Chapter 719: Elandir's Responsibility
Eldrad nodded, his projection appearing somewhat exhausted.
"It should be so. Elandir will fully cooperate with you. Ulthwe's resources, under the premise of not hindering our core operations, will also prioritize your reasonable needs." He paused and added, "Regarding what we discussed today, and... your demand, I hope it remains known only to the three of us."
"Acceptable," Ryo agreed. Leaking this kind of matter prematurely would only trigger unnecessary chaos and resistance.
Eldrad's projection nodded slightly. The psychic light began to destabilize, seemingly indicating that this mentally exhausting meeting was about to end.
"Then, let us conclude for today. Honored Ryo, thank you for your frankness. I will give you a preliminary response as soon as possible."
"I await your good news, High Farseer."
With a flicker of psychic light, Eldrad's projection vanished.
The virtual quiet room returned to its original emptiness and silence. Only Ryo and Elandir remained.
Elandir still stood in place, residual shock and complex emotions lingering on her face.
She looked at Ryo, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know where to start.
The Croneswords... this demand was too unexpected and too heavy.
Ryo did not look at her. He simply gazed at the spot where Eldrad's projection had disappeared. His eyes were calm and waveless; only in their deepest depths did a gleam of calculation flash.
Forcing the Eldar to hand over a portion of their mythic symbols was certainly to acquire irreplaceable, powerful artifacts and deepen their binding. But on a deeper level, it was also a test of the Eldar's internal cohesion and Eldrad's influence—an extreme pressure test on the Eldar's determination.
Simultaneously, this would also heavily tie up the Eldar's energy, forcing them to focus their main attention on internal affairs for the foreseeable future, reducing the uncontrollable impact they might have on his other layouts.
One stone, many birds.
As for the internal turmoil and pain of the Eldar? That was not within his scope of consideration.
At the negotiation table of survival, there is no place for warmth; there are only bargaining chips and prices.
After the meeting ended, Ryo did not linger in the main control center.
He needed time to digest the results of this negotiation and adjust his subsequent layouts.
A heavy bomb had been dropped on the Eldar's side, and it would inevitably take time to detonate and evaluate its impact.
In the interim, he could focus on other matters.
Elandir remained silent for a long time after the meeting ended.
She returned alone to the Eldar's temporary residence at the Death World base, a small courtyard carefully maintained in the Aeldari style by a psychic field.
She stood before a glowing psychic plant, her fingertips unconsciously brushing over its leaves, but her mind was entirely immersed in the shock of the meeting just now.
The Croneswords... Honored Ryo actually demanded this item.
The cold calculation and precise grasp of the Eldar psyche represented behind this demand sent a chill through her.
But at the same time, she could not deny certain sharp truths in Ryo's words. The Eldar did indeed rely too heavily on prophecy, and their past interactions with humanity were often unsavory. Furthermore, the warning about potentially repeating their past mistakes after relocation pointed directly to the race's deepest hidden worries.
What would the High Farseer do? Would he really attempt to collect those scattered mythic blades?
What kind of monstrous waves would this stir up in the already fragile society of Aeldari survivors?
Elandir felt a wave of confusion, but soon, this confusion was replaced by a deeper sense of responsibility.
She was the bridge, the coordinator. No matter how difficult the path ahead, she had to fulfill her duties while striving to secure the best possible outcome for her race.
A few days later, Elandir adjusted her state and took the initiative to request an audience with Ryo.
She did not mention the Croneswords again; instead, she shifted the topic to more practical subsequent cooperation.
"Honored Ryo," her bearing was as elegant as ever, but there was an added serenity between her brows. "After the High Farseer returned to Ulthwe, initial internal discussions have begun."
"He asked me to relay that the deep application data regarding the portal framework technology, as well as auxiliary data packages regarding precise psychic manipulation and spatial stabilization that our side can provide in advance, have been compiled and are ready to be transmitted to you at any time. This can be considered a part of our sincerity in continuing to deepen our cooperation while we wait for the collection of the tokens."
Ryo nodded. "Acceptable. Have the technical team connect and receive it. Additionally, the long-term maintenance plan for the Pandora orbital portal framework also requires your input and partial technical support."
"Understood. Our personnel stationed at Pandora will fully cooperate." Elandir agreed. She hesitated slightly, then asked, "Regarding the situation on planet Pandora itself... You mentioned earlier that all factions needed to experience some trouble. Do you need our stationed personnel to assist with some... adjustments?"
Ryo glanced at her, understanding she was referring to the continued fake attacks by Eldar warriors to maintain pressure.
"There is no need for excessive stimulation at the moment. Just maintain the current level of pressure. Focus on monitoring the internal movements of the RDA and the Na'vi, especially the new directives from the RDA board and changes in the attitudes of the Na'vi clans towards Sutai. I will notify you separately regarding the specific timing and methods of intervention."
"Yes." Elandir noted it down.
"There is one more thing," Ryo brought up a report. "Initial analysis of the live samples captured from the Predator homeworld shows that the activity and concentration of Yautja Prime vary significantly due to differences in individual age, status, and experience."
"I need more systematic, larger volumes of analytical data to optimize the extraction process and evaluate its potential effects and risks when applied to different recipients. Ulthwe should have some accumulation in bio-psionics and advanced life analysis."
Elandir immediately understood. "I will convey your needs to the High Farseer. Ulthwe should be able to provide relevant analytical technology and experiential support, or at least provide some critical analytical frameworks and risk assessment models. The specific method and scale of assistance will require the High Farseer's decision, but I do not think he will refuse."
"Excellent." Ryo expressed satisfaction with Elandir's efficiency and comprehension. This Eldar Farseer was indeed a good collaborator and executor.
After arranging several specific tasks properly, Ryo's attention returned to a more macroscopic level.
The biological research zone of the Death World base entered full-speed operation.
The Apothecary practically lived in the laboratory, leading his team to classify, sample, analyze, and conduct initial "Yautja Prime" purification experiments on the steady stream of Predator captives being delivered.
The initial results were gratifying, but as Ryo pointed out, more systematic research was needed before it could be safely and efficiently applied.
Combined with the potential technical support from the Eldar, this process was expected to be greatly accelerated.
Overall, however, it could still be called gratifying with broad prospects.