Then, humans on the Source Star experienced millions of years of ancient times and reached explosive growth over ten million years ago, passing through social structures like slavery and feudalism in just ten thousand years. They successfully left this Origin Planet, gradually moving to the more prosperous yet perilous Central Star Region, and after tens of millions more years of development, they branched into four different paths.

So, this desolate planet located on the edge of the Elliptical Star System is essentially the Origin Planet for four different races: the Mechanical Empire, Sublimers, Pilgrims, and Spirit Demon Race. However, it was abandoned nearly ten million years ago, and over that time, it has evolved a new ecological environment, returning to its primitive state.

Regardless of which branch of humanity it concerns, the Source Star is both the mother planet and a planet with no secrets nor actual special value.

The rare resources on the Source Star were fully exploited before humanity left, leaving behind only some "abandoned metals" that hadn't been entirely utilized amid the technological explosion.

The Empire decided to reactivate this mother planet located at its territorial edge not to reminisce the past but because it deemed the planet to lack strategic value and remain safe while offering some meager resources yet to be fully exploited. The natural environment here is also suitable for cultivating population and starship embryos, nothing more.

The stable and orderly development on the Source Star over the past thousand years has proven the judgment of the Colonial Minister; even the enemy's patrol teams are too lazy to visit here.

But inexplicably, just as they were about to reap the fruits and return to the Empire, these nine administrators were shocked to discover that not only were the Pilgrims infiltrating the Source Star, but even the tentacles of the Spirit Demon Race reached over at the last moment.

Yes, they did find some information related to Li Yang.

They also analyzed some phenomena.

On the surface, Li Yang's ability for psychological control was just a random genetic mutation, but after Ren Zhong, the remarkable Angel Envoy, gave them the answer, even the dumbest among them should infer the process from the result.

They are certain that Li Yang's so-called "mutation" was simply an extremely powerful Spirit Demon lurking not far from the Source Star System, influencing and cultivating the abilities of this synthetic human from the moment it was an infant.

This means, apart from the Sublimers, all three major powers, including the Empire, are involved. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The nine administrators even dare not voice their thoughts, but they feel—is there truly an unnoticed big secret on this human original mother planet, and have these humble small figures been ensnared in a colossal conspiracy?

That would indeed be very unfortunate.

"Forget it, though things are getting increasingly complicated, we do have a chance to turn the tables. Fortunately, the external communication function of the 'Net' hasn't been restored, so the Angel Envoy can't report everything happening here back to the Empire. Currently, the Empire doesn't know about the many foolish mistakes we've made."

"The strict laws of the Empire won't forgive our significant blunders; our clans will be shamed and punished for our stupidity. Of course, as long as we win in the end, there's still a chance to make amends. If we're utterly defeated, the Angel Envoy will also end as cosmic dust with us. The detailed process here will rot away in the universe, unknown to others."

"As long as we control the data in the Tracer's black box, we'll just appear in the Empire's records as having made the kind of error a regular C-level Tracer Colonial Administrator might make. C-level colonial actions inherently lack substantial military forces, encountering powerful Patrol Scouts is just us being too unlucky."

"Thank heavens, the Angel Envoy didn't bother to verify his authority in the Tracer's intelligence. Probably he initially thought he could repair the 'Net', so it wasn't necessary. We can conceal this to some degree."

"Some might harbor doubts, but surely with no way to confirm. The Empire wouldn't possibly seek verification from the Spirit Demon Race about a mere C-level colony's defeat process, right?"

"Yes, as long as we accurately record the events concerning the Spirit Demon Race in the black box, it's enough."

"As for whether the malfunction of the 'Net' and the issues with the Pilgrims need to be reported?"

"Let's leave this decision to the Angel Envoy; he's the one repairing the 'Net', he has the authority to decide. Of course, that's if he successfully manages to send the message..."

Inexplicably, the nine individuals have begun seriously considering their situation in case of failure.

They don't even plan to confess the 'Net' was once taken over by the Pilgrims.

There will surely be related records on the Empire's side, as according to the Angel Envoy, the cosmic hash value provided by the 'Net' was interrupted for a hundred years.

But anyway, this tragedy wasn't their fault.

They're just a bunch of pitiable grassroots administrators; they really have no qualification to compare with the S-level Wise Man among the Pilgrims.

Who could have guessed the waters of the Source Star were so deep that all kinds of demons and monsters would appear?

It's the crime of non-war.

They just want to cover up the fact mentioned in Ren Zhong's allegations that their greed for personal gain delayed the restoration of the 'Net' function.

In some sense, even though the Ice Sealing Army is still "fighting bitterly" outside, they already eagerly wish to accept total failure as soon as possible.

After all, if defeat is inevitable, a clean and thorough failure is better than a muddled and dragging one that allows the Angel Envoy to transmit their final critical errors to the Empire the moment they manage to reconnect with the 'Net'. At this point, Ma Zhongfei even regrets hastily repairing the brainwave link between the 'Net' and Ren Zhong; it's just too late for regrets now.