After learning the details from the three leaders, Han Xiao did not continue participating in their brainstorming session about "guessing the traitor." He deactivated the remote projection and went to the front-line research institute.
As soon as he entered the laboratory hall filled with instruments, he smelled the anxiety and panic in the air. Countless researchers were coming and going, sweating profusely as they deciphered the encoded particles.
"Lord Black Star, Führer Mabrus has given me a secret order. Please follow me."
An officer who had been waiting for some time immediately came forward and led Han Xiao into the corridor.
Before long, the two arrived at a private laboratory where an expert team was also working on deciphering the code. However, unlike the team outside who were simply deciphering the contents of the encoded particles, this team was also responsible for finding the technical characteristics of the encoded particles. As soon as the door opened, Han Xiao heard the sounds of a heated debate inside.
"... The structural offset value of this particle is significantly too high, forming a typical three-branch ratio with the Marvel Reading. It exhibits characteristics of the Kapok Warp Technology and the Xibo Space Conversion, and is definitely an application based on the third theoretical model of particle physics!"
"It's just a resemblance! You've overlooked the wrinkles of dimensional transformation and the characteristics of nuclear force decay—this is clearly a technology that the Three Universal Civilizations have already phased out!"
Han Xiao turned his head and saw the expert group gathered around the experimental table, arguing loudly about the readings on the instruments.
The same theory can be extended to various applications, with different approaches leading to the same goal, but some technologies are similar in form and final result, but there are many differences in the actual use process. If you understand it in a less correct but simpler way, it is probably equivalent to the difference in stroke order and calligraphy fonts. For example, there are four ways to write the word "fennel", and there is naturally more than one way to transform particles...
By studying these technical characteristics, we can reverse-engineer the specific technology used in encoding particles. This is the key research project at present, attempting to narrow down the scope of suspects by examining the technology used in encoding particles.
Han Xiao made no attempt to conceal his footsteps and strode over. Only then did the expert team realize that an outsider had arrived. Upon seeing that it was Han Xiao, they all bowed their heads respectfully.
He glanced up at the coded particles floating on the experimental table and waved his hand.
"Alright, stop arguing, let me see what's going on."
"Please don't hesitate to tell us if you need anything."
The experts had no objections, stepped aside, and obediently gave up the experimental table behind them.
Black Star is not only the strongest individual force in the Galaxy, on par with the three leaders, but also one of the most outstanding scientists. These researchers have always been sincerely convinced of Black Star's abilities, and nearly half of the people present are his admirers. Normally, they are respected senior researchers, but at this moment, they are all willing to act as his assistants.
Han Xiao glanced at the readings, studied the encoded particles from the beginning, quickly analyzed various data in his mind, and soon locked onto several technologies. His expression changed slightly.
As far as he knew, these technologies seemed to be used by members of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, though the possibility of other forces imitating them could not be ruled out.
'If judged normally, the suspicion against the Super Star Cluster Alliance increases further, but it's also possible it's a deliberate frame-up... In that case, it seems more like a traitor within interstellar society.'
Han Xiao's mind raced, and he released Mechanical Force, connecting with the coded particles, and suddenly activated [Bold Explorer].
Buzz!
Han Xiao's vision suddenly changed, and he found himself in a research institute with a completely different style, where many researchers were operating equipment.
A huge device is humming as particles are unfolded in a low dimension, information is recorded, and then they are restored, transformed into coded particles, and injected into three white cylindrical containers.
Unable to control his perspective, he followed the movement of the three white tubes, which were then placed into a briefcase and sent into a groove of a material transfer device.
The next moment, his gaze shifted again, and he found himself in a secret underground base. There, he saw another matter transfer device. Then, a faint light flashed, and a white briefcase was transferred to him. Several life forms stepped forward, opened it, and revealed a white cylindrical tube inside.
Then, the view shifted again, and we arrived in outer space. A blue and black wormhole opened up before us, and three white tubes were thrown in. They passed through a dazzling spatial tunnel and flew out from the other end of the wormhole. Suddenly, the three white tubes burst with heat and exploded on their own, releasing an energy wave that ejected all the coded particles they contained.
In the final scene, a World Tree exploration team enveloped in green light appears in the distance.
The illusion abruptly ended, like ripples on a mirror, and Han Xiao's vision returned to normal.
"It seems to be about the various stages from the creation of these coded particles until they were intercepted by the World Tree..."
Han Xiao's eyes flickered.
Although the illusions provided by the [Bold Explorer] did not involve specific locations, Han Xiao was basically certain that a third party was behind it. There was no other reason than that the researchers glimpsed in the illusions were all unfamiliar species, and among the people receiving the white briefcases of material transmission, there was a race that should have disappeared from history long ago.
"The Lorxians, the intelligent species of the Lorl Civilization... The Lorl Civilization, the losers in the exploration history, were wiped out by the Three Universal Civilizations and should be extinct..."
Han Xiao pulled out the documents, lost in thought, and began to conjure up various possibilities in his mind.
From this perspective, the Lorl Civilization survived, and their goal must have been Revenge. They were not fighting alone; they also found allies. These intelligent species had never appeared in the history of the Three Universal Civilizations, so they must have been an alien civilization.
Judging from the level of detail in the encoded particles, this alien civilization must have been lurking and spying in the Explored Universe for many years, seemingly without ever being discovered.
