Chapter 425: The Visit
With too many missing pieces of information, Luo Wen was unable to connect the dots, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. After several days of trying to piece together his thoughts and finding no answers, he decided to set the matter aside temporarily, awaiting more information before drawing further conclusions.
As for the Koya Alliance’s plans, Luo Wen decided to cooperate. His reasons were severalfold.
First, although Luo Wen controlled the Riken, neither the Riken themselves nor the Koya Alliance nor the Ji were aware of this. By all appearances, the Riken had no reason or justification to reject the Koya Alliance’s overtures. A sudden refusal without cause would be highly suspicious and draw unwanted attention.
Second, the Swarm was unable to directly retaliate. Now that the Riken were members of the Interstellar Technological Confederation, they were protected by its rules. The Swarm could not simply wipe them out. Furthermore, the Riken were home to numerous Ji laboratories and foreign teams. Any attack on the Riken would invite chaos and conflict, something Luo Wen was keen to avoid.
Third, the Riken were an essential production base for the Swarm, contributing to Luo Wen’s growth. Destroying them would be counterproductive. Luo Wen had no interest in sabotaging his own plans for strength.
Finally, if the current scheme was merely “Plan A,” it was highly likely the hidden manipulator had additional contingency plans—”Plan B” or even “Plan C.” Allowing Plan A to run its course, even if already exposed, gave Luo Wen the opportunity to better understand his opponent and maintain some measure of control.
Moreover, the Riken themselves, under Luo Wen’s control, were still heavily involved, providing an additional layer of oversight.
Thus, as the Swarm remained silent, the Confederation’s public relations onslaught continued unabated. The Swarm and the Riken, two fringe civilizations, entered the spotlight. Even civilizations on the far side of the Confederation, tens of thousands of light-years away, began taking notice.
The stories surrounding the Swarm and the Riken had now been spun into numerous variations. While the specifics varied, they all shared the same core narrative, the Swarm was a tyrant, and the Riken were a weak, oppressed civilization enduring hardship, humiliation, and despair while courageously seeking protection. The tales were so compelling that even Luo Wen couldn’t help but admire their creativity.