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Chapter 492: Schiller's New Venture (1)

Inside the Green Lantern Corps headquarters, in the Corps Leader's office, Thaal and Schiller shook hands.

Thaal understood from Hal that a handshake was an Earth custom. By taking this initiative, he indicated his trust in Hal's judgment and believed that Schiller had the capability to help them overcome their current challenges.

Schiller gestured a "please," and Thaal and Hal took their places on either side of the desk, while Schiller sat in front.

Turning his head to Schiller, Hal said, "As I mentioned before, we're facing a dire situation. On one hand, the Green Lantern energy is in short supply, and many subordinate sectors are expressing dissatisfaction. On the other hand, the Space Guardians want to create a Green Lantern Constitutional Guard to limit the Green Lantern Corps."

Hearing that Hal didn't bring up the issue of kickbacks, Thaal cleared his throat and put on a serious expression, saying, "Correct, I heard from Hal that you have experience dealing with such matters..."

Schiller lowered his head and chuckled. He said, "I believe there are many capable individuals within the Green Lantern Corps. I'm not indispensable. It's just that times have changed, and there are very few people available now. My suggestions are just a starting point, and everyone should give it a listen..."

"Alright, no need for formalities." Hal interrupted Schiller's bureaucratic tone and said, "There's no surveillance in this room. We're all in the same boat. What's the plan now?"

Schiller glanced at Hal, implying, "You could have said that earlier."

He dropped the faux smile, revealing a more business-like demeanor. He then took out two documents and handed one to Thaal and the other to Hal.

"It's just what it sounds like." Schiller placed his hands on the desk and said, "Troop expansion means increasing the size of the military."

Thaal looked puzzled by the plan book he was holding. He said, "Increasing the size of the military? But we're already short on energy. If we recruit more people, won't there be even less to go around?"

"And moreover, they're forming a Constitutional Guard because they fear us. Won't proposing troop expansion at this point only provoke them?" Hal also looked at Schiller and asked, "Shouldn't we be aiming for fewer people right now?"

"Correct, but the idea of troop expansion doesn't mean recruiting more personnel. It means expanding the establishment."

Thaal thought for a moment. It was clear that he had experience in this field and had already inferred something. Then he saw Schiller flipping through the materials while saying, "To my knowledge, so far, Space has been divided into 3,600 sectors. According to the rules, each sector should have a Green Lantern, but that's not the case in reality..."

Thaal sighed. He thought Schiller might be addressing Hal's earlier question. Thaal explained, "I think you should understand that the 'one sector, one Green Lantern' system is just a theory. Even if we assign one Green Lantern to each sector or even have ten sectors share one Power Battery, we would still need 360 Power Batteries..."

"Not to mention the cost of manufacturing these Power Batteries. Just the logistics of replenishing energy from headquarters to all those Power Batteries is unmanageable..."

"And if a Green Lantern from one sector falls in combat, and his sector can't immediately select a new Green Lantern, then a Green Lantern from an adjacent sector would have to act as a caretaker."

"What about the original sector that Green Lantern was responsible for? If there are over a hundred Green Lanterns unavailable for duty, who will oversee those areas? And if one Green Lantern can't handle certain issues in a sector and needs assistance, what about the maintenance of order in the area covered by the assisting Green Lantern?"

"This method is simply unworkable. Therefore, the Lantern Corps now employs a regional responsibility system. Roughly a hundred sectors are grouped into a larger region, with a permanent team stationed there. And within that, around twenty sectors form a smaller zone, patrolled by partitioned patrol squads..."

Schiller nodded and said, "Correct, this approach is more scientific. Though it remains a bit rudimentary, it can still function. The problem I want to point out is the issue with the Lantern Corps' logistical support system."

"At the very least, on my home planet Earth, logistics are of paramount importance. But..." Schiller hesitated, looked at the materials in his hands, and frowned. "I haven't seen any logistical provisions in the Green Lantern Corps' establishment. What do you do about logistical issues?"

"Logistics? What are you referring to? Administrative work?"

