Chapter 1482: Why are you paying attention to us, what do you want to do?

The diplomatic lounge on the east side of the Imperial City, on Keluo Nuo Si, the Capital Star of the Keluo Ke Imperium.

A massive circular hall, with several sets of dark stone low tables and chairs arranged in the center, and drinks and snacks placed on the tabletops.

Several giant display screens were embedded in the surrounding walls, looping footage of the Keluo Ke Imperium's scenery.

Quite a few people were already seated in the hall.

Lu Zhenda swept his gaze over them, recognizing several iconic attires.

Seated at the set near the left window were several four-eyed creatures wearing dark gray uniforms; those were the Diplomats of the Ash Star Alliance.

On the right side, near the entrance, several Diplomats wearing bright orange-yellow robes were gathered together, the edges of their robes embroidered with intricate golden patterns.

Those were the representatives of the Yinsan Alliance; their builds were lean, their limbs slender, and their heads oval-shaped.

Walking deeper inside, representatives of the Black Stone Syndicate wearing black leather jackets sat in a corner.

There were also a few groups of factions Lu Zhenda was not very familiar with.

Lu Zhenda stood inside the archway, his gaze sweeping over those people.

The Lamenters squad remained in the corridor and did not enter the hall.

Several Ash Star Alliance Diplomats closest to the entrance were the first to notice Lu Zhenda's arrival.

One of the Diplomats in a dark gray uniform stood up and walked quickly toward this side, a polite smile on his face.

Just as he approached to a distance of about five steps, Gewanuosai had already stepped forward, raising one hand with the palm facing outward.

"Stop."

The Diplomat's footsteps halted; he bowed slightly and spoke in a Common language with an accent.

"Lord Lu, Diplomat Keleisen of the Ash Star Alliance greets you; our two parties could be considered to have quite deep exchanges."

Lu Zhenda nodded slightly.

"You are too kind; regarding the issue of trade border security, you should just talk to the corresponding department."

Keleisen maintained a polite posture.

"We have had several batches of rare minerals recently that we wish to transship through the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance's shipping lanes; hearing that you have come to the Keluo Ke Imperium this time, we wanted to take this opportunity to... communicate preliminarily."

"Follow the normal procedures and apply to the Ministry of Commerce; they will handle it."

After Lu Zhenda finished speaking, his gaze had already passed over him to look into the interior of the hall.

Keleisen's smile remained, but a trace of disappointment flashed in the depths of his eyes, though he could only bow again.

"Understood, thank you for your guidance, Lord."

He stepped back a few paces and returned to the Ash Star Alliance's seating area.

After sitting down, another Ash Star Alliance Diplomat beside him leaned over and lowered his voice.

"How did it go?"

Keleisen picked up the drink in front of him and took a sip.

"No chance, he wasn't even willing to say an extra word. That Adeptus Custodes blocked me directly at five steps away, not even letting me get close."

"The people of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance have always been like this; did you think they would give us a pleasant look?"

"I know."

Keleisen set down his cup, his gaze falling back toward Lu Zhenda's direction.

"But one has to try; if the shipping lane for that batch of minerals can be opened, the profit will triple."

"But that requires them to nod."

"That is why I say it is difficult."

Lu Zhenda continued walking inside.

Those Diplomats from the Yinsan Alliance also noticed him.

One of the Diplomats wearing an orange-yellow robe with exceptionally intricate gold thread on the edges stood up, pressed his palms together, and bowed slightly.

"Lord Lu, Watake, temporary representative of the Yinsan Alliance to the Keluo Ke Imperium, pays his respects to you."

Gewanuosai still maintained the distance for Intercept.

Lu Zhenda tilted his head to look in that direction and nodded slightly.

"Representative Watake."

Watake's compound eyes blinked rapidly, a humble smile on his face.

"Did you come to the Keluo Ke Imperium this time for the coronation ceremony of His Majesty Kesi?"

"Yes."

"The Yinsan Alliance also received an invitation."

As Watake spoke, he turned slightly to the side, pointing to the colleagues in orange-yellow robes behind him.

"We have some cooperation with the Keluo Ke Imperium in border trade, and coming this time, we also wanted to take the opportunity of the ceremony to further consolidate our relationship."

