Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

”It can remind the Empire that Zuo Jing hasn’t completely disappeared, they’re just multiplying like before.”

”Then we can alert the hidden Zuo Jing forces that perhaps, these Zuo Jing might directly seek us out.”

Bai Quan said, ”The forces accumulating power in the shadows being disguised as openly exposed, indeed might directly seek the disguised ones.”

”But specifically? Just by disguising yourselves as Zuo Jing to attack the Mechanical Race?”

”Of course not,” Chen Ming immediately denied, ”After that, we’ll have new actions. My fleet will clash with the Black Mist Insect Race fleet and make it look like I’m at odds with these Black Mist Insect Race.”

”When that time comes, I’ll need you to slightly cooperate with me, send out some ships to show the right attitude.”

”Then I’ll also have An Wuping send some Black Mist Insect Race into the Empire’s territory, try to make some impacts with not too severe losses, at least nothing that’s just minor skirmishes outside the Empire.”

”At the very least, it must cause the Empire to take Zuo Jing seriously again.”

”As long as we raise the awareness of Zuo Jing again, the remaining matters will be dealt with, whether by the Anti-Cult Bureau or Zuo Jing themselves.”

”Got it.”

Bai Quan seemed to understand why Chen Ming actively exposed matters regarding the Insect Race and the rationale behind the Black Mist Insect Race.

As long as these ideas are implemented, as Chen Ming said, it indeed benefits everyone.

And Chen Ming’s concerns about concealment are certainly valid.

If there are people in the Empire’s upper echelon involved with Zuo Jing, this plan would be purely a waste of resources.

Not only wasting Chen Ming and An Wuping’s resources but also the Empire’s.

Therefore, he chose to collaborate only with An Wuping, who bears a deep hatred against Zuo Jing, to accomplish all this.

That makes sense.

Bai Quan is not an unreasonable person; he is willing to do necessary evils.

Whether it’s conducting experiments on Black Mist Spirit Ability Users as part of Zuo Jing, or concealing specific information from others for Chen Ming.

”Let’s talk about serious matters now.”

There are quite a few people behind Bai Quan and elsewhere who wish to learn more about Chen Ming and An Wuping from him instead of investigating directly to avoid offending Chen Ming.

Bai Quan just asked what he wanted to know.

And what he was about to say was what others wanted to understand.

Bai Quan cleared his throat, steering the topic back to the more detailed information he was yet to know, ”Last time, you sent me photos claiming that unknown Insect Race occupied a planet, but An Wuping had explained many things, including your contact and cooperation with him.”

Chen Ming said flatly, ”Oh.”

”What do you mean by ’oh’?”

”Just saying ’oh’.”

”Don’t you have anything to say?”

”Nope, this was part of the plan arrangement, and it’s quite normal for the bluff to be discovered. You see, no one dares to confront me, right?”

Bai Quan rubbed his forehead and said, ”But the top is still worried about what you might do to An Wuping, so they just asked me to inquire about your relationship with An Wuping, and if there’s anything the Empire can shoulder for him.”

”Meaning they’re suspecting you’re threatening An Wuping, hoping you’ll let go, and the Empire will compensate you.”

”What? How can I do anything? Legitimate cooperation can’t be called a threat, can it?”

”Pause for a moment.”

Feeling Chen Ming was beginning to ramble, Bai Quan resorted to their private communication style, ”How exactly are you cooperating with An Wuping? How did he agree to cooperate with you?”

”Oh, it’s his Insect Queen that’s with me.”

”...”

Bai Quan was silent for a moment, saying nothing more.

After discussing the outward messages with Chen Ming, he needed to spread certain information externally, and conceal some for Chen Ming.

After finishing those questions, he asked Chen Ming an unrelated one: ”Do you have any thoughts on the front line situation?”

”The front line of the Mechanical Race is nearly undefended, evidently now that we’ve only dispatched a small probing force, we’re about to punch a dent in the Mechanical Race Star Realm’s defense. Honestly, I’m increasingly feeling this is the Mechanical Race’s trap, but I have no clue whatsoever.”

”Uh...”

Chen Ming really wanted to say that this wasn’t actually a trap, but rather his actions behind the Mechanical Race’s back that had drawn their main forces to their rear.

But he didn’t feel it was appropriate to directly reveal this information.

After all, this is where he truly wished to keep hidden, a different hidden force.

So Chen Ming chose to divert the Mechanical Race situation in another direction.

For example, Phase Giant Beasts.

Coincidentally, Chen Ming had indeed encountered many Giant Beasts.

He used this excuse to explain the Mechanical Race’s inadequate means to deal with Phase Giant Beasts, putting them in a situation where they’re forced to send Cruisers and Main Ships into Phase Space.

He spent some time explaining the temporary methods and tactics to send ordinary warships into Phase Space to Bai Quan.

Then he used the incident where the Mother Ship, suspected to be equipped with Destruction, appeared in the region where the Black Mist Insect Race was emerging to place the blame on An Wuping.

He then talked about the possibility of the Mechanical Race’s external reinforcements still hiding somewhere, helping Bai Quan confirm there might indeed be traps laid.

Chen Ming used this information to make Bai Quan and others overlook the losses incurred by the Mechanical Race due to Chen Ming’s forces.

Chen Ming wasn’t sure how much Bai Quan believed, but everything he said was true, only intentionally concealing some information.