279: Take it away with a new "gift".

The messenger of the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' — 'Giggle,' an entity wearing a white chef's uniform with red stripes that seemed to have walked out of an absurdist play, topped with a towering chef's hat, embedded itself into the cold void outside the 'Nexus Point' space station without any warning.

Its appearance, like a fragment of a dream with overly saturated colors, was forcibly pasted onto the reality canvas composed of dark starry skies, damaged metal, and dim spiritual light, bringing about an unsettling visual and conceptual 'pollution'.

A pink spatial rift, its edges shimmering with candy-like luster, hung quietly like a wound. 'Giggle,' protruding more than half of its body from the rift, its exaggerated painted smile seemingly carrying an eternal arc, directly 'locked onto' the silent 'blade of spiritual thought' starship below.

Despite the thick composite armor, multiple psychic shields, and the complex internal structure of the starship, its gaze (if that could be called a gaze) seemed to penetrate all obstacles, precisely 'landing' on the crystal fragment in the secret room that had just been forcibly suppressed by Excellence's 'Spear of Order,' lost all activity, and lay on the ground like an ordinary charred ore.

'Oh my, it seems the 'kitchen' here has quite a bit of activity? A 'world devourer' flavored chaotic stew with 'psychic' offal? Tsk tsk, look at this quality—the heat was too high, even the burnt smell came out; the ingredient pairing is a disaster, the fishy 'devour' base and the pungent 'fanatic' seasoning are completely clashing; the plating... oh, there is no plating at all, it's a complete mess! A failure, truly a complete and utter failure~'

That sharp, comical, and exaggeratedly rolled-tongue evaluation rang directly in the depths of Excellence's consciousness again, carrying an undisguised disdain and regret of a gourmet facing a botched dish.

'However, we at the 'Court of Revelry' have always upheld the green dining philosophy of 'cherishing ingredients and avoiding waste,' so we hereby launch a thoughtful 'professional post-meal recycling service'~ Respected guest,' its words turned to Excellence. Despite the vast distance and the stealth field, the focus of that 'gaze' was incredibly clear, 'Does this completely failed 'chaotic burnt stew' on your table need our store's professional 'kitchen waste recycling specialist' to properly pack it up and take it away? We guarantee it will be handled cleanly, ensuring it won't pollute your dining environment~ Of course, this is a free after-sales service, no extra charge needed~ Giggle Giggle~'

Pack it up and take it away? To take away that extremely dangerous crystal, which contained the terrible polluting essence of the 'World Devourer,' mixed with the paranoid psychic energy of the 'psychic fanatic,' and had just almost triggered a civilization-level disaster, as if tidying up the scraps of a failed dish?

Excellence's heart felt as if it were being gripped by a cold hand. The faint sense of relief that had just welled up from seeing the contribution points turn from negative to positive was instantly replaced by a deeper chill and vigilance. An indescribable feeling, a mix of absurdity and horror, crept up his spine.

'Lord of the Grand Feast'... Why did this high-dimensional entity, who could not be judged by common sense, always appear at the scene of events related to the 'World Devourer's' energy, like a vulture smelling carrion? Last time on the battlefield of 'iron and fire,' its messenger delivered a 'special takeaway'; this time, at the contact point of 'Sprout' and 'Star Scar,' it again took the initiative to offer to 'recycle garbage.' Could it be that in its absurd and bizarre 'Supreme Feast' menu, which transcended mortal understanding, the power of the 'World Devourer,' symbolizing the underlying chaos and corruption of the universe, was actually a kind of... special 'ingredient' or 'seasoning'? Or was it simply enjoying the twisted 'pleasure' brought by 'cleaning up' or 'remodeling' these dangerous 'scraps'?

'Excellence, what do we do?' Evelyn's voice was very low, carrying obvious tension, 'It's Him again! The target is clear, it wants that crystal!'

'Absolutely cannot give it to It!' Su Mu objected eagerly in the base channel, her voice trembling with excitement, 'Heaven knows what It will use it for if It takes it away! Last time it was made into pudding and a pot lid, what about this time? Maybe it will create something even more terrifying and incomprehensible! Besides, this is important evidence!'

'White Elder's' voice came through the encrypted link, deeper and slower than usual, every word seeming to have been weighed heavily: 'The operational logic of the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' is not something we can judge by common sense. However, looking at it objectively, leaving that crystal here has indeed become a huge hidden danger. Although 'Sharp Light' and the other two suffered heavy losses, their life or death is unknown, and their behind-the-scenes faction or the 'Star Scar' civilization might follow up; this object is a hot potato and a source of disaster. The 'Sprout' civilization has been severely damaged by this incident and has absolutely no ability to safely dispose of or study such forbidden items. If we let the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' take it away... perhaps, it is indeed the most 'thorough' way to eliminate this dual physical and conceptual threat at the moment. It's just...'