"More than that. Hardware maintenance, intelligence gathering, medical services, exploration and monitoring, and so on. Are none of these accounted for?"

Thaal spread his hands and said, "I know on Earth, militaries might have these roles, and it's the same on my planet. But that's because we're relatively primitive surface-dwellers."

"Actually, the Green Lantern energy is incredibly powerful. Power Batteries don't break and don't deplete. Most of the engineers at headquarters are mostly responsible for maintaining the devices around the Power Batteries."

"Within the Green Lantern ring is a galactic encyclopedia. All Green Lanterns can upload the information they collect here for everyone to access."

"The Green Lantern ring has inherent healing capabilities, allowing us to treat injuries suffered by Green Lanterns anytime, anywhere. It also has scanning functions for biological, geographical, spatial, and environmental elements. There's no need for additional exploration and monitoring."

"A single Green Lantern is like an entire army, and a small team is almost equivalent to the armed forces of an entire civilization..."

To Thaal's surprise, Schiller didn't argue this point. He simply nodded and said, "Yes, but that was before."

Thaal furrowed his brows, and then he heard Schiller say, "I've seen in previous battle reports that we've hardly ever won against the Yellow Lantern Corps?"

"Even including this recent fight in Gotham. I witnessed it myself. When the Yellow Lantern energy swept across the sky, all Green Lanterns fell."

"Forgive my bluntness, but isn't this problem visible to the naked eye? Isn't anyone curious about what's happening behind this? Why haven't we investigated?"

Thaal rubbed his chin and said, "Actually, I've been a bit puzzled myself. I just haven't voiced it. I was afraid of shaking the morale. I don't know why, but we feel fear when encountering Yellow Lantern Energy. That energy dissolves our Green Lantern energy and strips us of all our abilities."

"You see, the Green Lantern ring isn't all-powerful. It hasn't provided an answer to this problem. We need to investigate this ourselves."

Schiller framed the question differently, "Do you think, for the Space Guardians, the threat from the Green Lanterns themselves is more significant, or is the threat from the Yellow Lantern Corps more significant?"

Thaal hesitated for a moment and said, "Of course, it's the Yellow Lanterns. While I don't know why Sinestro betrayed the Corps, he seems to

harbor a deep hatred for the Space Guardians. If the Yellow Lantern Corps were to grow, even if the Space Guardians are formidable, there might be danger."

"So, what's the issue with expanding our troops?"

Thaal paused. He realized Schiller's reasoning. If they justified troop expansion as a response to the threat posed by the Yellow Lantern Corps, it made sense.

Schiller continued, "Furthermore, as I mentioned, we're not expanding combat personnel. We're only expanding the establishment of logistical support personnel."

Schiller took out a pen, tapped the table, looked down at the materials, and then said:

"First, to address the issue of Yellow Lantern Energy countering Green Lantern energy, we need to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the Power Batteries in the 3,600 sectors. On average, each Power Battery requires three engineers and one supervisor. The significance of the central Power Battery goes without saying; it requires an entire engineering department, fully staffed with 300 engineers..."

"Considering the varying levels of civilization and education among the Green Lanterns, not all can be deployed immediately. We need a training base and related facilities and personnel to accompany it..."

"Furthermore, we need to understand why Yellow Lantern Energy dissolves Green Lantern energy. Therefore, we require an entire team of experts to study this matter. A team like this can't simply be created out of thin air, so we need a research institute. To prevent any possibilities from being overlooked, we also need to establish about 20 topic-specific groups..."

"To maximize the research results, we can collaborate with the higher education institutions of various civilizations, offer postgraduate internships, provide classrooms, dormitories, laboratories, and associated facilities and personnel..."

"At the same time, the threat posed by Sinestro, who still roams within Space, shouldn't be underestimated. We need specialized agent personnel to investigate the movements of Yellow Lantern Corps members..."

"Wait!" Hal suddenly interjected. "Monitoring the movements of the Yellow Lantern Corps can be done by regular Green Lanterns. Even if it requires some agent skills, we can provide training, right?"

