25: Chapter 025 System Warning
In his rented room, Lin Mo was fully focused on adjusting a complex device composed of various components and wires. This was a verification model for a small energy receiving module based on the [Orbital Energy Relay Station] theory. Although it was just a prototype, the energy conversion principles involved far exceeded the understanding of the current era.
Just as he carefully finished connecting the final superconducting line and prepared for a micro-power test—
[Warning! Non-natural high-dimensional information scanning fluctuations detected!]
[Fluctuation Source: Outer edge of the Solar System, Oort Cloud region.]
[Characteristic Analysis: 87.3% similarity to the 'Civilization Observer/reaper' primary detection pattern recorded in the database.]
[Civilization Coordinate Exposure Risk Assessment: Increased from <0.001% to 0.01%. Risk Level: Low, but no longer within the 'negligible' category.]
[Associated Mission: [Lead this civilization to complete a technological leap and meet future challenges] Urgency increased.]
A series of cold, urgent red characters forcibly occupied his entire field of consciousness like an alarm, completely interrupting his previously focused state of research.
Lin Mo's fingers froze in mid-air, and a chill instantly shot up from the base of his spine to the top of his head, making his hair stand on end.
Oort Cloud? High-dimensional information scanning? reaper?
Each of these terms pushed the limits of his cognition. Although he had known from the system's ultimate mission that there would be "challenges" in the future, he had always thought they were distant matters—perhaps competition between nations, or a resource crisis that would only be faced decades or even centuries later.
He never expected that the threat didn't come from within the Blue Planet, but from the deep, cold depths of space, and... it had already begun! Although the risk level was still low, it meant that Earth, or rather human civilization, was like a young animal in a dark forest that had accidentally made a slight sound and had been vaguely sensed by an unimaginable hunter!
"So soon..." Lin Mo murmured to himself, his voice carrying a hint of dryness he hadn't even noticed. His original plan was to help the Dragon Kingdom improve its technology step by step, breaking the blockade and heading into the stars. But now, the system's warning was like an invisible whip lashing his back, telling him: time might not be as plentiful as he imagined!
He immediately put down the tools in his hand and sank his consciousness into the system interface. On the mission list, that ultimate mission, which had always seemed somewhat vague, now appeared to be stained with a layer of blood-red, exuding a heart-pounding sense of pressure.
[New Emergency Sub-mission Released: Establish Primary Civilization Warning and Defense Consensus.]
[Mission Requirements: Under the premise of ensuring personal safety, reveal the existence of potential alien threats to this civilization's dominant power (Dragon Kingdom) in a controlled manner, and establish a preliminary response foundation.]
[Mission Reward: 1000 Points, [Pioneer Mark] ×1 (Special item, effect unknown)]
[Failure Penalty: None. (However, the risk to civilization's survival will continue to accumulate)]
1000 points! An unprecedentedly high reward, along with a special item of unknown effect, all highlighted the unique nature and importance of this mission.
"Reveal the threat... establish a consensus..." Lin Mo took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. This was by no means an easy task. He couldn't just jump out and say "aliens are coming"; he would only be treated as a madman or even invite greater trouble. He needed evidence, a way that would convince the high-level authorities.
He thought of the "Lunar Regolith Solidifier" he had just successfully verified and the "Golden Crow" fusion technology that was about to be broken through. Perhaps when the Dragon Kingdom gained an overwhelming advantage in the space field with these black technologies and the nation's gaze truly turned toward deep space, he could then use some "fringe evidence" provided by the system to be more smoothly accepted.
The sense of urgency felt like physical pressure looming over Lin Mo's heart. He glanced at his nearly exhausted points column and then at the high-reward emergency mission.
He could no longer do research at a leisurely pace. He had to push the Dragon Kingdom forward faster and more efficiently, and he also had to start preparing for the "revelation of truth" that would inevitably come sooner or later.
His gaze turned determinedly toward the options in the system that he had previously set aside because he felt the points were too expensive—[Information Screening and Evidence Collection Auxiliary Program], [Low-Threat Cosmic Phenomenon Induced Occurrence Device (One-time use)]...
"It seems I need to find a way to 'earn' more points," Lin Mo whispered to himself. There was no longer any confusion in his eyes, only a resoluteness to race against time.
The system's warning was like a bolt of lightning cutting through the night sky, instantly illuminating the crisis ahead and completely changing Lin Mo's mindset and pace. Personal growth and the rise of the nation must now be tied to the survival of the entire civilization, racing forward at full speed.