# Chapter 2362: Star Cluster Conference! A Favor Beyond Reason
Boss Nan Shen, pay attention to your image, hey, so many people are watching!
You need to maintain dignity in front of these racial leaders, right?
Only to see Yao Hong's face break into a brilliant smile, she smiled sweetly:
(〃⁼̴◡⁼̴) "Boss Nan Shen, you really know how to joke. Am I the kind of person who would do something like that?"
"Come~ Come sit down quickly!"
As she spoke, she quickly walked up to Jiang Nan, grabbed his arm, pulled him to the main seat, and forcibly sat him down on the stool!
She stood behind Jiang Nan like that, kneading his shoulders, the orchid-like fragrance occasionally drifting into his nostrils, yet Jiang Nan still looked alert!
Absolutely! Absolutely cannot let her fish another cent out of his pockets!
All the racial leaders stared blankly at Jiang Nan. Was this... was this the Nan Shen who had successively caused the two great catastrophes of Thousand Stars and Northern Crown? The existence called the Fifth Calamity by the world?
Meeting him in person? The real person was completely different from what they imagined!
He didn't seem to put on airs at all!
And as Jiang Nan arrived, Chong Feiyu, Yakeli, and the others also entered and took their seats in turn!
Chong Feiyu's Star Devourer level and Yakeli's Half-Step Star Devourer powerful aura intimidated these racial leaders into silence, making them even more nervous!
Was this the formidable strength of the human race?
Although it couldn't compare to those great Starry Sky races, it was enough to make these races look up in awe!
Only to see Jiang Nan's eyes flicker, sweeping over the faces of all the racial leaders present!
There were Star-Breaking level existences, and those who had not reached Star-Breaking, with all kinds of forms: material-type, energy-type, carbon-based, nitrogen-based!
He also saw the Mist Hidden Clan girl who had once asked what his name was. Seeing Jiang Nan look over, white mist surged around her, and she shyly covered her face!
꒰⸝⸝ᵒ̴̶̷᷄﹏ᵒ̴̶̷᷅⸝⸝꒱
The Eye Clan's Little Walnut, and even the chubby Antenna Clan member were also present!
Jiang Nan rubbed his nose, somewhat surprised:
(͡°ก͡°) "So many? I remember I only saved seventeen at the beginning..."
Yao Hong smiled: "Since the Star Project was established, the human race treasury has regularly allocated funds to this project. Besides helping these races settle and rebuild their homes, the remaining funds have all been used for rescuing and sheltering slave races!"
"As time passes, more and more races are joining the Star Project, and initial results are showing."
"This is the current member race information of the Star Project, as well as their settlement locations."
As she spoke, she handed over the intelligent brain in her hand. Jiang Nan lowered his head and quickly browsed through it!
There were races like the Air Speed Clan, Mist Hidden Clan, Soul Spirit Clan, Slug Clan, Dazzle Thunder Clan, Twin Clan, and too many more — a total of three hundred and twenty-five races in all!
And as the Star Project expanded, the number of races would only increase!
Jiang Nan scratched his head. The Star Project was essentially a money-burning project in its early stages. Whether rescuing slave races or settling and rebuilding homes, it required massive investment!
It was fortunate that humanity had Dimensional Star Navigation as revenue and controlled two hundred and forty-one mining areas, otherwise they simply couldn't afford to play this game!
Yakeli also looked in shock at the three hundred-plus races in the hall!
Were all of them rescued by humanity in various ways?
Seeing Jiang Nan scratching his head endlessly, Yakeli naturally understood Jiang Nan's difficulties!
And during the process of Jiang Nan reviewing the information, the leaders of the various races all stared intently at Jiang Nan, their expressions tense!
Until Jiang Nan put down the information, leaned back in his chair, and grinned:
(˶‾᷄⥎‾᷅˵) "As for the Star Project? Does anyone have anything else to say? You can offer your own opinions. This isn't my one-man show here."
"I'm not some man-eating demon either. My goal is to make humanity, to make everyone better. If you have good constructive suggestions, feel free to bring them up!"
The various racial leaders exchanged glances, as if mustering their courage, and nodded one after another.
A male Slug Clan member took a deep breath: "Nan Shen! First of all, I want to thank you for establishing the Star Project. If we hadn't encountered you, we would still be slave races, freely driven, traded, and used as tools by those great Starry Sky races!"
"Sinking in the abyss, never seeing the light! You spent a fortune to rescue slave races, restore our freedom, and rebuild new homes for us. For us, you are a beam of light illuminating the darkness! Our savior!"
"I know you've already spent a lot for us. We should be grateful and not ask for more!"
"But now we still have a favor beyond reason to ask, hoping you can agree. If so, even if we have to walk through fire and tread on blades for you, we would die without regret!"
Yao Hong's face showed difficulty. Clearly, she knew what this request was!
This was also why she called Jiang Nan to handle it — because she couldn't manage this matter herself!
Jiang Nan smiled: "Walking through fire and treading on blades isn't necessary. And even if there were such an opportunity, it wouldn't be your turn!"
"What request? Let's hear it?"