'Just what?' Excellence asked, his fingers tightening unconsciously, pressing against the cold 'cognitive stabilization anchor' at his waist, as if this trial equipment could convey a sense of stability that put him at ease.

'It's just that making any form of 'transaction' or 'promise' with the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' is no different from dancing on a tightrope over an abyss.' 'White Elder's' voice was filled with deep worry, 'Its so-called 'service' can never be out of pure kindness or public welfare. There must be a 'price' it expects behind it, or a 'dramatic twist' and 'absurd fun' that can bring it pleasure. The 'five-star review' and 'come again next time' from last time are proof. This time, in what form will this 'price' or 'pleasure' appear?'

Price? Pleasure? Excellence's stomach twitched slightly. The experience from last time was still fresh in his memory; that absurd 'battlefield dessert show' and the eerie 'pot lid seal,' while objectively solving the crisis, had left an indelible mark of embarrassment and lingering fear on his career as an observer. This time, what conditions would this god of fun offer?

The bridge of the 'ranger' was shrouded in an oppressive silence, with only the low hum of the environmental systems and the rhythmic blinking of instrument indicator lights. Outside the porthole, the pink rift and the comical figure seemed frozen, patiently waiting for a response.

Inside the 'Nexus Point' space station below, survivors were busy treating the wounded, extinguishing sporadic energy fires, and repairing critical systems, and no one had yet turned their attention to this void, which had just calmed down from an energy storm but was now suspended with an even more bizarre entity.

Excellence's brain worked at an unprecedented speed, weighing the pros and cons of every option. Leave the crystal in the hands of 'Sprout'? This was no different from handing a bomb with a lit fuse to a group of children who were still in shock and lacked bomb disposal tools. Return it to 'Star Scar'? Not to mention how to return it, this would be equivalent to sending dangerous power back to a civilization that might still be controlled by extreme ideologies, which could lead to an even greater disaster in the future.

Have the 'ranger' or himself take it away? With current technology and equipment levels, the risk of safely containing and disposing of the 'World Devourer' pollution source was extremely high, not to mention how to explain the source of this 'hot potato' to The Council later—would he have to write in the report, 'Due to preventing a civilization-extinction crisis, accidentally obtained a high-risk prohibited item'? Just imagining the possible expression of The Council's audit department made Excellence's head ache.

Letting the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' take it away seemed to be the option among all the bad ones that appeared to have relatively smaller 'aftereffects' and was the most 'thorough' to deal with. But as 'White Elder' said, this was by no means a gift without a price.

'Can we... rely on the 'cognitive stabilization anchor' to resist Its 'influence'?' Excellence asked Evelyn in a low voice, referring to the 'Lord of the Grand Feast's' eerie conceptual pollution power that could subtly distort cognition and induce thinking towards the absurd.

'Trial version... efficiency has not been fully verified.' Evelyn pulled up the quick analysis data, her brows furrowed, 'But from the current energy readings, the 'Lord of the Grand Feast's' messenger does not seem to be actively releasing a high-intensity conceptual pollution field at this moment, but rather seems to be conducting a kind of... 'targeted inquiry.' Furthermore, combined with the characteristics of your own power of 'Order', the protection of the 'heart-clearing pendant', and the stabilizing effect of the 'anchor'... a short, limited contact and communication, perhaps... has a certain degree of feasibility. But the risk is still extremely high.'

Communication? 'Communicate' with a high-dimensional entity that could turn destructive energy into dessert, turn war machines into comical ornaments, and whose logic was completely unpredictable?

Excellence closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The cold air, mixed with the familiar smell of metal and ozone inside the ship, calmed his churning thoughts slightly. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had become sharp and calm once more. The debt was temporarily cleared, but the crisis before him had not passed. Avoiding or ignoring the 'Lord of the Grand Feast,' given this entity's style, would likely only lead to more unpredictable and troublesome 'proactive services.'

'Evelyn, try to establish a... temporary mental link that is as one-way, highly encrypted, and with extremely blurred signal characteristics as possible, targeting that 'chef'.' Excellence made his decision, his voice steadying, 'I will respond to Its 'inquiry'.'

'Excellence!' Su Mu couldn't help but exclaim.

'There is no safer option.' Excellence shook his head, his gaze locked on the pink figure on the screen, 'Pretending not to see carries a greater risk. Given Its style, if we don't respond, It might very well decide on a 'recycling' method on Its own, and the situation will be completely out of control.'

Evelyn bit her lower lip, her hands operating quickly on the console. An extremely weak, targeted mental sensing signal, which had undergone multiple complex scrambling and was disguised as natural cosmic ray background noise, was emitted from the 'ranger's' secret transmitter, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, silently cast toward the pink entity in the void.

'Link attempt established... the signal is extremely weak and unstable. Cannot confirm if the other party has received it, or in what form it will 'understand' or 'respond'.' Evelyn stared at the feedback data, her voice tense.