"Then I wish you success."

After Lu Zhenda finished speaking, he continued to step forward.

Watake's smile remained unchanged, but as he turned around to sit back in his seat, the younger Diplomat beside him muttered in a low voice.

"He didn't even have the intention to stop and chat for a couple of sentences."

"Why would he stop?"

Watake picked up the cup on the table, his compound eyes turning toward Lu Zhenda's back.

"Envoys of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance never show extra enthusiasm toward Alien factions. Being able to get a 'wish you success' from them is already considered a decent treatment."

"But our Yinsan Alliance's trade volume in the Eastern Star Sector..."

Watake interrupted the young man's words.

"No matter how large the trade volume is, it is not worth mentioning in their eyes. Stop thinking about it; just wait quietly for the ceremony to begin."

"...... Yes."

Lu Zhenda stopped at a position in the middle of the hall, where there were empty seats.

Gewanuosai scanned the ground around the seats, confirmed there were no issues, and then stepped aside to clear the way.

Lu Zhenda sat down, and Gewanuosai stood one step behind him.

In the area toward the back of the hall, those representatives of factions Lu Zhenda was unfamiliar with began to whisper to one another.

They were sitting at low tables at the very back of the hall, three different faction representatives in total, separated by a certain distance, but at this moment, their gazes were all fixed on Lu Zhenda and the golden figure behind him.

One of them, a creature with a small build and light gray skin, said to the companion beside them.

"Is that the envoy from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance?"

"It should be."

The companion replied, their head angular, two vertical pupils staring in the direction of Gewanuosai.

"The guard behind him, did you see that?"

"I saw it. Golden armor; I have never seen that style before. The material doesn't look like ordinary alloy, either."

"It's not just the armor."

Another creature wearing a dark headscarf spoke up.

"That person is standing there, and I can feel the pressure even from this far away."

"When an envoy from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance travels, bringing a guard like that is normal, isn't it?"

"Normal?"

The creature with the headscarf shook their head slightly.

"When guards of other factions stand behind their masters, you can feel their presence. But this guard, he stands there, and you can feel that he is watching everything."

The light gray-skinned creature took a sip of the liquid in their cup, their gaze never leaving Gewanuosai.

"I heard the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has strong military power. In the western star sector of the Bode Star System, they are already a leading faction."

"A leading faction?"

The creature with the headscarf said in a low voice.

"With Kesi ascending the throne this time, they sent an envoy to attend, which clearly shows the entire Bode Star System that the Luoke Imperium has a good relationship with them."

"Then what about the Star Spirit Union?"

"The Star Spirit Union issued a statement a while ago, refusing to recognize the status of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

The creature with the headscarf said.

"Do you think that since Xiuluo Holy sent an envoy this time, they might take the opportunity to discuss this matter?"

The creature with the angular head said in a low voice.

"Then our position is very delicate. The representative from the Xikushi United Nations hasn't arrived yet; they should be sending someone."

"Isn't that them coming now? It's Chanaisaikong."

The light gray-skinned creature raised their chin slightly, pointing toward the entrance of the hall.

At the entrance, a figure wearing a silver-gray robe walked in.

Their build was well-proportioned, their skin was light brown, and there were four slender, horn-like protrusions on the sides of their head.

Following behind them were two guards wearing dark blue light armor.

After Chanaisaikong walked into the hall, they quickly locked onto Lu Zhenda's position.

They first nodded slightly to the other faction representatives in the hall as a greeting, and only then walked toward Lu Zhenda.

When they approached to a distance of about eight steps, Gewanuosai's gaze had already fallen upon them.

Chanaisaikong did not continue to approach, but stopped at that distance and bowed slightly.

"Xikushi United Nations, Diplomat Chanaisaikong, greets Lord Lu of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Lu Zhenda looked up at them and nodded slightly.

"Excellency Chanaisaikong."

"I have long admired Lord Lu's name."

Chanaisaikong straightened up, their amber eyes looking at Lu Zhenda.

"The influence of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance in the western part of the Bode Star System is growing rapidly, and the Xikushi United Nations has been paying close attention."

"You are paying attention to us; what do you want to do?"