Age of Cosmic Exploration

Chapter 361: The Value

Since they were approaching the Shelter, then they had to pay some form of taxes and had to prepare for trades like purchase of supplies. If possible, they wanted to buy technology from the level 3 space civilization. Of course, this was dependent on the fair trade and what humanity could offer in terms of trade.

"First, I am adamantly against using technology in trade!"

This was an important representative talking. "Technology is the basis of a civilization! We humans have sacrificed how much for our technology? Therefore, I am definitely against using our technology to trade for supplies! I will use the House of Representatives' veto rights to veto this suggestion!"

The people around him frowned as they surreptitiously glanced at this representative. Only Yao Yuan waved his hands to say, "Aren't we discussing the currency of this Shelter? No one said anything about using technology in trades; it's only one of the currencies used in this Shelter. They also allow for trades of resources, don't they? That is the real topic we're discussing now."

Yes, using resources to trade for other resources, a barter system of sorts.

Since the cosmos had all sorts of materials and minerals, naturally there was a difference in value for them. Humanity found out about this when they were trading with the space merchants. However, they were not clear about the exact value. Furthermore, from the information taken from the space merchants, it was the first time they had seen certain materials as well. After all, space merchants were a dying level 2 space civilization; they were the lowest of the space civilizations, so it was natural that they did not know everything.

Therefore, they had to trouble Blue 6 and the vassal races. Now they were in the warehouse to look over the supplies the Hope had and put them into quantifiable value.

In reality, Yao Yuan and company were worried, worried that the Hope would not have enough supplies to trade with the Shelter. Currently, they were discussing the alternatives, like using technology as a trade item was one of them. Of course, none present dared to bring up the possibility of using the race's population as trade items even though it was the most common trade type in space.

As the discussion continued and Yao Yuan was on stage talking, Blue 6 suddenly rushed into the room. It was so different from his slow and graceful way that Yao Yuan's heart froze. He thought something dire had happened as they thought about the possible issue the Hope's resources could have. Could it be that… The Hope had nothing valuable? In that case, then…

Before Yao Yuan could say anything, Blue 6 exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness, I found Star Dust Gold! There are also Purple Larosite, Mica Sand, and many more! With just a small portion of Star Dust Gold, we can definitely refill the Hope and all the vassal spaceships' storage!"

The sentence silenced the previously rowdy meeting room. Everyone whipped their heads to look at Blue 6; a few of them moved so fast that they sprained their necks. Everyone stared at him with shock. They had a hard time understanding what he just said.

Blue 6 was shocked by this reaction as well. He silently smoothed down his attire and looked around himself, then continued in his usual graceful manner, "Dear fellow men, rejoice, we human race have minerals that even level 4 and 5 space civilizations would desire! These minerals are more than enough for us to even purchase this entire Shelter… Of course, if this level 3 space civilization is willing to sell."

Quite a number of people laughed at his joke. When Blue 6 returned to his seat, he sent the trade information of the minerals onto the screen. The room went from silence into heated discussion again, but this time it was due to non-suppressible excitement.

"This thing called Star Dust Gold is so expensive? Three gram is worth one 3000-meter mid-sized battleship from a level 2 space civilization? Also, this, what did you call it? Purple Larocite? The original form is already so expensive, but 5 grams of its purified form could buy a small ship from a level 3 space civilization? And this… Mica Sand? A necessary component for wormhole engines and star gates? So it is a hot item among middle-tier space civilizations? And this, which looks like the legendary Sun Stone, according to rumours… they are heavily sought by high-tier space civilizations?"

A senior officer was reading it aloud when he suddenly clutched at his chest and fainted. The medical unit in the room moved to aid him. After giving him some emergency shots, they sent him out of the room. This was not an isolated incident, these people were simply too excited.

To be fair, the excitement was warranted. Before this, everyone there, including Yao Yuan, thought they were the cosmos' beggars.

