2047, Standing Her Ground
Southern Unknown Regions, in the direction of the First Exploration Fleet, Levik planet.
Professor Modin and Sherry Birkin stood in the conference room before a hyperspace communication terminal. Tang Xiao's imposing, sinister figure was projected in holographic form. He seemed to have deliberately chosen the angle; under the lighting, his expression could not be seen clearly in the projection. Only those sharp, vicious eyes were visible.
"So, you solved the problem on Levik planet, but at the cost of making Mongal-Mongal even stronger?" Tang Xiao stared coldly at Sherry Birkin. "Is it possible that the escaped Third Consciousness might clash with Mongal-Mongal's main body and trigger a civil war?"
Professor Modin shook his head. "Actually, whether it is a swarm or something like Mongal-Mongal, though their methods differ, both fall under the category of collective consciousnesses. Civil war among such species differs from the civil wars we normally understand among intelligent races. When ordinary intelligent races go to war internally, the result can only be mutual destruction. But when collective-consciousness species fight a civil war, all that happens is the birth of an even more powerful entity. Because they directly devour one another, both physically and mentally."
Tang Xiao ignored Professor Modin. He simply looked at Sherry Birkin with icy eyes. Though he said nothing, the terrifying pressure alone drenched Sherry in cold sweat.
The current Sherry Birkin looked nothing like the Queen who controlled the Umbrella Pharmaceutical Group, a Mega-corporation worth trillions upon trillions. Instead, she looked like a child who had made a mistake.
The dreadful silence continued. Under that terrifying pressure, Sherry Birkin began to tremble all over. Another full ten minutes passed before she could no longer endure it. She dropped to her knees with a thud and said in a trembling