176: An Uninvited Guest and a Test of "Goodwill"

Just as the restoration work at "Homeland" was drawing to a close, the rhythm of life was gradually returning to normal, and Excellence was immersed in his new "coding" game, an application for a visit arrived. It came through an extremely secretive, high-level encrypted special diplomatic and security channel, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quietly stirring up ripples among the high-level leadership of "Homeland."

The applicant was Dr. Eleanor Green, a name that enjoyed high prestige in international academic and ethical circles. Her public identity was the Vice Chair of the International Scientific Ethics Committee, a senior scholar world-renowned for her rigorous scholarship, impartial stance, and long-term advocacy for the humanitarian spirit in technological development. The reason for the visit was high-sounding and impeccable: to conduct a non-compulsory, routine academic ethics inspection, aimed at understanding the operation of internal ethical review mechanisms, the compliance of the research environment, and the implementation of rights protection measures for research participants (especially if there were minors or special subjects) in special institutions like "Homeland" that engage in cutting-edge and sensitive field research.

From a procedural standpoint, this application fully complied with the standard processes of the international academic community. As a research institution with a certain level of international visibility, it was difficult for "Homeland" to flatly refuse, whether based on reason or etiquette. However, when the document was presented on Wang Jianguo's desk, both he and the urgently summoned Evelyn smelled an unusual and dangerous scent behind this "perfectly timed" moment and "impeccable" reason.

The International Scientific Ethics Committee had a complex background; its members and financial backers had countless ties to several powerful multinational corporations and private research foundations (not a few of which had overt or covert connections with the "Prophet Foundation"). Shortly after "Homeland" had experienced a carefully planned attack clearly aimed at Excellence, was the sudden visit of such a heavyweight figure truly just a coincidental, well-intentioned "routine inspection"? It felt more like a meticulously planned probe cloaked in the guise of legality and compliance.

Emergency Strategy: Limited Openness and High Vigilance

Wang Jianguo immediately convened the core decision-making level for a brief and efficient emergency meeting. The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy and cautious.

“Those who come are not well-intentioned, and those who are well-intentioned do not come.” Wang Jianguo got straight to the point, his fingers lightly tapping the table as his sharp gaze swept across everyone present. “Dr. Green's visit at this point in time is no accident. We must assume that she, or the forces behind her, have already noticed ‘Homeland,’ especially Excellence's existence, and may even possess certain intelligence. Refusing the visit outright would instead make us look guilty and could trigger further suspicion and action.”

Evelyn’s brow furrowed as she analyzed calmly, “Agreed. But we cannot be defenseless either. I suggest adopting a reception principle of ‘Limited, Transparent, and Vigilant.’ Limited: Define clear tour areas that absolutely do not involve the core research zone, Excellence's living area, or any sensitive data storage points. Transparent: Within the areas she is permitted to visit, demonstrate our standardized research environment, perfect security measures, and the full care and ethical safeguards we provide for people—especially Excellence—to build a positive image. Vigilant: Accompany her throughout the entire visit with elite personnel, respond cautiously to all dialogue, and skillfully evade or flatly deny any probes that might involve core secrets. At the same time, activate the highest level of counter-reconnaissance and counter-eavesdropping measures to ensure she cannot obtain any information beyond what we allow during this trip.”

The plan was quickly finalized. The entirety of "Homeland" quietly entered a state of combat readiness—relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside. Everything appeared normal on the surface, but internal security levels were secretly raised. All key data regarding Excellence and ability research were re-encrypted and moved. The personnel involved in the reception underwent strict background checks and response training. Excellence was also temporarily arranged by Su Mu to work on his "hand-crafted" project in the public activity space of the living area, under the pretext that "an important guest is coming and the lab needs to be tidied up," and he was told it was just an ordinary academic exchange visit.

A Gentle Breeze? Dr. Green’s Arrival

Dr. Green's arrival, on the surface, could be called a model of friendliness, professionalism, and a refreshing presence.

She was a woman in her fifties with extremely elegant and composed manners. Her silver-gray short hair was combed meticulously, and she wore a well-tailored dark suit skirt with a pair of exquisite gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose. The gaze behind the lenses was wise and gentle, and her speech and behavior revealed deep academic cultivation and the steadiness of someone long-experienced in the world. Her arrival formed a sharp contrast with the slight tension that remained within "Homeland," despite efforts to hide it.