Excellence adjusted his breathing, trying to make his consciousness fluctuations convey a 'teasing' tone that fit the current situation, mixed with exhaustion, vigilance, and a deliberate echo of the other party's absurd style.

'...Your 'restaurant's' scope of service is really extensive, from 'special takeaway' to 'kitchen waste recycling', a one-stop service?' Excellence's consciousness 'transmitted' along the link, 'However, if you'll excuse me, the 'failed dish' you want to recycle, the ingredients themselves seem... quite toxic. If it leaks during the 'packing' process and pollutes your 'restaurant's' kitchen, or... accidentally lets other 'diners' taste something they shouldn't, I'm afraid it would affect your store's reputation, right?'

A brief, heart-stopping silence. As if time itself paused slightly before the will of the 'Lord of the Grand Feast.' Then, that sharp, comical laughter rang in Excellence's sea of consciousness again, this time seeming even 'closer,' as if the speaker were standing right beside him.

'Giggle Giggle~ Respected guest, your concerns are very reasonable, reflecting your high regard for dining safety~ However, please rest assured~' The voice carried an exaggerated tone of assurance, 'Our restaurant possesses the top-tier 'harmless treatment of hazardous materials' and 'concept-level waste recycling and reuse' technology in the entire dimension! We guarantee the process is safe, thorough, and environmentally friendly, with absolutely no residual risk~ As for these failed, deteriorated, and off-flavor 'scraps', after professional processing, perhaps they can be re-fired into brand-new basic seasonings, or perhaps they can inspire inspiration and create unique decorative art pieces? For example, a paperweight that emits interesting mumblings, or a wall lamp that can render a special emotional atmosphere? The possibilities are endless~ Giggle Giggle~'

Re-fired into seasonings? Made into a paperweight that mumbles or an emotional wall lamp? Excellence's eyelid twitched. He could almost outline the scene in his mind: that crystal containing endless madness and the desire to devour, modified by the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' into an 'ornament' that constantly emitted twisted whispers in the silence, or some kind of 'mood light' that could dye everything around it with a morbid color... The thought itself was creepy enough.

'Sounds... very 'artistically creative'.' Excellence replied dryly, maintaining the cautious probing in his consciousness, 'Then, what is the price? I remember the 'five-star review' service last time didn't seem entirely 'free' either. This 'professional recycling' must also have a corresponding 'service fee', right?'

'Giggle Giggle~ Guest, you are truly humorous and sharp~' The figure of 'Giggle' swayed slightly in the pink halo, as if performing a comical bow, 'This recycling is mainly out of consideration for maintaining the 'stability of the multiverse dining environment' and the 'sustainability of the special ingredient supply chain' that this restaurant cares about. It is a public welfare-oriented value-added service, so in principle, no fee is charged~ However...'

Here it comes! Excellence's heart sank, and he focused all his attention.

'...However, if you insist on expressing your gratitude, or are willing to contribute a tiny bit of power to our restaurant's 'Ultimate Feast' R&D project...' The voice became like a devil's whisper, full of temptation, 'Our restaurant is currently trying to develop an unprecedented dessert, the core difficulty of which is the need for a 'conceptual solidification medium' capable of perfectly carrying and transforming 'extreme emotional contrast' and 'fate paradox tension'. Coincidentally, I smelled a trace on you... um, a very, very faint, almost dissipating 'thread' scent belonging to an old antique who particularly likes to fiddle with 'light and shadow tricks' and 'fate spinning'?'

"Light and Shadow Trick"? "Fate Spinning Thread"? The Old Antique? Excellence felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his heart pounding wildly! This description was too pointed—it was "Xuan"! That mysterious, unfathomable high-dimensional existence who had once bestowed upon him a "small blessing" or, as some might call it, a "mark"! Had the Lord of the Grand Feast detected that trace left on him by "Xuan"? Did It want this? As a "concept solidification medium" for making desserts? To carry "extreme emotional contrast" and "fate paradox tension"? The implications behind this made Excellence shudder.

"Although this little 'thread' is insignificant, almost negligible, as an 'initiator' or 'catalyst' to activate the specific properties of the 'medium', perhaps... it barely qualifies?" Giggle's voice continued to be persuasive, "If you don't mind, could you allow this restaurant's 'recovery specialist' to, while performing the recovery task, casually... conduct a tiny, harmless 'sampling'? I guarantee on the reputation of this restaurant, it will be the lightest, most superficial 'scraping', just like using the softest feather to brush a minuscule, excess grain of sugar frosting off the surface of the most exquisite cake. It will never cause you any substantial impact, nor will it interfere with any 'arrangements' left on you by that Old Antique~ Giggle~"

Sampling "Xuan's" trace? Excellence's hesitation reached its peak. Involving "Xuan" caused the complexity and uncertainty of the situation to rise exponentially. "Xuan's" level was equally unfathomable; if part of the "thread" left behind was taken by the Lord of the Grand Feast, what chain reaction would it trigger? But on the other hand, if he refused outright, given the Lord of the Grand Feast's obsession with "interesting things," it would likely not let the matter drop easily.

