Xyrin Empire

The research center is always the busiest place in the base, composed of a chief scientist who almost wishes to place their mass projection in every lab across the Empire, and a group of equally passionate and crazy researchers forming an "army" that is in some ways no less formidable than the Pandora Army. Every time I visit their lab, I get the illusion of stepping onto a battlefield, the atmosphere around as intense as the Earth's core.

I found Taville's mass projection in the B-N8 dismantling area, where she was overseeing the container opening test. This was the seventh attempt. All previous tests had ended in failure, and the researchers present wore expressions of seriousness and perplexity. The container attracting everyone's attention was floating over a three-meter radius anti-gravity platform, surrounded by two high-intensity Ghost Energy Shields, appearing quite serene under our watch.

"Its inner lining and outer shell each have a self-destruct mechanism. The trigger conditions for these devices are still unclear, appearing to have multiple activation modes. During our first attempt to unlock the container's outer shell, we almost blew it to smithereens."

Taville pointed at the black metal box floating in mid-air. Given her current state as a mass projection, her voice carried a metallic resonance. I noticed that despite the repeated failures, Taville wasn't overly disheartened, showing no dissatisfaction towards the metal box that caused her significant trouble, which made me appreciate her good nature. On second thought, it might be because the container resembled a coffin...

"We are now trying to bypass its outer lock," Taville paused, bringing up a schematic diagram which showed the target container disassembled into distinct parts. "Although the box's outer lock was made by the ancient Mobrans, the encryption part utilizes the most advanced technology of the Old Empire, making it impossible to crack. The inner lining's surface contains a type of crystal highly sensitive to environmental changes. Any unusual interference could cause it to self-destruct. The container's only weakness is that its inner lining and shell are separate parts. The inner lining can detect the shell's integrity but not the lock's state. So, we are attempting to use spatial technology to transfer the inner lining directly into a replicated false container, potentially deceiving its self-destruct system. Theoretically, it should work."

"Give it a try then."

I gave Taville an approving look, casting my eyes sideways just in time to see Biluna leading Milia walk through the door. The guards at the entrance had received orders to scan their identification cards as a routine before allowing them in.

I waved for this "mother-daughter" duo to come over. Milia's curious eyes roamed all over the spacious lab, while Biluna looked surprised, staring at the black container surrounded by mechanical devices, probes, and researchers, quietly asking, "Did you find another life cabin? Is this the thing you found on Brown Earth Star?"

I nodded, "Uncle Zaku must have told you what's going on, right?"

"He wasn't very clear," Biluna said while holding down the slightly restless Milia's head. "I was waiting for his news in town when a group of Imperial soldiers came to escort me onto a shuttle. On the way, Zaku sent me a bunch of confusing information. I only know you found another container, identical to the one Milia was in."

"That's it," I nodded, glancing at Milia chuckling, "and I bet we might find Milia's sister. This box hasn't been opened yet."

Biluna showed a look of amazement, while Milia exclaimed—though before she could finish, I covered her mouth. This is a research center, a place that demands absolute silence. If this girl raised her voice, Taville might go berserk.

"Sister?" Milia looked at me, her eyes sparkling.

I nodded, getting up to watch the researchers as they prepared the precise spatial positioning device.

"The spatial probe is in place, ready for transport at any time."

The dull electronic synth voice of the auxiliary analysis system echoed in the lab. After verifying the data again, Taville nodded, "Begin separation."

Everyone held their breaths, gazing intently at the container in the room's center, fearing that even a breath might destroy this crucial object.

This task required extreme precision, with spatial positioning demands so exacting that even Imperial technology found it challenging. The average gap between the container's inner lining and outer shell was only a fraction of a micrometer. In some areas, they were completely adhered together. Though the specialized properties of the inner lining crystal prevented molecular penetration, stopping the two parts from merging over the ages, separating them while they were perfectly adhered together was still extremely difficult. The container's self-destruct mechanism monitored both parts, set to explode upon any damage to either the inner lining or the shell.

So, the transport separation process had to be absolutely precise; cutting through or disrupting any part could end everything.

But sometimes, things don't go the way you hope, even if a hundred people around you hope for the same thing. Less than three seconds after the precise transport device was activated, a piercing shriek filled the room, followed by the monotonous electronic synth voice of the auxiliary system: "Separation failed, self-destruct mechanism likely triggered, transport system shut down per safety protocol."

