Chapter 29

Deep within the Iron Throne, a special demonstration is taking place.

Lao Lin activated the prototype energy adapter he and Wen Ling had developed. With a low hum, the test platform, originally connected to engine components from different eras, began to glow steadily with a blue light, and the energy flow was incredibly smooth.

"Efficiency increased by 17 percent," Lao Lin's voice was filled with rare excitement, "and peak stress decreased by nearly 30 percent."

The engineers watching exclaimed in admiration. Luo Yan's mechanical eye flashed rapidly, recording data. Even the usually composed Dr. Case nodded slightly.

Wen Ling stood among the crowd, quietly observing the operating data. These days, he'd been spending almost all his time in the workshop, working with Lao Lin's team to overcome technical difficulties. He noticed Miao Weizhen standing alone in the shadows a little way off, his gaze fixed intently on the test platform.

At this moment, the base's main screen suddenly switched to emergency communication.

The picture shows a tired-looking federal congressman - Lei Huan, who belongs to the "Star Flame" faction.

"Weizhen," Lei Huan's voice was weary. "A massive protest broke out in the Beichen Galaxy. Three resource-rich stars announced they would halt energy transfers to the Central Star Region. The Presidential Office ordered a crackdown, but... the Seventh Fleet disobeyed."

Silence fell over the command center. Everyone understood what this meant—the internal divisions within the Federation had become public.

Miao Weizhen slowly walked to the screen and asked, "What's your stance?"

"We need weapons," Lei Huan said bluntly, "reliable, individual equipment that can fight against the Central Fleet. You promised."

"Delivery will be made at the same place in three days." Miao Weizhen cut off the communication.

When he turned around, his eyes met Wen Ling's. At that moment, Wen Ling saw a complex emotion in his eyes - not joy, but a kind of painful determination.

"It seems that our products have to be put into actual combat ahead of schedule." Miao Weizhen's voice was very soft, but every word was clearly audible.

That night, while browsing the database for ancient starship blueprints, Wen Ling stumbled upon an encrypted partition. System permissions seemed to be unusually generous to him, allowing him access to areas that should have been restricted. Amidst a pile of technical documents, he found a folder labeled "Early Data on Neural Interface Research."

Just as he was about to open it, the door of the database slid open silently.

"Still studying so late?"

Miao Weizhen's voice came from behind. Wen Ling subconsciously closed the interface she was browsing and turned to meet those deep eyes.

"There are just some technical details that need to be confirmed." Wen Ling replied calmly.

Miao Weizhen approached, his gaze lingering for a moment on the interface Wen Ling had just closed. "It seems you're very interested in neural interface technology."

"I came across related research at Luofeng University of Science and Technology...of course, it was conducted in secret," Wen Ling said, choosing her words carefully. "Dr. Anthony's project made me realize that this technology has enormous potential, but also enormous risks."

"Anthony..." Miao Weizhen repeated the name softly, a barely perceptible sneer playing on the corners of his mouth. "That technology missionary sent by the Federation. He will never understand that in Sailiang, technology is never just technology."

This remark stirred Wen Ling's heart. He recalled how, back when he was at Luofeng University of Science and Technology, he had a vague feeling that there was something else behind Anthony's research. Now it seemed that Miao Weizhen knew all about it.

"So you already knew about Anthony's research?"

"I know a lot of things," Miao Weizhen's gaze became profound, "including every choice you made at Luofeng University of Science and Technology."

At this moment, A Yuan came running over: "Minister, Sister Luo Yan discovered abnormal spatial fluctuations in the C-area passage and suspects it is a federal reconnaissance ship."

Miao Weizhen's expression immediately regained its sharpness: "Activate the camouflage program, all personnel enter level one combat readiness."

Amid the alarm, he looked at Wen Ling and said, "Your knowledge of star maps should come in handy. Follow me."

On the way to the command center, Miao Weizhen suddenly stopped as he passed the observation deck. Outside the window, a resource planet belonging to the Federation was experiencing a violent energy explosion, like the last flash of a dying star.

"Look," he whispered, "the old order is crumbling."

Wen Ling looked at the stardust, then at the man beside him. At that moment, he understood that Miao Weizhen wasn't just building weapons; he was preparing for the coming chaos. And he, unknowingly, had already become part of this plan.

As their figures disappeared at the end of the passage, an encrypted terminal in the database automatically lit up, and a line of small words flashed across the screen: "Access record cleared - Authority confirmed: Miao Weizhen."

Inside the command center, a holographic star map was projected in the center. The red dot representing the uninvited guest was cautiously cruising at the edge of the star debris belt, like a shark sniffing out its prey.

"Its scanning pattern is very special," Luo Yan's mechanical prosthetic eye was connected to the main control system, and data streams passed rapidly before her eyes. "It's not a conventional wide-area scan, but a targeted energy signature detection. They are looking for something specific."

