Chapter 327: Origin

The Gravity Creatures converted what they saw into electromagnetic signals and transmitted them to Li Qingsong.

After a moment of analysis, Li Qingsong grew grave.

Although he couldn’t be one hundred percent certain, based on intelligence from the Harville Civilization, he was eighty to ninety percent sure that the passing fleet the Gravity Creatures had spotted—approximately four light-years from this White Dwarf Star system—was indeed the Purple Moon Civilization Fleet.

This meant he was still on the right track, having not deviated far from the Purple Moon Civilization Fleet’s course.

But… something about this was strange.

‘A journey of over a thousand years, spanning more than a thousand light-years… and the Purple Moon Civilization has never once stopped in a star system? No repairs, no resupply, just a constant ninety percent of light speed?’

For any normal intelligent civilization, this was bizarre.

Although resource consumption is lower during inertial flight, it isn’t zero. Even Li Qingsong himself would stop for repairs and resupply after traveling several hundred light-years.

And that was with Li Qingsong having the Flying Star. ‘The Purple Moon Civilization doesn’t have a Flying Star, yet they can manage a continuous journey of over a thousand light-years?’

Under these circumstances, forget developing technology or conducting research mid-voyage; they’d likely have to scrimp and save just to conserve the most basic resources.

‘Why are they in such a hurry? What is their mission?’

After a moment of fruitless contemplation, Li Qingsong set the question aside. “Thank you,” he said. “This information is very useful.”

“Well then, goodbye. We’re leaving. The Cosmos is vast. Perhaps we will meet again in the future, if fate allows.”

“I wish you a safe journey.”

The Gravity Creatures gradually flew out of the star system.

In the Human Civilization Office of Intelligence and Strategic Research, high-ranking officials from various races were gathered.

It had recently become standard practice within Human Civilization to periodically update the high-ranking officials of all races on recent internal and external developments. Major events were even occasionally live-streamed to them.

The Human Civilization Office of Intelligence and Strategic Research was the institution established specifically for this purpose. It included the high-ranking officials from twenty of the twenty-one allied races.

After each intelligence briefing or live-streamed event, the officials would hold a discussion. This served to clarify the next primary objectives for their own races while also attempting to identify any oversights in Human Civilization’s decision-making, offering feedback and suggestions for the overall strategy.

The parting with the Gravity Creatures was no exception.

As he watched the humans and the Gravity Creatures exchange farewells and blessings, a smile touched the corners of Haimo Lan’s lips.

“Now is the perfect opportunity. The Gravity Creatures are completely unsuspecting of us humans, and they have all departed the White Dwarf Star. We just need to dispatch a fleet to capture them. There’s no way the Supreme Leader would pass up such a golden opportunity…”

Washilolo nodded in full agreement.

The Blutuk Race’s leader, Molomans, laughed from behind a pane of glass in a separate, self-contained environment.

“Washilolo Clan Leader, Deputy Clan Leader Haimo Lan, how about we make a wager? I bet the Supreme Leader will not lay a hand on the Gravity Creatures.”

“Oh? It seems Clan Leader Molomans has a different assessment… Very well, let’s make a bet then. The stakes? My monthly salary is 200,000 Human currency. I’ll wager one month’s salary.”

“Alright.”

The exchange between the two high-ranking officials piqued the curiosity of the others, and a buzz of discussion filled the room.

Both Molomans and Haimo Lan wore confident smiles, each certain of victory.

‘I’m definitely going to win this 200,000 Human currency bet!

From deceiving Qing Lan at the very start, to experimenting on Qing Lan, letting the Abyssal Civilization escape, sending Qing Lan back, and then advising the Gravity Creatures to find a new habitat…

Every step has been part of the Supreme Leader’s plan. Events have unfolded exactly as he orchestrated, without a single deviation.

Now that it’s time to finally close the net, how could the Supreme Leader possibly pass up the chance?

A mere month’s salary is nothing. But this bet is a subtle clash between my Viller Race and the Blutuk Race. We’re betting on which race is superior, which race can more accurately predict Human Civilization’s grand strategy. We’re betting on our future influence within Human Civilization!

This time, we are destined to win!’

Haimo Lan’s heart pounded with excitement. He stared intently into space, tracking the Gravity Creatures’ movements.

And then, he watched as they moved farther and farther away, flying faster and faster, until they finally vanished completely from humanity’s sensor range.

Even when the meeting’s moderator announced its conclusion, the humans had still not made a move to intercept the Gravity Creatures.

Haimo Lan’s expression changed dramatically as he shot to his feet.

“Impossible! This is impossible! No, I must find the Supreme Leader. I have to explain the stakes to him! We can’t let the Gravity Creatures go! We can’t!”

Molomans remained silent, still smiling.

Just then, Li Qingsong’s voice suddenly filled the room.

“This is Li Qingsong, Supreme Leader of this civilization. I see that many of you seem perplexed by my decision to let the Gravity Creatures go, to the point of some debate. Very well. I will take this opportunity to explain, so that you might better understand our human way of thinking and more smoothly integrate into the great family of Human Civilization.”

“Supreme Leader, we can’t let them go! Their value to us humans is simply too great! We can’t…”

Haimo Lan pleaded, his voice full of urgency.

Li Qingsong chuckled. “Clan Leader Haimo Lan, I am pleased that you are able to think from the perspective of humanity’s interests. It proves you are close to truly integrating with us. But… you’re not quite there.”

Li Qingsong sighed softly. “We come from different civilizations, each with its own cultural background. But I believe one thing holds true for all: in the nascent stages of development, every civilization must have championed ideals like harmony, amity, unity, and mutual support. A civilization that does not champion these ideals likely wouldn’t even survive to become an Electroweak Civilization. But why, then, did we all gradually change? Why did we become so cruel, so ruthless, so unscrupulous? You all know the answer, don’t you? It is nothing more than the pressure of survival. This vast, boundless Cosmos… it assimilates us, bit by bit. Frankly, I don’t resist this assimilation. When I face an enemy, my methods are just as ruthless. Wiping out an entire civilization is nothing to me.”

A shiver of shared understanding ran through the high-ranking members of the Blutuk and Viller Races.

“I was just wondering… as we are assimilated by this Cosmos, is it possible to hold on to some small part of our original nature as a civilization? At the very least, when we are certain that another party poses no threat to us, can we not be so vicious? Can we not be so unscrupulous? Can we hold on a little longer to those ideals we all championed in our early days? Can we, perhaps, add a little warmth to this dark, cold Cosmos? Besides… even if we do, is that necessarily detrimental to a civilization’s development? I, for one, don’t believe so.”