"The guest seems hesitant? Please rest assured, this restaurant is reputable~" Giggle seemed able to sense his struggle, the "temptation" in its voice growing stronger, "As a reward for your generous 'sharing' of this tiny scrap, this restaurant can additionally include a small 'souvenir' that might be helpful for your current 'work'~ A little tool that can help you 'observe' this complex world from... a more 'interesting' perspective~ I guarantee it won't be like the 'desserts' and 'tableware' left last time... uh, too 'eye-catching'? How about it? A very cost-effective deal, right? You resolve a tricky piece of dangerous goods, this restaurant gets a bit of R&D material, and you get a practical little gift~ A triple win, everyone is happy, isn't it? Giggle~"

There's a gift? Excellence's vigilance instantly hit its peak. Although the "pudding" and "pot lid" from last time objectively resolved the crisis, the absurd impact they brought and the trouble in the subsequent reports still left him with lingering fears to this day. What kind of hellish thing would this so-called "observation tool" be this time?

"Can I know in advance what this 'gift' is exactly and what its purpose is?" Excellence asked cautiously, trying to obtain more information.

"If a surprise is revealed in advance, it loses the joy of being a surprise, honored guest~" Giggle twisted its body, and the pink halo rippled along with it, "You only need to know that it is completely harmless to you, and perhaps in certain situations, it might provide you with unexpected, little conveniences~ Moreover, this time it is a 'portable personal model' and will not cause any explicit trouble to the 'management system' (referring to The Council) you are in~ See, aren't the terms very generous? You handle the hot 'trash', we get a bit of 'spark of inspiration', and you gain an interesting little gadget~ What a harmonious and perfect ending~ Giggle~"

Excellence's gaze swept over Evelyn and Su Mu; both shook their heads with grave expressions, indicating they could not judge the risks and benefits behind this deal. He turned his inquiry to "White Elder" once again.

"White Elder" was silent for a moment before his aged voice slowly came through, carrying a kind of exhaustion and weighing of things that had seen through the world: "Although the Lord of the Grand Feast acts strangely and is difficult to measure by common sense, observing its past conduct, it seems to have its own unique set of 'behavioral aesthetics' or 'fun principles'. Last time It took the 'special blend core', and although It left behind an absurd scene, It did indeed eliminate the danger of the 'World Devourer' energy spreading. This time, proactively offering to recover even more dangerous crystals might... indeed have the intention of 'cleaning the field' and maintaining its so-called 'dining environment'. As for asking for 'Xuan's' trace... at Its level, perhaps it is truly as It said, just a special 'initiator' needed for 'dessert R&D', or perhaps there is another deep meaning. But since It stated 'slight and harmless', given Its status, It should disdain from faking such details. And that 'gift'... fortune or misfortune is hard to predict, but listening to its tone, it seems it does not wish to be as 'high-profile' as last time, perhaps... it really is a relatively 'low-profile' auxiliary item."

Excellence understood "White Elder's" implication. Dealing with the Lord of the Grand Feast was like moving forward in endless fog, where every step could be a misstep, but sometimes, there was only this faint, flickering path ahead. Right now, this crystal was the core of the crisis that had to be handled, and being able to "thoroughly" resolve it through the hands of this mysterious existence, even if it required paying some vague "price", was far better than leaving it on the reality plane to cause endless future troubles.

"In addition," "White Elder" added, his tone softening slightly, "Senior 'Xuan's' realm is far beyond what you or I can imagine. The trace left behind, even if a sliver is taken by the Lord of the Grand Feast, is likely just a drop in the ocean, causing no harm to Him. Conversely, if you refuse outright and displease this 'Lord of the Grand Feast', given Its capricious, 'dramatic'-seeking style of conduct, the subsequent variables that might be triggered could be even more unpredictable and uncontrollable."

Weighing the pros and cons, hedging the risks. Excellence took a deep breath and made the choice that seemed to be the only viable one.

"Okay." His consciousness conveyed the decision, and he tried to attach his own conditions, "'Recovery' is fine. 'Sampling' is also fine. But I have two prerequisites."

"Oh? Please speak, guest~ This restaurant serves you wholeheartedly, Giggle~"

"First, you must ensure that this crystal, and any form of 'existence' derived or transformed from it, will never cause any harm or disturbance to the Sprout civilization, or any other primary civilization within this star region that has not proactively gotten involved. Your 'harmless processing' or 'creative reuse', please be sure to stay away from these fragile civilization circles."

"Second, the 'gift' you mentioned must be clearly 'harmless' and 'controllable'. I do not need any 'surprises' that might trigger unpredictable consequences or carry potential malice. If it might bring trouble beyond my control, I would rather forgo it."

