160: The calm before the storm and the awakening of the "seeds"

After successfully navigating the public opinion fog of the Mirror Hall project and the academic provocations of the Prometheus project, Homeland entered a period that appeared calm on the surface but was internally on high alert. This was not true peace, but rather the heavy, suffocating lull of low atmospheric pressure before a storm. Externally, the intelligence monitoring network acted like a 24-hour radar, continuously capturing signals—both overt and covert—from various directions. Internally, security measures operated at unprecedented levels of high pressure, with invisible defensive lines being reinforced again and again.

Within this relatively safe zone constructed by tight security, Excellence's growth continued to advance steadily. Under Evelyn's systematic guidance and Su Mu's warm companionship, his abilities were like a carefully irrigated seedling, continuing to quietly sprout branches and leaves. His control over Active Resonance reached a new height. That power, which had initially been as difficult to manage as a stampeding wild horse, was gradually becoming tame and agile. No longer satisfied with simply moving objects or influencing light, he began attempting more refined and constructive operations.

The 'minor achievement' he was most proud of was the modification of his precious hand-crafted solar charger. This small device, cobbled together from scrap parts with pitifully low efficiency, had always been his favorite. After several days of repeated attempts and countless minor failures, he finally succeeded—through extremely subtle mental adjustments—in optimizing the migration path of electrons within a key photoelectric conversion board (this was his own understanding; the actual principle was far more complex), increasing the overall energy conversion efficiency by a tiny but measurable 2%. When Evelyn confirmed this result with precision instruments, Excellence almost jumped for joy. He ran around the lab several times holding the small device, showing it off to everyone he met: 'Look! My "Mental Optimization" worked! It's more "obedient" now!' This sense of accomplishment from bringing about actual improvement through his own abilities greatly nourished his self-confidence.

At the same time, the emotional bonds between him, Su Mu, and Evelyn grew deeper and more subtle during this period of concentrated time together. They often didn't need words; a look, a tiny movement, or even just the invisible atmosphere when sharing the same space could convey each other's intentions and emotional states. Sometimes, after intense mental focusing, Excellence would subconsciously look at Su Mu, and she would understandingly hand him a glass of warm water or a snack. Sometimes, when Evelyn was contemplating a complex problem and her brow would furrow slightly, Excellence would keenly sense that focused energy field and consciously remain quiet, not disturbing her. This tacit understanding, formed through long-term shared living, deep emotional accumulation, and a subtle resonance at an energy level, made the trio's interactions like a silent and harmonious symphony.

The Coming Storm: Multiple Warning Signals

However, outside this warm 'paradise,' gathering dark clouds were growing thicker. Multiple independent and reliable intelligence channels sent alerts with increasing warning levels to Homeland's security center almost simultaneously.

The acceleration of Prometheus: The Prometheus project, cloaked in academic garb, suddenly intensified its propaganda offensive. They placed advertisements in more international mainstream media and academic platforms, held online seminars, and recruited 'volunteers' with high salaries. Their rhetoric became more inflammatory and exclusionary, subtly portraying other non-cooperative research institutions as 'conservative' and 'monopolistic.'

The activity and upgrade of 'Echo': That virtual 'Echo' saw its activity frequency and influence skyrocket on several highly encrypted, top-tier technical forums. The technical insights it posted became increasingly 'profound,' even starting to specifically refute traditional theories vaguely related to Homeland's potential research directions. Its words were sharp, carrying a deliberately crafted, anti-traditional provocative stance that attracted a following of young geniuses seeking excitement. More disturbingly, there were signs that Echo might be attempting some form of 'linkage' with the Prometheus project, trying to shape a narrative of 'grassroots genius recognized by and cooperating with official academic institutions.'

Peripheral electronic tentacles: The most direct threat came from the physical level. Electronic reconnaissance sensors deployed around the perimeter of the base captured multiple instances of probing scans and infiltration attempts of unknown origin and high technical skill. The frequency, intensity, and stealth of these cyberattacks increased significantly, targeting Homeland's external communication Nodes and weak points in the security system. Although all were successfully intercepted, the intent to probe and find vulnerabilities was clear.

