42: Chapter 42 Top Secret Regulations

"Beep... beep... beep..."

Academician Zheng's fingers pressed a series of unlabelled numbers steadily and rapidly.

With the receiver pressed to his ear, the rhythmic busy signal sounded exceptionally harsh in the extremely quiet command center, as if striking at everyone's heartstrings.

A few seconds later, the call connected.

There were no pleasantries, no preamble.

Academician Zheng's voice was lowered to a whisper, yet it was as hard, clear, and precise as quenched steel.

Every word was stripped of all embellishment and emotion, leaving only the most core, most shocking facts:

"Highest-level emergency. Chen Youhua submitted results, confirmed to possess destruction-level potential risks... The model exceeds current cognitive limits... Requesting highest directive."

The other end of the line fell into a brief, suffocating silence.

It was as if time itself had been frozen.

The command center was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. A dozen Academicians held their breath, their gazes locked tightly on Academician Zheng's face, attempting to decipher any sliver of information from those tense lines.

Finally, a response came through the receiver.

The voice was low and steady, devoid of emotion, yet carried an absolute sense of authority that seemed to pierce through space and time.

Academician Zheng stood straight as a soldier undergoing inspection, only his lips moving slightly, issuing short and respectful responses:

"Yes."

"Understood."

"Guarantee execution."

"Implementing immediately."

Each "Yes" was like a nail, heavily hammered into the air.

The call ended.

Academician Zheng slowly lowered the receiver. His shirt was soaked with cold sweat, clinging to his skin and bringing a chilling sensation.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the colleagues who had gathered around, his eyes filled with unprecedented gravity.

"How is it, Old Zheng?"

The white-haired Academician Li, a physicist, was the first to lose patience, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Academician Zheng took a deep breath, as if trying to expel all the stale air from his lungs.

"The highest directive has been issued. The Spark Project is now initiating the highest level of response."

He scanned the crowd, his tone as heavy as iron.

"The situation is more urgent than we imagined. Right now, we have only one core task: at all costs, within the shortest possible time, understand these materials!"

He pointed to the symbols on the screen, which looked like a heavenly script.

"All understandings, deductions, and questions must be formed into written reports, aggregated, and submitted as the core basis for the highest decision-making!"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"Relevant personnel are already on their way. They will be responsible for... completely sealing this place. Physical isolation, information shielding, personnel control... From now on, this place will be the Republic's most solid fortress and also... the deepest cage. Not a speck of dust, not a single bit of information, shall leak out from here!"

These words were like a basin of ice water poured over everyone's hearts.

Understand those materials?

Easier said than done!

The brief contact just now had already given them, people standing at the peak of knowledge, a taste of unprecedented frustration.

That wasn't a difficult problem; it was a chasm! It was a Great Wall of steel constructed by another intelligence, lying beyond the boundaries of their cognition!

"Old Zheng..."

Academician Zhang, who specialized in complex systems, furrowed his brows, his face full of bitterness.

"These... these things are too... too far beyond our scope! We... we are like people holding primitive stone axes, facing an interstellar spaceship made of alloy with a complex structure!"

"We recognize the symbols, and we can barely puzzle out the local structures, but the overall logical chain, the deep construction principles... there is simply no way to start! The time this requires..."

He shook his head. He didn't finish his sentence, but a sense of despair had already permeated the air.

"Indeed, this is not a tough nut that we few can crack in a short time!"

Another relatively young Academician Wang, who had significant achievements in the field of Artificial Intelligence, couldn't help but speak, his tone anxious.

"This feels like we are being asked to create and master dozens of brand-new, interconnected super-disciplines overnight out of thin air!"

"There are no reference books, no exercise sets, not even anyone to ask for guidance!"

Just then, the previously silent information security expert, Academician Zhao, suddenly looked up. His eyes behind his lenses flashed with a sharp light. He looked at Academician Zheng and asked a question that was crucial to the extreme and pointed directly to the core:

"Old Zheng, forgive my bluntness. These shocking materials... who exactly wrote them?"

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly pierced through the oppressive air.

"If we could invite this author... even if just to provide some basic answers and guidance... our speed and accuracy of interpretation would increase exponentially!"

