Chapter 497: Chapter 328: Alternative Lifeforms (Part 2)
"Wait, what is that?!"
Future’s voice became astonished, and the cockpit of the Earth Navigation Spaceship also displayed the probe images.
The spaceship’s detector could decipher the structure of the terrain within a kilometer around it, originally showing a uniform orangish-red color, all feedback from regular mantle materials.
But at this moment, at the edge of the probe image, a strange black appeared.
As the spaceship advanced, that patch of black expanded, engulfing the probe image bit by bit like a dark tide.
In the standards of the detection analyzer, black only represents one thing.
Future’s voice quivered slightly, full of confusion: "That’s... a void?"
Su Mo narrowed his eyes and said sternly: "Yes, an enormous empty space."
Future exclaimed: "That’s impossible, at your location, the underground pressure has reached gigapascal levels, millions of times the standard atmospheric pressure, rocks are compressed into crystalline structure, how could such a huge void appear?!"
Su Mo chuckled softly, ominously saying: "Didn’t you just feel that a world without miracles would be very boring? Now a miracle is right before you."
After speaking, he switched the spaceship’s driving mode to manual, opening all observation windows, heading straight for the void.
The process was silent, with Su Mo focused intently on driving, and Future too stunned to speak.
A long time passed before Future’s voice echoed again: "Boss, about that kind of life form you mentioned earlier, I’ve been thinking."
"Whether they exist isn’t all that important, there are countless undiscovered wondrous creatures in this world, many can be called miracles."
"But no matter how other life forms are, humans are the masters of the world."
"However remarkable a life form may be, to humans, they are just fine subjects of research, like expensive gems."
"But if they possess one thing, then everything changes."
Future’s breathing visibly grew heavier, voice strained: "I want to ask... those life forms you mentioned, do they have advanced intelligence?"
Upon hearing Future’s inquiry, an image surfaced in Su Mo’s mind.
War raging, stars falling like rain, endless smoke shrouding the world, mighty human civilization turning to dust... That was the doomsday war 153 years ago.
Su Mo gazed deeply ahead, the probe image showed the spaceship arriving at the edge of the void.
He responded...
"Yes."
...
...
...
[Hegemony Company Celestial Gate Patrol Station]
Late winter to early spring, temperature changes are erratic, especially at the Celestial Gate Patrol Station’s location, lying between desolate valleys, with little vegetation nearby, the ground’s heat retention is extremely poor.
During the day, temperatures are in the teens, but at night it drops directly to minus twenty-odd degrees, newcomers are often unfamiliar with the environment and frequently fall ill due to these temperature changes.
At the entrance of the General Commander’s office, his assistant tidied his collar, knocked and entered: "Leader, the results from the satellite reconnaissance have returned."
The heating in the office was set to maximum, Xie Zongchang in a thin woolen sweater, lifting the cup lid to filter out the tea leaves’ foam.
Tinkering as he spoke sarcastically: "Some people really demonstrate how people forget warmth when away."
"Look, when Xiaoyang worked under me, he sent only the best teas; now that he’s promoted to the Crisis Management Center, visiting old leadership during holidays, all he brings is this crap, huh."
The assistant parroted him with sycophantic chuckles: "Those sorts, they’ll trip up eventually... Ahem, so, about the satellite results, would you have a look, leader?"
Xie Zongchang glared at him, gesturing to his desk: "Leave it there, tell me what’s happening."
The assistant laid out the files, reporting: "The intelligence department conducted satellite reconnaissance on the surrounding largest foreign armed groups, results show no unusual activity, their patterns are consistent with past behavior."
Xie Zongchang took a sip, sneering: "See? Every year they’re just our punching bags, when did they dare make trouble for us?"
The assistant paused, cautiously saying: "Leader, maybe we should enhance patrols, even if foreign groups are quiet, it doesn’t rule out other forces using a smokescreen aiming at the Celestial Gate Patrol Station."
Xie Zongchang spat the tea leaves back into his cup, advising earnestly: "Xiaozhang, I’ve told you many times, don’t get jittery over anything."
"Now it’s just a baseless threat, satellites confirm no foreign armed activity, if we lose our minds and overreact every time, what about our regular duties? What would others think if this spreads? Any idea how leadership might view us?"
The assistant repeatedly agreed, flattering: "Leader’s insights are profound, I’m too jittery, lots to learn from you in the future."
Xie Zongchang smiled with satisfaction, but soon his face darkened: "Did you trace the threat source, who sent it?"
The assistant’s gaze seemed evasive, voice dropping: "Couldn’t trace it, the hacker’s skills are high, left no actionable tracks."
Xie Zongchang snorted coldly, tapping the table forcefully: "The security department has dozens, not one can track a hacker? They need restructuring!"
"Inform HR, they must empower, optimize, deliver combo strategies, press layer by layer, establish closed-loop matrices, lowering costs while boosting efficiency."
The assistant nodded: "Understood."
In his mind: It means cutting their salaries.
After exchanging materials, as the assistant was exiting, a muffled "boom" sounded from outside, the office subtly quivered.
Sipping tea, Xie Zongchang choked, frowned at the window: "What’s going on?!"
The assistant quickly retrieved his phone, dialed the duty room.
After communicating, he hung up: "A stray wild beast approached the station, given its size, there might be safety risks, the defense sentry decided to fire straight away."
Located high up, the window’s angle was perfect, while reporting the situation, Xie Zongchang directly saw it too.
Laying on the barren ground outside the station was a massive beast, around 20 meters long, elephant-like, with a hardened biological shell, frighteningly large and curved tusks.
But now, its huge head shattered by the station’s heavy artillery, flesh sprayed meters away, only its tapered snout twitched, soon falling still.
Procedurally, the beast’s carcass requires timely treatment, especially large ones like this, to avoid the stench from decomposing.
Promptly, the station gates opened, a task force with vehicles reached the carcass.
This body was too large to transport directly, the team wielded laser saws, chopping it into pieces, loading onto transporters, spraying disinfectant to cleanse blood-stained areas.
During the process, the previous gunfire attracted other wild beasts nearby, occasionally nimble ones attacked the task force from the dark.
Yet this team was well-staffed, some handled carcass duties, others were Blood Code Carriers specifically designated for combat, any sporadic beast attacks were swiftly managed.
Xie Zongchang watched the task force’s bustling efforts amidst the cold winds, saying earnestly: "These guys are truly too jumpy, unexpected situations, not even a word spoken."
"Tell the duty leader, focus vertically, achieve rapid transition in communication, align work with granular clarity, synchronizing information top to bottom, creating shared understanding."
The assistant nodded: "Understood."
Thinking: Means next time inform me beforehand.
Inside, the warmth overflowed, outside, the winds howled.
Night deepened, darkened further.
