Chapter 27 High-Stakes Gamble

"Academician Wang! Have you lost your mind?!"

Upon hearing Academician Wang's proposal, the first person to jump up in opposition was the Minister of Security.

"We just confirmed the activation mechanism of the 'Void Devourer'! It's high-intensity energy fluctuations! You want to trigger another energy burst inside its 'Safe Zone' now. If that's not an active provocation, what is? What if that so-called 'repulsive force field' can't hold it back, or if it enrages it? The consequences would be unimaginable!"

"I agree with the Minister!" The head of the Technical Support Department also stood up. "This is too risky! Our understanding of this 'repulsive force field' is almost zero; we know nothing about its strength or its range. Trusting Comrade Lin Yuan's safety to an unverified theory is gambling!"

In the Command Center, the spark of hope that had just been ignited was instantly extinguished by a bucket of cold water called "reason."

Indeed, Academician Wang's idea was too bold, too crazy.

It was like knowing a tiger was sleeping in a cave, and instead of walking around it, you ran to the cave entrance to set off a string of firecrackers, betting that the cave's fence was strong enough.

What if it wasn't strong enough? Wouldn't that just be handing over your life on a silver platter?

However, Academician Wang showed no intention of backing down. His face flushed as he said to the crowd: "Yes, I admit this is a gamble! But do we still have the luxury of not gambling?"

He pointed to the top-secret document on the screen regarding the "exposure of coordinates thirty years ago."

"The sword hanging over our heads could fall at any moment! We don't have time to test things bit by bit, to verify step by step! We must master the core intelligence in the shortest time possible!"

"This 'repulsive force field,' this 'medical ship,' is the greatest hope we currently see! I must know if this 'Safe Zone' is actually safe! Can it become the cornerstone for us to establish our first forward base in this damned 'Cosmic Graveyard'?"

Academician Wang's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice slightly hoarse from excitement: "Everyone, we are scientists, but we are soldiers even more! We are fighting for the survival of our entire civilization! In war, is there ever a time without casualties? Is there ever a time without risk? If we are timid and hesitant, we will only end up waiting for death!"

The words left everyone present in silence.

Indeed, they were at war. A war of asymmetric information, a war concerning the survival of their civilization.

Chen Weiguo had remained silent, just quietly watching the white medical ship on the screen, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

After a long while, he raised his head, his gaze landing on Lin Yuan.

"Comrade Lin Yuan, what is your opinion?"

Once again, everyone's eyes focused on the sole executor of this project.

Lin Yuan felt his heart pounding violently.

In his heart, he actually thought Academician Wang was too crazy. Damn it, he barely made it back last time, and now he has to play for such high stakes?

However, Academician Wang's words hammered against his heart, beat by beat.

There is no time left.

These five words felt like a mountain, crushing him until he couldn't breathe.

He knew better than anyone that in that dark "Cosmic Graveyard," without a country backing him, his little bit of cleverness and luck were worth nothing. What had he relied on to survive until now? He relied on this group of top scientists behind him, this massive state machine.

Now, the "Chief Engineer" of this machine, Academician Wang, believed this risk was necessary. As a "driver," what right did he have to question it?

Besides, deep down, he was also a gambler.

Fortune favors the bold.

"I..." Lin Yuan took a deep breath. He looked at the resolute Academician Wang, then at the worried Minister of Security, and finally, his gaze met Chen Weiguo's.

"I'll listen to Academician Wang." Lin Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear. "Let's do it!"

"I trust Academician Wang's judgment. Since this place can repel everything else, it must be able to repel the 'Void Devourer' as well. Besides, I also want to know just how safe this Safe Zone is. If we can really build a 'Safe House' here, then I'll be able to be a bit bolder when I scavenge in the future, right?"

He grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but no one could laugh.

"Chief, give the order. It's just setting off another firecracker, right? I wasn't even afraid when I almost got blown up last time; with this 'repulsive force field' protecting me this time, what do I have to be afraid of?"

Lin Yuan's words were like a sedative, causing the swaying balance in the Command Center to tip completely in favor of Academician Wang.

Chen Weiguo looked at Lin Yuan, his eyes filled with complex emotions. There was appreciation, relief, and a trace of reluctance.

He knew that once again, he had pushed this young man to the edge of a cliff.

"Good!" Chen Weiguo stood up abruptly, his voice carrying a decisive tone. "We'll proceed with Academician Wang's plan! Operation codename: 'Rod of Asclepius'!"

"Rod of Asclepius" was the codename for the double-snake staff symbol on that medical ship, also signifying that this operation contained both immense risk and the hope for rebirth.

"Logistics Team, immediately send the spare 'ark reactor' to the materialization platform!"

"Technical Support Department, turn the power of the 'neural signal buffer module' to the maximum! Connect all backup power sources! I don't care what methods you use; I want to ensure that Comrade Lin Yuan's consciousness does not suffer any further damage!"

"Intelligence Analysis Department, establish an all-encompassing, blind-spot-free monitoring model centered on the medical ship! Once the 'Void Devourer' appears, I want to receive all its movements within 0.01 seconds!"

"Medical Team, all emergency equipment, standby!"

A series of commands were issued from Chen Weiguo's mouth. The entire base began to frantically leverage itself around Lin Yuan, this sole "lever."

On the materialization platform beside Lin Yuan, a second "ark reactor" emitting a blue glow slowly emerged.

He looked at the blue orb, feeling like a soldier about to ignite a nuclear bomb fuse.

"Comrade Lin Yuan," Chen Weiguo's final voice came through the earpiece, "Remember, your safety is the top priority. If the situation goes wrong, do not hesitate, return immediately! We can afford to lose an 'ark reactor,' but we cannot afford to lose you!"

"Understood!" Lin Yuan nodded heavily.

He closed his eyes, casting all fear and hesitation to the back of his mind, and gave the crazy command to the system in his heart.

"System! Absorb energy!"

[High-purity energy source detected...]

[Absorb?]

"Yes!"

The blue orb beside Lin Yuan instantly erupted with a dazzling light!

And in the distant "Ghost Route," in that "Safe Zone" with abnormal gravity, a spatial ripple intense enough to distort space suddenly erupted from the body of "scavenger no. 2"!

This ripple was blocked and compressed by the invisible "repulsive force field," and then, like a deep-sea bomb being detonated, it slammed outward into the dark universe beyond the "Safe Zone"!

The entire wreckage belt of the "Ghost Route" trembled violently due to this violent energy shock.

In the Command Center, everyone was staring fixedly at the "danger warning" system.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

The warning system was silent.

"No... no reaction?" a researcher stammered.

"Impossible! Such a massive energy fluctuation, ten times more intense than last time! The 'Void Devourer' can't have no reaction!" Academician Wang stared fixedly at the screen, his forehead covered in sweat.

Just as he finished speaking!

"Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! —"

An alarm sound, sharper and more urgent than any previous time, suddenly resounded throughout the entire Command Center!

"Warning! Ultra-high-intensity spatial distortion detected!"

"Not one! It's three! It's five! My God! It's ten!" The voice of the Minister of Intelligence Analysis had completely changed pitch due to extreme fear.

On the huge screen in the Command Center, on that heat map, the black vortices representing the "Void Devourer" were "drilling" out from all directions of the "Ghost Route," just like bamboo shoots after a spring rain!

A full ten of them!

Ten black "giant maws" exuding the aura of death and finality were awakened from different directions by this huge "firecracker"!

Then, they simultaneously rushed crazily toward the center of the energy burst — the "Safe Zone" where Lin Yuan was located!

"It's over..." In the Command Center, someone collapsed to the ground in despair.

They had poked a hornet's nest.