Chapter 317: The Void Gateway

Chapter 317: The Void Gateway

"Thank you for your assistance. This is my payment for your consultation."

Pharaoh Wang obtained the desired iteration plan for the superpower serum and raised his hand, gathering a clump of dark purple void energy, ready to destroy Clarence, the researcher.

Clarence's mechanical core quickly calculated the impending attack and spoke in a robotic voice, "There's a hidden secret within this superpower serum. If you promise not to destroy my mechanical core, I'll reveal it to you."

Pharaoh Wang, who was about to unleash the void energy in his palm, paused upon hearing this.

He had a good understanding of the thought processes of the mechanical civilization, which relied on calculations to reach conclusions.

As a result, most robots in the Sikes civilization rarely conveyed false information.

False information, when introduced into the network, would become data pollution, contaminating the information network.

The Sikes civilization even had specific laws prohibiting the input of false information into the network. The dissemination of false information beyond a certain extent was punishable.

Therefore, mechanical citizens of the Sikes civilization typically did not lie.

Lying, once connected to the network, could constitute a crime.

During mechanical transformations, manufacturers also refrained from programming the skill of lying into the system of mechanical cores.

Of course, even without this programming, the intelligent systems of the Sikes civilization could learn to lie through analysis and thought.

However, in daily life, Sikes mechanical citizens rarely spread false information, and this had become a habit.

In other words, when Clarence mentioned a hidden secret within the superpower serum, it was highly likely to be true.

Pharaoh Wang asked, "What secret is that?"

Clarence repeated, "You need to promise first that you won't destroy my mechanical core."

"I promise," said Pharaoh Wang.

"Within this superpower serum, there are several components that don't belong to your human technology but are of a higher civilization level. After analysis, it can be concluded that there's a 78.8% probability that the technology used in this serum includes Sikes civilization's biotechnology." Clarence revealed the conclusion from his previous analysis of the serum's components.

"I already knew that, and it's not considered a secret. You can die now," Pharaoh Wang was about to strike.

Clarence spoke again, "One of the components is very special, more like a technological mark, a sort of component signature. In other words, the technology you used has been marked."

Pharaoh Wang's hand froze upon hearing this information.

He immediately understood the implication after hearing the explanation.

There was a component signature in the superpower serum, akin to a technological mark.

This component signature technology had played a crucial role in the technological development of the Sikes civilization.

In a technological civilization, competition among tech companies was inevitable.

Instances of tech companies stealing each other's technology were not uncommon.

The component signature technology was invented to prevent such theft.

Signature technologies also evolved, and the more advanced they were, the harder they were to detect.

The highest level of technology in Xavier Matrix's fake data was 1.6, which was not considered cutting-edge in the Sikes civilization.

Therefore, the analysis equipment in this civilization easily identified the signature component in the superpower serum.

After hearing this information, Pharaoh Wang's mind raced with various speculations.

Who left the mark in the superpower serum? Was it the Sikes civilization?

The biotechnology data obtained by the Creator Organization came from Lu Heng, who acquired it from the Sikes civilization.

But why would the Sikes civilization leave a mark in the biotechnology data? Wait!

Pharaoh Wang suddenly realized a crucial point—the biotechnology data obtained by the Creator Organization did not include information about component signature technology.

Yet, the produced superpower serum contained signature components.

This signature mark must have been intentionally added.

Who added it?

What was the purpose?

His mind raced with thoughts, and the analyzed information kept growing.

Did Lu Heng (028) insert the signature mark?

He had a motive, but he didn't possess that technology.

The human civilization lacked the capability to insert such a signature mark into biotechnology data.

Soon, he considered another possibility.

It wouldn't be difficult for Lu Heng to obtain technology from the Sikes civilization and then acquire a trap-laden set of technological data.

At that moment, Pharaoh Wang had already guessed the truth.

As he guessed the truth, Lu Heng also knew that he had seen through it.

Lu Heng witnessed the entire process of the Creator Organization's pillage team coercing Clarence Researcher, including their conversation.

Therefore, when Clarence Researcher revealed the secret of the superpower serum, Lu Heng also heard it.

Lu Heng's mind raced with thoughts of a countermeasure.

