Cheng Xin did not answer immediately.
The other party did not press her, merely giving her a website.
"My codename is Shakyamuni. If you are willing to join ETO, you can contact me through this website."
"One more thing: the Trisolaran civilization has always been tracking the spacecraft carrying Yun Tianming's brain. Their First Fleet is ready to intercept it."
"If the two civilizations reconcile, perhaps you will meet again one day."
Upon hearing news of Yun Tianming, Cheng Xin's eyes widened, her heart flooded with a complex mix of shock, joy, and excitement.
The Staircase Program had suffered an accident during its implementation.
One of the spacecraft's sail cables had snapped, causing it to deviate from its intended course.
Everyone had thought Yun Tianming's brain was lost in the vastness of space.
Who could have imagined that the Trisolaran civilization had been tracking it all along and planned to intercept and capture it?
Before Cheng Xin could ask anything more, Shakyamuni bade her farewell and left.
Cheng Xin was left caught between loss and confusion.
She thought about many things.
She thought about Yun Tianming, the Staircase Program, the Dark Forest, and what choice she ought to make.
Unable to find an answer, she went out into the streets and wandered aimlessly.
"The Emperor will save us. All glory belongs to him."
"Praise him, sing of him, abandon those pathetic False Gods. Humanity has a god in this world."
Deafening cries echoed everywhere.
The passing vehicles all flew the Empire's double-headed eagle flag.
The Emperor's propaganda posters covered every corner.
Society's worship of the Emperor had reached a height unprecedented in human history.
People already regarded him as a god who would save humanity.
Cheng Xin stared at one of the Emperor's propaganda posters without feeling the slightest excitement. She only felt stifled.
There was no gentleness or love in that man's gaze. It was cold as stone.
Cheng Xin could sense his cruelty, savagery, and bloodlust.
If sacrificing a hundred thousand lives could secure victory in a war—
He was the kind of person who would give that order without hesitation.
As for how many families those hundred thousand lives represented, how many mothers would weep, he did not care.
He had no love, only absolute rationality that weighed advantages against disadvantages.
"Are you the girl who owns a star?"
A voice interrupted Cheng Xin's thoughts.
She looked up in surprise toward where the voice had come from.
She found a group of girls.
Their eyes were full of envy as they looked at her.
A man had given everything to gift a star to the woman he loved.
What a romantic love story. It was something to yearn for.
Among the crowd was a mother holding a child.
She handed the child in her arms to Cheng Xin.
"Hold her for a while, girl who owns a star."
The adorable baby gave Cheng Xin a sweet smile.
Cheng Xin picked up the soft little bundle of flesh and pressed the baby's damp, tender cheek against her own.
Her heart melted at once. She felt as though she were holding the entire world, holding love itself.
This world needed protecting.
Love needed to be passed on.
At that moment, Cheng Xin strengthened her resolve.
When she returned, she contacted the ETO member codenamed Shakyamuni.
"I want to join you. I want to fight the Tyrant and protect both civilizations."
"Even if it costs me my life, I will not hesitate, because this universe needs love."
Imperial Security Strategic Intelligence Bureau.
Thomas Vand stood ramrod straight, like a robot.
He was an outstanding intelligence officer, a shrewd and cunning hound.
The Trisolaran civilization was still four light-years away, but the war had already begun.
The ETO organization lurked in the shadows, gathering strength and plotting to overthrow the Human Empire.
At Raven's suggestion, Waldo personally met with Vand, intending to give him an opportunity.
"I have reviewed your file, Thomas Vand. You are exceptional, an excellent agent."
"Hunting ETO members is a difficult task. Many of those traitors are social elites with resources and intelligence at their disposal, as well as assistance from the Trisolaran civilization."
"But I have great confidence in you. I believe you can complete this mission."
"Remember this: anyone who intends for humanity to perish should not be allowed to live in this world."
"They should all become fertilizer for tomatoes and potatoes!" Raven shouted from Waldo's shoulder.
"You will become a blade in the darkness, serving the light. For delicious ketchup and fries, go forth, Vand."
Waldo endured Raven's cringe-worthy words with absolute rationality, striving to maintain his aloof and mysterious image.
Vand nodded. "I like a challenging mission."
Earth, low-orbit space platform.
The awakened Zhang Beihai followed Imperial Navy Commander Chang Yue as he learned about the Imperial Navy.
There was no longer any rivalry or infighting between nations.
Nor were there parasites at every level lining their own pockets.
