In Earth's business terms, "scarcity creates value." For living beings, nothing is more precious than something that can save lives.
If William hadn't been aiming to acquire shipbuilding techniques, propulsion technology, and advanced materials, he would have limited the Predators to purchasing just 100 healing charms annually.
Want more? Bring me something truly worthwhile in exchange.
Pocketing the remaining six charms, William noticed the elder Predator's sharp glare. He quickly realized why: he hadn't yet paid for the answers to his questions.
Casually handing over the six charms, he said, "Five for the questions, and the extra charm and experimental ones are payment for clearing out that pyramid."
The elder's stern expression softened as he accepted the charms. "Deal."
"Make sure it's thoroughly cleaned, including the Xenomorph queen," William warned. "If I find out you're using Earth for your trials or if another Xenomorph appears here, you can forget about buying any more healing charms. Got it?"
The elder Predator remained unfazed, but the warriors behind him murmured in protest.
The elder turned, glaring at his subordinates until they fell silent.
William added, "Earth is my home. No one wants chaos in their own house. And if Xenomorphs run rampant here, I'll have no time or energy to make your charms."
The elder pondered this for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Since you are now our ally, holding something we need and willing to trade, we'll ensure Xenomorphs are not used here again.
But as per the ancient interstellar accords, Earth is a discovery of our species and technically our colonial territory.
Until humanity advances beyond its star system, we retain the right to visit Earth once every hundred years for trials."
Ancient interstellar accords?
Hearing this, William's interest piqued. Smirking, he said, "How about we play a game?"
The elder's mandibles flared slightly as he nodded. "Go on."
"Find the closest habitable planet, one suitable for both humans and Predators. Build a dedicated arena there for a hunting competition.
Three humans and one Predator per team. Nine humans and three Predators. The goal is to hunt 100 Xenomorphs within three days.
The team with the highest kill count wins—or, if both are wiped out, the team with surviving members wins."
The elder immediately responded, "What's the wager?"
So eager? William was briefly surprised. Guess hunting really is ingrained in their DNA.
After a moment's thought, William proposed, "If I lose, 1,000 charms."
"Agreed," the elder nodded without hesitation. "And if I lose?"
William grinned. "I'll still give you 1,000 charms, but you'll give me the full blueprints for this hundred-meter-long ship. Payment will be spread over three years."
Seeing the elder's disapproval, William added, "I can only make 20 charms a day—10 to pay off debts and 10 to keep in reserve.
If another alien species shows up, I might need to trade with them.
You can't expect me to let you monopolize my charms and sell them like cabbages, can you?"
"No." The elder shook his head firmly. "If I lose, you'll receive a ship worth 10,000 charms, not just the schematics.
And you must grant us exclusive rights to purchase your healing charms for ten years. Otherwise, I'd rather not trade at all—and no one else will know these charms exist.
I'll ensure that no other species reaches Earth's space lanes. Unless your kind ventures out on their own, Earth will remain isolated."
"Wow, thanks," William said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. Who are you fooling? If you could block interstellar travel to Earth, your weapons wouldn't still be stuck in the Dark Ages.
Feigning indifference, he replied, "Sure, go ahead and block all travel. Let us Earthlings live quietly in the solar system."
The elder's mandibles twitched, his frustration evident. This smug Earthling!
"Fine," the elder said through clenched teeth. "But I insist on the ten-year exclusivity deal as compensation."
William's eyes narrowed. Why the insistence on exclusivity? Are they preparing for war?
Feigning casual curiosity, he asked, "Does this mean you're about to go to war? Against who?"
"Augmented Predators," the elder replied bluntly.
William was taken aback by the directness. Before he could ask further, the elder elaborated.
"Three thousand years ago, under the leadership of genetically enhanced individuals, our species reached its peak.
But our unchecked exploration of the star system led us to encounter a merciless species—a plague that spreads like wildfire."
"Xenomorphs?" William interjected.
The elder nodded. "Within a year, our homeworld fell. Afterward, our species split.
We now value unaltered, natural evolution, while the augmented Predators continue their reckless genetic modifications, turning themselves into monsters."
The elder gestured to himself, his yellow-and-black-speckled face a stark contrast to the hologram he activated on his wrist.
The image showed a towering, black-scaled Predator with oversized mandibles and pronounced spines.
"This is a Black-Armor Augmented Predator.
They are stronger, taller, and more bloodthirsty. If they don't hunt within a week, they grow restless.
If a year passes without a hunt, they start killing each other."
Well, damn.
William examined the hologram, then glanced at the elder. No wonder this faction despises augmented Predators.
It was like comparing a normal human to a monstrous hybrid. While many humans might wish for greater strength, few would trade their humanity to become scaly, horned creatures.
And as with all such divisions, when hybrids became numerous enough to form their own faction, conflict was inevitable.
William chuckled inwardly. So these guys were interstellar nomads for a while? Lost their homeworld, fled the Xenomorphs, and then turned on each other in civil war?
The elder's explanation brought a sense of relief. No matter the species, infighting, factions, and power struggles seem universal.
Feigning curiosity, William asked, "So you're saying you're hunters—but more civilized?"
"No," the elder corrected firmly. "There's nothing civilized about us.
The only difference is our approach to evolution.
We have the patience to wait, while the augmented Predators recklessly splice genes, creating abominations that pose greater risks to every species they encounter."
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Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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