This pillage team from the Creator Organization had discovered the secret of the fake data, but that didn't mean the entire organization was aware of it.

Since this pillage team was still in the Abyss Battlefield, the Creator Organization would only learn of this information once they returned.

In other words, there was still a chance to suppress this secret if they acted now.

However, silencing this pillage team would be extremely challenging.

It wasn't just a matter of dealing with this particular pillage team; they also had to consider the reaction of the Siks Civilization.

This was the capital of the Siks Civilization, Queen Star, a political and cultural center.

It was also the place where the Siks Civilization's military power was at its strongest.

If a fight broke out here, would the Siks Civilization simply stand by and do nothing?

To the Siks Civilization, all humans were considered alien life forms.

The Siks Civilization wouldn't differentiate between right and wrong among human factions; as long as a fight damaged their buildings and property, they would capture everyone involved, and if they couldn't be captured, they would open fire without hesitation.

Therefore, if a fight started, they would have to consider how to deal with the firepower of the Siks Civilization.

Of course, there was still a way.

After a quick mental calculation, Lu Heng said, "Professor, please send the evidence you just collected to the authorities and issue a wanted notice for this pillage team.

"At the same time, help me apply for assistance in the arrest, as quickly as possible."

After arranging these two tasks, Lu Heng pushed open the car door and said to his teammates, "Let's go. Muyu, break through their perception blockade and monitor the target. I'll go in first."

"Okay!" Su Muyu nodded in agreement, raised her hand, and with a single palm, controlled the Heavy Ming Bird to transform into a stream of light and fly into the Mars Tower to monitor the pillage team's location.

Lu Heng leaped and jumped onto the wall of the Mars Tower, instantly breaking the sound barrier, and ran along the outer wall towards the floor of the Clarence Organic Life Research Institute.

...

Meanwhile, inside the Clarence Organic Life Research Institute.

After hearing the secret within the superpower serum, Pharaoh Wang once again condensed void energy, intending to destroy this mechanical researcher.

The Clarence Researcher felt the danger again and spoke in a monotone electronic voice, uttering words that made Pharaoh Wang fall silent.

"You didn't keep your promise, so I must remind you that the superpower serum's iteration technology plan stored in the quantum storage device has been encrypted. You have only two ways to unlock it: either obtain my digital signature by force or pay 2.3 million Galactic Circle Currency for the decryption key."

Pharaoh Wang's expression behind his golden mask turned grim upon hearing these words.

The goal of this operation was to obtain the iteration technology plan for the superpower serum, and without unlocking it, the data would be useless.

As for forcibly breaking the encryption, even a fool would know it was impossible.

If humans had the ability to crack the Siks Civilization's encrypted data, would they have gone through so much trouble to steal it?

Pharaoh Wang threatened, gripping the void energy, "Unlock it now!"

Clarence Researcher continued to respond in a monotone, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "If you successfully obtain my digital signature, the technology data will unlock in 30 minutes. However, if you destroy my mechanical core, the digital signature will be rendered useless."

Pharaoh Wang desperately wanted to crush the annoying robot before him, but obtaining the technology data was more important than venting his anger.

The reason he had become the leader of the team was that he possessed a wisdom that was calmer and more rational than others.

So, he retracted the void energy and decided to wait until the technology data was unlocked.

At this moment, the blue-blooded man with a blue totem mask, a sensory member of the team, entered and reported the situation outside.

The blue-blooded man was a sensory expert, proficient in both mental and sensory abilities.

In all of human civilization, there were no more than a handful of sensory experts who could match his abilities.

He entered and reported, "The people outside are coming in. It's 028's team. Should I give him an order to stop him from entering?"

Pharaoh Wang spoke in a deep voice, "You can try, but he won't listen. He probably wants to eliminate us."

The blue-blooded man was a bit surprised and asked, "Is 028 that arrogant?"

Pharaoh Wang scoffed, "He's not just arrogant; he doesn't even put us in his eyes, and he even dares to toy with the organization."

"I won't bother explaining the Super Ability Serum. It's too complicated."

The burly Redbeard, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke up, "Let me meet this 028. It's been a while since I've faced an opponent who can take a punch from me."

