"We still can't be certain about the shield and the spacetime pillars. We shouldn't jump to such a rash conclusion, and there isn't a more suitable plan either."
"I'm only considering the worst-case scenario. Will taught us that when facing a crisis, we must not harbor any luck or fantasies."
The successors' argument was interrupted by an incoming message.
"There's no need to worry about that. I personally verified the specifics. The galactic core does not produce negative matter; the negative matter comes from spacetime pillars extending in from outside the galaxy."
Following the source of the message, all the successors turned their attention to Si, who had joined them not long ago.
"Si?"
"Even if that is the actual situation, what should we do? Neutralizing positive mass with negative mass would achieve a breakthrough. Though it would require an enormous input of positive energy, it could weaken the galactic core, making it the most suitable and feasible plan at present. Do you have a better method?" one successor asked.
Faced with the question, Si was utterly confident, because it truly did have a better idea.
"We don't need to do that. A violent breakthrough is not advisable."
"You should learn from the enemy's strengths—for example, by finding weaknesses in the Correction Mechanism's strategic deployment."
At those words, the successors participating in the discussion were briefly stunned, all of them confused.
"Weaknesses?"
Then Si asked two questions. "Why do we still need to produce negative mass? Isn't there already plenty of ready-made negative mass near the galactic core?"
"You mean..."
After Si's reminder, the successors suddenly understood. The shield enveloping the galactic core was itself an enormous body of negative matter. It protected the galactic core, but it was also a fatal weakness. If they could make proper use of