The Mist Hidden Clan girl said eagerly:
꒰ง⸝⸝ᵒ̴̶̷᷄～ᵒ̴̶̷᷅⸝⸝꒱ง "Could the human side lend us some Star Source Points? We want to use them to rescue our fellow clansmen who are still suffering in the Star Ruins, in the hands of the various great Starry Sky races!"
"It's a loan! Not a gift! In the future, we will repay with principal and interest in full!"
"We still have many friends, family members, and companions who have been branded with slave marks, living in misery, suffering, and darkness. Every time I think of this, I can't sleep at night!"
"I know this request will put you in a difficult position, but please, we have no other way!"
Jiang Nan's brow furrowed, and even Yao Hong's face showed a bitter smile!
The Dazzle Thunder Clan's racial leader said seriously:
(˵ಠĹ̯ಠ˵) "Are you afraid we won't be able to repay? Don't worry, Nan Shen! Each of our major races has our own skills, special abilities, and specialties — we have value!"
"Otherwise, we wouldn't have been developed into Star Ruins and become slave races. As our homes are built up and productivity increases, we will certainly be able to realize our value, earn enough Star Source Points, and pay off our debts!"
"No matter what, we don't want to watch our fellow clansmen suffer!"
The Air Speed Clan clenched his fists, his expression bitter: "My little sister was bought by a Parasite entity. My father is still in the Star Ruins. As a son, I can do nothing!"
"Nan Shen! You should know this feeling. Even if I beg you, let me do anything, I'll do it, I..."
His eyes glistened with tears as he spoke!
Everyone's gaze focused on Jiang Nan. He took a deep breath!
"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I cannot agree to this request."
As soon as these words were spoken, many racial leaders lowered their heads, the hope in their eyes extinguished.
Yao Hong also breathed a sigh of relief. Nan Shen still understood the stakes involved!
Jiang Nan propped his chin, his expression serious:
(͡°ʃƪ͡°) "Everyone, I, Jiang Nan, am not reluctant to spend money, nor am I afraid you won't repay! If I really cared about the money and resources, I would never have established the Star Project in the first place!"
"If I lend money to you all to redeem your remaining clansmen, once this precedent is set, every race that joins the Star Project in the future will do the same!"
"This is a bottomless pit! Even if humanity staked its entire fortune, it couldn't fill it!"
"And is Holy Star stupid? Would they let you redeem your fellow clansmen so easily? Wouldn't they maliciously jack up the prices?"
Yao Hong said bitterly: "In fact, Holy Star has long since learned about what we're doing, and they've already begun raising the prices of these slave races!"
"To redeem the remaining fellow clansmen, we often have to pay several times, even a dozen times the price to do so. No matter how much money humanity has, it's not enough to spend!"
Jiang Nan said flatly: "The resources humanity currently controls are limited. If the allocated funds are used to redeem your fellow clansmen, what will be used to save other slave races?"
"And these resources will become the starships and weapons in Holy Star's hands, used to develop more Star Ruins!"
"I know that feeling of helplessness, that taste of seeking but not getting, of forced separation. From an emotional standpoint, I should lend it to you — after all, when doing good, one should see it through to the end!"
"But from a rational standpoint, I cannot start this precedent! You are all racial leaders and can see clearly. My human race is not some great Starry Sky race; we are in a stage of rapid development and have enormous demand for various resources!"
"To put it bluntly, the current Star Project is a bottomless pit, a giant pit that can never be filled, a losing business. That I've managed to go this far is already a huge decision on my part!"
"I hope everyone understands..."
One must be a good person, but one must also consider how to be one. If this precedent were truly set, the Star Project would be ruined!
Worse, humanity might even be dragged down in its development process. Humanity at this point couldn't afford to be delayed!
So this bad guy role, Jiang Nan still had to play!
Yao Hong couldn't bear to be so ruthless, but Jiang Nan could!
The Mist Hidden Clan girl covered her face and wept. The leaders of the various races also wilted!
The Dazzle Thunder Clan leader punched the table:
(ಠ益ಠ˵) "Is there no way but to watch our fellow clansmen suffer while we can do nothing? Damn it! Damn it all!"
The Slug Clan elder glared: "Thunder Ji! Watch your manners!"
Thunder Ji lowered his head: "Sorry! I didn't mean to lose my temper with Nan Shen. I... I just hate my own powerlessness! I can't accept this!"
Jiang Nan took a deep breath: (˶‾᷄⁻‾᷅˵) "I understand your feelings, but everyone..."
"Haven't you misunderstood something?"
As Jiang Nan said this, the hall fell silent!
Jiang Nan said flatly: "You lost. You lost the Star Ruins war. You lost your freedom. You lost everything. And losers have always paid the price since ancient times!"
"The existence of the Star Project gives you a second chance! Shouldn't you seize this opportunity, know shame, and then strive boldly?"
"Instead of lamenting your powerlessness here, trying to use the power of others to make up for the price you paid for losing? Asking others is not as good as asking yourself!"
"Opportunities are never given by others, but won by yourself! Do you understand?"