Getting a Technology System in Modern Day

828  The Second Arrival

Time, like a stone rolling down from the top of a mountain, moved forward relentlessly, indifferent to its surroundings. Before long, the six-month period they had set for the first official barter trade exchange was nearing its end, with only a short time remaining before the exact agreed-upon moment arrived.

On the outskirts of the solar system, where the fierce battle between the two sides had once taken place, no traces of the conflict remained. Now, the area was calm, yet bustling with activity as Imperial fleets had already arrived. Nearly ninety percent of the ships in the fleet were cargo vessels, each carrying mana stones intended for the trade with the other side.

Notably, there was no visible military presence among the ships. All the vessels belonged to the Imperial Mana Agency—a deliberate choice that served a dual purpose. On one hand, it bolstered the agency's position as a key player in diplomatic and economic exchanges, reinforcing its credibility and influence. On the other hand, it ensured that the appearance of the Imperial military in any situation carried significant weight. By avoiding a constant or unnecessary presence, the Empire made it clear that the military’s involvement was reserved for only the most critical moments, enhancing the gravity and strategic impact of its deployment. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

{There are still no spatial disturbances detected} The ship AI reported to the woman on the highest position in the ship and the fleet as a whole.

“Looks like arriving early to a meeting with a set time isn’t part of their customs,” Lanesra remarked, her tone carrying a mix of patience and mild amusement. She turned her attention back to the holographic interface hovering before her. “Continue monitoring the surrounding space and inform me the moment you detect any spatial disturbances,” she instructed calmly.

With a swipe of her hand, she closed the hologram, its faint glow disappearing as she turned to gaze out of the massive window before her. The vast expanse of space stretched endlessly, dotted with distant stars.

Lanesra was a former high-ranking official in the Imperial Agency responsible for awakeners. Her selection as the head of the newly founded Imperial Mana Agency had been a deliberate choice, perfectly aligning with her unique awakened abilities, immense personal strength, and extensive experience in business—a field she had excelled in even before the foundation of the empire or her awakening.

{Understood,} the ship’s AI responded in its usual monotone before resuming its silent, methodical operations.

For two uninterrupted hours, Lanesra sat motionless by the expansive window of her personal quarters, her piercing gaze fixed on the vast, seemingly empty void of space. She remained utterly still, her posture unchanging, exuding an air of calm focus. Yet, as the two-hour mark passed, her sharp eyes subtly shifted, their direction altering as if she had sensed a change in the stillness of the cosmos moments before any official report could confirm it.

{Ma’am, disturbances in space have started appearing,} the AI announced promptly, following the instructions it had been given.

“Okay, thanks,” Lanesra replied. Rising from her chair, she adjusted her outfit with a quick, practiced motion, ensuring it reflected her position. She then walked toward the door, leaving her quarters as she made her way to the ship’s control bridge. The spatial disturbances signaled the other side’s final steps in opening wormholes, the precursor to their arrival.

It didn’t take long. Almost as soon as Lanesra reached the bridge, space began to ripple and bend, and within moments, nearly fifty wormholes materialized across the void. From each wormhole, a fleet emerged—more than fifty in total—before the portals vanished as abruptly as they had appeared, leaving no trace behind.

“In the name of mana, what is this?” a Valthorin exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. His senses, honed over centuries, were now betraying him—or so he thought. The overwhelming input felt like an impossible anomaly, as if he had been thrust into an era far beyond his comprehension. His instincts screamed that his senses were feeding his brain fabricated data, for that seemed the only plausible explanation for what he was experiencing at this moment.

“I can’t believe we can feel them even from this distance,” an Elara individual murmured in disbelief, his voice tinged with awe. As one of a race that considered themselves mana’s chosen and blessed, his senses were overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the energy emanating from the Imperial fleets. His body quivered with excitement, a sensation rivaling the most euphoric experiences of his life. A part of him longed to stay in this area indefinitely, basking in the unprecedented surge of vitality coursing through his veins.

“Did they plunder the whole solar system to gather them? If even I can sense them, how many of these stones did they manage to collect?” a member of the Yrall Coalition asked, his gaze fixed on the distant Imperial fleets. The thought of such a monumental stockpile of mana stones left him reeling, both in wonder and envy.

“I can feel my strength increasing just by breathing,” a Xor’Vak member exclaimed, marveling at the seemingly enhanced potency of the surrounding air. The euphoria was short-lived, however, as he quickly snapped himself out of his amazement. With a resolute expression, he closed his eyes, his mind focusing on connecting to a larger network, determined to carry out his task despite the overwhelming pull of the mana-laden atmosphere.

“We should have deployed more ships during the invasion and taken control of the star system,” Kalron, a member of the Zelvora royal family, said through the mental network shared among his kin. His words resonated deeply with the others, their collective silence acknowledging the bitter truth in his statement. The realization of what they had forfeited by accepting the Empire as an ally to the Astral Conclave now weighed heavily on them. With the Empire’s newfound position, an attack against them without justification was no longer feasible, leaving the Zelvora royalty to silently stew in their regret.

They were not alone in their astonishment. Reactions varied widely across the fleets—some individuals were overcome with disbelief, others were filled with awe, while some experienced wonder. Yet there were also those who felt a creeping sense of fear, regret, or even jealousy. The scene unfolding before them was so surreal that, despite the airspace now being populated by fleets from over fifty civilizations, five whole minutes passed without a single word from the Astral Conclave's side. The fleets stood in silence, each faction still processing what they had just encountered.

It was then that Lanesra’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and steady. “Hello, I’m Lanesra, the head of the Imperial Mana Agency. Is there a problem on your side? You haven’t initiated any communication since your arrival.”

Her words were like a splash of cold water, snapping everyone back to attention, reminding them of the purpose they were all there for.

Immediately after Lanesra’s words, one by one, the different civilizations within the Astral Conclave’s fleets began to initiate communication, adhering to the previously agreed-upon procedures. Each fleet lowered their shields, allowing the Imperial ships to scan their vessels for any prohibited items, as was customary in these exchanges. At the same time, the fleets from the Conclave reciprocated, ensuring that the Imperial ships weren’t carrying any banned items either.

These measures were part of the many stipulations the empire had insisted upon in the refined mana stone exchange agreement. The empire, ever vigilant, operated under the principle of Trust, but verify, ensuring that both sides adhered to the terms and kept the trade as transparent as possible.