Schiller shook his head and turned to Hal, saying, "Why do you think the FBI and CIA are separate institutions?"

"Mutual oversight, checks and balances, to prevent the concentration of power." Hal said, getting lost in thought as he spoke.

Schiller explained, "Currently, all ordinary Green Lanterns are essentially like the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They have the authority for internal law enforcement—such as mediating interstellar disputes, combating Space pirates, and apprehending fugitives."

"The newly formed Agent organization, on the other hand, is akin to the Central Intelligence Agency. It lacks enforcement power within the realm of interstellar civilizations, focusing only on external enemies of the Green Lantern Corps. Simultaneously, it serves as a watchdog and warning mechanism for overseeing and alerting internal Green Lantern operations."

Seeing Thaal's somewhat changing expression, Schiller said, "Correct, in fact, this is the Constitutional Guard in essence. We're just establishing it first."

Thaal's mouth opened slightly, and he said, "Are you suggesting that we first establish an organization that includes internal oversight? But what if they don't trust this organization unless they control it?"

"We don't need the Space Guardians to trust this Agent organization. Once we establish it, it will have the same authority as the Constitutional Guard."

"At this point, if the Space Guardians propose to establish a Constitutional Guard, the urgency will not be ours, but theirs. Because when authorities overlap, their power will be weakened."

"Therefore, I propose that Hal takes the lead in establishing the Agent organization. He will be granted the greatest authority, selecting the most capable individuals from all Green Lanterns, forming an independent force for both external combat against the Yellow Lanterns and internal monitoring."

Thaal rubbed his chin and said, "I understand what you mean. We establish an organization that holds oversight powers, including internal monitoring. If they try to establish such an organization later and their authority overlaps, conflicts are bound to arise. This way, the focus will shift."

"But why Hal?" Thaal asked with some confusion. "He's your fellow countryman. Aren't you worried the Space Guardians might target him?"

Schiller looked at Hal and said, "Commander Thaal, what do you think the relationship is between the Space Guardians and the Green Lantern energy? Did the Guardians create the Emotional Spectrum?"

Upon hearing this question, Thaal hesitated for a moment and said, "Externally, we say that the entire Green Lantern Corps was created by the Space Guardians. But from what I've gathered from the materials, the Emotional Spectrum seems to be a natural phenomenon within Space. The Guardians merely crafted the Power Batteries and rings to harness this energy."

As he spoke, he and Schiller looked at Hal and Thaal continued, "Wait a moment, you can communicate with Green Lantern energy without using the ring now. That means you don't need to fear the Space Guardians at all."

"Correct," Schiller nodded and said, "The Green Lantern's Power Battery and the Ion entity were both born naturally, representing the willpower of Space. Now, the Ion entity has chosen Hal, signifying that Hal is more closely attuned to the essence of the Green Lantern energy than the Space Guardians. He doesn't need to fear them at all."

"For this reason, as long as he leads a team and seizes the authority of the Constitutional Guard, if the Space Guardians want to establish a Constitutional Guard

later, they will have to consider whether their creation can stand against Ion and his team."

"At the same time, we will hold the moral high ground. If the Space Guardians establish a Constitutional Guard, suspicions of purging dissidents may arise. However, if we propose the establishment of a monitoring organization ourselves, doesn't that indicate our integrity?"

Thaal and Hal exchanged glances, then turned their heads towards Schiller. They noticed the green light glowing in Schiller's eyes, and it wasn't an illusion.

"Alright, the superficial discussions are over. Let's get to the practical part now," Schiller changed the topic once again.

Thaal, who had been about to stand up and leave, sat back down. He looked at Schiller with confusion and asked, "The practical part? What do you mean by the practical part?"

"Hal, didn't you tell me that you and Commander had already agreed?" Schiller asked Hal. Hal gave Thaal a meaningful look, and it was then that Thaal realized they were about to discuss bribes.