'Tsk, another old nemesis from the exploration history. It seems the Three Universal Civilizations are constantly paying the price for their past misdeeds...'
Han Xiao subconsciously rubbed his fingertips.
In the previous World Tree War, this alien civilization did not appear and seemed not to interfere with the course of the war. Now, however, it has taken the initiative to betray the Three Universal Civilizations. Perhaps this alien civilization is in a different situation in different timelines, or perhaps the situation in the previous life did not require their intervention... Of course, Han Xiao is not sure whether this alien civilization took action in the previous life, as the player community does not have relevant information.
"Seeing that the Three Universal Civilizations are in the lead, they want to sabotage our strategy, undermine our advantages, and help the World Tree launch a full-scale invasion of us... This is partly Revenge through using someone else to do their dirty work, and partly an attempt to fish in troubled waters, wanting to hide in the shadows and watch the tigers fight, so that they can profit from the conflict. Tsk, their intentions are sinister."
Han Xiao secretly speculated about the motives of the alien civilization while pondering a solution.
Although he confirmed that a third party was behind it, he didn't know their location and couldn't follow the trail. If he launched a large-scale search, it might cause the alien civilization to withdraw all its infiltrators, completely cutting off the clues.
Moreover, without evidence, it would be difficult to convince the Three Universal Hooligans. Although, given his status, even without evidence, the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations would still value his statement, now that even he is being suspected, his credibility naturally needs to be reduced. At most, the three leaders would be skeptical.
[Information State Erasure] can reveal the connecting threads, but this is a destructive skill. It doesn't reveal the specifics or have the ability to trace the origin. Even if this batch of coded particles is eliminated, there are likely others on the World Tree side, making it impossible to resolve this situation. After all, this skill eliminates "individuals," not an entire "concept" or "collective." It won't cause the situation where killing one or two people leads to others forgetting about humanity as a whole.
In fact, the effect of [Information State Erasure] is very "precise" and will not have much impact on other information outside the target. Therefore, this move will have a rather peculiar effect on the split part of a similar whole.
If [Information State Erasure] were used on the coded particles in front of him, Han Xiao estimated that the result would be that the three leaders would remember that he took some things for research, but forget that he was researching coded particles, and the expert group present would also not remember what they were researching before, and these instrument readings would also be cleared.
If the other coded particles intercepted by the Three Universal Civilizations were also "erased," Han Xiao thought the result would likely be that the Three Universal Civilizations would forget the existence of the coded particles, but remember "something" that revealed the secret of the internal leak. As for the World Tree, it would remember that they gave "something" to the Three Universal Civilizations, but forget that what they gave away were coded particles, but it would not forget the portion of coded particles it possessed.
Han Xiao made a hypothesis: if the entire World Tree Civilization were eliminated using [Information State Erasure], the reaction of the Three Universal Civilizations would most likely not be bewilderment at "what have we been doing all these years," but rather, "We have barely defeated a cosmic-level civilization, but we can't remember what that civilization was called."
Therefore, [Information State Erasure] is very effective when dealing with individuals with informational differences (such as organisms). However, when dealing with individuals in a large group (such as a grain of sand in a desert or a gun in a batch of standard firearms), the resulting information gap can actually be deduced logically. For example, suppose the expert group forgets what they were researching before, but when they come to the experimental hall and see others researching coded particles, they can infer that they were probably also researching this thing before.
However, even if you deduce it logically, [Information State Erasure] still takes effect. You will subconsciously experience memory bias, rapid forgetting, subconscious neglect, and common sense fallacies. It's like remembering something, but suddenly forgetting it the next moment, unable to recall it no matter what you do. This happens all the time. It's like believing that the normal temperature of bath water is 80 degrees Celsius instead of 40 degrees Celsius, exhibiting a common sense bias that is difficult for you to perceive. Or it's like the legendary 1999 war...
"In short, we need to find a way to capture these lurkers. For now, we can only use conventional methods to secretly gather intelligence. It would be best to have more surveillance intelligence in the quantum network... They probably want to continue observing the aftermath of this tactic of using someone else to kill them. Seeing that the Three Universal Civilizations have suffered heavy losses, they probably haven't withdrawn."
"Sigh, if only I could retrieve the World Tree's Information State Warning Network; that thing is practically cutting-edge technology to prevent territorial infiltration."
Han Xiao shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless.
Compared to the World Tree, the territories of the Three Universal Civilizations are like sieves. Anyone can come and go as they please, and even leave something behind without the Three Universal Civilizations being able to detect it for a while. It's practically the standard setup for the victims.
He stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Both the World Tree and the third party aim to cause internal divisions within interstellar society, so the most important thing right now is to prevent the enemy's scheme from succeeding... However, the infiltrators cannot be found in the short term, and the suspicions of the Three Universal Civilizations cannot be dispelled, so it seems that we can only start with the suspects.
"It seems the Three Universal Civilizations are most suspicious of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and they happen to have ulterior motives behind the scenes, but I haven't figured out what's going on yet... If this causes misunderstandings between the two sides, the consequences could be severe."
Han Xiao was helpless.
I've always been the one to screw over the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and it's not the first time they've been unfairly blamed. But now it's the other way around; I need to find a way to reduce their suspicion and prevent them from becoming scapegoats...
What goes around comes around!