Thirty seconds before Ding Canghai discovered the anomaly, Ren Zhong was chatting idly with Sun Ai.

Sun Ai said, "According to your request, I suspended Ding Canghai's wristwatch's automatic time synchronization function and focused on monitoring the time axis of the Third Reconnaissance Army. By utilizing the time difference in their attempt to rebuild the frontline information flow communication network, I calculated a strange piece of data. There's a problem with the transmission speed of the information flow; this data doesn't match up."

Ren Zhong: "What do you mean?"

"After calculation, the transmission speed of the information flow over at the Third Fleet is approximately ten light years per second. But earlier, when I attempted communication with South Nine Star right after departing from Source Star, the feedback information I received from South Nine Star arrived in 0.404 seconds. At that time, the distance between both sides was approximately 4 light years. If we go by the speed calculated now, this time difference should have been 0.8 seconds, which is contradictory. There's only one explanation: there's two transmission speeds for the information flow between Source Star and South Nine Star. One is ten light years per second, and the other is a thousand light years per second. The boundary of these two speeds is right at the position 2 light years away from Source Star."

Ren Zhong frowned and began to ponder.

The depth of information flow exceeding the speed of light must be even deeper than the underlying level of weak electromagnetic interaction, which is a fundamental force.

He couldn't figure out how the weak electromagnetic interaction was being altered, much less understand what kind of strength could silently change the speed of information flow.

Strangely, although he still knew nothing, he already envisioned a scene in his mind.

The Source Star System quietly hovered in space.

A transparent sphere with a radius of 2 light years enveloped the star system, isolating this section of space from the vast outer universe.

"2 light years, the radius of the observable gravitational influence of the sun is approximately 2 light years. The mass of the Source Sun is close to that of the sun, so the gravitational range should be consistent. There's a force enveloping this 2 light year radius range, even changing the speed of information flow. What is this strength? What's the purpose? What does it signify? Is it a naturally occurring cosmic phenomenon or man-made?"

Ren Zhong pondered in his heart.

He then gave a new order to Sun Ai, "Xiao Ai, use your regular 'Net' permissions to query three pieces of information in the publicly available data of the Royal Academy of Sciences."

"What?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Ren Zhong gritted his teeth, "Verify whether the electron clouds of the entire Ancient Disk Galaxy have a regular dodecahedral structure, the accurate transmission speed of the information flow, and the information flow transmission speed in the Source Star region thirty years ago."

"This... you used to not let me check this, saying there was a risk of exposing anomalies. Why the change of heart now?" Sun Ai asked, slightly surprised.

Just then, Ren Zhong received an alert from the Third Reconnaissance Army.

Ding Canghai synchronized the front-line intelligence, revealing that within mere seconds, hundreds of reconnaissance ships had suddenly lost contact without reason.

Ren Zhong was momentarily taken aback, then showed a relieved smile, "It's okay, it was because the timing wasn't ripe before. Now is the right time to check. As for exposure, it doesn't matter anymore. This information is more important."

Anyway, with the pursuers already arrived, death will just lead to restarting, everything will revert, checking it doesn't matter.

Although Sun Ai was still confused, he executed Ren Zhong's order.

Half a second later, Sun Ai said, "All electron clouds in the Ancient Disk Galaxy, regardless of compound type, do indeed have a regular dodecahedral structure. The standard transmission speed of information flow is 1,000 light years per second, which is a universal cosmic constant and has always been like this. This has never changed in Source Star or any other region."

Upon hearing this, Ren Zhong's shoulders suddenly relaxed.

He exhaled deeply and leaned back in his chair.

His heart was like thunder.

He murmured to himself, "I understand now."

Sun Ai quickly asked, "What do you understand?"

Ren Zhong's lips moved slightly, "Nothing... nothing."

"You're keeping it from me again, how annoying. Ah! As expected, it triggered a chain reaction. The Empire Super Network is trying to break through my defense via the South Nine Star node, verifying my time axis to probe why I am querying the information flow transmission speed within the region range. In the entire history of the Empire, no one has ever checked such a question, it's like checking whether one plus one equals two, it's common knowledge. I got exposed as soon as I checked!"

Ren Zhong waved his hand, "It's okay, cut off the communication."

"Phew, that was close, it's already cut off, I nearly got breached."

Ren Zhong exhaled again, then said: "Hmm, I need to think about it myself first."

"Hey... Uncle, you..." Sun Ai mumbled a few words but didn't ask further.