137: be late

The air was filled with a scorched and oppressive atmosphere, as if it were the low pressure before a storm.

On the giant screen, the exquisite "Klein Metric" mathematical model was trembling violently.

Under the frantic infusion of terrifying computing power from the "Apocalypse" optical quantum supercomputer, this three-dimensional projection, which represented humanity's key to Warp Drive, attempted to unfold into the fourth dimension.

It was an extremely bizarre sight; the shape twisted around the model, and geometric lines began to knot and intersect, as if an invisible hand were forcibly crumpling a complex origami piece into a ball.

"Warning! Logic core overload! Data overflow!"

"Critical threshold not reached! Space curvature collapse!"

Several warning pop-ups appeared, and soon the model, which was struggling to "ascend in dimension," finally collapsed under the strain.

Like a soap bubble bursting in the sunlight, the complex geometric body disintegrated in an instant into chaotic code flying across the sky.

It failed.

Ilya von Klein stood on the high platform, her oversized lab coat swaying slightly in the air conditioning.

Her crimson eyes reflected the final scene of the model's disintegration, but she was neither angry nor frustrated, only possessed a calmness as if this were nothing out of the ordinary.

"Tch, still doesn't work, huh..."

She muttered softly, though she didn't seem quite so calm.

The surrounding researchers were all dejected; this was already the twelfth failed full-parameter simulation.

"Doctor, the data analysis is out." The assistant reported cautiously, "The main bottleneck is still computing power. Although we have utilized 30% of global computing resources, the latency in processing the real-time calculation of the four-dimensional spatial topology projection into three dimensions remains as high as 0.03 seconds. This is negligible on a macroscopic level, but in the construction of a Warp Drive field, this 0.03-second delay is enough to tear a spaceship into pieces by space-time tides."

"I know." Ilya turned around, her small face tight, "The four-dimensional structure I envisioned is still too advanced for current hardware. It's like using an abacus to calculate the ignition formula for nuclear fusion; even if you click the abacus beads until they smoke, you still can't keep up with the reaction speed."

She walked back to her rest area with small steps, while her mind was racing with calculations.

There was indeed room for optimization. She could try to simplify some non-core curvature parameters or introduce more ingenious mathematical shortcuts to bypass those computational black holes.

But ultimately, this was a matter of brute force. If there were stronger computing power or more advanced materials to assist in stabilizing the spatial field, these problems would not be problems at all.

"Looks like I have to go find that guy to extort him..." Ilya bit her lip, and Lei Wen's face, always wearing a gentle smile, appeared in her mind, "Next time, I must make him get me one of those Faleim People's computing cores, even if it's second-hand."

On the other side, Lei Wen, who had just come out of the Earth Science Research Center, was in a pretty good mood.

He hummed a little tune as he sat into the luxury cockpit of the shuttle, preparing to brew a cup of hot tea and enjoy some rare, cozy time.

"Father."

"white flower"'s calm, emotionless voice suddenly sounded in his earpiece, instantly breaking the tranquility.

"What is it? If it's just some trivial matters at the company, let the AI executives handle it." Lei Wen picked up his teacup and blew on the steam.

"It is not a company matter, Father. I have detected that the high-dimensional quantum communication array in the underground command room is sending a request signal, and..." "white flower" paused for a moment, "According to the schedule you set yourself, today is the weekly meeting time of the Faleim calendar. If you do not rush back now, you will be late."

"Pfft—"

The mouthful of hot tea Lei Wen had just taken almost sprayed out.

"Weekly meeting? What day is it today?"

"Friday, 4:00 PM, Earth Beijing Standard Time."

Lei Wen slapped his forehead hard. He had been so busy dealing with the alien scientists on Earth and Ilya's project that he had completely forgotten about that big family of "alien children" over there.

As the supreme "the guide" of the Faleim Civilization, being late for a routine morning assembly was even more embarrassing than an emperor oversleeping for court.

