Chapter 71: Potential value : Error Ethan led the emissaries into the Alliance Hall. They climbed the tall marble steps and walked down the long corridor where banners of the Alliance hung from the walls. Finally, they entered Ethan’s room—the grandest room in the entire building. The ceiling was covered in glowing carvings of stars and constellations. A huge round table sat in the center, surrounded by soft chairs. "Please, have a seat, Your Highness," Ethan said politely. Arthur didn’t move. He looked around the room once, then turned his eyes back to Ethan. "We can sit and talk later," he said, his voice calm but edged with a power that made the air heavy. "If your planet’s potential surpasses the threshold, then it will be worth my time. If it doesn’t, someone else will come to handle the formalities. You will be treated like all the other civilizations." Ethan felt his heart tighten. He knew this emissary wasn’t just any envoy. Only something extraordinary—like the way he fought the ocean emperor—could have brought such a high-level figure here personally. He bowed his head. "As you wish." Arthur turned to the tall man standing behind him. "Ares," he said, "scan the entire planet." Ares nodded. He stepped forward and pulled out a thin, transparent device that looked almost like a sheet of glass. When he tapped it, hundreds of symbols lit up. Ethan watched silently. This device would scan the potential of all martial artists on Earth. It wouldn’t measure the billions of civilians because their combined potential didn’t amount to much. Even if you added every ordinary person together, their value wouldn’t even reach a thousand points. The real power was in the few who awakened as martial artists. The device glowed softly, then flashed a red message across the surface. ERROR. Ares’ eyebrows shot up. He tapped the device again, checking for any mistake. This scanner had never failed him, not once in all the years he’d used it. He tried again. The same red word appeared. ERROR. The hall fell silent. Ethan felt the tension rising in his chest. Even Arthur tilted his head a little. Ares looked almost embarrassed. He tried a third time. The scanner flickered, whirred—and again displayed the error message. Ares stepped back and spoke carefully. "My lord, the device isn’t working." Arthur’s eyes, deep as the galaxy, held a flicker of surprise. He lifted a hand, and a small, dark object floated into his palm. It looked like a heavier version of Ares’ device, with lines of blue light running through it. "Try with this one," Arthur said. Ares took it with both hands. He knew this was no ordinary scanner. This was a ninth-generation device, meant for high-level civilizations. He’d never needed to use it on a low-level planet like Earth. Even holding it made his palms sweat. He swallowed, then activated the scan. A hum filled the room as the device pulled in data from every corner of the world. Everyone waited. This time it took longer—almost a full minute. Ares felt hopeful. Surely, this device would work. At last, the message appeared. ERROR. Ares felt his mouth go dry. He checked again, but the answer didn’t change. He looked up at Arthur, who was staring at Ethan now with an expression that was no longer just curiosity. Arthur thought for a moment. He was a galactic lord—someone who had lived for eons. In all that time, he had never seen a planet’s potential surpass the limits of a ninth-generation scanner. But maybe... "Scan again," Arthur ordered. He lifted his hand and pointed a finger at Ethan. "This time, exclude this young man." Ethan blinked but stayed silent. Ares adjusted the device’s settings and started over. The humming returned, and everyone waited, holding their breath. This time, a number formed on the display. Ares’ eyes nearly popped out of his head. 5,000,000. He felt like he’d been punched in the chest. Five million? That was the potential value of a powerful civilization—planets with a hundred times more people and technology far beyond Earth’s. He ran the scan again, thinking a mistake might had happened it. The same number appeared. Arthur didn’t look surprised this time. His face was serious, even thoughtful. He seemed to be studying Ethan in a new way. Ares swallowed. "My lord," he whispered, "how can this be?" Arthur didn’t answer. He slowly waved his hand and something that looked like a flat disc of metal with seven colored bands came to his hand. The colors were bright and perfect—violet, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. "This device," Arthur said, turning it in his hand, "measures individual advancement potential. It can show what realm a person can reach in their lifetime. It was forged using the law of fate itself." Ethan watched him carefully. He could feel the pressure in the room rising with every word Arthur spoke. Arthur’s voice dropped lower. "Normally, I would never use this. But your case is... different." He lifted his gaze. "Boy. Take this device in your hand and channel your energy into it." Ethan stepped forward. His palm felt cold against the smooth metal. He closed his eyes and sent a slow stream of his power into the disc. At first, nothing happened. Then the red band lit up. That meant planetary realm. A faint murmur passed through the emissaries. The