Swish!

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Academician Zheng's face like searchlights!

This question was like a key, instantly opening the floodgates in their hearts.

That's right! The author!

The existence who created this epoch-making achievement!

Where is he? Who is he? Can he... come?

Academician Zheng was suddenly taken aback, as if awakened.

The extreme tension and pressure just now had actually caused him to temporarily forget the young man he had left in the quiet room!

Chen Youhua, that impossibly calm source who had casually tossed out something capable of overturning the world!

Academician Zheng's expression shifted, clearly undergoing an intense internal weighing and requesting process.

He did not answer immediately, but instead picked up the special communicator again, walked to the corner, turned his back to the crowd, and lowered his voice to speak quickly for a few moments.

Everyone could only see his tense back and the slight nodding movement.

A moment later, he turned around, his face wearing a solemnity of determination.

He walked to the head of the circular conference table, his gaze slowly sweeping over every face that was weathered by time, yet filled with thirst for knowledge and anxiety.

"Everyone,"

Academician Zheng's voice was exceptionally serious, carrying an unquestionable weight.

"The author can be invited to assist."

He paused, his gaze becoming even deeper.

"However, before that, everyone present, including myself, must sign a brand-new, top-secret confidentiality agreement."

He emphasized his tone, every word like a brand.

"This agreement is codenamed Cornerstone. Its confidentiality level far exceeds any document you have ever signed before."

"It is no longer just about a certain project or technology, but about the foundation of the nation's survival, about... the future direction of all human civilization!"

His gaze was sharp as a falcon's, as if wanting to pierce through everyone's soul.

"Signing it means your names, and all traces of your participation in the Spark Project, will be completely covered by the highest level of information barrier."

"Your future work direction, life trajectory, and even contact with the outside world may be subject to necessary and strict restrictions and reviews."

"This is no longer just academic confidentiality, but... another form of dedication and sacrifice."

Academician Zheng's voice lowered, carrying a heavy sense of tragedy.

"I know what this demand means. It means you will completely fade into the background, becoming true nameless individuals. Your merits may never be made public, and your contributions may only be known by history."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the white-haired, hot-tempered Academician Li slammed the table and stood up!

His white hair seemed to tremble slightly with excitement, but his aged face burned with a near-sacred fire, his loud voice resonating through the entire command center.

"Old Zheng! Quit the sentimental drama! What dedication and sacrifice? What nameless hero? When I was doing research, chewing sand and drinking alkaline water in the Gobi Desert, when my name was destined for the coffin lid, did I ever think about fame?! Everyone here!"

He scanned his surroundings, his gaze burning.

"From the trials and tribulations of the 70s to today, from starting with nothing to standing at the world's frontier, which one of us hasn't risked our necks and staked our lives on this land and its people?! Confidentiality regulations? The confidentiality agreements I've signed could stack higher than your bookshelf! Serving the country and the people, exhausting all efforts until death! This is our fate! It is also our glory!"

"Right! Academician Li is right!"

"Sign! There's nothing to hesitate about!"

"For the country, for future generations, what is this small price?"

"Bring the agreement quickly! Don't waste time!"

The other Academicians responded one after another, without a shred of hesitation on their faces, only a composure and determination born of having weathered the ages and long since placed personal honor and disgrace aside!

Their gazes met, burning with the same flame.

That was the flame belonging to the backbone of the Republic, an unregretful conviction to act as a bridge and step forward, even knowing the path ahead was perilous and the abyss lay before them!

Academician Zheng looked at these comrades, white-haired or in their prime, and looking at the pure and burning sincerity in their eyes, his throat choked up.

He nodded vigorously, saying no more.

With a signal from his eyes, the security personnel who had been waiting on the side immediately placed the thick agreements, stamped with bright red "Top Secret" seals, solemnly in front of each Academician.

In the command center, only the rustling sound of pen tips scratching against paper remained, heavy and firm.

Every stroke that fell felt as if they were signing a contract with the devil, yet also like they were forging an invisible Great Wall to protect the future of humanity.

The air was as heavy as lead, yet it burned with a silent, tragic fire.

The true battle had already begun deep in their souls before understanding the Spark.