Several senior researchers standing outside the energy barrier observing the separation process exchanged a few brief words, and one turned to Taville, "Chief, the container is intact, but we can't attempt another separation. The probe detected a special information reaction on the container's inner lining surface. The test target might have the capability to directly sense information changes, making all decryption methods unable to bypass information sensing."

Damn! Who the hell made this damned thing!

"Understood," Taville sighed, "Prepare for forced disassembly. Bring the energy suppression system online to delay the container's self-destruction as much as possible."

This spectacled lady, who usually refuses to concede in this field, had to admit defeat this time. But she didn't need to be too upset. Just moments ago, we confirmed another container's existence from Uncle Zaku, meaning what we have in front of us indeed has an open backup. Plus, the contents of the container are also known to us—Milia. Though not demanding rigorous detail, Taville's research on the latter should be quite sufficient... Of course, if Taville were to find out about such thoughts, she'd probably lecture again. This meticulous spectacled woman seems to hold a life-long devotion to absolute truth, in her view, the research value of the two containers is not interchangeable, even if they look exactly the same.

But just as the researchers, weighed down by disappointment, prepared this final resolution, and Taville was about to present her disgruntled apology, a clear voice suddenly interrupted everyone: "Wait a moment!"

"Milia?" Biluna and I exclaimed in unison.

The voice belonged to Milia, who had originally come to watch the excitement. I blinked, suddenly slapping my forehead: how could I forget, wasn't there someone who came out of a box right here? Though she claimed her preset memories were mostly lost, she might still know something about this box!

"I know how to open this from the inside," Milia stood at the edge of the observation platform, pointing fifteen meters ahead at the black container on the anti-gravity platform in the room's central depression, "The command to open it from the outside should be similar, maybe we can try... Uh, my memories are scrambled, it seems like you need a code or a spirit command, anyway, it's worth a try."

Taville cast an inquiring glance my way. I nodded to her, indicating that they could let this girl give it a try.

A gap was opened in the dual-layer energy shield, and Milia, surrounded by scientists, cautiously approached the container. We followed closely behind. Halfway there, Milia dissatisfiedly yelled at the surrounding lab coats, "Hey, hey, hey! Why are you getting so nervous? Isn't this thing supposed to be mine? Even if it's not mine, it's prepared for my sister, right?"

Helplessly, I patted Milia's shoulder, my gaze sweeping over the swarm of unflinching Imperial scientists: "You'll get used to it. They're all like this. Once you're in this research institute, don't expect anything to still be yours. They've sacrificed everything for the sake of truth."

Milia clicked her tongue, strode over to the container, and slapped her hand on the dark lid, closing her eyes with an expression as if she was analyzing something. Instantly, I felt Taville's mass projection shake: I guess if it weren't for my presence, this bespectacled girl would have already demonstrated to Milia what the power of a scientist is.

Everyone watched Milia and the container under her hand without blinking. Initially, the thing didn't move at all, making some doubt the success of this attempt. But soon, I noticed changes visible to the naked eye.

The energy patterns flashing on the surface of the container were gradually becoming brighter.

A small holographic projection suddenly appeared above the container, startling everyone, including Milia. Then, a gentle female voice began to echo in the air: "Detection—Critical identification point detected, critical identification point has left the storage area... Confirming identification point status is good, opening the preservation cabin."

"It worked!" Milia clapped her hands happily. At the same time, several bright blue patterns split open on the lid of the container that had remained tightly closed. The lid decomposed into several irregular metal pieces and slowly slid away to the sides. We stared at each other in amazement while Taville showed a pleased smile.

Milia rushed to see what was inside the container first, wondering if she had just gained a sister. So before everyone could turn their attention to the inside of the container, she pounced towards it, and then the incredible happened.

"Preservation cabin status abnormal, unable to self-detect, emergency preservation plan activated, uploading begins."

Accompanying this gentle female voice, the container suddenly emitted a dazzling blue beam of light. Milia, who was rushing over, crashed into this pillar of light and then transformed into a streak of light, disappearing before our eyes, leaving only the emotionless report of the container in the air: "Upload complete."

The sudden change stunned everyone. Taville was the first to react swiftly, immediately ordering the activation of the energy suppression system, but the container had no reaction after making Milia disappear, not even the surface energy patterns lighted up again.

"Milia!" Biluna only then reacted with a cry of alarm, pushing away two researchers before rushing to the open Black Box. At the same time, the anti-gravity platform, affected by the energy suppression field, lost its tension, and with her rush, the metal box gently floated to the ground, its empty crystal interior completely exposed: where was the shadow of Milia?