A brief silence, as if the Lord of the Grand Feast was "chewing" on his conditions. Immediately, that sharp laughter rang out again, carrying a hint of even thicker pleasure, as if a deal had been reached.

"Reasonable conditions~ This restaurant has always valued 'customer satisfaction' and 'community harmony'~ Please rest assured, this restaurant's 'environmental processing procedures' absolutely meet... hmm, meet this restaurant's highest standards, and will never cause any form of 'environmental pollution' or 'neighborhood disputes'~ As for the 'gift', it is guaranteed to be safe and harmless, simple to operate, and if you feel uncomfortable, you can 'set it aside' or 'put it away' at any time~ How about it? Can we begin our 'service process' now? Giggle~"

The promise still sounded full of uncertainty and absurdity, but Excellence understood that this might already be the most "definite" guarantee he could get from this existence.

"...Deal." He spat out these two words, feeling a heavy sense of exhaustion follow.

"Giggle~ Splendid! Then, this restaurant will now begin to execute 'professional recovery' and 'compliant sampling'~ Please relax, guest, do not have any thoughts of resistance, the process will be very gentle and swift~"

As the voice fell, in the void, Giggle's comical figure protruding from the rift suddenly stretched out two "large hands" wearing snow-white, spotless chef's gloves, and toward the direction of the blade of spiritual thought spaceship below, performed a void "seizing" motion.

There were no dazzling energy beams, no violent distortions of space. But in Excellence's Perception, which had become exceptionally sharp due to high concentration (perhaps also aided by that newly acquired, vague emotional vision), he "saw" a strange scene: that silent black crystal fragment, along with the remaining, deeply entangled violent psionic imprints and "World Devourer" pollution aura belonging to the three "Sharp Light" members in the secret room, seemed to be gently and precisely "peeled" off the "canvas" of reality by a pair of invisible, conceptual-level hands, condensing into a ball of light mist that kept rolling and changing between purple, black, and dark red, emitting disturbing chaotic fluctuations.

Immediately after, Giggle's other hand, toward the location where Excellence was, performed an extremely gentle "plucking" gesture across the air.

Excellence only felt a slight chill at the center of his brow, as if touched by a drop of the purest ice dew, or as if gently brushed by an invisible, incomparably soft silk thread. A wisp of icy breath, so faint it was almost imperceptible, carrying a sense of "fate's traction" and "interweaving of light and shadow", was gently extracted. The whole process was as fast as lightning; had he not been fully focused, he would have almost mistaken it for an illusion. Was this that sliver of "fate's thread" left by "Xuan" on him? It had been "sampled".

Then, Giggle brought its hands together, and like a child kneading playdough, casually rubbed that chaotic three-colored light mist in the void a few times. The light mist rapidly contracted, condensed, and deformed, eventually turning into something only palm-sized, entirely translucent, with what looked like continuously flowing purple-black nebulae and dark red veins sealed inside, still faintly pulsating... a weird heart-shaped jelly? Or rather, a strangely shaped, living "pudding"?

"Professional recovery complete~ Compliant sampling finished~" Giggle "examined" the weird "jelly" in its hand with satisfaction, as if admiring a newly completed work, and then casually tossed it deep into the pink space rift behind it, as if it were just discarding a piece of insignificant kitchen experimental waste.

Next, It turned toward Excellence's direction, bowed comically again, and then with that white-gloved finger, lightly flicked at the void.

A "faint light", so subtle it was almost impossible to capture with the naked eye, completely transparent, as if just a slight refraction produced by space itself, in a way that transcended conventional physical laws, ignored all of the ranger's energy barriers, physical armor, and stealth fields, directly appearing inside the bridge, quietly floating in the air just inches away from Excellence.

"This is the 'small gift' we agreed on~ Please accept it with a smile~" The voice rang directly in Excellence's ear, carrying the ease and pleasure of completing a transaction, "The usage method is very simple: when you want to observe more 'deeply', you only need to move your mind, think of 'observing', and then look~ It will reveal to you some... 'interesting levels' that are difficult to reach from ordinary perspectives~ Wishing your future 'observation' journey to be full of unexpected 'discoveries' and 'fun'~ Looking forward to providing you with more satisfactory service next time~ Giggle~"

Accompanied by that signature, fading sharp laughter, Giggle's figure, along with that pink space rift, like a chalk drawing being erased, instantly disappeared completely from the void, leaving no traces of energy residue or spatial disturbance, as if that absurd scene just now had never happened.

Only the "faint light" floating in front of Excellence, the black crystal residue in the blade of spiritual thought spaceship's secret room that had completely lost all special energy reactions and become indistinguishable from an ordinary space meteorite, and the faint, unconscious state of the three "Sharp Light" members, silently testified that the "transaction" that had just transcended conventional cognition was not a dream.

The bridge fell into a longer silence.