"Even if shielded, the Iron Throne's energy fluctuations could still be detected by this level of precision at close range." Lao Lin's voice came over the communication channel, accompanied by the sound of metallic friction in the background. "We must divert it, or... silence it forever."

Everyone's eyes were on Miao Weizhen.

He stood before the star map, his posture erect as a pine tree, his dark uniform accentuating his pale complexion. The light cast a faint shadow on his sharply defined profile. His eyes, always deep and unfathomable, now stared intently at the red dot on the map. His fingertips unconsciously tapped the edge of the console, a habit he had when deep in thought.

"An active attack is too risky and might expose the base's location." Miao Weizhen finally spoke calmly, "We need a way out, a way that allows us to leave quietly, or set a trap if necessary."

He turned his head and his eyes fell on Wen Ling: "Your Highness, you mentioned before the knowledge about the ancient gravitational channel."

Wen Ling stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Miao Weizhen before the star map. He could sense the faint warmth emanating from him, as well as a familiar scent of cedar and cold metal. He took a deep breath, clearing his mind of distractions, and tapped his fingertips lightly on the star map, tracing a few dim, almost forgotten lines.

"These are the original gravity routes used by pioneers in the old colonial era. Most of them have been abandoned, replaced by more efficient but more monitored conventional jump routes." Wen Ling's voice was clear and steady, and his fingers were nimble and accurate in manipulating the star map. "But their gravity beacons may still be operating at low power. If we can reactivate one of them, perhaps we can create a brief energy vortex that interferes with or even misleads the reconnaissance ship's sensors, making it think it's just the energy turbulence common in the star debris belt."

As he explained, he quickly called up the complex navigation formula. At that moment, his focused profile seemed to glow under the light of the star map, and his emerald eyes sparkled with wisdom and confidence.

Miao Weizhen stared at him, his eyes deep, a hint of elusive admiration flashing through them. He noticed Wen Ling's calm demeanor as he expounded on his professional field, and his innate keen intuition about the vastness of space as his fingertips slid across the star map.

"Which one is the most suitable?" Miao Weizhen asked in a low voice, so close that he was almost whispering in Wen Ling's ear.

Wen Ling felt his ears burning, but he forced himself to concentrate, his fingertips lingering on a channel that meandered through a dense region of star debris. "This is the 'Dark Current Trail.' It has the most complex path, the strongest background interference, and it ends near an unstable pulsar remnant. If we operate correctly, we can even use the pulsar's periodic radiation bursts to give the scout ship a 'surprise.'"

A bold and ingenious plan. Silence fell throughout the command center as everyone digested the feasibility of this plan.

Miao Weizhen was silent for a full ten seconds. His gaze moved from the star map to Wen Ling's face. His scrutinizing eyes were so sharp that they seemed to penetrate the soul.

Wen Ling looked back at him without flinching, her green eyes filled with clear determination.

"Luo Yan, calculate the energy and path required to activate the 'Undercurrent Trail' gravity beacon according to the coordinates marked by His Highness," Miao Weizhen finally ordered in a decisive tone. "Lao Lin, ensure that the energy core can support this operation. If necessary, you can use some of the 'Iron Throne's' backup energy."

Orders were issued one by one, and the entire base began to operate efficiently.

When the key personnel had each taken their orders and left, leaving only the two of them in the command center, Miao Weizhen suddenly stepped forward, closing the already short distance between them and Wen Ling. So close that Wen Ling could clearly see his long, thick eyelashes, count the barely perceptible lines at the corners of his eyes, and feel his warm breath gently caressing her cheek.

Wen Ling's heartbeat suddenly went haywire, like a restless bird in his chest. He raised his head and looked into those deep brown eyes. Now they were no longer a bottomless, cold pond, but surging with a fiery emotion he had never seen before: recognition, appreciation, and—

"I..." Wen Ling opened her mouth, but found her throat a little dry.

Miao Weizhen raised his hand. This time, without the need for clothing, he used his white-gloved fingertips to gently brush away a strand of sweat-soaked blond hair from Wen Ling's forehead. His gesture was cautious, almost cherishing. The cool silk of his glove touched his skin, stirring a fiery shudder.

"No need to say."

Miao Weizhen stopped him from saying anything. His eyes fell on Wen Ling's slightly opened, pale lips and stayed there for a moment. His eyes were so deep that they almost sucked people in.

"Wait until this is over." He didn't finish his words, but the promise and unfinished meaning contained in them made Wen Ling's heart tremble violently.

He did not move any closer, nor did he take any further action. He just looked at Wen Ling deeply, then turned and walked towards the main console, returning to the appearance of the calm and self-controlled commander.

But the tension in the air and the cool and gentle touch that remained on his forehead clearly told Wen Ling that something was different.

Wen Ling stood there, calming his over-rapid heartbeat. He looked at Miao Weizhen's commanding figure from behind, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly unconsciously. He reached out and gently touched the forehead where he had just been touched. There seemed to still be a trace of that restrained and cherished warmth.