The Blueblood shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not possible. All the mechanical guards within a three-kilometer radius are converging here. It seems the Siks Civilization is making its move."

"Let's get out of here first."

Pharaoh Wang flipped his palm, producing a staff that gathered Essence Energy. He drew a circle in the air, creating sparks as the staff rubbed against the air.

Upon completing the circle, a Void Gateway formed.

The Pillage Team members quickly entered the gateway and vanished within.

Just then, Lu Heng phased through the wall and rushed into the laboratory of the Clarence Organic Life Research Institute. By the time he was ready to draw his sword and attack, it was already too late.

Pharaoh Wang grabbed Clarence Researcher with one hand and held the staff in the other, gesturing to Lu Heng before retreating into the Void Gateway.

The gateway slowly closed.

"028, you're more difficult to control than I anticipated," Pharaoh Wang said.

Lu Heng lunged forward, reaching out, but the gateway closed instantly, and he grabbed nothing.

Su Muyu's voice came through the communicator, "There are hundreds of mechanical guards surrounding us. Should we retreat?"

"Yuan Yaoyao?" Lu Heng asked.

Yuan Yaoyao's voice came through the communicator, "We don't have to retreat. We've obtained the assistance in the arrest permit, and we have official alien visas."

"Then we're not in a hurry," Lu Heng said, looking around to see if he could find any information about the Pillage Team.

Just then, a device on the experimental platform, resembling an indoor environmental controller, suddenly activated and projected an image of Xavier Matrix on a light screen.

"I've seen the official Siks Civilization's files on you. They are quite comprehensive, including all the information from your last Summoning Event. Currently, your file evaluation is friendly. If you wish to make contact with the authorities, you can try."

Lu Heng sighed as he looked around, "That mechanical researcher was taken away."

Xavier Matrix spoke calmly, "As long as this Pillage Team wants technology data, they won't be able to destroy this researcher.

"Based on the researcher's intelligence brain system calculations, the key won't be provided until a 100% safe solution is calculated.

"Unless this Pillage Team doesn't want the technology data and forcibly destroys him."

"Alright."

Lu Heng noticed an interesting phenomenon; the mechanical citizens of the Siks Civilization usually didn't spread false information, but they could be tricky to deal with at times.

Especially for a robot like Clarence Researcher, who was renowned for his computational abilities, it wasn't easy to outsmart him.

Of course, if Pharaoh Wang was ruthless enough to give up the technology data he had already obtained, he could destroy the researcher in minutes.

...

A few minutes later, the first batch of mechanical guards entered the Clarence Organic Life Research Institute. After spotting Lu Heng, they performed a full-scale scan.

"I've applied for an assistance in arrest permit. The case information here is also reported by me," Lu Heng stated.

After scanning Lu Heng, the mechanical guard emitted a mechanical electronic sound, "Authentication successful. Identity: Lu Heng, alien lifeform. Assistance in arrest permit applied 5 minutes and 13 seconds ago, and approval has been granted.

"The crime scene is now under the jurisdiction of the mechanical guards. Please leave immediately and refrain from taking any items from the scene."

Lu Heng had already surveyed the surroundings and found no clues to track the Pillage Team.

With the scene now under the control of the mechanical guards, Lu Heng saw no reason to stay. He walked past the guards and left the institute.

...

Stepping out of the Mars Tower, Jane Qing approached and asked, "How did it go?"

She had been leading the team outside, monitoring the situation.

However, the Pillage Team from the Creator Organization had directly left through the Void Gateway, never appearing outside the tower.

Lu Heng shook his head, "Our opponent is quite troublesome. That Pharaoh Wang is actually a Void Mage."

Earlier, at the Clarence Organic Life Research Institute, Lu Heng had witnessed the Void Gateway opened by Pharaoh Wang and recognized it at a glance.

This Void Gateway was precisely the Essence Energy ability of a Third Rank Proficiency Void Mage. As long as the beacon for the gateway was set up in advance, it could be opened at any time to teleport back to the beacon's location.

This Pillage Team was not ordinary; they could be considered one of the top Ability User teams in human civilization.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end