Evelyn and Su Mu almost held their breath, their gazes moving back and forth between the vanished pink rift and the "faint light" in front of Excellence, their faces full of shock and confusion.

"White Elder" also fell into silence, seemingly sensing and deducing the possible chain effects of everything that had just happened in his own unique way.

Excellence suppressed the waves in his heart, cautiously reached out, and moved his fingertip extremely slowly toward that floating "faint light".

The moment his fingertip was about to touch the "faint light", the "faint light" trembled slightly as if it had life, then turned into a cool, almost imperceptible stream of light, abruptly merging into Excellence's brow.

There was no stinging pain, no dizziness, no strange sense of energy intrusion. The feeling was just like a drop of clear water at body temperature, quietly merging into the ocean of consciousness, instantly disappearing without a trace.

However, the next moment, an indescribable, subtle change at the cognitive level quietly arrived. It was not visual enhancement, nor auditory sharpness, but a Perception of the "information layer" of the surrounding world that was subtly broadened and "dyed". When his mind stirred, attempting to do as "Giggle" said, thinking of "observing", and then casting his gaze toward the broken Nexus Point space station outside the porthole, the scene before his eyes overlapped in a strange way.

Above the normal visual image, he "saw" another layer of hazy, flowing "information field" composed of various indescribable colors and blurred lines. These colors and lines seemed to correspond to emotions, tendencies of thought, and even some potential "possibilities" or "tension".

In the command center area where "Green Vine" was located, he "saw" a deep, resilient dark green, like the growth rings of an ancient tree, intertwined with dark gray veins representing heavy responsibility and sorrow, as well as a few wisps of dark red flames jumping due to anger and determination. On other surviving "Sprout" people, fear was a spreading pale mist, confusion was a drifting light gray veil, the relief of surviving the disaster was a flickering pale blue light, while the vitality and hope that were struggling to recover were like extremely fragile, tender green buds emerging from the soil.

When he cast his "observation" gaze toward the wreckage of the "blade of spiritual thought" ship, there were three twisted, dim, convulsing dark purple halos (the three from "Sharp Light"), surrounded by lingering dark red embers representing paranoia, pain, and a trace of unextinguished fanaticism.

He even attempted to cast this "observation" toward Evelyn and Su Mu on the bridge.

Evelyn was shrouded in a pale blue radiance of rationality, representing calmness and focus, with silver-white spots representing high-speed analysis and worry flickering within.

Su Mu was a more vivid pink-purple, representing nervousness, concern, and a trace of lingering fear, like a warm cloud constantly changing shape.

When he tried to "observe" "White Elder" far away at the base, what he "saw" was a deep, vast chaotic nebula that was hard to describe with specific colors; he could only vaguely feel the ancient wisdom and a trace of deep worry contained within it.

"This is..." Excellence felt inexplicably shocked.

This "glimmer" gift had actually granted him the ability to directly "observe" a target's emotional state, thought tendencies, and even part of their potential "aura"?

Although the presentation was very abstract and vague, not precise mind-reading, and seemed to require him to actively concentrate his mind to trigger and maintain it, this was undoubtedly an extremely powerful auxiliary ability that could be called an artifact for the profession of "Observer"!

It could help him grasp the overall mental state, potential conflicts, and development tendencies of a civilization individual or group more intuitively and rapidly, far more intuitively and deeply than simply analyzing behavioral data and communication records!

"It seems that in this 'transaction'... we didn't suffer a loss on the surface?" Evelyn observed the changing expression on Excellence's face and speculated cautiously.

"What exactly is that thing? Did it enter your body? Do you have any bad feelings?" Su Mu was more concerned about Excellence's safety.

Excellence carefully felt his own state and shook his head: "I don't feel any malice, control tendencies, or discomfort for now."

"It's more like a 'filter' or 'plug-in' 'installed' on my Perception level."

"When I need it, I can actively activate it to get a vague visual feedback on emotions and potential tendencies."

"When not in use, it's as if it doesn't exist."

He described the scene he "saw" roughly.

"Visualization of emotions and tendencies?" Evelyn's eyes lit up.

As a technical supporter, she immediately realized the huge practical value of this ability, "This is invaluable for civilization observation, risk assessment, and diplomatic prediction!"

"It can provide deep information that traditional data is hard to capture!"

"But this is, after all, something given by the 'Lord of the Grand Feast'," "White Elder"'s voice sounded at the right time, carrying his usual alertness, "We must be extremely cautious, never abuse it, and even less rely on it entirely."

"Who can guarantee that these 'colors' and 'lines' 'observed' are a completely objective and true reflection? Or is it a specific presentation processed by the 'taste' of that existence? Or perhaps, this ability itself is a more hidden, deeper 'mark' or 'observation window'?"

Excellence nodded in deep agreement.

Dealing with the "Lord of the Grand Feast", any "harvest" must be marked with a huge question mark.

