Chapter 1 The Air Falls Silent

The air in the conference room instantly went silent after Manison finished speaking.

Everyone's eyes turned to Manison, their gazes filled with "what the heck" emotions.

*Listen* to what you’re saying. Is that even human?

Han Xiao almost gasped, and couldn't help but size Manison up and down with a strange look.

"You really have fifty million Sovereign's Avatar bodies?"

"Maybe I exaggerated a bit. It's just a figure of speech." Manison chuckled.

That's more like it. This isn't a mechanical soldier. How could you build so many? My spare Sovereign's Avatars don't even have five thousand... cough, fifty thousand.

Han Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously asked:

"Then how many do you actually have?"

"Forty-eight million, one thousand and fifty-two... oh, fifty-four now. Two more just popped up while I was talking."

"..."

The world fell silent.

Han Xiao's mouth twitched, his mind a little messed up, completely unable to comprehend.

"No, I can understand you building a lot of mechanical soldiers, but what's the point of building so many Sovereign's Avatars? You can only descend one at a time. Any more is just a waste. Can you even use them all?"

Manison: "Oh, I lack a sense of security. I'll build more just in case."

The world fell silent again.

You're a dignified Machine Country who lacks a sense of security. What the heck am I... Okay, that's a powerful reason.

Aside from "shameless," no one present had anything to say.

Han Xiao just wanted to blow Manison's head off.

Is this showing off wealth? This must be showing off wealth!

Nearly fifty million Sovereign's Avatars. Are you even human? How much money do you have to burn to dare do this?

This is going to cover all the ambush locations. Does having money make you amazing?!

Sensing the resentment almost overflowing from Black Star, Manison smiled faintly and gave him a look.

—Yeah, having money is amazing. Thanks for the assist, old pal.

Han Xiao gritted his teeth and sent Manison a private message.

"Stop fooling people. Building tens of millions of Sovereign's Avatars is nothing but a waste!"

"Hehe, you're still too young. The Machinery Race doesn't lack anything, especially not machinery..." Manison stroked his beard with a smile, and after thinking about it, added: "...or money."

Damn it, I almost forgot you're a second-generation machine!

You filthy rich tycoon!

Han Xiao felt like he had eaten ten lemons and gritted his teeth secretly.

"At least I came up with the plan. Shouldn't you show some appreciation? How about giving me ten million Sovereign's Avatars?"

"My Avatars are my size. You can't even use them. What would you do with them?" Manison raised an eyebrow.

"I can recycle them. Ten million Sovereign's Avatars. The materials aren't a small sum."

"Sure, exchange them for a Time Amber."

"Scram!"

Han Xiao's face darkened, and he decisively ended the private chat.

That old ghost is always drooling over my Time Amber. What a bad thing!

While the two were flirting with each other, the leaders of the three major civilizations kept glancing back and forth between them, their eyes revealing a strong suspicion.

One is the president of the Beyond Grade A Development Alliance, and the other is the vice president...

—These two are probably colluding and putting on an act, right?

Sidreun coughed, enduring the feeling of having eaten something unsavory, and forced a smile.

"We are very grateful for the generosity of His Excellency Manison, but the battle plan hasn't been finalized yet, so there's no need to rush..."

"That's true."

Manison nodded, casually raised his hand, indicating that he was just saying it casually, and they could continue their discussion.

Sidreun then turned to look at Han Xiao and said in a deep voice:

"Your idea seems good, Black Star, but its feasibility remains to be discussed. First, we must ensure that the virus core returns to the quantum network before we can control the range of the opponent's exits on a large scale by cutting off the network. But how can we determine the time it logs onto the network? You should know that those virus information packets don't have a unified time for sending feedback data. We can't determine the virus core's online cycle.

"Secondly, we can't even lock down the data form of the virus core for the time being, making it difficult to track online. If it stays in the quantum network, will we instead be unable to find it?"

"So this is just a rough idea, and the details still need to be improved, but the general idea should be feasible," Han Xiao said.

"There are ways to solve these problems. Now that we know the virus core is a life form and have its detailed information, we can use this as an anchor point to use prediction magic to find the time it logs in," Kant added from the side.

