporations of the Outerverse will also want to establish their presence within Frostwave Weave. This is inevitable. This is not just because of the Great Eastern Alliance’s establishment, but also because they are drawn by your ambition.”

Lu Yin’s eyes twinkled. “Ambition?”

An alluring smile spread across Madam Nalan’s mouth. “Your ambition is apparent for all to see, Your Highness. The Great Eastern Alliance may not be enough for you, and many others want it to grow larger just like you. Them establishing a presence in Frostwave Weave will give them a pioneer’s advantage in the future. Even if you were not ambitious, the Great Eastern Alliance alone would be enough for them to become rich.”

Lu Yin laughed. “It looks like I have become a highly sought after commodity for you merchants.”

Madam Nalan laughed. “Military affairs have always been largely dependent on politics, while politics change due to those various benefits, which are a major driving force for merchants. Let me put it this way—humans do everything that they can to reap benefits and rewards, and commerce is the most superficial activity that covers that. Merchants without a sound financial structure will never amount to greatness, and the way you govern incentivizes many merchants to set up shop in Frostwave Weave. They are not just investing in the domain and the goods—they are also investing in you, Your Highness.”

“What about you then?” Lu Yin asked.

Madam Nalan blinked at him. “I invested in you since I first laid eyes on you. Have you not felt it, Your Highness?”

Lu Yin shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, I feel it. You’ve done a lot for me.”

Madam Nalan rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t me, but rather the Nalan clan. Your Highness, please choose your words carefully, as you may create misunderstandings like that.”

As he drank in Madam Nalan’s exquisite beauty and captivating mannerisms, Lu Yin’s heart was stirred once more. He brought himself back to reality with a cough and said, “I want to know how powerful Endless Borders really is.”