Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 985 - 685: The Out of Control Ones (2)

Xing Zhuo's hologram stood in the center of the council, his voice heavy: "The Traitor Fleet has been confirmed as part of the Alliance's Combined Standing Force Seventh Division. The entire crew returned after the last battle against the Bug Race with no abnormal behavior records. However, battle data shows that after the Bug Race fleet launched an attack, the spiritual energy fluctuations synchronized with the appearance of the Bug Race bio-ships reached a peak value."

"The Bug Race has already infiltrated the Alliance's military system." Another representative in a military uniform slammed the table, "We must initiate the Purge Protocol and conduct spiritual energy screening on all frontline troops!"

However, some secret groups met covertly after the public council session ended.

"Bai E's value has exceeded the scope of 'weapon'." An old voice spoke, "He can single-handedly defeat a Bug Race sub-fleet, yet in the future, he could become the Alliance's greatest instability factor."

"But the populace and half the member states already see him as a beacon of hope," another coldly replied, "To act against him now is tantamount to destroying the Great Wall."

The third person chuckled softly, their voice as slick as a serpent: "So we need an 'accident' — for instance, the next Bug Race attack happening just as the Star Alliance Review Group arrives at Mine Star. If Bai E is 'unfortunately' killed by the Bug Race in the defense of Mine Star, he will become a hero, and Mine Star, losing its core defensive power, will fail the review..."

"And then? Mine Star gets devoured by the Bug Race?"

"No, the Bug Race will be repelled by the 'timely arrival' of the Alliance's Combined Fleet. Mine Star will be designated as a 'protected civilization' due to 'lack of self-preservation ability', and will be 'managed' by the Alliance. As for the resource distribution during the custodianship period, technology patents, and the research on Bai E's remains..."

He didn't finish, but the other two in the secret room already understood.

"But will the Bug Race cooperate?"

"They don't need to cooperate. We just need to leak certain 'information' through specific channels, such as the weak points of Mine Star's orbital defense net, Bai E's spiritual energy fluctuation frequency characteristics, and the exact arrival time of the Review Group... The Bug Race would be interested in such prey, don't they have 'eyes' among us?"

"The risk is too great. If the Bug Race breaks through the defenses, it could affect the entire Star Domain."

"That's why we need a reserve force to save the day at the critical moment..."

"Do our people have that kind of ability?"

"Those elves... might be interested in such matters."

...

After the battle of Karian, the development of Mine Star entered a brief lull.

As the transport fleet from the Karian Federation arrived at Mine Star's orbit, Catherine stood atop the newly built spaceport command tower, looking relieved.

The bet agreement with Golden Swallow Company remained effective, but the payer had become the Karian Federation... part of their gratitude for Bai Er's rescue.

Outside the porthole, dozens of heavy industrial ships were delivering crates of nano construction units, ecological cycle modules, and fusion energy cores to the planet's surface.

"The first batch of material list includes: blueprints for three orbital shipyards, five sets of geocore energy collection systems, and..."

Silver raindrops of nano construction units landed in the designated zones, automatically unfolding into basic frameworks upon landing, where engineering robots swarmed in to reinforce them.

Ecological cycle modules were placed in canyons near Mine Star's equator, with pale blue energy membranes slowly expanding, generating breathable atmosphere within.

The steel framework of the orbital shipyard extended day by day beneath the starry sky, like a skeleton of steel; the ecological cycle modules operated steadily, providing breathable air and a stable water source to some areas.

The miners now had sturdier housing, more ample food, and alongside construction, training, and learning... a gradual yet solid order was being established on this once hopeless planet.

The Karian envoy handed a data pad to Catherine, speaking respectfully, "President Edwin has additionally granted access to the 'Star Alliance Junior Civilization Transition Library'. The survival of five billion sentient beings, thanks to Mr. Bai Er, is worth us giving our all."

Catherine watched the rapid progress of construction on the data pad, silently noting: "The first batch of residential areas will meet occupancy standards within 48 hours, with 30% of the orbital shipyard's basic framework completed..."