Manison: "Regarding the data form of the virus core, I can provide some details. Although I didn't catch it, I recorded the data traces it left behind when it was active in the quantum network. This is the other party's characteristic clue. Scanning and matching with this should lock down its data form."

Everyone present discussed it for a while, gradually perfecting the details, and felt that this battle plan was worth a try.

At this time, Sidreun raised the last condition:

"I have one last question. Participating in this operation doesn't necessarily require mastering Supreme Virtual Technology. Every Beyond Grade A Mechanic should have the ability to capture the virus core. If all the Beyond Grade As present participate together, there will be a greater chance of success."

He didn't believe Han Xiao's nonsense. Every Beyond Grade A Mechanic has the ability to capture it. How could it be necessary to master Supreme Virtual Technology? That must be a conspiracy by Black Star and Manison to monopolize the benefits.

"We have no objections. We are happy to serve," the others present all gave their approval.

Of course you have no objections. You have a chance to compete for the core. What objections could you have... Han Xiao muttered inwardly.

"Then that's settled for now."

Sidreun made the decision and said solemnly:

"This plan still needs approval from the higher-ups. The two of us in charge have to report it, and we should have results soon. It should be very smooth. This operation requires the abilities of all Beyond Grade As, and we hope everyone is fully prepared. The safety of the universe is entrusted to you all."

…

Canceling the remote projection, Han Xiao's vision returned to the office.

He tapped the table casually with his fingers, pondering to himself.

All the Beyond Grade A Mechanics will cooperate to participate in the operation to capture the virus core, and everyone wants to compete for the core, so choosing the ambush location is the most important thing.

This is a probability problem. The more Avatars you have, the greater the chance of ambushing the virus core. No one can compare to Manison in this regard.

In comparison, Han Xiao has very few spare Sovereign's Avatars. It's not that he lacks money, but that building too many of these things is useless to him. He can only descend one Avatar at a time, and they are basically used to guard the base.

Old Man Manison built so many Avatars. He obviously has ulterior motives. He probably wants to guard countless planets one day.

Hmph! His wolfish ambitions are obvious!

"Manison's Sovereign's Avatar count is probably more than the number of trap nodes. He will definitely encounter the virus core and be invincible, while I can only rely on luck, and the others are about the same..."

Han Xiao rubbed his eyebrows.

There's no limit to the number of ambushers at the same location. Manison is everywhere. There's no way to avoid him no matter where you go. This is too difficult.

When the three major civilizations finalize the star map of the trap nodes, I'll still have Harrison help me choose the ambush location...

If I fail to rub off on luck and don't encounter the virus core, then so be it.

But if I do encounter it, Manison's Avatar will probably be nearby, and I'll have to compete with him. It will inevitably be a situation where we take action instead of talking.

"I can only play it by ear when the time comes..." Han Xiao exhaled.

If he has any advantage, it's that he doesn't need to care about the survival of the virus core.

Everyone else wants to capture it alive to analyze the complete technology of the Domino Virus, but he has the [Intelligent Plague] mission. Personally destroying the virus core can grant him a related expertise... Given the characteristics of the Domino Virus, the related expertise will probably be a virtual-level ability.

Although this will mean losing the opportunity to obtain the complete technology, upon closer inspection, it may not be a good thing if this shockingly threatening virtual virus technology is analyzed by the three major civilizations or other Beyond Grade As. Moreover, even if he succeeds, it will be a hot potato, and countless people, including the three major civilizations, will be staring at him.

But... Domino Virus technology can also become one of the weapons to deal with the World Tree civilization.

Caught between choices, Han Xiao was a little conflicted.

"Forget it, it's too early to think about this. I have to first ensure that I can encounter the virus, so that I have the qualifications to compete with Manison..."

He composed himself.

In any case, this will be a large-scale operation, and the preparation phase will be short. He has a lot of time. He might as well add some production lines and build as many Sovereign's Avatars as possible to place in more ambush locations, increasing his probability of encountering the virus core.

…

"This is Black Star's information?"

On the other side, the remote projections of the three major civilization leaders gathered together to listen to the reports of Sidreun and others.

