Athena’s assumptions were unknown to Yu Jin.
He also wouldn’t explain to these three from the Ophelia Federation about his close bond with Chen Gang.
Time slowly passed by.
The high-level meeting at the fortress was drawing to a close.
Yu Jin didn’t elaborate on the specific arrangements for Blue Star players on A3 Planet, and everyone tacitly refrained from asking.
The task of conquering all civilized forces in the Star System Wasteland was assigned by Yu Jin.
In the next four months.
Barring any surprises.
The flag of Dawn Fortress will be planted across countless regions within this star system.
Whoosh—
Whoosh whoosh—
The meeting ended.
Yin Ya Naiya and others took their leave and departed.
Only Athena and her two companions remained at the top of the Tower of the Sky.
"Miss Athena, long time no see."
Yu Jin looked at Athena, not appearing overly proud but instead, rising from the Ice and Fire Throne to approach her.
"Yu Jin..."
Athena fixed her gaze tightly on Yu Jin’s eyes, repeating his name over and over.
"..."
Yu Jin fell silent.
"..."
"..."
Aaron and Don Flack exchanged a glance, wondering if perhaps they shouldn’t be here?
"Cough—"
"Um, Lord Yu Jin..."
"Should we head out first?"
Aaron Ferguson bravely spoke up.
"..."
Yu Jin rubbed his forehead in silent resignation but didn’t bother saying much more.
"Alright."
As soon as he spoke.
Whoosh—
Whoosh whoosh—
The figures of Aaron and Don Flack vanished from the spot.
Left in the personal area of the Lord were only Yu Jin and Athena.
For a moment, the atmosphere was somewhat quiet.
"Sss—"
For some reason, Yu Jin always felt that the vibe wasn’t quite right.
In fleeting confusion.
Why did he have a sense of being caught in a melodramatic short film about a reunion of male and female protagonists?
"You..."
"Actually, there’s no need for so much trouble."
After a long silence, Athena suddenly spoke.
The sentence, with no context, made Yu Jin slightly frown.
"Trouble with what?"
Athena took a deep breath, her majestic chest subtly rising and falling with her breathing.
She raised her head to look at Yu Jin.
Athena’s voice was soft, yet earnest and powerful:
"If you’re willing..."
"Just a word from you, I can have my father open a dimensional portal and allow all your forces to go to the Ophelia Federation."
Hearing this, Yu Jin finally grasped her meaning.
This Federal Heiress was talking about his conquest of the Star System Wasteland.
"Ha—"
"That’s not necessary."
"Opening a dimensional portal would indeed be troublesome."
Yu Jin replied with a slight smile.
Athena, or rather the clan behind her, Yu Jin had no doubt about their capabilities.
But...
Behind every convenient option lies relative costs or value exchanges.
"You don’t believe me?"
Athena’s expression flickered slightly at Yu Jin’s answer.
"I believe you."
"Although we’ve only met a few times."
Yu Jin’s tone was calm.
Athena fell into silence.
She finally realized—
She had been searching for Yu Jin, looking in many places.
But Yu Jin...
In his world, she was only slightly more familiar than a stranger.
Thinking about this.
For some reason, Athena felt a bit lost.
This unique emotion she had never experienced before emerged inexplicably, making her heart heavy.
"Let’s talk business."
"You came down specifically to find me for the cosmic genius battle, am I right?"
Yu Jin actively steered the conversation.
"Hmm..."
Athena softly responded.
Yu Jin’s suggestion seemed reasonable.
But actually...
Her arrival with the Ophelia fleet wasn’t solely for this so-called ’business’ matter, but also out of concern for Yu Jin.
Yet, these words Athena could not express.
Sigh—
Athena let out a long breath.
The lengthy search made her act less naturally upon seeing Yu Jin again and interacting with him.
The reason why remained unclear to her too.
But for now, discussing business was necessary.
"The Universe Genius War..."
"..."
In the span of ten minutes.
Athena recounted the information she had previously told Cao Fang, to Yu Jin once again.
However, compared to before, Athena spoke in more detail.
Even...
Swish—!
Swish swish—!
Athena waved her hand.
One by one, illusory images were projected.
In the images, there were faces completely unfamiliar to Yu Jin, both male and female, and even some still-childlike.
"These are the descendants of the divine bloodline found by several nearby universe federations."
"They will also be our initial opponents in the Universe Genius War."
"If you’re willing to accept the invitation to represent the Ophelia Federation and participate..."
After listening, Yu Jin did not immediately respond.
He stared at these portraits, lost in thought.
"The Universe Genius War, what exactly is the format?"
"Arena battle?"
"Lord contest?"
Yu Jin voiced his doubts.
"Contest."
"Similar to ’Wasteland OL’."
"Generally, all participants from each universe federation form their own camps."
"Some extremely powerful universe federations might also have multiple camps within them..."
Athena explained.
"Extremely powerful universe federations?"
"Explain?"
Yu Jin expressed his curiosity.
"..."
"I don’t know."
Athena’s reply was somewhat dry.
Just as she finished speaking, she worried that Yu Jin wouldn’t believe her, and quickly added:
"I haven’t participated before either, if I go with you, this will be my first time..."
"My father participated before, but, but..."
At this point, Athena paused, revealing a rare embarrassed expression on her face.
"But shortly after he started, he was eliminated and didn’t get a chance to meet those strong federation participants..."
"After all, in his competition, he didn’t have any descendants of the divine bloodline as teammates."
"As for powerful civilization federations..."
"Even though I’m unaware of their details, there are some related records within our federation."
"My father learned of their existence from those historical records."
Perhaps to maintain her father’s dignity, Athena deliberately added two sentences of explanation.
"Alright."
Yu Jin nodded, indicating understanding.
After contemplating briefly, he then asked:
"What’s the benefit?"
As soon as he asked this.
Athena was stunned.
Benefit?
The benefit of participating in the Universe Genius War?
"Of course it’s—"
The words that almost slipped out of Athena’s mouth got stuck in her throat.
She wanted to say—
The Universe Genius War could allow the Ophelia Federation to gain more resources, and even have a chance to enter the Primordial Universe.
But...
This benefit was for the federation.
What Yu Jin was clearly asking was what benefit there was for him personally.
This left Athena in confusion.
Of course, the federation could offer many benefits to Yu Jin such as planets, subordinates, status, wealth...
Just like what the Nash Clan promised Han Ling.
But paradoxically.
Yu Jin was different.
Athena was well aware of the level of strength Yu Jin possessed, a level that might even surpass her father’s unlimited level—on the Alpha Star server, Yu Jin’s presence she could not forget to this day.
And anywhere.
Strength and resources are always aligned.
For someone with Yu Jin’s strength, to put it bluntly—
If he wanted, he could even have a chance to replace her father and become the federation’s new chief chancellor.
Time ticked by.
Athena stood there, her mind churning but unable to find an answer to this question.
Until...
"Let me rephrase."
"The Dark Universe, the Primordial Universe, and those ’extremely powerful federations’ you mentioned..."
"Besides through the platform of the Universe Genius War, is there another way to reach them?"
Yu Jin noticed Athena’s difficulty and rephrased the question.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Athena’s golden eyes showed even more confused emotion.
"What do you mean..."
This time, she was even more unable to understand Yu Jin’s intention.
"Yes, or no?"
Yu Jin straightforwardly threw out a yes-or-no question.
"No."
Athena answered quickly.
"Alright, now I know."
Yu Jin nodded, having made a decision.
"...?"
Athena was completely baffled.