"Quick! Full speed return! Back to Tianqiong City!" Lei Wen put down his teacup and urged hurriedly, "Activate supersonic cruise mode. I don't care about sonic booms disturbing the public; I'll pay the fines!"

Twenty minutes later.

When the heavy explosion-proof door deep inside the underground factory of Tianqiong City slowly opened, Lei Wen rushed into the command room almost at a jog.

He quickly tidied his slightly disheveled collar, took a deep breath, and tried his best to look composed and imposing.

"Initiate connection."

As a deep blue light curtain swept across, the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

Falem Homeworld, top floor conference hall of the Central Council.

Beside that huge oval table, which symbolized the highest power, twelve councilors in magnificent uniforms were already sitting upright. The conference room was deathly silent, and the air seemed to have frozen.

And at the head of the round table, the seat belonging to "the guide" had been empty until now.

When Lei Wen's holographic image finally appeared in the seat, he keenly sensed that everyone's gaze had instantly converged on him.

"Ahem..." Lei Wen coughed lightly in embarrassment and said in a tone that tried to sound as profound as possible, "Apologies, I was dealing with some trivial matters regarding... um, regarding the evolution of this primitive civilization, which delayed me a bit."

"Your hard work is the driving force of our progress, Great Guide."

Consul Price, sitting at the first seat on his right, immediately stood up and bowed respectfully, without a trace of dissatisfaction on his face, "It is our honor to share your burdens; we are always ready and waiting to listen to you."

The other councilors also stood up and bowed, their movements uniform, as if they had rehearsed countless times.

Lei Wen breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

This was the benefit of being a leader in front of subordinates with absolute loyalty; even if you were late, they would automatically rationalize that you were working hard for the sake of all living beings in the universe.

"Let's begin." Lei Wen waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down.

The meeting soon got on track.

Price opened the data pad in his hand and began to read the Faleim Civilization's development report for the week.

"This week, we discovered two new high-purity rare crystal veins in the K-72 star system, and mining stations have already begun construction..."

"The construction progress of the third phase of the Dyson Cloud has reached 15%, and the stellar energy capture efficiency has increased by 0.3%..."

"The coverage rate of gene clinics in the colonies has reached 98%, and the eugenics rate of newborns has further improved..."

Listening to these reports, Lei Wen had a fleeting sense of having traveled back to ancient times, sitting on the golden throne listening to ministers report on "favorable weather and national peace and security."

It was just that "favorable weather" here referred to the stability of stellar energy output, and "national peace and security" meant no inexplicable alien forces coming to disturb development.

The Faleim Civilization was like a precision machine, running at high speed and stability on a set track, and continuous expansion brought a steady stream of vitality to this civilization.

However, compared to these routine internal affairs data, Lei Wen was more concerned about the external situation.

"Regarding the situation in the surrounding star regions," Price seemed to have sensed Lei Wen's thoughts and switched the topic at the right moment, "We have received the latest in-depth observation report sent back by Major General Trier from the Perseus Arm."

On the holographic table, the Star Map instantly zoomed in, focusing on that golden territory—the Angel Theocracy Empire.

"The situation is not optimistic." Price commented.

As the data unfolded, a picture of a civilization in its twilight, on the verge of collapse, was displayed before Lei Wen.

The Angel Empire, this hegemonic civilization that once rivaled the Iofer Federation, was now rotten to the core.

"According to Major General Trier's description, the Angel Empire's centralization is now a name without substance."

Price pointed to the star systems blinking with different colored lights on the Star Map and said, "The authority of the royal family has plummeted with the defeat of the frontline fleet. The empire now is less of a unified country and more of a loose alliance composed of hundreds of star system governors and high-ranking priests with private armed forces."

"The conscription orders and material allocation orders issued by the center become empty documents once they leave the capital star system. The star system governors are busy expanding their private armies, and some have even begun to secretly contact the Iof People, attempting to betray the country for personal gain."