Even while guaranteeing public welfare, the Empire could still invest more than ten times the previous resources into space military industry.
Massive projects such as space docks, orbital platforms, and extraterrestrial detection arrays were launched one after another, construction bustling at full speed.
"At present, the Empire is advancing the Southern Heavenly Gate Defense System, one of the Sci-Fi Heavenly Court Project's initiatives."
"This is the Kunpeng, a colossal carrier currently under construction, an interstellar support combat platform."
Chang Yue pointed to the gigantic warship being built, thirty kilometers long, five kilometers wide, and seven kilometers high, as he introduced it to Zhang Beihai.
"His Majesty provided the design blueprints. It uses a Near-light Speed Propulsion Engine, with a theoretical top speed of eighty percent of light speed."
"The hull is made from a special alloy and fitted with a special spatial protective force field, ensuring the warship will not break apart while accelerating."
"Once the Kunpeng carrier is completed, beating the Trisolarans will be like beating up grandkids."
"Also, the Kunlun Mirror Project is already being prepared. The Empire intends to launch large numbers of satellites equipped with Quantum Communication Arrays beyond the Solar System."
"Once the Kunlun Mirror detection system is complete, we will be able to monitor conditions outside the Solar System and escape the fate of being imprisoned within the light cone."
"With this combination of moves, the Trisolaran civilization will be unable to win or run."
Zhang Beihai said, "Commander, everything you have introduced is astounding, but I have a question."
"What question?"
"All these Imperial projects you mentioned are named after Eastern Great Power mythological references. Do the Empire's other people have no objections?"
Zhang Beihai's words made Chang Yue's lips curl slightly upward, his tone full of pride.
"They may object, but they will have to swallow it. The Eastern Great Power is the Empire's most solid pillar. We handle most of the Human Empire's infrastructure projects and production."
"What we build naturally gets names from our mythology. If they want names like Zeus or Apollo, they can build their own."
Zhang Beihai suddenly understood.
"So that's how it is."
"All right, enough of that." Chang Yue said, "Let's talk about your work."
"As the political commissar assigned to support the Doomsday Battle, your loyalty is beyond question."
"Recently, the ETO organization has been making quite a stir. The higher-ups are also concerned that undesirable ideas may spread through the military."
"We need you to clamp down hard on ideological work and stop reactionary influences from entering the military."
Zhang Beihai nodded.
"I will give it everything I have and never disappoint the commander or the people."
Zhang Beihai's gaze was deep, reflecting the pitch-black, icy universe.
If humanity could not break free of the sophons' blockade, then he would use any means necessary to push for escape.
Now, the Empire had created an Ion Barrier, cutting off the Trisolaran civilization's surveillance.
The technological gap between humanity and the Trisolarans still existed, but it was no longer an insurmountable chasm.
As a soldier, he naturally could not choose to flee.
"Following the Empire's assessment, the Wallbreaker Program has been canceled. Humanity thanks you for your contributions."
The awakened Shi'ens and Luo Ji received news that made them feel as though a great burden had been lifted.
The Wallbreakers' mission had been too heavy.
Taylor had killed himself in despair, while Rey Diaz had been stoned to death by enraged citizens of his own country.
The deaths of those two Wallbreakers had gnawed at Shi'ens and Luo Ji's nerves.
They had feared what kind of judgment awaited them once their plans were exposed.
Now, their duties had vanished.
They had regained their freedom.
"I hope to meet the Empire's supreme ruler. There are some things I need to say that may affect the course of the war."
After giving it some thought, Luo Ji decided to reveal the Dark Forest Law he knew.
He wanted to warn the authorities not to be overly optimistic.
Even if they defeated the Trisolaran civilization, humanity's situation would still be far from reassuring.
The Emperor had remained in the laboratory.
Every universe differed somewhat.
The same technology required certain adjustments before it could be used in different universes.
He needed to conduct experiments to ensure the technologies he provided would work before issuing them to the Empire's research institutes.
Having just adapted the Nova Cannon technology, which could accelerate shells to light speed, the Emperor saw another prompt appear before him.
Destiny Node changed by 15%. Obtained Droplet Probe technology. Obtained Light Particle Weapon technology. Obtained Micro-Universe Construction Technology.
PS: Here is a picture of a Droplet Probe.
Please keep following, everyone.
I update five thousand words every day. What incredible loyalty from me.
Thanks to Eternal Echo for the donation.
Some words could not be used, so I had to cut them out. I also adjusted the plot slightly and standardized the form of address to "Your Majesty."
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