In the Large Magellanic Cloud, on the main star of the Kree Empire, mechanical blue cities rise above the cloud layer. The thicker atmosphere and larger gravitational force here make everything seem grander and more resolute.
At the very center of the blue city stands a towering high tower. Above the tower, a spherical energy core continuously releases lightning, piercing the thick clouds and casting the starlight down on the city below.
Beneath the core, lies a smaller sphere named by the Kree as the "Palace of Wisdom", or in more official terms, the "Supreme Wisdom".
When the Supreme Wisdom was first created, the Kree hoped it could create the Universe Cube to counter the Skrulls' plans for cube production. However, the Supreme Wisdom developed its own thought patterns, deeming the cube to be dangerous, and refused to create it for the Kree.
Given the substantial resources invested in creating the Supreme Wisdom, the Kree decided not to destroy this intelligent life form with self-awareness. Instead, it was allowed to continue to exist, serving the Kree Empire with its wisdom over many years, and gathering a multitude of followers.
As time passed, the influence of the Supreme Wisdom grew so significantly that it replaced the Kree government and became the ultimate ruler of the Kree Empire.
The rapid progress of the Kree Empire over the past thousands of years, leaping from the youngest interstellar civilization to the second of the three major empires, is inextricably linked with Supreme Wisdom.
The Supreme Wisdom is often manifested as a huge green face surrounded by numerous tentacles. Occasionally, it also takes the form of an orange dragon or green octopus.
Its abilities are vast, including but not limited to the capability to communicate with every member of the Kree through the green tentacles on its head, understanding their thoughts and actions in real time, and establishing real-time connections with every ship, ensuring everything is under control.
Within the Kree Empire, Supreme Wisdom has absolute control, all matters must be subjected to its judgment, and this occasion is no exception.
Supreme Wisdom has a clear perspective on the gains and losses resulting from the Skrull Empire's sudden attack on the No.1 Starport of the Kree Empire.
It sees that the starport itself holds no real value, and even refrains from sending a fleet to inspect the scene of the accident, because they can always build countless more advanced ports than the first star harbour. The main issue lies in the occurrence of the event itself.
Due to its life form, the Supreme Wisdom does not worry about a decline in morale within the Kree Empire. Instead, it mostly contemplates whether this is a scheme, or if the Skrull Empire might take further actions.
It issued a revenge warning also to test if the Skrull Empire was prepared in advance, or if there is a bigger plot behind this event.
Yet, at this moment, the Skrull Empire sent a message asking to negotiate with the Kree Empire and clarify the misunderstanding. This aroused more suspicion about their motive in Supreme Wisdom's mind.
Since Supreme Wisdom knows that this is not a plot set up by them, the weak reaction from the Skrull Empire seems particularly suspicious.
Both parties once again fell into a "Dark Forest" state. Both suspected the other was responsible, but their respective reactions confirmed each other's suspicions. It sounds complicated but in short, both parties feel that the other side has a plot, thus falling into a strange cycle of predicting each other's anticipations.
In such a situation, neither side is keen to wage war, suspecting each other of setting traps. However, such a deadlock is not a solution. Eventually, the key to breaking the deadlock fell on negotiations.
The Skrull authorities needed to comply with public opinion, and Supreme Wisdom sought a resolution, prompting both parties to gradually start discussing negotiation matters.
Since negotiations are inevitable, many trivialities can be omitted. However, selecting a negotiation site is crucial.
Supreme Wisdom understands the principle of asking high and paying low. It initially suggested that the negotiation be set in the core star zone of the Large Magellanic Cloud, allowing only a single negotiator to enter unarmed.
The Skrulls could not possibly agree to this proposal. They also proposed a similarly outrageous condition, which Supreme Wisdom rejected. Thus, a long tug-of-war began between the two sides.
In the end, they reached an agreement to hold the negotiations on a planet in the Spider Nebula, not far from the scene of the incident.
Although this territory falls under the Kree Empire, it is situated on the outermost defense line. As such, the Kree Empire did not need to worry about the Skrulls endangering their main star, while the Skrulls did not need to fear being sandwiched by the Kree Empire and unable to escape.
Moreover, a witnessing fleet from the third largest empire in the universe, the Shi'ar Empire, was required to ensure fair play and prevent petty tricks from either side. Furthermore, both parties could only bring one primary fleet and could not bring an overwhelming force to bear.
Finally, as the most dangerous military conflict in nearly a thousand years, and the largest clash since the end of the Thousand Years War, the level of negotiation definitely could not be taken lightly.