All these signs, like pieces of a puzzle, pointed to a highly coordinated, multi-pronged comprehensive action being prepared in earnest. The opponent (almost certainly Morpheus Li) seemed to have lost patience, no longer satisfied with peripheral harassment and public opinion warfare, but preparing to launch a larger-scale offensive aimed at forcing Homeland to expose its core or even attempting a forced breakthrough. The strategy was likely a combination of public opinion pressure, technical infiltration, and potential military deterrence or even probing attacks—a multi-pronged approach to find an opportunity amidst Chaos.

Supreme Decision: Elevating to Combat Readiness

Faced with such a grim situation, Wang Jianguo immediately convened all core department heads for a top-level emergency security meeting. The air in the meeting room was so heavy it could almost be wrung out, and the massive electronic sand table was constantly updated with warning information and threat assessment data from various lines.

After hours of intense discussion and sand table simulations, the meeting reached a consensus: Homeland was facing one of the most severe comprehensive threats since its establishment and must immediately elevate its security alert level to the highest—'Crucible' level. Accordingly, a series of contingency plans were activated or put on standby:

Full Combat Readiness: All security forces entered 24-hour maximum alert, key posts implemented a two-person system, the frequency and range of peripheral patrols were doubled, and air defense and anti-infiltration systems underwent real-world stress testing.

Information Fortress: The 'Information Silence' plan was initiated, reducing unnecessary external communication, strengthening internal network monitoring and counter-espionage measures, and preparing for potential large-scale cyberattacks.

Core Relocation Plan: Most crucially, the emergency relocation plan codenamed 'ark' was activated. This plan detailed the routes, methods, and support measures for quickly transferring Excellence, the most core research data, and personnel to a more hidden, higher-protection backup base via secret channels in extreme circumstances. Relevant supplies and transport vehicles entered standby status, awaiting the order.

Internal Mobilization: While controlling the scope of disclosure, the severity of the situation was briefed to middle-level backbone personnel to unify thinking and strictly enforce discipline. Everyone was required to maintain high vigilance while ensuring that daily work (especially the care and training of Excellence) proceeded as normally as possible to avoid unnecessary panic.

After the meeting, Wang Jianguo did not leave immediately. He stood alone before the massive curved monitoring screen in the command center. The screen showed real-time footage from various parts of the base in split-screen. His gaze lingered for a long time on one frame—the high-definition camera feed from the greenhouse. Excellence was crouching in front of a row of tomato seedlings, 'singing' to them with a serious face. It was a 'Growth Promotion Song' he had composed himself, tuneless but full of childish charm. Sunlight spilled through the glass ceiling onto his focused little face, making him look so peaceful and innocent.

Wang Jianguo's brow was furrowed, his eyes filled with extremely complex emotions—deep worry, heavy responsibility, and a trace of subtle affection. This child, with his pure smile and amazing talent, was both the meaning of Homeland's existence and its most precious treasure, yet also like a giant magnet, attracting greed and malice from the depths of the darkness. The road ahead was destined to be filled with thorns, perhaps even blood and fire. The burden on his shoulders was as heavy as a thousand tons.

Ripples of Intuition: Excellence's Subtle Perception

Despite Homeland's best efforts to maintain a surface of calm, the invisible tension of the maximum alert state and the sense of unease permeating the air—which was hard to fully conceal—still acted like subtle vibrations. They penetrated layers of isolation and were vaguely captured by Excellence, whose Perception was becoming increasingly keen.

In the following days, both Su Mu and Evelyn keenly noticed some subtle abnormalities in Excellence. He would sometimes suddenly stop while playing or training, tilting his head as if listening to some distant sound, a trace of confusion and subtle unease crossing his face. He began to have some difficulty falling asleep at night, sometimes waking up for no reason in the middle of the night and sitting on the bed in a daze.

A more obvious change was reflected in his Resonance Mapping. When he performed his daily emotional or environmental Perception mapping, discordant elements would occasionally appear uncontrollably in his style. In the originally smooth lines, dark vortices representing 'oppression' or 'conflict' and sharp, broken lines would abruptly insert themselves. The background colors of the images would sometimes subconsciously lean toward a somber leaden gray, as if before a storm. These elements were not his subjective intent, but rather an unconscious mapping of environmental pressure in his subconscious.

One afternoon, after completing a resonance map depicting 'afternoon sunlight,' he stared at the drawing for a long time. Then he looked up and asked Su Mu with a hint of unease, 'Class Monitor, is... the weather going to change? I feel... a bit stifled in my heart, like... like something is pressing down, making it hard to breathe.' His intuition had once again touched the edge of the truth.