The woman wearing golden-rimmed glasses laughed lightly during the communication with Catherine: "It seems your star has found a generous sponsor. But the terms of the agreement won't change — within a year, Mine Star must meet the Level 1 Sovereign Civilization standard. Karian's assistance can only accelerate construction, not replace your passing the Star Alliance's 'Cultural Autonomy Audit'."

"Yes, the problem doesn't lie with the pace of construction." Gong Yan's voice came through the communication channel, as she reviewed the latest reports in the Golden Swallow Company's office.

"Karian Federation's aid means basic materials are no longer in short supply, but the Star Alliance's 'Cultural Autonomy Audit' requires us to demonstrate independent technological research capabilities, cultural identity, and military self-defense systems. Karian's engineers can help us build, but they cannot design for us."

She pulled up a file marked in red: "The most challenging is the 'cultural identity' — the Star Alliance demands the declaration of the planet's primary civilization's origins, historical development, and philosophical ideas. Mine Star only has miners, pirate remnants, and us outsiders, without history, without literature, nor even a coherent legend."

Catherine pressed her forehead.

There was no choice, although Mine Star's development was already in high gear, the challenges remained endless.

Building a universe-level sovereign nation from scratch is not a simple task.

After a series of disheartening troubles, Victor entered the command tower bringing good news: "The Seventh Legion has expanded to three hundred twenty members, all completing basic training on second-generation mecha. But there's bad news... during training, a new recruit's spiritual energy went out of control, almost detonating the mecha's energy core."

Catherine frowned with concern, but didn't take it too seriously, "Let him get some good rest."

The planet's development doesn't relate much to individual prowess; as a leader, Bai E found himself quite idle during this calm period of development.

He mostly stayed in the command center or the newly built training field, making significant decisions, but mostly meditating and recovering.

The battle at Karian consumed him greatly, draining not just spiritual energy, but mental will and some deeper forces.

He needed time to absorb and digest everything from that battle —

Whether insights into the use of power, or warnings brought by the Bug Race and the Traitor Fleet.

On this day, Xing Zhuo's communication request came through.

The background showed him aboard a Thousand Stars Commerce Alliance research vessel, with the typical merchant's smile on his face, but his eyes held an almost imperceptible weariness.

"Mr. Bai Er, Mine Star's development is promising, congratulations." Xing Zhuo's opening remark was polite and perfunctory.

"Thank you." Bai E responded blandly, "Your contact at this time should be for more than just small talk."

Xing Zhuo's smile faded, replaced by a slightly worried expression. "Indeed. Apart from monitoring Mine Star's progress, I mainly came to discuss with you the recent... odd activities within the Star Domain."

He shared an encrypted briefing with Bai E.

The briefing listed over twenty independently reported 'anomalous events' recently within the Peak Alliance's Star Domain.

Event locations were scattered, involving multiple member states, all with similar characteristics:

Spiritual Ability Users suddenly experiencing unexplained spiritual energy loss of control outside combat or high-pressure environments.

"At a Lorin Collective fringe outpost, a mid-level Spiritual Ability User responsible for communications maintenance had a spiritual energy outburst while on night duty, destroying half of the communications array and falling into a deep coma."

"On a Thunder Dragon Empire commercial star, a spiritual energy craftsman was crafting a spiritual energy ornament when it suddenly exploded, incinerating the craftsman's own spiritual energy, with high concentrations of chaotic spiritual energy residue detected on-site."

"Within a Blood Cry Empire training camp, three new Spiritual Ability Users experienced collective loss of control during routine meditation, attacking each other, resulting in one death and two serious injuries. The survivors were mentally deranged, muttering incomprehensible dreams."

"Even within our Thousand Stars Commerce Alliance, there were two similar reports: one on a transport fleet, another at a research outpost. Both were promptly controlled without causing significant damage, but..." Xing Zhuo paused, emphasizing, "The frequency is too high. In past years, such concentrated spiritual energy loss of control incidents were rare, yet in the past month they've been occurring repeatedly."

"Mr. Bai Er, do you think... it might be related to the Bug Race?"