Chapter 12
The contact plan was quickly developed.
The small resonant generator modified by Susie was no longer used for destruction, but was set to attempt to synchronize with the core frequency and establish a preliminary communication bridge. Miao Weizhen, Wen Ling, Han Zhong and a selected team once again went deep into the ninth area.
This time, with the cover of the "bio-friendly frequency" simulated by Susie, they successfully avoided most of the energy turbulence and deeply contaminated guards, and reached the huge dome more smoothly than last time. The dark purple core was still pulsating deep in the pit.
"Start trying to connect." Susie's voice came through the communicator with nervous excitement.
Miao Weizhen stood guard with a gun in hand, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.
Wen Ling stood near the edge of the pit, took a deep breath, and tried to transmit a peaceful, non-aggressive thought through the device that Susie had adjusted.
This was his suggestion. He believed that since the core might have consciousness, emotional communication might be more effective than cold data.
At first, it seemed to be working. The pulsating light of the core softened slightly, and the palpitating pressure subsided. Susie's data showed that signal reception was slowly improving.
"It works! It's responding!" Susie reported excitedly.
Wen Ling was delighted and focused even more on sending out goodwill signals. He even tried whispering in the ancient Sailiang language: "We hear your pain... We are here to help you..."
However, at this seemingly successful moment, something strange happened!
The core's light suddenly shifted from a dark purple to an ominous crimson. The previously received "Repair Protocol" signal was instantly replaced by a chaotic wave filled with chaos, frenzy, and destructive intent.
"Warning! Signal overload! Frequency out of control!" Susie screamed.
Around the pit, the polluted people who had been "pacified" suddenly burst into dazzling red light from their eyes and let out roars that were not human voices. They rushed towards them from all directions like a tide, and their speed and strength were several times stronger than before.
What was even more terrifying was that the pit itself began to vibrate violently, and scarlet energy tentacles, like monster tentacles, suddenly stretched out from the depths and lashed at everyone!
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!" Miao Weizhen ordered sternly, and the pulse pistol sprayed out a blazing beam of light, accurately breaking the two energy tentacles that attacked first, but more tentacles and crazy polluters swarmed in.
"Why... why is this happening?" Wen Ling blocked a polluter that was rushing towards him in the chaos, his face pale. He couldn't understand why the polluter who had clearly responded with goodwill just now suddenly turned into the most extreme malice?
"It deceived us! Or... its consciousness itself is chaotic, with only a fine line separating goodwill and malice." Miao Weizhen's voice was as cold as iron, clearly heard amid the gunfire and explosions. "Your Highness, this is what you believe in as 'communication'."
A thick energy tentacle whipped towards Wen Ling's back at a tricky angle. When Wen Ling noticed it, it was too late to dodge completely.
"Be careful," Miao Weizheng pushed him away suddenly, but was hit on the shoulder by the end of the tentacle. He staggered back with a groan, and the clothes on his left shoulder were instantly charred, revealing the red, swollen and bleeding skin underneath.
Wen Ling's heart trembled. Seeing him injured, watching the team members around him struggling and retreating, watching the polluters who had completely lost their minds and only had the instinct to attack, he was filled with frustration and powerlessness. His methods, his beliefs, seemed so pale and naive at this moment.
"General Han, lead your men to break out from the flank! Execute Plan B, blow up the preset obstacles, and block the pursuit!" Miao Weizhen endured the pain, his voice remained steady, and he quickly adjusted his tactics.
"Yes!" Han Zhong roared, leading a group of people to rush to the flank fearlessly, using energy blades and □□ to tear a gap.
"Let's go!" Miao Weizhen grabbed Wen Ling's wrist, who was still a little dazed, with such force that he almost crushed his bones, and dragged him towards the gap.
This retreat was a hundred times more embarrassing than the last one.
The team members who were responsible for the rearguard paid a heavy price and barely held off the pursuers. When they finally rushed out of the mine and returned to the relatively safe area, each of them was injured, and their faces were filled with shock and exhaustion after surviving the disaster.
Wen Ling leaned against the cold metal wall, panting heavily, his golden hair matted to his forehead by sweat. An unprecedented sense of defeat threatened to overwhelm him. Not only had he failed, but he had nearly brought destruction upon Miao Weizhen and the entire team.
Miao Weizhen covered his injured shoulder, his face becoming even paler due to blood loss, but when he looked at Wen Ling, there was no mockery in his eyes, only a deep, almost cruel calmness.
"Now you understand, Your Highness." His voice was slightly hoarse from the pain, but every word was clear. "Some things cannot be persuaded by kindness. Some situations must be controlled with strength and sacrifice. Your ideals are precious, but in the face of cruel reality, they need a solid armor. Otherwise, they will only harm others and yourself."
