Chapter 39

Just as the Federation warships were about to close in, a powerful energy disturbance suddenly erupted from the depths of the asteroid belt. All the ships' instruments instantly malfunctioned, and Miss Su's speedboat seized the opportunity to break free from the gravitational field and vanish into the dense asteroid belt.

"It's the Iron Throne's jamming device." Wen Ling recognized this familiar tactical style.

Miao Weizhen's calm voice came from the communicator: "Follow the navigation beacon. We will meet you on the back of the abandoned planet."

The speedboat shuttled through the debris of the stars and finally entered a hidden interstellar wreckage. When the hatch opened, Wen Ling saw Miao Weizhen personally waiting there with the support team.

"Are you injured?" Miao Weizhen stepped forward quickly and keenly noticed the scratch on Wen Ling's wrist.

"It's just a minor injury." Wen Ling held his hand. "This is Su Jinyan's daughter, Su Huaijin."

Miao Weizhen turned his gaze towards Miss Su, his eyes sharp as a knife: "Someone from the Su family."

"Minister Miao." Su Huaijin nodded calmly, "I've heard a lot about you."

Suddenly, the entire space shook violently, and the metal structure above made a harsh groan.

"The Federation's tracking ships have broken through the interference zone," Luo Yan's voice came over the communicator, "and they are sending detection waves towards the waste planet."

Miao Weizhen's eyes glared. "Activate Ghost Protocol and move all important equipment deep underground. Lao Lin, take them to the safe zone."

"Follow me." Lao Lin signaled to Wen Ling and Su Huaijin, and led them through the intricate passages and deep into the interior of the abandoned planet.

Wen Ling was always amazed at the full view of the Iron Throne base—

This wasn't just an arsenal, but a complete ecosystem built on the remains of an ancient interstellar universe. Busy workshops, energy centers, and living quarters lined the corridor, all moving in an orderly fashion.

"This place is even more... spectacular than I imagined." Su Huaijin said softly.

Old Lin snorted, "That kid Weizhen spent ten years building this place up to this point."

They arrived at an underground command center filled with control consoles. Miao Weizhen was already there, rapidly analyzing the detection data with Luo Yan.

"They're looking for something," Miao Weizhen stared at the screen. "The detection waves are concentrated in several specific areas of the abandoned planet."

Su Huaijin suddenly said, "They are looking for the original laboratory of the Star Shuttle Project."

Everyone looked at her.

"My father said," Su Huaijin explained, "the Star Shuttle Project was originally carried out on the Abandoned Planet of Ghostly Machinery. Later, due to an accident, the laboratory was moved to Sailiang."

Miao Weizhen's eyes grew deep. "So that's why you chose to come here."

"It's not just to avoid pursuit." Su Huaijin walked to the console and pulled up an encrypted map. "I know the exact location of the laboratory."

The map shows that the laboratory is located in the core area of ​​the abandoned planet, an area marked as a "restricted area".

"It's been closed off for years." Old Lin frowned. "Weizhen has ordered that no one is allowed to approach."

"Because it contains the most dangerous experimental data of the Star Shuttle Project." Su Huaijin looked at Miao Weizhen, "It also includes the truth about your sister's impaired consciousness.

The command center fell into silence. Wen Ling saw Miao Weizhen's fingers tighten slightly.

"Lead the way." Finally, Miao Weizhen said in a deep voice.

On the way to the restricted area, Wen Ling noticed that the traces on the walls of the passage were becoming increasingly older, and the metal in some places had been corroded beyond recognition.

"These are the earliest remains of pioneers," Lao Lin said, holding up the lighting equipment. "Weizhen chose to build his base here because of these existing structures."

Su Huaijin stopped in front of a large metal door with unfamiliar symbols carved into it and a complex lock in the center.

"A biological key is required." She looked at Miao Weizhen. "Only the genes of the core members of the Star Shuttle Project can unlock it."

Miao Weizhen stepped forward silently and placed his palm on the identification area. The sound of mechanical movement could be heard from inside the door, but the door remained motionless.

"It takes two people." Su Huaijin also put his hand on it, "My father's genes and Dr. Xinglan's genes."

The identification area lit up green, and the huge metal door slowly opened, raising a cloud of dust.

The sight behind the door made everyone hold their breath. It was a well-preserved laboratory. Though covered in dust, the instruments still revealed their former sophistication. Most striking was a cylindrical container in the center of the lab, within which floated a vague humanoid figure.

"This is a clone of my father." Su Huaijin's voice was filled with pain. "Noah Company has conducted countless experiments on him."

Miao Weizhen walked to the control console and activated a dusty system. The screen lit up, displaying a file marked "Top Secret."

Star Shuttle Project Accident Report

As the archive unfolded, the truth gradually emerged. The incident fifteen years earlier hadn't been an accident, but rather a carefully planned sabotage. The archive revealed that an unidentified "consultant" had tampered with the experimental parameters, trapping Xinglan's consciousness in a virtual space.

"This consultant..." Wen Ling noticed a blurry photo in the file, "Is it..."

"The Minister of Science of the Federation, and now President Qu Beichen's chief advisor." Miao Weizhen's voice was icy. "So they've been planning all this since so long ago."

Su Huaijin found even more shocking information on another terminal: "My father's research notes show that Dr. Xinglan's consciousness is not completely destroyed. Her core consciousness data has been transferred to a safe place."

She pulled up a star map with a coordinate marked on it: "Right here, deep within the Phantom Machine Wasteland."

Suddenly, the entire laboratory shook violently and the alarm sounded.

"The federal army has begun landing," Luo Yan's voice came from the communicator, "and they are heading directly for this area."

Miao Weizhen quickly copied all the data: "We must find Xinglan's consciousness data before they do."

"I know the way." Su Huaijin pointed to a hidden passage. "This is the escape route my father left behind."

Deep in the tunnel, they found a well-preserved consciousness storage device. The indicator light on the device was still flickering faintly, indicating that the consciousness data stored inside was still intact.

"Xinglan..." Miao Weizhen touched the device lightly, emotions surging in his eyes.

Wen Ling held his hand: "Let's take her home."

Just then, footsteps were heard at the exit of the passage. A familiar figure and soldiers blocked the way.

"What a touching reunion." Lei Huan smiled and pointed his gun at them. "But I'm afraid you can't go anywhere."

Behind him, fully armed federal soldiers filed in. This conspiracy spanning fifteen years finally unveiled its final veil at this moment.