Crossover Shipgirls: Building a Dimensional Empire from Scratch

The diplomatic negotiations between the Xianzhou Alliance and the Starsea Empire proceeded extremely smoothly.

A few hours later, the two sides quickly finalized a formal agreement, printed in duplicate as physical documents.

Every detail was meticulously listed—trade and commerce, technological exchange, the scale and scope of stationed delegations, their responsibilities, and more.

Jing Yuan and Tingyun subtly noticed that the Starsea Empire showed little interest in amassing wealth.

They offered resources such as ores and alloys at prices so favorable they were difficult to comprehend, along with portions of technology and weapons from other worlds.

Their focus and demands were directed more toward exploring the cosmos and new technologies, even intending to venture into certain special fields.

”Uh... The Divination Commission and the Artisanship Commission are among the Six Commissions of the Xianzhou. They oversee Alliance affairs and are not involved in foreign exchanges. The Ten-Lords Commission supervises life and death and is likewise closed to outsiders.”

—That had originally been the Xianzhou Alliance’s intended response.

But after looking at the contents of the trade agreement—

They were offering far too much. So much that even the Interastral Peace Corporation looked like paupers in comparison.

Jing Yuan and Tingyun had no choice but to amend their stance.

”The Xianzhou Alliance looks forward to comprehensive cooperation with the Starsea Empire in economics, technology, culture, and other fields.”

”However, certain confidential matters must not be disclosed externally.”

Sophon and Himeko signed the agreement on behalf of the Starsea Empire.

”I will report this matter to Marshal Hua shortly and notify the other ships of the Alliance.”

Jing Yuan, Tingyun, Fu Xuan, and the others likewise signed on behalf of the Xianzhou Luofu.

”Though the Luofu is but one of the Alliance’s ships, it may act on the Alliance’s behalf in matters of trade.”

”From this day forward, the Starsea Empire may travel freely to the Yaoqing, the Zhuming, and the other ships upon presenting identification.”

”Mm, the Commander is also looking forward to meeting the Xianzhou delegation.”

The two sides solemnly concluded the treaty.

...

With the treaty settled, the Luofu immediately began assembling a delegation to visit the Starsea Empire.

They also allocated an additional realm near the Sky-Faring Commission as a residence for the incoming Starsea Empire team.

Humm—

Starskiff Haven’s central hub.

Countless vessels came and went, a magnificent sight.

Tourist and merchant starskiffs passed through the Jade Gate, lining up below. After verification by the Cloud Knights, they would officially clear customs and enter the Luofu.

Among the queue, a brown-haired, golden-eyed girl dressed in an apricot-yellow short outfit nervously followed along.

Her long hair was tied into twin ponytails with ribbons. She looked about sixteen or seventeen, bright and youthful, brimming with innocent energy.

Most eye-catching of all was the greatsword strapped to her back.

The blade measured over two chi in length, wrapped in white cloth. It appeared simple and unadorned, forming a striking contrast with the girl’s petite frame.

Travelers and merchants nearby kept stealing glances.

Staring at the dense sea of people, the girl anxiously clenched her clothes.

”Wah... Mother taught me this heart-calming mantra before. She said it would steady my mind. Why isn’t it working? ...”

Only when the Cloud Knight in charge of inspection waved her forward did she snap out of it.

”Next.”

”Oh!”

She jumped and stepped forward, stammering as she spoke:

”Gold and stone may be melted, but oaths—”

”Gold and stone may be melted, but oaths remain unbroken. You’re clearing customs, not swearing a curse.”

The inspector’s forehead twitched.

”Name, origin, purpose of entry. State them clearly.”

The girl helplessly began reporting her information in order.

”Li Sushang. Personal belongings: one Xuanyuan Sword.”

”Under Cloud Knight orders, transferred from the Yaoqing to the Luofu for training. Eh? ... How do you write the ’Yao’ in Yaoqing again? ...”

While Sushang was struggling with the character for Yao, the Cloud Knight finished verifying her identity and stiffened.

”Miss Sushang, your orders have changed.”

”The General has assigned you to the Luofu delegation. You will depart immediately for the Solar System, representing the Luofu and the Xianzhou Alliance on a diplomatic mission to the Starsea Empire.”

”Please proceed to the Divination Commission. Miss Tingyun is waiting for you.”

”Waaah—!”

The moment those words fell, the surrounding crowd gasped in astonishment.

The Xianzhou Luofu engaged frequently with the outside world. Countless merchants and tourists gathered at Starskiff Haven. Yet the number of times the Xianzhou dispatched official delegations outward could be counted on one’s fingers.

For the chief of the Sky-Faring Commission’s merchant guild to personally lead the mission, and to include members of the Cloud Knights—it spoke volumes about the importance attached to it. The other party’s identity must be extraordinary.

But so few people knew anything about the Starsea Empire that no one could quite figure it out.

”Miss Tingyun leading the delegation? That’s no ordinary arrangement. Just what kind of empire is this? ...”

”Anyone selected for the Xianzhou delegation must be both cultured and martial, right? If they sent mere riffraff or ordinary people, wouldn’t that disgrace the Alliance?”

”Mm... That young lady may look youthful, but Xianzhou people cannot be judged by appearance. She must be hiding her strength. Perhaps she’s one of the Cloud Knights’ top experts?”