Su Mu's heart tightened, but a relaxed smile immediately appeared on her face. She reached out and ruffled Excellence's hair, saying in the most natural tone, 'You little silly, what are you overthinking? Did you eat too much last night and get indigestion? Or are you too tired from training? The weather is great, don't scare yourself.' She skillfully attributed it to physiological factors.

Evelyn also gently added from the side, 'It might be a physiological reaction caused by changes in atmospheric pressure, or perhaps as your abilities improve and your Perception range expands, you're capturing some distant, insignificant natural fluctuations. Don't worry about it, just relax.'

They cooperated perfectly, using a light tone and reasonable explanations to successfully soothe Excellence's doubts. But privately, the two exchanged a look full of concern. They knew that Excellence's intuition had likely proven true once again. External pressure had already begun to penetrate the barriers and affect his sensitive soul.

Dream of Determination: The Guardian's Awakening

The true turning point occurred one night.

That night, Excellence had an exceptionally clear, coherent, and symbolic dream. In the dream, he found himself standing in the middle of an incredibly vast, fog-shrouded crossroads. The mist was so thick it wouldn't disperse; he could only vaguely see several roads leading into the unknown distance. A low, continuous, threatening hum permeated the air, as if countless invisible engines were roaring in the distance. At the same time, he could hear the faint, market-like clamor, mixed with some blurred shouts—either tempting or accusing—that were deeply unsettling.

Just then, he felt both his hands being held warmly and firmly. He turned his head and saw Su Mu and Evelyn standing beside him. Their expressions were unusually grave, their brows slightly furrowed, their eyes scanning the surrounding mist vigilantly as if on guard against potential threats. However, when they looked at him, there wasn't a trace of fear or hesitation in their eyes, only a resolute determination that seemed capable of shielding him from any storm. This steady sense of protection, like a warm halo, enveloped him and dispelled part of the unease in his heart.

He subconsciously looked down at his own hands. In the dream, he was surprised to find that his palms were emitting a faint but clearly visible, warm, and soft light. The light wasn't blinding, but it gave a sense of grounded, reassuring power, as if something inside him had been ignited.

When he woke from this dream—which hadn't been particularly terrifying but instead carried a strange sense of calm and power—Excellence didn't feel afraid or need to seek comfort as he usually did after a nightmare. He sat up quietly, his heart filled with an unprecedented clarity and determination. He stepped lightly to the window, pulled back the curtains, and looked at the quiet silhouette of Homeland in the night—the familiar buildings, the patrol lights, the faint sound of instruments running in the distant lab. All of this, in his eyes now, was no longer a taken-for-granted shelter, but a 'home' that he needed to cherish and protect.

He returned to the bedside and took out the precious scrapbook Evelyn had given him from under his pillow. By the faint light from the window, he flipped through the pages one by one, which recorded every bit of his time since coming to Homeland: from his initial ignorant and shy appearance to the excitement of his first successful Resonance Mapping, to the emotional moments on the birthday peak, and every small bit of progress and laughter. These images, like a warm tide, washed over his heart.

Flipping to the latest blank page, he picked up a pen and wrote a line of words with extreme seriousness, stroke by stroke, as if each word were infused with all his heart:

'I want to become stronger, to protect Class Monitor, to protect Sister Evelyn, and to protect our home.'

After writing, he gently put down the pen and hugged the scrapbook to his chest as if it were a piece of armor. He also picked up the fingerless gloves Su Mu had knitted for him with the circuit board pattern and the ore Evelyn had given him that was said to 'stabilize emotions,' placing them side by side on the nightstand. Then he lay down quietly and closed his eyes. This time, his breathing quickly became steady and deep, his face carrying a near-peaceful determination.

In the darkness, the Emotion-Visualization Device by his bed sensed the stable and powerful protective intent in his heart. It automatically projected a ring of steady, warm, soft light—like a protective barrier—quietly enveloping his sleeping figure.

The storm was coming, but the seed of determination had already sprouted in his pure soul during the quiet night. From a 'treasure' that needed full protection, he was beginning to transform into a conscious warrior with the will to protect. The relationship between him and his guardians, which had originally been more of a one-way protection, was quietly transforming into a two-way, solid alliance based on deep emotion and shared responsibility. The dawn's confrontation had not yet begun, but the will to protect was already lit.