Chapter 39 Mission Settlement

A roar like a tsunami echoed throughout the massive underground Command Center.

Everyone was using the most primal methods to vent the violently fluctuating emotions of going from hell to heaven. They jumped, hugged, and roared; many white-haired old experts were now crying with tears streaming down their faces like children.

"We won!"

They had won this high-stakes gamble codenamed "Snake Staff"!

After experiencing several life-and-death crises and paying the painful price of the total destruction of "scavenger no. 2", they had finally brought back the spark capable of changing the fate of the entire civilization from that deadly Cosmic Graveyard!

Lin Yuan sat on the connection chair, panting heavily, watching this group of scientists who had almost fallen into madness, feeling a wave of lingering fear in his heart.

Just a moment ago, he had truly thought he was going to die.

That feeling of being forcibly injected with a complete alien memory into his brain was not pain at all, but a fear originating from the deepest part of his soul, as his "self" was being dissolved and overwritten.

If the system hadn't jumped out at the last moment and activated that damn "Purification" program, he probably wouldn't be Lin Yuan anymore.

"Damn it, I need to do less of this life-risking stuff in the future. I haven't even spent that 100 million in savings yet; it would be such a loss to die now."

While cursing inwardly, he felt the relief of surviving a disaster.

"Quick! Medical Team! Quick!"

Chen Weiguo was the first to calm down from the ecstasy. He shouted orders at the somewhat dazed medical personnel, "What are you still standing there for? How is Comrade Lin Yuan? Conduct a comprehensive examination immediately!"

"Ah? Oh! Yes!"

The Head of the Medical Team snapped out of it, immediately leading a large group of people while pushing various instruments, swarming up to him.

"Comrade Lin Yuan, how are you feeling now? Is there any discomfort?"

"Does your head still hurt? Do you feel nauseous or want to vomit?"

"Don't move, let us perform an EEG scan on you first!"

Lin Yuan was a bit bewildered by this commotion. He waved his hand and said in a hoarse voice, "Alright, alright, I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired, feeling like I haven't slept for three days and three nights. My head doesn't hurt anymore."

His physical fitness, after these few ordeals and the best nutritional conditioning in the base, had far exceeded that of an ordinary person. Coupled with the bit of "Mental Strength" rewarded by the system just now, his recovery ability was terrifyingly strong.

"Fine? How could you be fine!" Academician Wang also squeezed over. His face, which looked thirty years younger, was now filled with lingering fear and worry. He reached out to touch Lin Yuan's forehead but was stopped unceremoniously by the Head of the Medical Team.

"Academician Wang! You are also a key protection target now! Stay back! Avoid cross-infection!"

"I..." Academician Wang was choked up and could only fret anxiously.

Watching this chaotic scene, Chen Weiguo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He cleared his throat and said in an unquestionable tone, "Everyone be quiet! Listen to my command!"

The entire Command Center quieted down instantly.

"Medical Team, immediately transfer Comrade Lin Yuan to the highest-level isolation observation room for twenty-four-hour continuous vital sign monitoring! I want the most detailed report!"

"Technical Support Department, conduct a comprehensive self-check on the connection system immediately! Assess how much damage the consciousness impact just now caused to the equipment!"

"Logistics Support Department, seal that 'medical kit' on the materialization platform immediately! Highest-level biohazard protocol! Before we figure out what it is, no one is allowed to get close!"

"Intelligence Analysis Department, organize all data from this operation! Including the activity patterns of the 'Void Devourer', the operation modes of the 'Purifier' robots, the force field parameters of the 'Safe Zone'... everything! I want to see a preliminary analysis report within twelve hours!"

One instruction after another was issued methodically from Chen Weiguo's mouth, allowing this massive machine, which had almost lost control due to ecstasy, to resume efficient and precise operation.

Lin Yuan was carefully helped down from the seat by a group of nurses, ready to be sent to the medical area.

When passing by the materialization platform, he couldn't help but take an extra look.

That "portable emergency medical unit", made entirely of milky-white metal and the size of a suitcase, was lying there quietly. Its surface was smooth as new, emitting a holy halo, as if it were not a creation of the mortal world.

A group of logistics personnel wearing the thickest protective suits were carefully preparing to load it into a huge lead-gray metal box using a special robotic arm with energy shielding functions.

All the scientists stood outside the safety line, stretching their necks, staring fixedly at the box with a look of pilgrimage.

"My god... it was really brought back..."

"Limb regeneration... cell-level repair... what's inside is the authority of God!"

"With it, national treasures like Academician Wang can truly possess nearly infinite time!"