”A hero from a young maiden, a hero from a young maiden...”

”Eh? ...”

After hearing the crowd shower her with praise, Sushang stood there utterly bewildered.

Her nerves had already been stretched to the breaking point. Now her brain simply shut down from fright.

She blinked blankly where she stood.

”Me? Going to the Starsea Empire? Is that a country under the sea? Or a country on a star?!”

”Can people even live on stars? ...”

”Where’s the Solar System? Wait, how do I get to the Divination Commission again? ...”

”Uh...”

The Cloud Knight could only convince himself that this was youthful innocence hiding great wisdom.

After some effort, they sent someone to escort the little girl away.

”Ah... Let’s hope she can bring glory to the Luofu across the myriad worlds... probably?”

”Of all the Cloud Knights, why pick her?! ...”

...

Meanwhile.

Within the Divination Commission.

This was the place responsible for intelligence, information analysis, route calculation, and strategic planning for the Xianzhou Alliance. Everyone moved about briskly.

Scribes and clerks searched through mountains of documents for the necessary data. Diviners and officers conducted complex calculations with jade abaci, seeking desired outcomes amid countless shifting possibilities.

Ordinarily, calculating affairs of the Xianzhou was already demanding. After contact with the Starsea Empire, an entire heap of new tasks had been added.

For example, predicting the impact of diplomatic relations between the two nations upon the Luofu and the Alliance, or whether the outgoing delegation would arrive safely at its destination.

Even the contents of bilateral trade were included in the scope of divination.

Moreover, due to the scant information available about the Starsea Empire—and the fact that it was an interstellar empire from another world spanning the cosmos—the disturbances involved were immense.

The computational difficulty was practically heaven-defying. Even the Master Diviner herself could barely glimpse anything within.

The Divination Commission worked overtime until the skies darkened and lightened again, becoming one of the busiest departments in the entire Luofu.

...

Within a certain card parlor in Exalting Sanctum.

”Tsk...”

A brown-haired girl was vigorously shuffling mahjong tiles with several companions, the clatter echoing crisply.

”Overtime, overtime... Overtime for what?!”

”If the aliens hadn’t come, I’d be working overtime. Now that they have come, I still have to work overtime? Then didn’t they come for nothing?!”

”Sound reasoning.”

The other players nodded repeatedly, praising the girl’s philosophy of life.

”You’ve been playing for most of the day. Aren’t you afraid the Master Diviner will drag you back?”

”The Master Diviner’s been swamped lately. Where would she find the time to bother with me?”

Qingque spoke nonchalantly. She drew a tile, her face lighting up with delight, and slammed it onto the table with a sharp snap.

”Mahjong!!!”

”Ugh—”

The others grimaced in pain and began rummaging through their wallets.

Clap—clap—clap—

A light round of applause sounded from nearby.

”Well played. You’ve won two rounds today. Your luck is quite good.”

”!!!”

The moment Qingque heard that voice, she did not even dare turn her head. She sprang up, intending to flee.

She had barely risen before Fu Xuan pressed her down, pinching her cheek and lifting her by the face.

”Hey, hey, hey—ow, ow, ow—”

”M-Master Diviner! H-hello?!”

Qingque bared her teeth in pain.

”Weren’t you just casting a divination at the Commission about that... sea-star country or something? ...”

”You think a bit of petty cleverness can escape my sight?”

Fu Xuan snorted.

”And it is the Starsea Empire. They are now allies of the Xianzhou. Do not be discourteous.”

”H-hey, could you let go first? ...”

”Humph.”

”Qingque, come back with me. Pack your luggage and report to the Divination Commission. In three days, you will depart for the Starsea Empire.”

Fu Xuan turned her head. Several diviners stood behind her.

”Eh?!—”

Qingque was horrified.

This Master Diviner normally stuffed her with endless trivial tasks the moment she had free time, running her ragged.

Now she was assigning her to a long-distance mission. No matter how she thought about it, a business trip to another world sounded like pure hardship.

Not only would the place be completely unfamiliar, she would not even have fellow card players. Who knew whether aliens could play Celestial Jade at all?

And there would probably be endless work waiting for her.

”I-I... My divination skills are inadequate. I might disgrace the Divination Commission and the Luofu. Why not have you go personally, Master Diviner?”

With nowhere left to run, Qingque looked at Fu Xuan with pleading eyes and began flattering her incoherently.

”You possess divine foresight and unmatched calculation. Surely you could make the aliens bow beneath your—ah, I mean—your discerning gaze...”

”You think I do not wish to go?”

Fu Xuan huffed.

”If the Divination Commission were not responsible for overseeing the affairs of the Xianzhou, I would certainly pay a visit to the Starsea Empire myself.”

”You are not to slack off over there. You will write one divination report every day. Additionally, you will study the Starsea Empire’s methods of calculation and compare the differences between the divination arts of our two worlds...”

Without giving her any room to protest, Fu Xuan assigned Qingque a long list of tasks.

”Waaah—”

Qingque felt her future grow bleak before her eyes.

”It’s over... How am I supposed to survive over there without Celestial Jade? ...”

”Humph.”

Fu Xuan sneered.

Forget mahjong. Ideally, the Starsea Empire would have no entertainment whatsoever, so she could properly suffer a little.

—

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