Chapter 242: Motive

This message, just like those from the Taihao Civilization, the White Dwarf Alien Beast, and the Guardian Alliance, used the same technique as all Level 6 Civilizations: spatial broadcast.

The moment Xiao Yu heard the message, his mind jolted, his entire being instantly alert.

“Did you hear that? Did you hear that?” Xiao Yu muttered under his breath.

“Master, we didn’t hear anything. What did you hear?” Luka Two, who had remained steadfast at his post, asked urgently.

As the most outstanding scientist from the Psychosocial Sciences Division, Luka Two was Xiao Yu’s most reliable advisor in moments like this. Naturally, he would never leave his station.

“I heard it,” Xiao Yu replied gravely. “That unknown entity sent me a message. It asked me why I wanted to leave this place. Wait… another message is coming through.”

Just a few seconds after the first, another mysterious transmission arrived in Xiao Yu’s mind.

“Here, you have a safe environment to develop in. Inexhaustible resources. For someone like you, there’s no place better than this. Why would you want to leave? Do you know that a fleet from that Level 5 Civilization has been waiting twenty light-years away? The moment you pass beyond my twenty-light-year range, they’ll show no mercy. They’ll slaughter your people, seize your resources, and take your population captive…”

“Even with that Taihao relic, the Four-Dimensional Shield, you’re no match for a Level 5 Civilization. Their expedition is fully prepared this time.”

The sudden voice rambled on, its tone resembling that of an old man in the twilight of his life.

Xiao Yu immediately relayed the message in real time, broadcasting it for all the scientists of every civilization to hear.

“Come back. I can continue protecting you for another hundred years. Within that time, you can surpass that Level 5 Civilization in combat power, defeat their vast fleet. That is your only path to survival. If you wish to communicate with me, just transmit a radio signal in my direction. I’ll be able to receive it instantly.”

With those final words, the voice went silent, waiting for Xiao Yu’s response.

“What are your thoughts?” Xiao Yu asked, his voice heavy with bitterness.

The speculation had finally been confirmed, a mysterious, powerful existence truly did reside near that strange star. Not only that, it was clearly well-informed about Xiao Yu. It knew about the Four-Dimensional Shield. It knew what Xiao Yu had done after arriving. It even understood Xiao Yu’s mindset.

If it didn’t know Xiao Yu’s internal state, how could it say, ‘there’s no place better than this’?

This binary star system was not suitable for intelligent life. The spatial environment was chaotic, the planets too small, and the primary star was a brown dwarf that didn’t emit visible light. Only Xiao Yu would ever consider a place like this a good location.

“So… it finally came?” That same scientist stood up, speaking somewhat dazedly. “According to our speculation, if it had full mobility, it would appear in person to stop us. But if it was bound to that star, lacking freedom of movement, then it would attempt to deceive us into staying with lies… so… are these its lies?”

“What is it trying to achieve? What’s its true motive? Don’t tell me… don’t you dare try to tell me that in this dark, cruel universe, there still exists a benevolent species. That some kind-hearted entity saw a Level 4 Civilization being hunted by a Level 5 Civilization and, out of pure goodwill, chose to help. Who does anything without benefit? Who would do that?!”

It was roaring furiously now, its face twisted with rage.

“Calm down, we’re not necessarily going to die,” Xiao Yu sighed, trying to soothe the panic.

At that moment, his fleet was still in curvature flight, not yet halted. Every passing second brought them over 1.5 million kilometers farther.

“Are we going to die? Are we going to die? I’ve only just started enjoying this wonderful life, it hasn’t even been a hundred years! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!” That scientist covered its face, sobbing bitterly. It seemed to have fallen into complete despair, convinced there was no escaping this catastrophe.

“So mentally fragile… And to think I was planning to heavily cultivate your potential. It turns out you’re just average after all. The moment danger arises, you fall apart. A being like this isn’t worth nurturing,” Xiao Yu thought unhappily. He had a few robots administer a sedative to the scientist and simply put it to sleep.