"Worse still, their internal ideological division has reached the point of armed confrontation."

Scenes of the streets of the Angel capital star appeared on the screen, with the Inquisition guards in magnificent robes confronting soldiers in Royal Guard armor, while around them, angry civilians were burning statues of gods.

"The royal family is attempting to push for limited secular reforms, introducing some material technologies to save the decline, which has touched the fundamental interests of the Holy See." Price explained, "The Pope claims that the royal family has been bewitched by 'materialist demons' and are heretics, calling on believers to rise up in the name of God, while the royal family accuses the Holy See of corruption and incompetence, pointing out that psionic technology has not made any progress for thousands of years, and blaming the failure of the war on deviation from faith."

"These are typical signs of the late stage of a feudal dynasty." Lei Wen looked at the chaotic scene and sighed, "Internal troubles and external threats, decrees not leaving the center, warlords dividing the land, theocracy and imperial power in opposition... they are only one last straw away from falling apart."

"Yes, the guide." Price nodded, "Major General Trier believes that if not interfered with, the Angel Empire will erupt into a full-scale civil war within ten years, or be defeated one by one by the Iof People."

"Continue to observe, and increase the intensity of infiltration." Lei Wen gave the order after a moment of contemplation, "Especially for those governors of the marginal star systems and the disillusioned members of the royal family, give them 'help' so that they cannot do without our technology and resources. When that building collapses, we must be the only ones to collect the bodies."

Then the screen shifted, switching to that dark red territory—the Iofer Federation.

Compared to the Angel Empire's sunset, the Iofer Federation exhibited a chilling resurgence.

The Faleim Civilization has cracked the vast majority of the Iofer Federation's quantum communication signals and has a clear grasp of most of the Iof People's intelligence.

"That woman... is not simple."

Looking at the petite succubus image on the screen, even the usually arrogant Price could not help but give an apt evaluation.

Barlena, the Speaker of the Iofer Federation.

In the desperate situation where the capital star system was completely erased by the Falamt Detachment Fleet and the center of power became a vacuum, she did not collapse or flee as most people expected.

On the contrary, she displayed an iron fist more ruthless than any demon.

"On her way back to the capital, she used the name of wartime special decrees to directly execute all dissenters in the fleet who might pose a threat to her, purged more than 30% of the mid-to-high-level officers, and firmly grasped the remaining fleet in her hands."

"After returning to the hinterland, she did not rush to recover the star systems we destroyed, but directly led her army to raid the lairs of those warlords who tried to take the opportunity to become independent."

"She razed three rebellious planets with orbital bombardment, re-establishing her absolute authority with the blood of billions."

"Now, she has established a new temporary capital in the Eye of the Abyss star system and is frantically rebuilding the industrial system using resources and population looted from the Angel frontline."

"She is biding her time." Lei Wen looked at the woman with sinister eyes and frowned, "This is a wounded venomous snake, licking its wounds in the dark, waiting for the next opportunity to strike."

"Yes, the guide." Price said, "Our intelligence shows that she is secretly integrating the scientific research forces within the Federation, seemingly researching the traces we left at the Gate of Hell, attempting to crack our technology."

"Hmph, overestimating themselves." Lei Wen sneered, "But don't underestimate her either. After the third phase of the sentry surveillance array project is completed, have the sentry array keep a close eye on her. Once you discover any signs of her again using stellar induction or other weapons of mass destruction..."

"We understand." A cold glint flashed in Price's eyes, "Next time, it won't just be a Falamt Detachment Fleet."

The meeting lasted for two hours.

When Lei Wen disconnected and returned to that quiet underground command room, he felt a bit of fatigue, but more of a sense of fulfillment from controlling the overall situation.

At both ends of the sea of stars, two massive civilizations were heading toward completely different destinies under his gaze.

One was heading toward death in decay, and the other was attempting to be reborn in the ashes.