Chapter 102 The Giant Active Antenna

The giant active antenna began to gradually charge after unfolding from beneath its protective shield, illuminating most of Kuiper Station like a metal-wrought flame. Rings of electric light surged upward along the twisted and tangled metal framework, and a deep hum began to pervade the main tower of the space station. Although there was no air in space, the part of the antenna connected to the station still transmitted the vibrations from the charging equipment.

The towers and cabins on either side of Kuiper Station facing the antenna activated their defenses, and the sightseeing alloy covers gradually closed. At the same time, a faster-than-light scanning field covering the entire solar system was instantly established.

"This thing looks pretty cool," Hao Ren muttered as he watched the giant antenna working in space. "The power is definitely not small... the nearby asteroids are starting to fly around randomly."

"That's because they've all been magnetized instantly," the data terminal replied while checking the equipment connections. "And this antenna is nothing special... the Resonance Spires at the Crystal Nucleus Research Station are much more capable than this thing, and they don't waste as much energy."

Hao Ren knew, of course, that the Crystal Nucleus Research Station was powerful, but he had to admit that the "primitive equipment" in front of him was more impressive when it was running. Low technology naturally had the rugged beauty of low technology, just like everyone knew that Dongfang Bubai's embroidery needle technology was high-tech, but if you had to choose, you would still choose the Dragon Saber...

The romance of men.

When the scanning field was established, the resonance signal of the Gungnir fragment was also amplified into the entire scanning field. The enormous active antenna slowly scanned the entire solar system, searching for the fragile connection linking Gungnir to the Nine Realms. Watching the antenna array emitting brilliant light in space, Vivian was a little worried: "Such a large signal source... will it affect Earth?"

Hao Ren had already thought about this question: "Don't worry, although this antenna has a lot of power, its destructive energy field won't spread too far. The faster-than-light induction field it uses to scan the solar system is invisible to Earth technology. Humans can't detect this thing at all."

Vivian was relieved and began to wait patiently for the detection results with Hao Ren.

Time seemed to stand still. The laboratory was constantly surrounded by a low hum of equipment operation, and the data projected on the analysis table kept cycling and refreshing unchanged, making the whole waiting process drowsy. Bored, Hao Ren connected to Kuiper Station's external monitor and lay on the table counting the large and small spaceships entering and leaving the port. He discovered that this remote little starport actually had many visitors. The ships entering and leaving the port area were endless, including not only large freighters, but even some grim-looking armed private ships. These ships were mostly the private guards or mercenaries of some interstellar overlords. These starships shuttling through space showed the prosperity and busyness between the stars, but for the Earth of today, this was still too distant a world.

The civilian ships that came to Kuiper Station for transit of course also noticed the huge antenna operating in space. Some small ships were notified to turn on their electromagnetic shields to resist the antenna's near-focus irradiation before they even approached the space station. A mercenary warship docked at Port One, very close to the antenna. The warship captain and his deputy watched the "big torch" in space curiously: "I've heard of this antenna... is something wrong here? Why did they suddenly activate this thing?"

The deputy smacked his lips. "How could anything happen in this star system? This is an Imperial stronghold. Who would be crazy enough to commit suicide in this place?"

At this time, another starship captain passed behind them. Hearing their conversation, he explained, "I heard from the people at the space station that the main antenna was requisitioned by the Inspector. That Inspector is going to search for something in the solar system. You'd better not inquire about it."

"Don't inquire?" The mercenary captain was stunned. "Is that Inspector in a bad mood?"

The stranger looked nervous: "It's not as simple as a bad mood! That Inspector is said to be three-Pan tall, with a murderous aura, cold and ruthless. Even the other Inspectors respectfully call him 'Go Wherever It Blows Up.' It is said that this Inspector is specially responsible for executions. When he strikes, it's the extermination of entire races. Wherever he goes, there is only a sea of fire and ruins. He takes a small ship on every mission, and when he returns, he brings back a notice of the demise of a race. Sometimes there isn't even a notice, just two charred wrecks... ugh, I won't say any more, it gives me goosebumps! If you don't believe me, you can search the main data chain. The keyword is 'Go Wherever It Blows Up'..."

