Chapter 10
The next day, preliminary data analysis results came out.
Susie, with dark circles under her eyes, excitedly reported to Miao Weizhen and Wen Ling:
"It's almost certain that the core is an ancient energy organism with highly complex adaptive capabilities, or in other words, some kind of biological supercomputer. It's in a semi-dormant state, and the previous mining operations may have stimulated it, causing energy leakage and activation of defense mechanisms—this is what we call 'pollution'."
She pulled up a three-dimensional model and pointed at the intricate web of energy veins surrounding the core. "The good news is, I've found a resonant frequency that might temporarily suppress or even shut it down. The bad news is, a specially designed resonant generator would need to be brought very close to the core for it to be effective."
"How to send it?" Wen Ling asked.
Susie's expression grew serious. "Someone must pass through the strongest energy field outside the core and those deeply contaminated guards. Moreover, when the generator is activated, it will produce a strong energy backlash. The carrier... has almost no chance of survival."
The room was completely silent. This meant that someone needed to be sent on a suicide mission.
Miao Weizhen's face remained calm. He turned to Han Zhong beside him and said, "General Han, select a soldier to die. Tell him that his family will receive tenfold compensation and be awarded the title of 'National Protector Warrior.'"
His tone was calm, almost cruel, as if he was just arranging an ordinary transportation of supplies.
Wen Ling raised his head abruptly, his deep green eyes filled with disbelief: "You're sending someone to die?"
Miao Weizhen looked at him, his eyes cold and pragmatic: "This is the most efficient and least damaging plan. Sacrificing one person can save the entire port and even prevent the pollution from spreading to the entire Cangling Continent. Your Highness, this is a necessary price."
"Is there no other way?" Wen Ling asked Susie, "Can we deploy it remotely? Or use a drone?"
Susie shook her head helplessly. "The energy field interference is too strong, and long-range signals cannot penetrate. The drone will lose control when it approaches the core. Only humans with sufficient willpower can manually activate the generator at the last moment."
"Then we can think of another way!" Wen Ling said firmly. He couldn't accept someone's life or death being decided so easily. "We can try to take a long-term view and find a safer way..."
"We don't have time, Your Highness," Miao Weizhen interrupted him, his voice firm. "According to energy readings, that 'creature' is awakening at an accelerated pace. Every minute of delay increases its power, contaminating more people and increasing the risk of total loss of control. By then, more than just one person will die."
He ignored Wen Ling and directly ordered Han Zhong: "Execute the order."
A flicker of struggle crossed Han Zhong's face. After all, he was a veteran of Sailiang and valued the lives of his soldiers. However, he also knew that Miao Weizhen's judgment was the most rational choice at the moment. He gritted his teeth and saluted, "Yes! Minister!"
"No," Wen Ling stepped forward, standing in front of Han Zhong, staring directly at Miao Weizhen, "I can't just watch you send someone to their death. There must be other ways. We can try to communicate with it, or find its weakness..."
"Communication?" Miao Weizhen's lips curled up in a trace of cold sneer. "Your Highness, do you think that's a guest you can bargain with in your music salon? It's an ancient being that can distort life forms. Your kindness is touching, but it's misplaced."
He walked around Wen Ling and spoke to Han Zhong, who was stunned, in a daze, "General Han."
Han Zhong sighed, and finally turned around and left to arrange the candidates.
Wen Ling stared at Miao Weizhen's resolute back, his hands clenched tightly into fists until his knuckles turned white. For the first time, he felt so clearly the vast, nearly irreconcilable rift between them. Miao Weizhen's tactics weren't just for maneuvering around the negotiation table; they were a deep-seated ruthlessness, a willingness to do anything to achieve his goals.
"You will go to hell, Miao Weizhen." Wen Ling's voice was filled with suppressed anger and a hint of powerlessness.
Miao Weizhen didn't stop walking, only cold words came: "If hell can buy Sailiang's life, I don't mind going there to take a place."
At this moment, Susie suddenly exclaimed and pointed at the screen: "Wait! The energy reading has changed! That core...it seems to be actively releasing a new signal...a...distress signal?"
Miao Weizhen and Wen Ling were both startled and turned their heads abruptly to look at the screen.
I saw that the pulsation frequency of the dark purple energy core had changed. It was no longer aggressive and violent, but instead revealed an intermittent, sad rhythm.
After preliminary deciphering, the signal captured by Susie's instrument showed a repetitive, ancient Sailiang language vocabulary:
[…Repair…the core…damaged…pain…]
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