Chapter 1536: No Longer Needed

Three days later, in the guest reception area of the Greer Union, in Chajiasu's room.

Chajiasu held a transport arrangement confirmation letter that had just been printed from the communication terminal.

Gekeka's transport fleet had already departed two days ago with his technicians, carrying the first batch of Brocade Ore and other ores along the route toward the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance.

The assistant stood by the desk, putting several completed approval documents into a folder.

Just then, the door was knocked upon.

Chajiasu folded the confirmation letter and put it away, turning his head to look toward the doorway.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open from the outside.

An official wearing the standard uniform of the Greer Union Foreign Affairs Department stood at the door, with a slender breathing slit on each side of his cheeks.

Chajiasu's brows furrowed slightly when he saw that uniform.

He had stayed in the Greer Union guest area for nearly half a month and was already very familiar with the style of that uniform and the meaning it represented.

The person stepped half a pace into the room and stood still near the entrance.

"Mr. Chajiasu, I am Xiqasiqiao from the Foreign Affairs Department, responsible for coordinating the follow-up work on the procurement intentions of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory.

I have come today to inform you of one thing: after multiple rounds of internal evaluation, the military supplies department has preliminarily agreed to provide a procurement quota of five frigates to the Kaoquanzao Free Territory.

If you agree, the relevant procedures can be started as soon as possible."

Damn it, only five? Are they trying to brush off a beggar?

Chajiasu suppressed his urge to curse and spoke.

"Five frigates; so you spent nearly half a month letting me wait in this room every day for a reply with no substantive content, and the final result is five."

Facing Chajiasu's dissatisfaction, Xiqasiqiao had long anticipated it and still said with a smile.

"The internal evaluation of the military supplies department did indeed take some time, but the quota of five frigates is already a positive signal.

The procurement intention of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory belongs to a higher priority category among external orders. If you agree, the subsequent approval process can be compressed into one standard week."

Chajiasu pulled his hand out of his coat pocket, turned to the side and walked to the window, facing the skyline of the Greer Union Capital Star that he had been looking at for over ten days, and spoke.

"Thank you for the approval result from the Greer Union military supplies department, and thank you for coming to inform me of this personally, but we no longer need the quota of five frigates."

Upon hearing this unexpected answer, Xiqasiqiao was also stunned, then hurriedly spoke.

"No longer need them? Mr. Chajiasu, the quota of five frigates is a result that the Foreign Affairs Department and the military supplies department managed to secure after multiple rounds of coordination. You waited here for nearly half a month, and now that you have the result, you say you don't need them; this does not align with the stance of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory when it submitted the procurement intention."

The corners of Chajiasu's mouth moved, and he replied politely.

"When I submitted the procurement intention, my stance was based on the needs of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory at that time and the normal trade expectations of the Greer Union.

But during the process of waiting for approval, the Greer Union military supplies department used 'currently evaluating' as the only reply for half a month straight.

In this half month, the needs of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory have not decreased; it is just that we have already found a channel that can satisfy our needs faster."

The edges of Xiqasiqiao's two breathing slits contracted inward simultaneously, and he asked.

"Would it be convenient to disclose what channel that is? The Greer Union Foreign Affairs Department has a requirement to keep records of arms circulation in surrounding areas. If the Kaoquanzao Free Territory acquires equipment through unofficial channels, it may affect the Union's diplomatic relationship assessment with surrounding forces."

Chajiasu watched the changes in Xiqasiqiao's face and felt secretly pleased, but he still had to keep up appearances.

"This is an internal affair of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory, and it is not convenient for me to disclose the specific source of the procurement channel to the outside.

If the Union's Foreign Affairs Department needs to verify whether the fleet composition changes of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory conform to the regional security framework, you can submit a formal letter to the Foreign Affairs Department of the Kaoquanzao Free Territory, and the two sides can connect through standard channels."

The edges of Xiqasiqiao's two breathing slits opened and closed twice in succession, as he tried to find a fulcrum he could still grasp.

"Mr. Chajiasu, I suggest you reconsider. Although the quantity of five frigates is not large, their model is the main model currently being equipped by the Greer Union, and both the maintenance system and the spare parts supply chain are guaranteed.

Equipment purchased through unofficial channels may encounter technical obstacles in subsequent maintenance and modification."

Chajiasu shook his head slightly; the movement was small, but clear enough.

"The issues of spare parts and technical support are the responsibility of the purchaser to resolve; there is no need for the Greer Union to worry. My stance here is complete; thank you for your side's approval result, but the Kaoquanzao Free Territory no longer needs it."

Xiqasiqiao saw that Chajiasu had already turned his back to him, facing the window again, his posture clearly indicating that the conversation was over.

His lips moved, but in the end, he did not say anything else; he gave a formal bow, then turned and left.

Chajiasu stood by the window, and after hearing the sound of the door lock, he said to his assistant.

"The Greer Union treats five ships as a favor, and only sends them over when we don't need them anymore; what were they doing earlier?"

The assistant stood by the desk and looked up, saying.

"That official from the Foreign Affairs Department's reaction just now was very obvious; he completely didn't expect that we would refuse. When he entered the door, his posture was one of bestowing a favor, as if he had come to inform us that 'your waiting has finally yielded a result'."

"It has nothing to do with bestowing favors; they just wanted to see if we would accept anything they were willing to give when they left us hanging until the end.

If we had accepted those five ships, they would think that the Kaoquanzao Free Territory is a target that can be left hanging; we have to let them know that the Kaoquanzao Free Territory does not rely solely on them!"

Chajiasu walked back to the desk and sat down.

"Gekeka's transport fleet has already been underway for two days; once the first batch of ships arrives, it won't matter whether the Greer Union gives those five frigates or not."

Deep in the corridor of the Foreign Affairs Department, Xiqasiqiao said to the staff member following behind him in an unhappy tone.

"Go check the list of trade intermediaries that the Kaoquanzao Free Territory has recently been in contact with. They were able to find an alternative channel so quickly; they must have connected with new people during our approval cycle."

The staff member recorded it on a Data Pad.

"Should I track down the specific source of the channel?"

The edges of Xiqasiqiao's breathing slits contracted inward.

"List the names first, and we will see where to start once the list is out."

"Understood."