Suddenly, a green crystal appeared in Schiller's hand. He placed the crystal on the table, capturing the attention of Thaal and Hal. Thaal was very familiar with the energy inside the crystal, and he said, "This is Green Lantern energy..."

"Correct, and it's not locked."

Thaal reached out skeptically. As he touched the crystal, his eyes widened. He realized that the Green Lantern energy inside could indeed be freely extracted.

"This..." Thaal tested it out, then glanced at Hal and said, "This is what you mentioned, a method to allow ordinary people to use Green Lantern energy?"

"Correct," Hal nodded.

"So, you want to expand the Green Lantern Corps' establishment to extract more energy from the central Power Battery, channel it into these crystals, and then... then... take them away?" Thaal's expression showed some discomfort as he said this.

"The first part is correct. As long as we have enough justifications, we can extract energy from the central Power Battery on a large scale," Schiller explained.

In truth, even without these justifications, Schiller, who had coordinated with the Commander, could directly extract energy from the central Power Battery. However, considering long-term sustainability, it was more convenient to establish a sophisticated system for the process.

"The first part is correct. So, what's the issue with the second part?" Hal asked.

"If I were to hand these crystals to you directly, what would you do with them?" Schiller looked at Hal and asked.

"Uh, for the advancement of Earth's civilization, I'd give them to scientists for research. They might even become a new source of energy," Hal replied.

"This choice isn't necessarily wrong, but it's not very efficient," Schiller said more gently, "Considering humanity's current level of scientific and technological development, using this energy efficiently would likely require some time for research. And to decode the secrets of this energy, I'm afraid..."

"Also, have you considered that research won't consume much energy? The energy stored in this crystal could sustain the research efforts of humanity's scientists for several years."

"That's true," Hal rubbed his chin in thought. What Schiller said was correct. Despite the small size of the crystal, it contained the energy of about ten rings. It was enough to wage a localized interstellar war. According to Schiller's plan, they weren't interested in just one crystal; they wanted at least four digits' worth, and on a regular basis.

"If that's the case, it seems we indeed need to consider how to make the most advantageous use of so much Green Lantern energy."

"I've heard that many interstellar civilizations are very interested in the identity of the Green Lanterns and Green Lantern energy," Schiller turned to Thaal and asked.

"Yes, after all, you know how powerful this energy is, and the reputation of the Green Lantern Corps has always been good. Becoming a Green Lantern is seen as a great honor in many civilizations."

"But, joining the Green Lantern Corps is quite difficult, right?"

Thaal nodded again and said, "The use of Green Lantern rings has certain requirements. Even if one excels in other aspects, lacking sufficient willpower renders it ineffective."

Schiller picked up the green crystal from the table again, looked at it, and said, "But using this thing has no requirements..."

Thaal's eyes gradually widened, and he looked at Schiller in shock, saying, "You're not thinking of selling Green Lantern energy, are you?"

"No!" Thaal denied immediately. He said, "That's too dangerous. If certain malicious individuals get hold of this, it could spark interstellar warfare!"

"But what if we don't give it to malicious individuals? They don't have a safety lock, so anyone who gets it can use it. What if it gets resold?"

"True, there's no safety lock now, but that doesn't mean there won't be in the future. You're the leader of a Green Lantern Corps, and you're the future head of the intelligence bureau within the Green Lantern Corps. You wouldn't be unable to acquire the technology for a safety lock, would you?"

Thaal and Hal exchanged a glance, and Hal said, "Enough with the suspense. Tell us about the specific plan."

"In fact, we're doing the same thing as the Space Guardians. Originally, Green Lantern energy was a gift of nature, but they built Power Batteries, crafted rings, extracted the energy, and formed the Green Lantern Corps, using the Green Lanterns for their own purposes."

"For Green Lanterns to use Green Lantern energy, they must wear a ring, recharge at the Power Battery, and abide by the limitations of the safety lock."

"We can do the same. We'll find something, add a safety lock, infuse it with Green Lantern energy, and then sell it to civilizations in space that are interested."