Wen Ling raised his head, his deep green eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—frustration, reflection, and a hint of resentment. He didn't argue, for facts spoke louder than words. Miao Weizhen's philosophy, in this failure, seemed so realistic and correct.
Susie ran over and looked at the embarrassed crowd and Miao Weizhen's injuries. Her face turned pale: "I'm sorry... I didn't judge the signal correctly..."
"I don't blame you." Miao Weizhen interrupted her, but his eyes were still on Wen Ling. "We all underestimated the danger and unpredictability of the target."
He paused, then issued a new order: "Implement a complete lockdown of Area 9. Raise the alert level to the highest level. Simultaneously, restart the resonance generator destruction program. This time, there can be no room for error."
Miao Weizhen's order declared the complete failure of Wen Ling's "communication" approach, and also marked that the cruel suppression plan once again became dominant.
The temporary medical station at the port is more crowded and noisy than before.
The smell of disinfectant, mixed with sweat and rusted metal, was unpleasant. In addition to the previously injured team members, several guards who had sustained minor injuries from shoving and shoving with agitated miners on the blockade were also brought in. Groans, complaints, and the impatient shouting of medical personnel intertwined.
Miao Weizhen sat alone in a relatively quiet corner, took off his upper body clothes, and was trying to clumsily treat the hideous burn on his left shoulder with his uninjured right hand.
He frowned slightly, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his pale face. It was obvious that the process was not going smoothly.
"Hurry up! Don't dawdle!" A gritty-voiced medical soldier was yelling at a flustered recruit, almost bumping into Wen Ling who was walking over with clean water and dressings.
Wen Ling dodged to the side and walked straight in front of Miao Weizheng, blocking the slightly chaotic scene next to him.
"Minister Miao, let me do it." His voice was calm, with a hint of gentleness that could not be refused.
Miao Weizhen raised his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in his icy eyes. He watched Wen Ling naturally take the ointment and gauze from his hands, not refusing, but observing silently.
Wen Ling sat down beside him and expertly began to clean the wound. His fingers were steady and gentle, carefully wetting the charred edges with water before meticulously applying the cool anti-inflammatory gel.
A team member nearby, who was bandaging his arm with a bandage and grimacing, looked at them curiously, but was then drawn back by the medic's roar.
"Thank you for being here before." Wen Ling said in a low voice, concentrating on the movements of his hands, with a sincere tone, "It was my misjudgment that caused you to get hurt."
Miao Weizhen felt the delicate touch on his shoulder, which was out of tune with the rough environment around him, without saying a word.
Wen Ling began to bandage the wound with clean gauze. His movements were smooth and professional, as if he had done it countless times.
He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them, and lowered his voice to ensure that only they could hear:
"Come to think of it, this seems like the second time you've saved me 'in time,'" he said flatly, as if stating an objective fact. "The first time was at the Federal Airport. That metal plate... it landed in a really tricky spot. If it weren't for your quick reaction, I'd probably be dead by now."
As he spoke, his eyes were still on the bandage, his expression calm, as if he was just chatting.
Miao Weizhen's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm: "I eat your salary and share your worries."
Wen Ling expertly tied the bandage knot, gently smoothing the edges to ensure it was secure and comfortable. He finally raised his eyes, his deep green eyes clear as he stared directly at the flash of surprise in Miao Weizhen's eyes. A faint, self-deprecating smile played at the corner of his mouth:
"It seems that within the Federation... or around Qu Beichen, there are people who really don't want me to return to Sailiang alive." He paused, his tone still steady, but with a kind of clear understanding. "But it's all in the past. Since I'm still alive, and you, Miao Bu... seem to have changed your mind?"
He patted the bandaged shoulder gently, the action so natural that it seemed like a friendly gesture.
"For now, let's deal with the bigger problem of Huangquan Rust Port. I won't mention the previous matter again." His eyes clearly conveyed the meaning of "let it be written off and not care about it anymore."
After saying that, he picked up the used medical tray, stood up calmly, turned around and blended into the noisy crowd in the medical station.
At this moment, the smell of disinfectant in the medical station was pungent, the wound on his left shoulder was still aching, and Wen Ling's clear and calm green eyes, with a hint of understanding, seemed to still be in front of him.
"It seems that within the Federation...some people really don't want me to return to Sailiang alive."
"I won't mention what happened before."
…
These words lingered in Miao Weizhen's ears.
[Let him die within the Federation and put the blame on Qu Beichen. Absolutely.]
In his encrypted communication signal box, this cold order from the highest power center of Sailiang was the dark mission he had to complete on this trip.
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