This "emotional vision" ability might look harmless and useful now, but no one knows if it hides a deeper mechanism, or if it will become a channel for some kind of influence at a critical moment.

"I will use it as an auxiliary reference in extreme situations, and never as a primary basis for judgment."

Excellence carefully suppressed this newly acquired ability into the depths of his consciousness and stopped actively triggering it.

Right now, there was a more realistic mess that needed to be dealt with.

Inside the "blade of spiritual thought" ship, the three psionic fanatics were critically injured, but they weren't dead yet.

The "Sprout" civilization had suffered heavy losses, and its social structure had been hit hard, but the sparks of civilization and the leadership core ("Green Vine") still existed, and after experiencing this betrayal and disaster, its social consciousness would inevitably undergo drastic changes.

Although the most dangerous crystal was taken away by the "Lord of the Grand Feast", would the "Star Scar" civilization let it go?

Would they trace the whereabouts of the "holy relic" and retaliate against "Sprout"?

And how would "Sprout" face a hostile neighbor with dangerous technology?

Also, how should he write the report to The Council about this complex event that included the intervention of high-dimensional entities, forbidden energy, and civilization conflicts?

Should he write truthfully: "Lord of the Grand Feast" is enthusiastic about environmental protection, recycled dangerous trash, and gifted the observer an emotional vision plug-in?

Excellence felt his temples starting to ache again.

The relief of paying off the debt had long been washed away by this series of more complex and far-reaching problems.

"Prioritize dealing with the traces at the scene."

Excellence steadied his mind and began to issue instructions, "Evelyn, initiate the highest-level information erasure protocol to ensure that all traces of the 'ranger''s activities in this event, including energy fluctuations, signal transmissions, and anomalies in observation records, are thoroughly cleaned or disguised."

"Must be seamless."

"Su Mu, start organizing the complete timeline, data records, and video evidence of this event, especially the ironclad evidence of the 'Star Scar' delegation initiating the attack, using forbidden crystals, and causing large-scale spiritual pollution and material distortion."

"Regarding the part where the 'Lord of the Grand Feast' appeared... archive it separately for now, mark it as 'high-dimensional phenomenon to be verified', write it in the appendix of the report, and the wording must be cautious and objective, avoiding subjective speculation."

"'White Elder', please deduce the possible development path of the 'Sprout' civilization after experiencing this catastrophe based on existing information, as well as the turmoil that may be triggered within the 'Star Scar' civilization due to this incident."

"Evaluate whether 'Sprout' has the ability to move towards a relatively safe future without our potential guidance."

"In addition," Excellence's gaze turned again to the dead ship below and the busy space station, "send a final message to 'Green Vine' of 'Sprout' in a completely anonymous and untraceable way."

"The content is as follows: 'The direct energy source of this crisis has been unexpectedly cleared by an unknown high-dimensional mechanism. However, the root of the crisis remains. There is an extremely dangerous extremist faction within the 'Star Scar' civilization whose philosophy and means have exceeded the scope of conventional civilization conflicts. It is suggested that your side be highly vigilant, immediately strengthen your own defense system comprehensively, prudently evaluate the relationship with 'Star Scar', and actively seek to establish safe cooperation with reliable civilizations with similar philosophies. The universe is not a pastoral, survival requires holding a sword.' After sending it, we are ready to start the evacuation procedure."

"No longer continuing to observe the development of the situation?" Evelyn confirmed.

"Our core mission — observing and guiding first contact — has 'ended' in the most thorough way."

Excellence's tone carried a hint of complexity, "The contact broke, the crisis broke out and was temporarily calmed down due to an accident (or transaction)."

"How the two civilizations digest this disaster, how to handle bilateral relations, and how to carry out internal adjustments are all part of the natural evolution within their civilization."

"As long as it does not involve taboos prohibited by The Council such as the 'World Devourer', or break out a large-scale war that may trigger regional turmoil, we as 'Observers' should not and are not allowed to intervene excessively."

"Besides, the risk of us staying here is already greater than the return."

"Understood."

Evelyn began to execute the instruction, sending the anonymous, warning-filled farewell message, and initiated the ship's trace cleaning program.

Su Mu and "White Elder" also threw themselves back into their respective work.

Excellence finally stared at the broken "Nexus Point" space station outside the porthole.

The emerald "seed" that once symbolized hope and peace was now covered in scars, like a seedling ravaged by a storm.

A first encounter between civilizations that began with goodwill and curiosity ended in betrayal, madness, and destructive pollution.

The darkness and cruelty of the universe once again taught a relatively naive civilization a bloody lesson in the most direct way.

How will "Sprout" stand up from these ruins?

Will it move towards closure and suspicion, or will it turn pain into strength and find a new way of survival in the cruel interstellar jungle?