The rest of the scientists from various civilizations all showed varying degrees of panic, but the scientists from the Luka Civilization remained calm and composed, one after another.

Xiao Yu first looked toward Luka Three.

“First, I need to confirm, has it tried to mentally control us?” Xiao Yu asked.

Back in the Aquila Nebula, when they faced the psychic control of the White Dwarf Alien Beast, even Xiao Yu had fallen victim to it. Yet Luka Three had shown no reaction whatsoever. Xiao Yu didn’t know why, but so long as Luka Three could resist psychic attacks, that was all that mattered.

“I didn’t feel anything,” Luka Three shook its head.

Xiao Yu casually asked it a few questions and compared its answers with his own. After a short moment, he came to a conclusion. “My thinking is still clear. I have not been mentally controlled by this unknown entity.”

“Then… there are a few questions that need answers,” Xiao Yu thought silently and sent out a message. “Was it you who stopped the Molian Civilization from chasing us? Did you know about us from the very beginning?”

Moments later, Xiao Yu received a reply. “Yes. But I have entered the final stages of my life. I’m approaching death. My powers have weakened greatly. All I could do was confuse the Molian Civilization, preventing them from pursuing you. I no longer have the strength to kill them from over two hundred light-years away. You are safe for now. If they dare approach within twenty light-years of me, even at the cost of halving my remaining lifespan, I will destroy them all.”

“Were you… injured? Is that star partially obscured by your body?”

“Yes. I suffered grievous wounds during battle with the Sweepers. I was on the verge of death. So I had no choice but to attach myself to this star, absorbing its energy to sustain myself. But even with that, I can only survive for another hundred years. After that, I will completely perish, fade into nothingness.”

“Why did you only reveal yourself to stop us now, instead of when we first began preparations to relocate?” Xiao Yu asked.

“Ah…” What entered Xiao Yu’s mind was a deep sigh. “I could’ve protected you for 110 years. But now, there are only 100 left. Those 10 years lost, that was the price I paid to communicate with you through spatial broadcast. That’s why I avoided contact unless absolutely necessary. I was waiting for you to come to me. That way, I could speak with you without sacrificing any of my lifespan. But I waited nearly a hundred years, and still, you never came.”

Xiao Yu fell into quiet thought. He could not determine whether this unknown being’s words were true or false. The darkness of the universe had given him countless reasons to be cautious.

“In my experience, the universe has always been cruel. There is no such thing as helping the weak or standing up for justice. So there’s something that puzzles me,” Xiao Yu said slowly. “Why did you save us? Human civilization is already extinct. I’ve never heard of any Level 6 Civilization having ties to humanity. The only one who claimed to be is Fuxi, the Taihao Civilization, who are a Technological Civilization. And clearly, even heavily damaged, a Technological Civilization wouldn’t rely on something like embedding itself in a star. What’s more, until now, I can’t be sure whether this Taihao civilization is kind or malicious towards us.”

“So… you’re not that Taihao Civilization.”

“Then tell me, why did you save us? We already made predictions about your existence. Our apparent relocation was a test, a way to confirm whether you were real. And now, our speculation has been proven correct. You are here, powerful and real. But what we still don’t know is whether you are friend or foe.”

“We’d rather face a Level 5 Civilization than face hostility from you. A Level 5 Civilization, at least, is something we can understand, something we have a fighting chance against. Against you, we have no chance at all.”

“So give us a reason. Give us a reason strong enough to make us believe in you.”

After saying all this, Xiao Yu fell silent and waited.

The reply came quickly. Within just three seconds, Xiao Yu received the answer.

“You are cautious, your mind is meticulous. Only someone like you is fit to survive in this brutal universe. You want a reason? My reason is simple. It’s a reason worth shortening my own life to save you. A reason worth generously sheltering you, giving you the time and safety to grow.”

“I am dying. And my legacy, only you can inherit it. No, to be more precise, only you are qualified to inherit it. You cannot hide from me. I know your current state of being. A fusion of soul and computer? Very interesting. A novel form of existence. Don’t be surprised, I’ve seen others like you before.”

“Because I am…”