Orion Arm of the Milky Way, Ross 154.
As a message came from the center of the Milky Way, an extremely intense flash occurred near this obscure black dwarf star.
The source of the light was a series of small detectors released by the Cleaner Detector.
The moment the light appeared, irregular, jet-black cracks resembling spider webs appeared within the "cube-like encirclement" formed by these small detectors.
Viewed from the side, it looks like a perfectly smooth mirror that has been shattered by a high-speed flying object.
However, unlike a broken mirror, the cracks appearing in the surrounding net are three-dimensional.
They emerged from near each of the small probes and spread toward the center of the black dwarf at extremely high speeds.
Like a black hole, the cracks devour the faint starlight in the cosmic background.
Without any resistance, in just an instant, the pitch-black crack easily tore the black dwarf into countless three-dimensional fragments.
The light emitted by the detector grew even brighter!
An indescribable tremor emanated from the region of the black dwarf.
That was a tremor originating from three-dimensional space!
The light from the small detector slowly faded, and the black cracks and vibrations gradually disappeared.
However, the once unified black dwarf star has been transformed into a loose mass of interstellar dust composed of carbon atoms.
Ross 154, as Cleaner 9527 said, was completely destroyed on a physical level.
Initially, due to inertia, this cloud of interstellar dust retained the shape of Ross 154—a sphere.
As the tiny detectors relentlessly probed, its shape rapidly became irregular.
It is foreseeable that, barring unforeseen circumstances, this loose mass of interstellar dust will eventually form a unique nebula.
Unlike normally formed nebulae, which are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, its main components are carbon atoms from black dwarf stars.
...
"Sir, the timing of the dimensional ascension phenomenon has been determined."
With a slight movement of its subordinate's tentacles, it presented a light screen to Cleaner 9527.
"It was about a hundred years ago, which is quite a long time ago, so the detection error was quite large."
Upon hearing this, Cleaner 9527's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
A large error means that the difficulty of the subsequent search will increase several levels.
He didn't speak, but glanced at the time displayed on the light screen before turning around and opening another light screen.
"KZQXD771 star system..."
"The last observation was two hundred years ago..."
The indicator light on the external memory storage device is flashing rapidly.
"Import specific parameters of the star system."
"Preparing to rebuild the simulated star system."
Cleaner 9527 quickly operated the light screen in front of him.
Soon, a virtual star system appeared before him.
That was the Ross 154 star system observed by a probe two hundred years ago. Compared to the carbon atom nebula we see today, the two are worlds apart.
At that time, it was a healthy and long-lived red dwarf star.
Planets orbit around it in an orderly fashion.
Cleaner 9527 surveyed the star system before it with an indifferent expression.
"It's so barren, there's not even basic life."
"I never expected [Painting] to choose to hide in a place like this." A subordinate's disdainful voice came from the side.
In their view, even a perfectly intact Ross 154 is not as valuable as a roadside ditch.
There are still some lives and resources in the stinking ditch!
What does Rose 154 have?
Apart from a red dwarf star with scarce energy, there are almost no useful resources.
Of course, this applies to the civility of the cleaners and the [painting].
Cleaner9527 calmly replied, "But it is indeed the best choice."
"There are too many star systems like this in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. Even we don't have the resources to check each and every one of these ordinary star systems."
"That's why we haven't been able to find the painting."
As it spoke, Cleaner 9527 extended its tentacles and gently tapped the light screen in front of it.
Time has sped up.
The Ross 154 star system in the picture is moving at high speed.
January, a year, a decade, a century...
In a mere instant, the simulated Ross 154 star system in the light screen reached a crucial point in time—the period when the dimensional ascension phenomenon occurred.
“Tracking all the stars in the star system and calculating their next trajectories.”
"Let the other detectors search along all possible paths."
Upon hearing this, the subordinate paused slightly.
"Sir, you mean..."
"[The painting] might have faked its death, and left this star system via a planet?"
Cleaner 9527 did not reply, but simply watched the images on the screen silently.
He wasn't sure either.
But he just couldn't believe that a level seven civilization could die on such a remote star!
The subordinate, receiving no response, silently relayed the instructions to the outside world.
The artificial planet gradually stopped spinning and returned to its original shape.
...
January 19, 2384 (Earth Calendar).
Hope, dressed in a spacesuit, sat on the water's edge near City One.
He developed this habit after his first exploration mission.
Whenever he had free time, he would come to the waters near City One, sit on the rocks on the shore, and quietly admire the peaceful scenery.
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