Within the "Star Scar" civilization, will the moderates take this opportunity to liquidate the radicals and return to conservative isolation, or will the entire civilization head towards a more extreme path under the stimulation of the loss of the "holy relic" and the failure of the operation?

These questions have no simple answers.

Excellence is just an observer walking in the cracks of rules.

What he can do is to venture to throw a stone that may change the trajectory when the storm is at its fiercest, and then quietly exit before the curtain falls, leaving the stage to the civilization itself.

What is left, besides the broken reality, is only a complex report that is destined to make the senior management of The Council argue endlessly and have a headache.

"Start the engine, set the return coordinates, and return to the 'Homeland' base."

Excellence gave the final Order, "We need time to rest, and more time... to carefully conceive how to write that special report on 'High-dimensional Fun God is enthusiastic about environmental protection and gifted a small gift'."

The main thrusters of the "ranger" lit up with a faint blue light, and the huge hull slowly turned its direction, slipping silently into the deeper darkness like a deep-sea giant whale, leaving this star field that had just experienced a silent storm and whose embers were not yet cold.

And shortly after the "ranger" left, "Green Vine", the chief diplomat of "Sprout", received the anonymous message from an unknown source in the command center filled with damaged instruments and the faint smell of "calming pollen".

On his face full of wrinkles and gray spots, his tired but still clear eyes stared at the short sentences on the screen for a long time.

"Unknown high-dimensional mechanism... unexpectedly cleared..." He whispered repeatedly, a complex light flashing in his eyes — there was lingering fear, doubt, and deep gratitude.

"The root of the crisis remains... need to hold a sword..."

He slowly straightened his back, which had been hunched due to long-term mental tension.

A brand new momentum, mixed with heavy grief and steel-like determination, radiated from his old body.

He connected to the emergency line to the Supreme Council of the "Green Court" home planet, his voice hoarse but decisive:

"Notice to the Supreme Council and all 'Sprout' citizens: The 'Nexus Point' incident is a premeditated and organized malicious aggression and spiritual extermination operation against our civilization by the 'Star Scar' civilization!"

"The forbidden power it used has exceeded the scope of conventional war!"

"Our delegation suffered heavy losses, our compatriots died, this hatred and grudge will never be forgotten!"

"Starting now, initiate the total mobilization of the civilization's 'Thorn Era'!"

"Stop all contact with the 'Star Scar' civilization immediately and list it as an 'extremely hostile civilization'!"

"Make all evidence public, and issue warnings and requests for help to all friendly civilizations and neutral forces!"

"We must survive!"

"We must become strong!"

"For those who have passed away, and for every green leaf of the future!"

"The name 'Sprout' will no longer be a symbol of weakness, but a vow to survive tenaciously among the thorns!"

Almost at the same time, on the distant home planet of the "Star Scar" civilization, deep in the Supreme Psionic Temple, the news of the loss of contact with the "blade of spiritual thought", the failure of the "Sharp Light" trio's mission, and the loss of the "holy relic" also caused an uproar among the top brass.

Emotions of accusation, suspicion, anger, and fear surged in the undercurrents.

The radicals suffered a heavy blow, the moderates seized the opportunity to make trouble, but the true origin and terrifying potential of the "holy relic" also triggered deeper fear and... secret greed.

The future of the civilization moved towards an unknown fork in the road in silent and fierce confrontation.

In a corner of the universe, a failed contact, like a boulder thrown into a silent deep pool, the ripples stirred are spreading slowly and unstoppably, affecting the political landscape and destiny of two civilizations and even the wider star field.

And one of the indirect promoters of all this, Observer Excellence, is currently leaning on the seat of the "ranger", looking at the updated information on his personal terminal: [Mission: G-7721 Star Field "Sprout" and "Star Scar" First Contact Guidance Observation (ID: 003)]

[Status: Completed (Abnormally Terminated)]

[Contribution Point Settlement: Basic Remuneration + Risk Allowance + Performance Assessment + High-risk Event Handling Special Reward. Total: + 3150 points.]

[Current Contribution Point Balance: + 3345 points.]

[Note: Regarding the "unidentified high-dimensional interference phenomenon" involved in the mission process and its subsequent impact, please submit a detailed analysis report within 15 working days.]

Looking at the positive balance that finally became considerable, Excellence could hardly show pure joy on his face.

He rubbed his temples wearily.

The report that needed to be written in his mind, which was destined to be full of words like "uncertain", "suspected", and "possible", as well as the lingering sound of the "Lord of the Grand Feast" "looking forward to the next service", and the "emotional vision" ability quietly lurking deep in his brow, were all like tangled threads, reminding him: the debt might be cleared for a while, but as a "Cosmic Neighborhood Committee Observer", that "job" accompanied by endless trouble, absurd encounters, and moral choices was far from over.

What will he encounter in the next mission?

He thought silently, looking at the boundless sea of stars outside the porthole, hiding countless secrets and crises.

He just hoped it wouldn't be a pink "surprise" again.