"We can restrict the use of this crystal through the safety lock. Simultaneously, we can sign agreements with them, lending them the crystals temporarily. Once the energy inside is depleted, they must renew the contract to recharge it."

"The payment can be on a monthly or yearly basis. There will be a fixed monthly rental fee, regardless of usage. If payment is not made, the safety lock will engage."

"In addition to the monthly rental, there will be package fees. Each month, a certain amount of Green Lantern energy will be provided within the package. If they want to continue using it after using up the allocated amount, they'll need to pay based on usage or purchase additional packages."

"The package will also include certain benefits, such as security services or teleportation services by the Green Lantern Corps. Of course, if they want more advanced privileges, they'll need to upgrade their package, increase the monthly fee, and achieve the level 120 membership..."

"Most importantly, each crystal will have an independent code, linked to the civilization's credit level within the Green Lantern Corps. If the Green Lantern energy within the crystal gets out of control, their credit level will decrease. Failure to pay or prolonged non-renewal will also lead to a credit decrease."

"Subsequently, we can develop a third-party credit platform in space, including all civilizations that use Green Lantern energy in the Green Lantern credit system. Those on the credit blacklist will lose the protection of interstellar society..."

"The Green Lantern Corps is excellent, but I prefer the Green Lantern industry. It's the time to establish industry standards. Why not?"

Thaal and Hal looked at Schiller together, and they saw that Schiller's expression was no longer that of a playful demeanor. His eyes were full of mockery. They heard Schiller say:

"The Space Guardians control such immense power, yet they've only created a Green Lantern Corps. It has to be said that they still value peace."

Neither Thaal nor Hal detected any hint of praise in Schiller's tone. Thaal was about to speak, but Schiller continued...

"But don't sympathize with them. They don't refrain from doing this out of a true desire to contribute to space. It's simply because they are too greedy. They want both profit and prestige."

"The positive reputation of the Green Lantern Corps is merely a means to an end. They will gradually tighten the noose until the Corps they've created becomes a machine that only follows their orders. The Constitutional Guard is just the first step..."

"And we are here to tell them..." Schiller's smile turned chilling, causing both Thaal and Hal to feel a sh

iver down their spines.

"The cooked duck is ready, and now it's mine."

Before Thaal and Hal could comment on this plan, Schiller placed the crystal on the table with a "slap" and continued, "Of course, this is a long-term plan. It may take hundreds of years to fully realize, but you and my civilization can't wait that long."

"We urgently need a qualitative leap. Researching this thing isn't the best method."

"What do you plan to do then?" Thaal asked.

"Now, this thing is already here. If you were a leader of an interstellar civilization, would you be interested in it?"

On this question, Thaal was very confident. He said, "If you were to bring this thing out, it would indeed cause a war. I'm not joking; there are too many individuals in space coveting Green Lantern energy. No civilization would not want this powerful and convenient force."

"Alright, now we're facing some difficulties in the research of this technology. Of course, the specific difficulties depend on what technology Earth and your civilization need. Would you be willing to invest reasonably in this?"

Hal widened his eyes, looking at Schiller and asked, "Are you talking about deceiving them into investing? That doesn't sound right!"

"What do you mean, deceiving? What do you mean, deceiving?" Schiller retorted loudly, "The physical evidence is already right in front of you, isn't it? We've even completed most of the development independently, only the final steps remain..."

"We've gone against the current in such a challenging environment, striving for innovation. If it weren't for budget constraints, how could we bring out such a precious opportunity to benefit the public?"

Hal kept his mouth shut, as Schiller's tone reminded him of certain less scrupulous industries on Earth. However, Thaal found this line of thinking brilliant. He said:

"Correct, we don't even need to infuse so much energy into it. Just a tiny amount will suffice to let them experience it. Once they realize this technology exists, they'll find ways to obtain it..."

"And with the backing of the Green Lantern Corps, they definitely won't dare to snatch it openly." Schiller chuckled, looking at Hal and saying:

"This is when our powerful Ion comes into play again."

[Another extra long chapter... But it's fun!]

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