[Tenth Empire] Flagship Central Area.

Under the orange-yellow light, thick fog slowly billowed inside the cabin, revealing a series of tall, cylindrical creatures.

Tens of thousands of years later, the Imperial Supreme Council has convened again—the last Imperial Supreme Council was held when the Silicon Alliance was established.

Strong electromagnetic waves traveled rapidly through the fog.

[Ladies and gentlemen, human civilization has discovered four-dimensional cavitation structures! This is the Empire's only chance to master dimensional advancement technology!]

[Then what are we waiting for? Why not order the fleet to proceed to the cavitation zone?!]

Preliminary research on human civilization indicates that cavitation structures can only exist for one year, and the fleet... could not possibly reach that location within a year.

[...]

The intense electromagnetic wave signal stopped momentarily.

However… human civilization has indicated that it can share the research results with the Empire.

The electromagnetic wave signal became "intense" again.

What conditions are necessary for human civilization?

The Empire needs to establish a military alliance with human civilization… Previously, human civilization has had conflicts of varying degrees with both the Pastoral Faction and the Cleaners. This means that if the Empire accepts this request, it is very likely to become enemies with both factions. At the same time, to some extent, this also violates the demands of the Neutrality Faction.

The ship's cabin returned to calm.

Every high-ranking official in the empire was carefully considering the gains and losses involved.

First and foremost, dimensional ascension technology... this is a technology the empire absolutely must acquire!

Secondly, the Cleaners have unilaterally broken the agreement, and the Rural Faction has also violated its terms. War is imminent, and both the Neutral Faction and the Silicon-based Alliance should prepare for battle!

[Finally, and most importantly.]

Human civilization is part of the Silicon-based Alliance, and a high-potential civilization from the Milky Way!

As electromagnetic waves echoed, an exceptionally tall Imperial individual raised its tentacle and swept it across the mist-filled cabin: [I approve of this proposal.]

[...Seconded.]

[Agreed.]

[...]

This Imperial Supreme Council meeting was exceptionally swift.

The meeting concluded in just a few hours—the Empire passed the military alliance agreement with an overwhelming 95% majority.

[Tell human civilization to be wary of the pastoral idealism.]

The original Cleaner civilization was attacked by the Pastoral Faction near the Four-Dimensional Void.

These dimensional beings will not allow other civilizations to master their dimensional technology.

The tallest of the imperial high-ranking officials turned and disappeared into the thick fog, leaving only a strong electromagnetic wave signal propagating through the mist.

[Change fleet's navigation target. After resupplying, proceed to the cavitation zone at maximum speed.]

[From this moment forward, the Imperial Fleet is entering a state of war.]

...

"Professor, the Tenth Empire has responded."

Lin Zile's voice came from the speaker next to Lü Yongchang: "In line with the expectations of the Sociology Department, they have agreed to establish a military alliance."

Lu Yongchang paused slightly in his work, then continued his calculations on the holographic projection in front of him: "A wise choice."

"There's one more thing."

Lin Zile's voice turned serious: "The Empire has sent a warning message that the Pastoral Faction is very likely to attack us because of the four-dimensional cavitation structure."

"Meanwhile, the Imperial fleet is arriving to provide support at top speed."

This time, Lü Yongchang completely stopped the work he was not doing.

He glanced at the holographic projection beside him: "The problem of the pastoralists... the Academy of Sciences had already considered it before."

"The deployment of the defense line is now more than halfway complete."

"The self-splitting detector has also expanded to a region of two thousand light-years around it."

Lin Zile breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Before he could continue speaking, Lü Yongchang's calm voice came through.

"However... since the Tenth Empire also has this concern, it proves that we did not make a mistake."

"Zero, from this moment forward, the human fleet enters a state of war!"

...

Near the enormous four-dimensional cavitation.

One after another, warships of varying sizes slowly emerged from the open microcosm port and, under Zero's control, orderly sailed toward the designated area.

Those were minefields filled with "torpedoes".

Spacetime trap, space annihilation device, dark matter chain torpedo...

In order to safely study the four-dimensional cavitation structure, under Lü Yongchang's orders, the fleet practically emptied its coffers!

Further afield, a self-splitting probe, spanning two thousand light-years, continues to steadily advance the "territory" of human civilization.

After the fleet entered a state of war, the alarm threshold of these self-splitting detectors was significantly lowered.

Within this star field, nothing can escape Zero's notice!

Just as the fleet's defenses were being perfected, Lü Yongchang's research was also entering its final stage.

Because the interior of a four-dimensional cavitation bubble is a four-dimensional space, conventional detectors cannot perform detection tasks.

The reason is simple.

Moving in four-dimensional space, the detector needs to perform calculations in the four surrounding directions.

If we don't consider the fourth direction, a series of "weird" scenarios will emerge.

Energy can escape directly from closed energy pathways, and the devices inside the detector can inexplicably appear in impossible locations...

This is why those previous detectors were scrapped.

As for the solution...

It's actually very simple.

All we need to do is give the detector the ability to calculate four-dimensional coordinates.

This is not difficult for modern human civilization.

Meanwhile, considering the communication blocking effect between the four-dimensional cavitation and the universe, Lü Yongchang also needs to add a sufficiently intelligent self-running detection program to the detector.

...

Under the "gaze" of countless starships and probes.

In the silent universe, thousands of modified probes flew toward the "soap bubble" structure ahead.

"First Contact Warning!"

Inside the Dimension Research Center, Lin Yongnian's voice rang out: "Current distance between the two sides: 1 million kilometers!"

"Start the self-running detection program," Lü Yongchang commanded calmly. "Activate the four-dimensional coordinate sensor and begin calculating the four-dimensional coordinates around the detector."

As soon as he finished speaking, a small line of coordinate information appeared in the holographic projection in front of him.

Unlike conventional three-dimensional coordinates, the projection here presents four-dimensional coordinates!

"Second contact warning! Current distance: 100,000 kilometers!"

"Third contact warning!"

Contact confirmed!

"Detector signal lost!"

Looking at the signal indicator flashing red on the projection screen, Lü Yongchang subconsciously held his breath.

Success or failure hinges on this moment!

According to the preset program, after the first batch of detectors enters the four-dimensional cavitation bubble, they will immediately retreat and actively leave the cavitation bubble, thereby verifying the feasibility of the detection device.