Over the next two days, the Astral Conclave representative and their entourage found little excitement, spending most of their time within the space station. Workers meticulously organized their inventory, transferring cargo from their ships to storage, while those with free time explored the station, some out of curiosity, others to analyze the empire’s design philosophy and compare it to their own.Concerns about being spied on had been dismissed early. Upon arrival, their security personnel conducted thorough scans for surveillance devices, only to discover that the empire had taken extreme measures to ensure privacy. The station's walls had a unique structure, two parallel layers filled with mana in its gaseous form, separated by a mana-free void. This design effectively blocked both conventional surveillance methods and mana-based detection techniques. The sheer level of effort and resources invested into guaranteeing privacy was almost unsettling, signaling just how far the empi

He didn’t have much time to think. The sudden appearance of the hologram had momentarily halted his descent into unconsciousness, but it was only a brief reprieve. The weight of his injuries and exhaustion soon resumed their pull, forcing him to act quickly.His gaze lingered on the lifeless forms of his family, their bloodied bodies forever frozen in time. He had nothing left. No reason to hesitate. If revenge was possible, then he would seize it. And if this was nothing more than a hallucination, then so be it, at least he would soon be reunited with them.Summoning the last embers of strength in his battered body, he lifted his trembling, bloodstained hand and pressed [YES]. The moment his finger made contact, the darkness claimed him entirely.Yet, he was still aware.‘I’m pretty sure I lost consciousness… so why am I still here?’ The thought echoed through his mind as he found himself suspended in a void, weightless and without pain, yet utterly disconnected from any sensation. I

“Would you like to test it?” Masimbia asked, his tone calm and measured. There was no point in further explanations, he knew their minds were already racing with doubt. Instead of arguing over the validity of the technology, he would let the results speak for themselves.Silence.None of them answered immediately. Their hesitation was obvious, their expressions guarded. Trust between them and the Empire was at its lowest, this was nothing more than a transactional relationship, devoid of any real goodwill.And with what they knew of the Zelvora’s capabilities, both in offense and defense, some from firsthand experience, how could they be sure this wasn’t a trap?What if, the moment they put on the devices, the Empire activated them?Trapping them in an illusion. Brainwashing them. Shattering their minds. Or, worst of all, extracting their memories, laying bare their governments’ secrets, their personal vulnerabilities, handing the Empire an undeniable edge.The risk was too great.

“Looks like this is what he was talking about,” the Trinarian prince murmured as he removed the VR device from his head. The thin, metallic trusses, designed to automatically and comfortably adjust to any head size or shape, felt strangely underwhelming in his hands, considering the sheer magnitude of what they were capable of.He stared at it, already dreading the thought of going back to a life without this technology. Now that he knew it existed, how could he? More importantly, he knew the government would feel the same once they learned the full extent of its capabilities.“Any updates on our request for a meeting with the emperor, or are they still delaying?” the prince asked, not bothering to look up.“We haven’t checked yet, sir,” his assistant replied. “We were awaiting your directive. With this new information, you may want to reconsider your approach, perhaps adjust what we’re willing to offer after consulting with the king and hearing his input.”The prince smirked slightly

“Should we accept your requests, what are the conditions?” the Elara representative asked, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room. The air was thick with contemplation as each delegate weighed the enormous implications of the offer before them.They all knew this wasn’t the meeting where a decision would be made. The stakes were far too high. Instead, they were here to gather the full list of demands, terms, and potential benefits, enough to return to their respective governments and present a comprehensive proposal for final judgment.Masimbi gave a slight nod, then replied steadily, “There are only a few conditions, but each exists for good reason. They’re not just to protect our interests, but to ensure that the system cannot be corrupted or weaponized to the detriment of the entire network.”He raised one finger.“First, we require that the VR network be protected from hostile interference. This protection must be formally enshrined within Conclave law. Any indi