Of course, nor did another expected artificial ancient human appear.

"Emergency situation, emergency situation! Immediately seal the research space, backtrack any Super Space phenomena from within this past minute!" Taville's mass projection went directly through everyone's body, rushing towards the observation platform while issuing commands to the servo mainframe. Other researchers also hurried to their respective positions, skillfully deploying the emergency response plans from their memory banks for the upcoming search operation, while Biluna continued to blankly watch the now empty container. I patted her shoulder, and she didn't even react.

How on earth did this happen?

The strange event occurred so swiftly that I didn't have time to detect any energy reaction from the Black Box, and when Milia vanished, I confirmed there was no space disturbance. This means, in fact, there was no Super Space phenomenon, but... how did Milia disappear?

In my confusion, my gaze refocused on that Black Box, and even more concerning was the last thing that it said: Upload complete.

Upload? What was it uploading? Milia? A living person?

Just as I was racking my brain with these questions, a voice suddenly entered my mind, unmistakably Milia's voice, "Uh...bro? Can you hear me? I...ugh...feel so awful..."

I was startled but did not alarm anyone else. Instead, I quickly asked, "Milia, where are you? What's the situation now?"

"I'm in the dorm..." Milia's response was entirely unexpected, "My head's spinning, I almost vomited just now. Ugh, come get me quickly. I'm curled up in this Black Box over here and don't have the strength to climb out!"

"Found Milia!" I called out to the busy crowd, quickly sending someone to fetch her back. Moments later, several Imperial Soldiers helped a pale-looking Milia return. I noticed she was still swaying as she walked, her face greenish, looking as if she had just taken a long roller coaster ride and then watched a horror movie while eating half a bowl of blood tofu.

Noticing the concerned gazes around, Milia weakly made a V-sign with her fingers to us, not forgetting to cheekily smile, "Hey, safe return."

After some inquiries, we finally understood what had happened: Milia was transmitted to another container located in the dormitory!

The Imperial Soldiers also brought that container back with them. The two black metal boxes were placed side by side on the anti-gravity platform, rotating slowly. Although one was polished bright and clean on the outside, in other respects, they were entirely identical. Since both were open, the interior condition was completely visible. The one brought from the Brown Earth Star appeared somewhat dull, while the one brought later was emitting a blue light much brighter than when I first saw it.

Taville immediately organized a team to examine the two boxes. We no longer worried about the self-destruct issue now, as Milia informed us that her operation had lowered the security level of the container, so its self-destruct switch couldn't be activated unless she, the controller, activated it voluntarily.

However, regarding the previous unexpected transmission, Milia could offer no explanation: her head was still spinning.

Clearly, besides these two boxes, Milia herself, being a living subject, was also worth studying on-site. She anticipated this, appearing very cooperative. Even when Biluna constantly expressed concern, she was cheerful enough to go and volunteer for a physical examination. Perhaps in this lively girl's eyes, the testing projects of the Imperial Scientists resemble more of a game that grants her the thrill of participating in significant events. She knows that no harm will come to her from these people.

Biluna insisted on staying in the research institute, reasoning that having a relative nearby during cooperative experiments would be beneficial for Milia, even if she wouldn't be harmed. We had no stance to stop her, so we prepared a double dormitory for her and Milia, similar to the one Ling Meng and Yukari Yakumo used to stay in—yes, the kind with gold foil gleaning from the walls...

Even with the enthusiasm of the Imperial Scientists, understanding what happened between Milia and her box in a short time requires time. With a head full of confusion, I left the research institute, and as soon as I stepped out, I encountered a golden silhouette head-on.

Yakumo Lan was striding awkwardly, dragging her feet forward like a zombie. She first stiffly lifted one foot, then tilted her whole body forward, placing her foot vertically down, with the other foot hurriedly dragging to catch up, repeating this pattern, lifting the other foot—let me put it this way, if you go to the Neurology Department entrance of a city hospital, it's basically all like this...

A fox's intuition is sharp. From afar, Lan sensed a gaze ahead, so she looked up and gave me a gentle smile, then continued wobbling towards me with a stiff and paralyzed demeanor. At this point, I finally realized it wasn't just her gait that was abnormal: her fluffy tails were flaunting with unprecedented spirit, the fur standing upright like a Sword Tomb, pointing towards the sky. Lan, at this moment, was like a peacock displaying its feathers, and I had no doubt that a gust of wind would let her soar—now I finally know where Cheng Miao used the rest of that half bottle of hairspray! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)