The two mercenaries, who licked blood off their knives every day, were horrified when they heard this: "Holy crap!!"

Then they canceled their plan to rest at the space station for a few days, quickly replenished their supplies, and ran away in their ship. Only the starship captain who had just slandered Hao Ren was left watching the warship's afterburner: "Heh, taking my parking spot..."

A space station guide came to the captain's side: "Mr. 883, is it really okay for you to slander an Inspector like that?"

"It's okay, he's broad-minded."

"What if he really complains about you?"

"It's okay, I'm broad-minded..."

Hao Ren, who was in the laboratory, of course didn't know that someone outside was slandering him. He just sneezed twice, and then heard the data terminal let out a sharp shriek: "Whee—Partner, this unit has found something!!"

Hao Ren instantly woke up from his drowsy state: "Is it the entrance to Asgard? Where is it?"

"It's basically confirmed, that's it," the data terminal said quickly. "In... Jupiter, near the Great Red Spot. The sensor found an abnormal space signal there. The signal vibration curve hides an induction wave consistent with the Gungnir fragment."

"Jupiter?" Hao Ren was a little surprised. "Why did it run there..."

"It's not strange for it to run anywhere. After all, the connection between the Nine Realms and the Prime Material Plane has been interrupted for thousands of years. It's already a pleasant surprise that it's still in the solar system," the data terminal shook its body. "Are we leaving now?"

Hao Ren nodded. "Notify Nolan. We'll depart in fifteen minutes."

This detection was unexpectedly smooth. Although requisitioning Kuiper Station's antenna system was unplanned, with the assistance of the Gungnir fragment, Hao Ren successfully located the Yggdrasil remains. Jupiter—for the Petrified Turtle, it was a journey similar to going out to buy soy sauce.

Hao Ren felt that after solving a lot of various troubles, his good luck finally seemed to be coming.

Nolan was aimlessly lying in the starport checking her engine group. After hearing the mission order, she immediately made preparations excitedly. Hao Ren led Vivian and Izhaks onto the ship, and in the blink of an eye, they had arrived in Jupiter's orbit.

The breathtaking gas giant appeared in front of the Petrified Turtle. The suffocating atmospheric cloud sea filled four-fifths of the external monitor with its amazing aura, and in the center of the screen was the famous Great Red Spot.

"I've only seen this on TV before," Hao Ren stood next to the console, staring intently at the violent cyclone that had lasted for hundreds of years. He was surprised that after obtaining a spaceship, he hadn't even thought of coming here to see this spectacle in the solar system, but thanks to the many equally breathtaking cosmic wonders he had seen in the past two years, Jupiter's Great Red Spot amazed him, but it didn't shock him too much. "Where is the abnormal space?"

Nolan's holographic projection popped out of the console: "Guiding approach in progress—the target is not inside the Great Red Spot, but about five thousand meters from the upper atmosphere of Jupiter. This different space seems to be locked by Jupiter's huge mass, so it didn't float out of the solar system all the way."

Under Nolan's careful control, the Petrified Turtle flew all the way towards Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Hao Ren watched the dark red cyclone, which could be described as terrifying, gradually grow larger in his field of vision, turning from a storm into a boundless sea of cyclones. By the time this terrible scene stopped changing, the ship was hovering on an unstable edge of the atmosphere.

The surrounding area seemed empty.

"The abnormal space signal comes from here. Our shipboard equipment can now detect it," the data terminal said. "The Gungnir fragment is resonating violently here... the entrance to Asgard is nearby."

Vivian looked at the empty space: "How do we open it?"

Nolan looked confident: "Enhance the resonance intensity of Gungnir. After finding the positioning point, I can use the ship's warp drive to 'pry open' a door."

Hao Ren snapped his fingers. "Okay, then I'll leave the lock-picking work to you."

Nolan was stunned: "... Boss, you really shouldn't talk usually..."