Accompanied by core personnel such as Wang Jianguo and Evelyn, Dr. Green visited the non-core research areas, some living facilities, and the medical center that "Homeland" displayed to the outside. Her questions were professional and hit the mark, focusing primarily on the ethical review process of research projects, data security management measures, the physical and mental health safeguards for researchers, and emergency plans for potential risks. She showed appropriate respect and avoidance regarding specific technical details and research results. She occasionally gave sincere praise and high evaluations for "Homeland's" advanced hardware facilities, rigorous management system, and the professionalism and good state shown by the researchers, her words filled with understanding and respect for scientific workers.

The entire tour was smooth and harmonious. Dr. Green behaved like a scholar truly concerned about academic ethics, full of compassion and a sense of responsibility, without the slightest overstepping or unsettling behavior. She even expressed admiration for the efficiency of the base's rapid repair of the areas damaged in the recent "accident." This impeccable performance almost made some people begin to wonder if they had been too nervous and misjudged the situation.

A Fleeting Glimpse and a Lethal Probe

However, storms are often hidden beneath a calm sea. The tour route "happened" to pass through the public activity area where Excellence was located. At this moment, Excellence was fully concentrated, lying on the floor and tinkering with his "treasures" spread all over—LED light arrays flashing with colorful lights, buzzing buzzers, scattered wires and circuit boards, and that toy car waiting for instructions. His small face was flushed, and a bit of soldering paste he had accidentally rubbed on was stuck to the tip of his nose. He was busily debugging his "Mark N Energy Encoder," trying to get the car to go around an "obstacle" he had built with building blocks. That focused and slightly clumsy look was full of childhood innocence and persistence.

Dr. Green naturally stopped her footsteps, a gentle and slightly curious smile appearing on her face, as if she were attracted by this scene of scientific enlightenment full of childlike interest. “Oh? A very interesting project,” she said to Evelyn, who was accompanying her, her tone relaxed. “Is it for basic signal transmission and decoding training? This way of teaching through play is very helpful for stimulating teenagers' interest in science.”

Evelyn's heart tightened slightly, but she maintained an impeccable, polite, and slightly detached smile on her face, answering flawlessly, “Yes, Dr. Green. We encourage the children to explore hands-on and cultivate their interests under the premise of safety.” She deliberately defined Excellence's behavior as an ordinary "science popularization activity."

Dr. Green nodded and took two steps forward, seemingly at random. Her gaze fell on Excellence's busy, still baby-fat little hands and the "encoder" in front of him that was constantly flashing with irregular light. Her gaze seemed to just sweep over casually, staying for less than three seconds. Then, she suddenly said softly in a conversational tone, as if scholars were discussing technical details, seemingly inadvertently:

“Very interesting energy fluctuation patterns... though they are very weak, almost imperceptible.” She tilted her head slightly, as if carefully discerning. “They seem... to carry some kind of unique resonance characteristic? Was a... special oscillation source used? This base frequency isn't commonly seen in ordinary RC oscillation circuits.”

“Boom—!”

These words, though not loud and spoken in a flat tone, exploded like a clap of thunder in Evelyn's ears! A chill instantly shot from her tailbone to the top of her head, and the blood in her whole body seemed to freeze at this moment!

Energy fluctuation patterns! Resonance characteristics! Special oscillation source! Base frequency!

These terms, which were extremely professional and pointed precisely at the essence of energy, came out of the mouth of a person claiming to be an "ethicist," and were directed at a child's "messing around" with a seemingly disorganized circuit! Dr. Green not only perceived the extremely weak "constant ripple" fluctuations, distinct from ordinary electromagnetic noise, that Excellence unconsciously emitted when trying to "code," but she could even distinguish their unique "resonance characteristics"! This was absolutely not something an ordinary scholar, or even an average scientist, could do! Either she herself possessed an extremely keen Perception for special energy fields, or... she was carrying some currently unknown, highly secretive advanced detection equipment capable of precisely detecting and analyzing such weak "ripples"! Whichever possibility it was, it pointed incredibly clearly to one fact: the purpose of her trip was definitely not as simple as a "routine ethical inspection"! She was here for Excellence!

