Well, it was a bombshell, but rather than exaggerated reactions, the seven showed slight surprise and profound amusement. Of course, at their level, they could understand what Damon was trying to do and what he was gunning for.
Obviously, the best thing for any new faction, group, or nation was the ability to manage one's own resources and then sell them at the price they chose, depending on the objective demand for that item. However, the world was not so kind as to allow this to happen, and many new species learned this the hard way.
The solar system had abundant resources worth millions of Essence Coins, right? That was great, but how were you going to even extract those resources safely and sustainably without the necessary technology or know-how?
The IUAS provided free knowledge up to the level 2 civilization for free for its new members; then the rest depends on that civilization's own efforts. Even if you had the necessary knowledge, where were you going to get the technology, the machinery needed?
Despite these limitations, if you still managed to extract the resources while overcoming all difficulties and barriers in your way, that was certainly amazing!
Now, how are you going to sell it?
As Ambrose warned before, trying to outplay these companies will make them simply sanction you, telling all their trade partners and customers that anyone who deals with you will either face higher prices and tariffs or they will be barred from doing business with them.
As seven companies that were exalted literally because their existence was deeply tied to the economy of the entire known universe, such a sanction from these powers could not be ignored at all.
So now you had all those resources but no one willing to buy, making them useless trash in your hands. Eventually, when you decided to lower your head and sell to the companies, the rate you would be given would be far lower, almost free of charge.
The prices offered during this negotiation were monitored by the IUAS for fairness, not allowing them to cheat you too much by keeping it within a reasonable range, so smart civilizations would sell everything here and gain the necessary Essence Coins.
However, as you could imagine, there was nothing more they loved than headstrong civilizations like humans who thought they could do things on their own, because by the time they realized, the grace period would be over and they could buy millions' worth of resources for a few thousand Essence Coins.
Even more so when it was a race like humans, who were more valuable individually and collectively compared to mere resources. Just thinking about the hellish terms they could put in place when the human race came begging to sell their resources later, virtually turning them into indentured servants!
Thinking this, all the CEOs couldn't help but feel a heat in their hearts. The way they looked at Damon was calm and goading, as if disdaining and simultaneously thanking him for making their objective so much easier to accomplish.
Ambrose also twitched his lips as he thought Damon was only bluffing previously and would change his mind after being warned by him, but the young man was still determined to take this foolish path.
Unsurprisingly, the group of powerhouses did nothing to deter him, with Talia Vritu only nodding since her company was the one that officially handled all these details.
"We respect the decision of the Human Race on this matter. Since there will be no Sales of Goods, we can move on to the private sector." Talia responded casually.
At this moment, Carzan finally spoke, his voice sounding very deep and with a very strange accent that almost sounded Jamaican.
"Just so you know, the private sector encompasses many fields, but they are mostly split into Excavation, Ability Hires, Livestreaming, Essence Exchanges, Chaos Essence Sales, Chaos Items Sales, and General Goods."
Carzan gestured to those standing behind the mains, even those who had been out of the limelight the entire time. "There are also other sectors like Mercenary Work, Bounty Hunting, Adventure Documentation, Species Discovery, Space Transport, Planetary Harvesting, Genetic Enhancement, Arts Sampling, and more. They are handled by the ones behind us, with many offering competitive services as they are in the same industries."
Garton spoke next, his expression coldly neutral as he flicked a finger, bringing up a display that featured the foreign policy of the human race.
"As a necessary part of the negotiation, we first have to ask, what exactly do you mean by these policies?"
The seven and the other CEOs looked at the human race's foreign policy, and their eyes flickered. When they had first read it, many had smashed their desks with anger, hating the humans for being smart enough to recognize the predicament.
When they came here, each of these seven came personally thinking that they would have to exert combined pressure on the human race to get what they wanted, but now it felt superfluous because of Damon's foolish actions.
However, while the others could treat the humans slightly seriously, for Garton whose company's main field was Ability Hiring, this matter was life and death for him. He was prepared to pay any price and bend any rule he could to enslave this race and make them work for him until they died with resentment and hatred.
So he took things seriously and inquired as to the biggest obstacle before him, the bloody foreign policy.
Damon smiled. "The meaning is quite literal. The human race is aware of our special nature, and I especially am aware of our value. In order to make sure none of my people are wrongfully taken advantage of, I will act as the adviser for every single agreement signed privately by any human being, and ability hires are not the only factor."
Hearing this, the casual expressions of the other six waned, while Garton's expression became colder. They glanced at Damon with a hint of hostility, as he was directly stating to their faces that he was aware of everything and found it laughable, still going to go ahead with his plan.
The other six major CEOs thought that the human race would mostly battle it out with the Unylis Group about the ability hires, while being lax with other sectors and allowing them to make a profit. However, they had clearly underestimated the greed of humans and especially the daring of Damon.
"Mr. Damon Arnan, you are new to the Galactic Society, so it's understandable that you are unaware of certain unspoken rules. Companies like us are always on the lookout for talent and definitely value you and your race highly, but we deal with our client base directly, never with third parties." Sinokin, the Insect Lord, spoke with an aged male voice that sounded like it was undergoing a reverb effect.
"That's also fine. The human race has extreme confidence in its future and is certain that after the 20-year period, even our weakest member will be as strong as the strongest person within a race between the 100th to 110th place." Damon said with a shake of his head, causing the eyes of everyone to widen, while Ambrose's eyes twitched again.
Such arrogance!
Bertrand clearly couldn't take it anymore as she smashed her table with her fist, causing it to shake. "Rubbish! Who do you cretins think you are? Just a mere new species that couldn't even reach level 1, and you think you can direct the destiny of the universe?"
Damon glanced at the dragonman askance. "Lord Bertrand, with all due respect, we don't even need the entire human race to change the destiny of the universe. With my three EX-grade abilities, I alone am enough."
I alone am enough!
Ambrose's breathing became heavy, his blood pumping throughout his body and his head feeling faint from excitement because this was exactly what he wanted to see!
Meanwhile, the CEOs displayed expressions of grim severity, because Damon's words were objectively true. The Dragon race virtually ruled the universe because their leader, Alexander, had one EX-grade ability, while his wife, Minerva, also had one EX-grade ability.
Just these two were enough to suppress all other races and seek endless benefits for the dragons, not to mention that Dragons all awoke SS-grade abilities related to their element.
But this young man, not even considered a toddler going by the lifespan of most of the species here, was in possession of three such EX-grade talents with endless potential, and his race had two others in the first hundred with EX-grade abilities.
What if the entire race of 7 billion were to awaken? Would there be more EX-grade abilities? Would there be another with three like Damon? Would there even be one with four or more?
It was precisely this question that caused Garton to be unable to sleep since the IUAS announcement, as well as these other companies coming out to jointly suppress this race in order to take control. They weren't even alone in this regard, as many other top species were watching with bated breath, unsure how the future would unfold.