Even though humanity had many cosmic adapters and the progress for humanity was incredibly fast and humanity had a great store of technological information… the cosmic adapters were definitely not for sale. Not even a single human being was going to be sold. Even if Yao Yuan ordered it, the order would not be submitted. If he dared to do so, anarchy would happen on the Hope instantly. This was human nature.

Secondly, the technology. The Hope's technology might seem very powerful and aplenty, but they had level 2 space civilization technology and a few level 3 space civilization technologies. They could be traded for something good at a level 2 Shelter, but definitely not at a level 3 Shelter. Even if they handed over all the technology, it was hard to tell whether they could refill the Hope's storage.

If human civilization had any treasures… then the alloys from the alien plant could be counted as one. However, the alien plant was a creation from a middle to high tier space civilization. If they produced the alloy and accidentally tipped off the level 3 space civilization, then the Hope would be in great danger.

Therefore, when Blue 6 told them that the unknown minerals they salvaged in a forming solar system were such valuable minerals, this was way beyond people's expectation.

Yao Yuan did not dally. He immediately pulled Blue 6 to the corner to have him describe the origin of these valuable minerals. Blue 6 nodded as comprehension dawned. "Is that so… Humanity is indeed a blessed space race then. To be honest… Your Highness, do you know how hard is it to stumble into a forming solar system?"

Yao Yuan was startled. "It shouldn't be too hard, right? The cosmos is so huge and there are new solar systems being formed every day… Or there is something else that is at work?"

Blue 6 nodded in response. "Your Highness, do you remember this information that I once told you? That almost all space civilizations are unable to detect prehistoric planets that contain lifeforms. Even if they accidentally stumble across one, they would naturally forget about it. They would leave without touching the planet. This is true for high tier space civilizations as well. Regarding this point, almost all space civilizations suspect it has to do with some sort of trigger set by god-tier space civilizations. In other words, civilizations that have entered space will not be able to disturb other civilizations who have not.

"Similarly, this observation is applied to newly formed solar systems because they are the most malleable solar systems. For high tier space civilizations, they can easily manipulate it into a life-preserving environment. For example, the creation of suitable planet size, the rotation size and distance around the sun, the period of self-rotation of the planet, the suitable time for asteroid collisions. They can raise the possibility of a life-preserving planet forming to its maximum. Under such conditions, as long as the high tier space civilization builds a Shelter there and waits, they will be able to harvest unlimited soul, but in reality? This kind of situation has never even happened once. The reason is similar to the one with regards to prehistoric civilizations; space civilizations will normally ignore newly-formed solar systems…

"This situation is generally dubbed the Mist of God… According to legend, only the legendary Immortal can see through such mist…"

Yao Yuan's heart skipped a beat at this point. He slowly digested these words. The words "Mist of God" and "Immortal" circulated in his mind. Slowly, he understood why SS-grade was valuable and why… even level 9 space civilizations hungered for an Immortal…

"It is because of these reasons," Blue 6 continued on his own, "that those minerals and radioactive ores born during the infant stage of solar system formation are so expensive. This is because only those extremely lucky space civilizations will be able to occasionally get them from asteroid fields, and these things are crucial to middle and high tier space civilizations to create key materials for some of their products, so their prices are ridiculously high…"

Blue 6's tone dropped to a confidential and serious level as he continued, "Your Highness, at this point, I suggest Your Highness releases a new confidential clause and to keep a close watch on the alien cosmic adapters who went to check on the storage with me. At least before we can space warp, we have to stop them from communicating with external forces, or else something serious may happen… Money corrupts, especially when we're talking about a lot of money."

Yao Yuan thought about it and replied in a similarly serious tone, "Blue 6, then tell me, what is the real value of these mineral ores? Just imagine we have a safe channel to sell everything at full price and trade in technology that is at equal value, how much will it benefit the Hope?"

Blue 6 lowered his head to think. Then he lifted his gaze and answered, "I can't give Your Highness the exact value, but roughly speaking…

"It can help the Hope at least evolve to become a level 5 space civilization!"