Listening to the discussions around him, a sense of indescribable pride surged in Lin Yuan's heart.

It was worth it!

This time he almost lost his life, but being able to exchange it for such a treasure was totally worth it!

This thing was much more valuable than gold or diamonds. This is life! It is more time, something countless top scientists dream of!

"Comrade Lin Yuan!"

Just as he was about to leave, Academician Wang suddenly called him again.

"You just said... you have some new things in your brain?"

Lin Yuan nodded: "Yes, it's like some basic common knowledge about that 'Eternal Flower' civilization was forcibly crammed into my brain."

"Then... that... soul we brought back, called 'ashilya', how is it now?" Academician Wang asked a question everyone cared about.

Lin Yuan was silent for a moment. In his mind, he opened the system interface that only he could see.

In the inventory, that marble-sized blue ball of light was floating quietly, emitting a soft glow.

【"Eternal Flower" Gene Archive (ashilya)】

【Type: High-Dimensional Information Lifeform (Purified)】

【Function: Passive information database, accessible via mental link.】

【Status: Usable.】

"It... it's still here. However, it seems to have become... very safe." Lin Yuan carefully chose his words, "The system said it cleared out the 'personality' of the alien inside. Now, it is just a... pure USB drive filled with knowledge."

"USB drive..." Academician Wang chewed on the word, the light in his eyes a hundred times brighter than when he saw the medical kit earlier!

A medical kit could only extend their lives. But a "USB drive" loaded with the knowledge of an entire alien civilization could open up a whole new world!

"Lin Yuan, get some good rest." Academician Wang took a deep breath, suppressing the impulse to immediately pull Lin Yuan and ask him everything, "When you recover, we... have many questions to ask you. Many, many."

Lin Yuan nodded, and surrounded by nurses, he left the noisy Command Center.

He lay on the soft mobile medical bed, watching the sci-fi-filled, silver-white ceiling passing by rapidly overhead, feeling as if he were dreaming.

From a small scrap yard owner burdened with debt to becoming the hope of the entire country and civilization today.

Everything happened too fast, too unreal.

He closed his eyes and his consciousness sank into the system.

Besides that blue "soul USB drive", he also saw the final settlement of this mission.

【Mission Settlement:】

【Recovered "scavenger no. 2" drone, gained energy: 1200 points.】

【Recovered "scavenger no. 2" drone, gained basic structural materials * 3.】

【Successfully acquired " 'Eternal Flower' Gene Archive", mission evaluation: S+, reward authority points: 1000 points.】

【Successfully acquired "portable emergency medical unit", mission evaluation: S, reward authority points: 500 points.】

【host's mental strength was tempered during the consciousness impact, mental strength +1.】

【Current total energy: 1200 points.】

【Current total authority points: 1500 points.】

I hit the jackpot!

This time I really hit the jackpot!

Although a drone was sacrificed, the return was absolutely a huge profit!

1200 points of energy were enough for him to rebuild a drone. Not to mention those 1500 authority points! This stuff is good; it will definitely be very useful in the future!

And that "mental strength +1", although he didn't know what it was specifically used for, it sounded awesome.

Lin Yuan's mood suddenly became incredibly relaxed.

The fatigue in his body seemed to have lessened quite a bit.

He was sent into an independent isolation ward that looked like a high-end hotel suite.

Li Na, as his exclusive liaison, also wearing a protective suit, walked in carrying a glass of warm water.

"How are you feeling?" Her eyes were red; she had obviously been crying just now.

"Better than ever." Lin Yuan grinned, "Don't worry, my life is tough. You guys, on the other hand, all had long faces; I thought I was really dead."

"Don't even mention it!" Li Na slammed the water glass onto the bedside table and said crossly, "Your heartbeat stopped just now! Do you know how scared we were? Director Chen and Academician Wang's faces turned pale!"

Looking at Li Na's appearance of being both angry and worried, Lin Yuan felt a warmth in his heart.

The feeling of being cared for is really good.

"Alright, alright, can't I just admit I was wrong?" He raised his hands in surrender, "I promise, next time I absolutely won't take such big risks."

"You still want a next time?!" Li Na's eyes widened again.

Just then, the communicator in the ward rang.

It was Chen Weiguo's voice.

"Comrade Lin Yuan, get some good rest first. The research on those two trophies is about to begin. We need you."

"Chief, I have no problem, I can start anytime."

"No rush." There was a hint of a smile in Chen Weiguo's voice, "Before you start your new work, there is something that needs to be handed to you first."

"What is it?" Lin Yuan was a bit curious.

"Your 100 million bonus. The finance department has already transferred it to your account."