Immediately after the meeting convened by Black Star ended, the three overseer leaders introduced the battle plan to the three leaders through the only officially encrypted external communication channel, hoping to obtain permission.

After listening to the cause and effect, Ulan Rier crossed her hands over her chest and slowly said:

"If Black Star's information is true, then he is a great hero of the explored universe, saving the disaster from the brink of collapse. Without his prediction, we would have to pay a bloody price to discover the true face of the virtual rebellion virus."

"Yes, he also came up with the prototype of this plan. If the virus core is captured because of this, Black Star will be a hero of the entire universe, changing the future of widespread destruction in his prediction." Bader also expressed his appreciation.

"Black Star has indeed made contributions," the head of the Arcane Church said in a calm tone.

Putting aside past grievances, the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church greatly appreciated Han Xiao's performance in the Intelligent Plague. In their view, he was very reliable and made a huge contribution.

Thinking of this, the three looked at each other and nodded.

"We have approved this operation. You are allowed to mobilize the resources of the Ancient Star Desert to implement this battle plan. Don't let us down."

"Understood," Sidreun hurriedly agreed.

At this time, the head of the Arcane Church suddenly said:

"There is one more thing. Be sure to ensure that the virus core is ultimately controlled by us. It cannot be obtained by other non-direct Beyond Grade As."

"That's right, virtual rebellion virus technology is a weapon of war. It's too dangerous. This technology must not be allowed to spread, otherwise the order of the universe will be threatened."

Bader echoed and added, "Especially Black Star and Manison. If a peak Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic obtains this technology and improves it, it may evolve into a hidden danger more terrifying than the Intelligent Plague."

Even though Manison was an ally of the Federation of Light, Bader was not lenient.

Although they all wanted to obtain this technology, the three understood even more that preventing a fourth party from controlling the virus technology was a more important task.

In the view of the three major civilizations, it is beneficial to the entire universe only if they monopolize this strategic deterrent weapon.

…

Somewhere in the Ancient Star Desert, an ancient and desolate planet welcomed a small private transportation fleet.

This is a legal interstellar transportation company, small in scale and without reputation, only operating a few fixed routes, and its business scope is limited to several star zones in the same galaxy. There is a small section of desolate cosmic belt here, and because the area is not large, the higher civilizations have not set up star gates, giving rise to many long-distance transportation companies that specialize in crossing this desolate cosmic belt.

At this moment, the transport fleet slowly stopped in the outer space of the planet.

"Resupply here. There are fuel resources on this planet. Go up and collect some."

In the main ship, the veteran captain, who had worked for this transportation company for many years, issued orders.

At this time, a surveyor suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Report, Captain, radar detection shows that this planet is shrouded in a strange electromagnetic field storm."

The captain was stunned and came to the porthole, only to find that the atmosphere of this barren planet was constantly flashing with faint blue plasma arcs, which looked like a looming electromagnetic shell.

"That's strange. I've been running this transportation route for decades and don't know how many times I've stopped at this planet. When did this electromagnetic field storm phenomenon appear?"

The captain muttered to himself, and then approached the radar to check the detection results.

The energy structure of the electromagnetic field was presented on the screen, and the more he looked at it, the more familiar it felt.

"This electromagnetic field model..." A surveyor hesitated, "Why does it look a bit like the bioelectrical network when a living body's brain neurons are active?"

The captain was shocked and looked closely again. The structure of this electromagnetic field was simply like a brain magnified countless times.

"Could it be alive? Could it be an electromagnetic field life form!"

The captain was pleasantly surprised. This kind of field-type life has always been a rare type of life and can be sold to collectors with special tastes at a very high price.

Thinking of this, the captain hurriedly ordered.

"Quick, quick, quick, find a way to capture it. This is an unexpected gain!"

However, before he could finish speaking, the electromagnetic field storm that shrouded the planet suddenly dissipated and disappeared out of thin air. It also disappeared on the radar, as if it had never appeared at all.

The members in the cabin were all stunned.

"Did I see wrong?!"

The captain rubbed his eyes with a look of astonishment.