Evelyn's heart beat wildly in her chest, but years of strict training and extremely strong psychological quality allowed her to control every muscle on her face in a split second. Her expression barely changed, only her eyes flickered extremely subtly, so fast it was impossible to catch. She took a small step forward naturally and smoothly, skillfully using her body to block the line of sight between Dr. Green and Excellence, cutting off the former's direct observation of Excellence and the device in his hands.

“Dr. Green must be joking,” Evelyn said in a calm tone, even carrying a hint of appropriate, slight teasing toward an "outsider's" misunderstanding. “They are just the most ordinary electronic components. The child is just playing around, and the wiring is a mess; some parasitic oscillations are inevitable. It’s hardly anything worth calling a ‘characteristic.’” She lightly dismissed Dr. Green's precise judgment as "circuit noise," leaving no openings.

The gentle smile on Dr. Green's face didn't change at all. She took a deep look at Evelyn, a gaze that seemed able to penetrate all disguises, yet it returned to its previous gentleness in an instant. She nodded readily, as if accepting the explanation, and did not press further. She turned her gaze toward Excellence, who had just looked up blankly with his small face because someone had approached and was a bit at a loss. She praised him in an encouraging tone, “You have very strong hands-on skills, little one. Keep maintaining your curiosity about the world.” Having said that, she casually signaled to Evelyn that they could continue to the next tour point, as if that earth-shattering dialogue had never happened.

Aftermath: Assessment and Warning in the Shadows

The subsequent tour was uneventful, and Dr. Green showed no further abnormalities. After the visit ended, she politely took her leave without making any additional or excessive requests, expressing her thanks once again for "Homeland's" "high cooperation and professionalism."

However, her final probe—seemingly unintentional but actually lethal—was like a massive, cold meteorite crashing heavily into the calm lake of "Homeland," stirring up monstrous waves and a bottomless vortex.

Afterward, at an absolutely confidential high-level review meeting, the atmosphere was unprecedentedly heavy.

“She is definitely no ordinary ethicist.” Evelyn's tone was categorical, her face more serious than ever before. “Her Perception or detection means for that special energy field exceed any publicly known technical level we currently have. Behind her, there must stand an organization we know very little about, but which possesses extremely formidable strength.”

Wang Jianguo's brow was tightly furrowed, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the tabletop. “This is an extremely clever strategy. She isn't full of hostility and aggression like Morpheus; instead, she displays the posture of a ‘peer’ or even a ‘potential collaborator.’ She doesn't force or coerce; she just lightly demonstrates her ‘insight,’ as if saying: ‘I know you have secrets, and I also have the ability to perceive them. We are players on the same level; perhaps... there is a basis for dialogue or even cooperation in the future?’”

This kind of contact—seemingly friendly but actually full of calculation and uncertainty—was more unsettling than a naked military threat. It meant that Excellence's existence and value might have already attracted the attention of more complex and secretive powerful forces on an international level. What "Homeland" would have to face in the future would not just be enemies in the open like the "Prophet Foundation," but also various other organizations with different goals and even more smooth and seasoned methods. Alliances, interest exchanges, ethical gambles... a more intricate, silent war of surging undercurrents had perhaps only just begun.

Innocence in the Eye of the Storm

And the center of all these storms—Excellence—was completely unaware of this silent but dangerous shadow war happening around him and centered on him. He only vaguely remembered that a "Auntie" who looked very serious but spoke very gently had come that day and even praised his little car. At this moment, he was dancing with joy because his little car had finally received the "forward" instruction relatively stably and successfully bypassed the first building-block obstacle (though it knocked over the second one). He was pulling Su Mu and Evelyn, insisting on teaching them the "Excellence-speak" flashing code he had invented, which only he could understand.

Looking at his innocent smile full of a sense of achievement, Su Mu and Evelyn felt a mix of emotions in their hearts. They were relieved to be able to temporarily protect this purity, yet deeply worried about the increasingly turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath it. Excellence's boat of fate had already sailed into a wider and more unpredictable deep sea. The future course was destined to be filled with known and unknown icebergs and storms. And "Homeland" had to become his most solid harbor, as well as his most vigilant navigator.