orange band lit up next—star realm. Then yellow—black hole realm. Green—galaxy realm. Ares’ jaw hung open. The blue band began to glow. Galactic overlord. Even Arthur leaned forward. Then the purple band lit. Universe realm. Arthur’s eyes widened. He had probably never thought he would see this level on a backwater planet. But it wasn’t over. The violet band also lit up and then burst into brilliant light, so bright everyone had to shield their eyes. The device began to vibrate in Ethan’s hand. The potential to become a supreme. And then it shattered. The metal broke apart in a flash of white light, scattering glowing fragments across the floor. For a moment, no one moved or spoke. Arthur swallowed, and Ethan could see the awe in his eyes. In all the eons this man had lived, he had never seen the fate device destroyed. Ethan took a shaky breath. System, he thought, what just happened? [A mere universal fate law cannot measure your destiny.] 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮 Oh, Ethan thought, feeling his heart pound. So I’m that much of a badass? Arthur didn’t speak. He was contacting someone. "Queen Freya," he said quietly, "I have an urgent report." A clear, calm voice answered in his mind. "Yes, Emissary Arthur. You may proceed." Arthur took a deep breath. "I have completed the initial assessment. The situation is... beyond anything I have encountered." He explained everything—the scans failing, the number five million, the destroyed fate device. Queen Freya was silent for a long time. Finally, she spoke again. "Change the contract plan," she said. "Make it X level." Arthur lowered his hand. He looked almost relieved. "Understood." Only the X level contract could barely be worthy of this monster. Even if Ethan wasn’t here,with five million potential value,they could get a A level contract easily. Contract had levels too. E level,D level,C level, B level, A level,S level,SS level,SSS level,X level the higest. He looked at Ethan and said,"Your planet is worthy of signing an X level contract with us." Ethan watched him, puzzled. "May I ask," he said carefully, "what does the X level contract mean?" Arthur looked at him. "It is the highest level contract of our race," he said. "Only one or two civilizations in a billion years have qualified." Ethan felt his heart lurch. He hadn’t expected that. Arthur continued, his voice steady. "After signing it, your civilization will receive the following benefits." He raised a finger. "First. Every member of your race will be given a tier 9 bloodline evolution fluid." Ethan’s eyes widened. Behind him, Po whispered in his mind, Boss...that’s enough to let them ascend heaven in one step. Arthur held up a second finger. "Second. Your civilization will gain access to our virtual reality. An entire galaxy within the simulation will be reserved for your people, free of charge." He raised a third finger. "Third. You can buy anything within the virtual reality at half price and they will be delivered to you through teleportation directly." Po almost started crying. Half price? Even my master never dreamed of that... Arthur didn’t pause. "Fourth. Any member of your civilization whose cultivation matches the requirements may join the Primordial Alliance’s leadership." He lifted his hand again. "Fifth. You will be given a teleportation device, allowing instant travel to any other such device in our domain." Ethan’s breath was shallow. It felt like too much. Like he was standing under a waterfall of blessings. Arthur went on. "Sixth. Potential candidates from your people may take residence on the Primordial Star—our home world." He held up the last finger. "Seventh,you may request help from a galactic lord for free for 5 times." Ethan’s head spun. It felt unreal. Like he’d walked into a dream. But Arthur wasn’t finished. He looked at Ethan and said, "These are the benefits for your race. You yourself have further exclusive rights." He began counting again. "First. You may purchase any resources at one percent of the price—so long as they are only used by you or your family." Arthur’s face stayed solemn. "Second, you may request assistance from a universe realm powerhouse 3 times for free ." Even Po was silent now. No more jokes. Just quiet awe. "Third," Arthur said. "You may select any two items available in the virtual universe. They will be yours, free of charge." Ethan swallowed hard. "Fourth,upon reaching the planetary realm, you will become the lord of the Milky Way galaxy." For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Ethan heard Po whisper in his mind, voice soft and a little sad. Boss...please never leave me. I know you’ll have better options, but...I want to stay by your side. I can be evolved if you give me some resources. Ethan felt something warm in his chest. He looked at Arthur and took a steady breath. "I...thank you," he said quietly. "These terms are beyond anything I could have imagined. You honor us." Arthur nodded. "Your potential is rare, Ethan Hunt. We will help you rise. But one day, we may call on you in return." Ethan smiled, though his heart was still excited. "I understand." In that moment, he knew the truth—Earth was no longer alone. They had entered the royal class of the universe. No one could stop their rise this time.