324: Someone has to do the dirty work.

“Everyone, look at this.” Jade projected the report to the center of the conference table. “Two clearly opposing factions have emerged within the Trisolarans, arising from disagreements over the direction of future evolution.”

“Logically, such a matter wouldn't even qualify for this conference room, but the situation is somewhat special.”

“Is that so? Let me see.” Aventurine carefully read the report: “Hmm… the radicals want to evolve towards ordinary humans, which is very reasonable. But the conservatives… hiss, why do I have such a strong sense of déjà vu?”

Then, he turned his gaze to Topaz.

Topaz also looked puzzled: “The conservatives are pursuing a ‘consciousness collective,’ wanting to strengthen their existing mind-sharing abilities, even to the point of consciousness fusion.”

“That does sound very familiar…”

Everyone’s eyes turned simultaneously to Chen Hao, who was seated at the head of the table.

“It is indeed very familiar,” Chen Hao’s lips curved slightly, “‘The Family,’ ‘Memory Black Hole,’ and ‘Harmony.’”

“Does what I just said provide an explanation for your strong sense of déjà vu?”

The conference room fell into a brief silence, with a few people nodding slightly.

Jade was the first to speak: “So, does that mean Penacony in this universe will also become a tendril of ‘Harmony’ and ‘Memory,’ just like the one we knew in the past?”

“What do you think?” Chen Hao neither affirmed nor denied the statement.

“If we put that aside for now and just look at the current situation…” Aventurine pondered: “The direction the Trisolaran conservatives are pursuing doesn’t have an obvious connection to the ideals of ‘The Family.’ But consciousness sharing, mind linking, collective consciousness… these things look like ideals only those lunatics from the Fount of Revelation would have, don’t they?”

“Uh, wait, this universe doesn’t seem to have the Fount of Revelation yet… they wouldn’t…”

Aventurine’s eyelids twitched a few times, feeling like he might be going a little crazy. It wasn’t that he looked down on the Trisolarans; he just subconsciously felt that those guys who couldn't even solve the Trisolaran Problem had no chance of turning things around.

Of course, if he had to bet, he would still think it was possible.

Topaz understood Aventurine’s unspoken meaning: “The life milk they discovered just happens to enhance this ability for consciousness connection. Is this just a coincidence?”

“Hard to say.” Aventurine shook his head, “This kind of thing is clearly beyond the comprehension of mere Emanators like us; we’ll have to see what the boss thinks.”

Chen Hao gently closed his eyes, secretly mobilizing the authority of fate and causality.

In his eyes, countless threads of fate began to intertwine, connecting the Trisolarans, Xia Er’s research project, and the future Penacony plan.

Although the threads of fate were not yet clear, they already presented a complex entanglement, like a ball of yarn after Hajime had played with it.

Chen Hao could feel that there was a deep connection between these three, developing towards a crucial convergence point.

“I can only say it’s not entirely a coincidence,” Chen Hao opened his eyes, his voice filled with certainty, “or rather, many inevitable factors are manifesting in the form of coincidences.”

“Although the specific path is not yet clear, the direction is correct.”

“At least for us, there’s no harm in pushing this forward.”

He turned to Jade: “Continue to closely monitor the development of the Trisolarans; pay more attention to the conservatives. As for the radicals, just make sure they don’t disappear. The Corporation needs leverage, and you have experience with this, so I won’t elaborate.”

“Now that the Trisolarans have sufficient value, we can consider gradually lifting some of the restrictions on them. Of course, technological embargoes will continue.”

“As a gesture of appeasement, some Trisolarans can be allowed to return to live on the surface, but they’ll have to pay.”

“I don’t work for free.”

“Understood!” X3

With this clear guidance, the Strategic Investment Department quickly formulated a detailed action plan. A resolution was swiftly sent down to the heads of the Market Development Department, Construction Materials Logistics Department, and Traditional Business Department.

It approved the request of the Trisolaran conservatives, with the Construction Materials Logistics Department responsible for the large-scale, standardized extraction of life milk, and the Traditional Business Department establishing an ancillary market based on the extraction industry and beginning to infiltrate the Trisolaran economic system.

The Market Development Department, on the other hand, was responsible for matters that were inconvenient for the Corporation to openly discuss or undertake, such as secretly supporting the radical faction among the Trisolarans to ensure factional balance.

Don't call it despicable; someone has to do the dirty work.

The speed of the resolution's implementation was astonishing. Days later, the Construction Materials Logistics Department’s engineering team had already arrived in the Trisolaris System and begun establishing standardized extraction facilities. Business representatives from the Traditional Business Department also started contacting the Trisolaran conservatives to discuss joint venture matters.

At the same time, the director of the Market Development Department emphasized in an internal meeting, “Balance is key. We must keep both factions equally matched so that the Corporation can play the role of arbitrator.”

With Interstellar Peace Corporation’s comprehensive intervention, the social structure of the Trisolaris System underwent drastic changes in just a few weeks.

Changes in the lives of ordinary Trisolarans aside, some people were already impatient.

In Commander Erwin’s office, an emergency meeting was underway. Erwin looked at the latest data displayed on the holographic screen, a satisfied smile on his face.

“The Corporation’s support has given us an unprecedented advantage,” Erwin told the conservative leadership, “Now is the best time for us to eliminate the radical threat.”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

...Under Erwin’s command, the conservatives began to mobilize their forces, preparing for a full-scale encirclement and suppression of the radicals. They utilized the newly acquired Corporation-standard equipment and organized an elite enforcement unit.

“Target: the main strongholds of the radicals,” the conservative Commander announced at the pre-battle briefing, “We will eliminate these elements that threaten the stability of the Trisolaran Civilization in one fell swoop.”

However, the Market Development Department had already anticipated this situation. A team of agents led by Red Wine had begun covert operations days earlier, preparing an escape plan for the radicals.

Inside the radicals’ secret stronghold, Xia Er was discussing with core members how to deal with the conservatives who had Corporation support. Suddenly, an encrypted communication connected to his private terminal.

“Evacuate immediately,” a processed voice said, “The conservatives will launch an attack within 72 hours. Use the route and plan in the attachment.”

Although Xia Er was wary, after a moment of hesitation, he opened the attachment and found that it contained not only detailed evacuation routes but also the locations and access codes for newly built surface towns.

Even more surprisingly, the attachment also included a complete identity authentication system.

“Who sent this?” a radical member asked in confusion.

Xia Er pondered for a moment: “No matter who it is, the information seems very reliable. And looking at the appearance of this town, it’s entirely human architectural style.”

“I think this can only be the Corporation’s masterpiece.”

Under Red Wine’s meticulous planning, radical members began a secret evacuation 48 hours before the conservatives launched their attack. They quietly moved through an underground tunnel network to a hidden valley on the surface of Three-Body Star.

When the conservative forces arrived at the radical stronghold, they found only an empty underground base. All important equipment, research data, and personnel had already been relocated.

“They escaped early!” the conservative Commander reported angrily, “Someone leaked the information!”

Erwin was furious upon hearing this news: “Investigate! We must find out who is secretly helping these traitors!”

Meanwhile, in the newly built surface town of “New Sunrise,” Xia Er and his followers were marveling at the sight before them.

This town, nestled among the mountains, was built entirely in a human architectural style and fully equipped. Residences, commercial facilities, industrial facilities, energy facilities, and buildings were all present.

According to the data, there were also a considerable number of military facilities in this town.

Most importantly, in the sky above, there were now only two appropriately sized suns.