Chapter 320: Stern Warning

“Ugh… It hurts so much! Brother Li, please, can you be a little gentler…”

Aboard the massive research vessel—which Li Qingsong had specially converted into a microlensing experiment base and high-precision gravity laboratory—thousands of Clones stared grimly at the main screen.

Just a moment ago, Li Qingsong had conducted a high-energy Laser emission test. Now, the relevant data from this experiment was displayed on the main screen, feeding into the minds of the Clones and the Primordial AI to be analyzed and interpreted by the Primordial AI and millions of cerebral Clones.

Inside the experiment chamber, Qing Lan’s massive, pale green body trembled lightly, the messages it sent filled with terror and pleas.

Li Qingsong sent a comforting message. “Just hold on a little longer. It’ll be over soon. After this test is finished, Brother Li will let you rest in the high-pressure, high-temperature chamber for six hours. How does that sound?”

“Okay… alright.”

Li Qingsong then turned and issued a command to the scientific teams of the Blueprint and Viller races: “Increase power by another 60%. High-energy Laser bombardment test number 11,656, prepare to begin! Countdown: three, two, one…”

At the end of the day’s experiments, the utterly ravaged Qing Lan entered the high-temperature, high-gravity chamber to rest and recover. The Viller scientists left the data analysis base, discussing the day’s findings as they went.

The Viller Race’s Head of Science came before Chief Washilolo and Deputy Chief Haimo Lan to give a brief report. “Today’s experiments went as planned. The project leader has given us approximately 3% of the data to begin our analysis.”

Washilolo stressed, “You must be meticulous and rigorous. We must ensure our race makes a worthy contribution to Human Civilization.”

“Yes, sir!”

After the Head of Science left, Washilolo’s expression grew heavy. “Sigh. If only we could continue these experiments indefinitely. I don’t know much about science, but even I can see that this experimental data is crucial for our civilization’s advancement to the Gravity Level… It’s just a shame that in a few more years, our fleet will reach Draco WT. Once Qing Lan is gone, we won’t be able to conduct these experiments anymore…”

Haimo Lan scoffed inwardly, but his face remained a mask of respect for Washilolo.

He always knew his place.

“Chief, rest assured. Humanity… we won’t lose such a good test subject. We’ll only get more.”

“Oh?”

Washilolo froze for a moment.

Haimo Lan explained patiently, “This is precisely why I admire our Supreme Leader. The supreme leader of a civilization should prioritize maximizing that civilization’s interests above all else. In that process, so-called moral factors should not be a consideration. Since these Gravity Creatures are beneficial to our civilization’s technological research, it is obvious that the Supreme Leader should be considering how to maximize those gains. Our Supreme Leader is clearly putting this principle into practice. First, he’ll gain the trust of this one Gravity Creature. Then, by returning it to its homeworld, he’ll use it as a stepping stone to gain the trust of the entire population of Gravity Creatures living on the planet in the Draco WT system. The Gravity of the White Dwarf Star is too immense; none of our research equipment or ships can get close. Meanwhile, we’ve already confirmed that high-intensity radiation and Lasers can inflict massive damage, even killing them outright. Therefore, if we want to capture these Gravity Creatures, our only option is to trick them into leaving the vicinity of the White Dwarf Star. The Supreme Leader’s next move must be to leverage Qing Lan’s trust in us to gain the trust of its entire species. Then, he can deceive them into leaving the White Dwarf Star, capture them all, and reap the maximum scientific rewards.”

Washilolo was still a bit puzzled. “If that’s the case, shouldn’t we hold off on experimenting on Qing Lan? The tests are clearly causing it great pain, which will surely weaken its trust in us.”

Haimo Lan smiled and shook his head. “This is what I admire most about the Supreme Leader. In this dark Cosmos, a benevolent civilization that seeks nothing in return, asks for no favors, and goes to all the trouble of returning a member of their species to its home… do you believe such a thing exists?”

“I do not.”

“Exactly. That’s why the Supreme Leader must conduct these experiments on Qing Lan now—even seemingly cruel ones. It’s the only thing that makes sense. This is how he’ll win the trust of the Gravity Creature species, creating the perfect conditions to later deceive them into leaving the White Dwarf Star so they can all be captured.”

Realization dawned on Washilolo. “I see! I understand now! Our Supreme Leader truly leaves nothing to chance!”

Haimo Lan nodded with a faint smile.

He was certain Humanity would do this. The reason was simple: ‘If I were a Supreme Leader, I would do the same thing.’

‘Our Human Civilization… hurry and grow strong. Only when the civilization is powerful can the people of my Viller Race live better lives.’

Haimo Lan’s resolve to contribute all his strength and wisdom to making the civilization powerful grew even firmer.

The microlensing and high-precision gravity experiments on Qing Lan continued, day in and day out. The massive fleet, never pausing, continued its high-speed approach toward Draco WT.

Several light-years away from Draco WT, Li Qingsong’s fleet was forced to begin reducing its velocity.

The reason was simple: the fleet had entered the remnants of Draco WT’s Planetary Nebula.

When a medium-mass star reaches the end of its evolution, its core becomes a White Dwarf Star, while its outer layers of material are ejected. This material is then accelerated by stellar winds, forming a diffuse Planetary Nebula that expands into interstellar space.

This stellar material typically moves at speeds of up to tens of kilometers per second, causing the material density in this region to be significantly higher than the surrounding interstellar space.

With higher material density came more frequent impacts on the fleet, placing a greater strain on the Energy Shields.

Consequently, Li Qingsong reduced the fleet’s speed to approximately 60% of the speed of light, which brought the effects down to an acceptable level.

When the distance closed to about three light-years, Li Qingsong’s massive fleet commenced its formal deceleration sequence.

He planned to stop near a rocky planet orbiting the White Dwarf Star. This would allow him to see Qing Lan home while also resupplying the fleet within the Star System.

Time passed quietly. The fleet’s distance to the White Dwarf Star gradually shrank, now down to a mere four trillion kilometers.

But at that very moment, an unexpected message from within the Star System reached the fleet and was received by Li Qingsong.

“Warning: We are the Abyssal Civilization. This Star System is our civilization’s temporary base. Your civilization is to leave this location immediately. Do not linger. If you continue to approach, our civilization will consider it a declaration of war, and we will be forced to take necessary measures. Final warning: Leave now!”