The Research Center

The structure of the Xiuwa Base was like a sliced egg. The outer perimeter, guarded by tens of thousands of soldiers, formed the most heavily defended area, serving both as protection and isolation. The core was the Xiuwa Research Center, housing the Empire's most cutting-edge technology. The two domains existed independently, never interfering with each other; low-level soldiers were not even aware of the Research Center's existence. From this perspective, it was hard to tell whether the base was established for the important city of Xiuwa or for the Research Center itself.

Casey, dressed in a white robe, was ecstatic upon seeing Lin Yilan and actually rushed up to give her a hug.

Her usually nerdy friend had become so enthusiastic; it seemed he had indeed been cooped up for too long. Lin Yilan smiled and accepted his incoherent expressions. After a long while, Casey finally remembered the key point.

"Heavens, I thought I'd never see an old friend again in this lifetime. How did you get in?"

The Research Center was a top-secret area of the base, heavily guarded. Low-ranking officers had no right to enter. The epaulets of her old friend before him indicated she was only a private; there was no reason she could appear in the reception area of the Research Center. "Also, how could you be a soldier? I remember..."

Questions followed one after another. Yilan smiled slightly. "My rank is Major."

"Major? But your epaulets..."

"Father ordered me to train at the bottom and forbade me from wearing my rank, but my transfer file retained my grade." She pulled a chain out from under her clothes. An oval metal tag was inlaid with a crystal of a specific color corresponding to her rank. "Luckily, entry qualifications are verified by identity tags." Earlier, the gate guard's eyes had nearly popped out.

"Making you be a soldier?" Casey found it inconceivable. "What on earth is your father thinking?"

"Never mind me. With your graduation scores back then, you could have picked anywhere. How did you end up in Xiuwa?"

"It's all that damn mentor's fault." Casey's thoughts were diverted, and he sighed with immense depression. "He told me the environment was first-class and the pay was generous. In a moment of dizziness, I filled out the application, and now I'm stuck in this hellhole, unable to move. You know the bastard rules here; let alone going home, I can't even leave the main gate of the Research Center! My family has to go through three or four inspections just to send me things, and half of it gets swallowed by those damn military police! It's worse than prison..."

Casey grew more indignant as he spoke. Lin Yilan listened to his complaints sympathetically for a long time before finding a gap to interject.

"I went back to the Imperial Capital a couple of days ago. Just in time for your sister's wedding."

"What! So soon?" Casey was endlessly sentimental and sad. "Is Jasmine beautiful? Was the wedding grand? My parents..."

The endless questions stopped when a small portrait was handed to him.

The artist was very attentive. In the portrait, slightly larger than a palm, the details were finely drawn. The beautiful bride smiled sweetly surrounded by family. Her hands, wearing long embroidered lace gloves, held a shiny silver knife, working with the handsome groom to cut through the tiered cake. Flowers and silver candles created a dreamlike scene.

"Jasmine asked me to pass on a message: the groom ate your share of the cake for you, and it tasted very good." Lin Yilan relayed faithfully. "She also said that a gift from her brother is a must. You can give it to her when you go back."

Mumbling incoherently, Casey's eyes turned red. Lin Yilan pretended not to see, admiring the decorations on the wall instead.

Staring at the portrait for a long time, Casey sniffled. "I didn't expect Jasmine to marry so early. I don't know if that guy treats her well. He doesn't look like much, and he's not tall either. It's really an eyesore seeing him with Jasmine."

Typical brotherly bias. Lin Yilan couldn't help but be amused. "Casey, they are a good match."

Looking at it again and again reluctantly, Casey finally remembered there was another person in front of him. "Thank you. If they had mailed it, it might have been delayed for months. Yilan, you are always so thoughtful."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while longer, Lin Yilan was about to take her leave.

"Yilan." Casey rarely met old friends and was quite reluctant to let her go. "It just so happens I'm off today. I'll take you into the center for a look. When you return to the Imperial Capital in the future, you can let my family know a bit about it. You know which parts are confidential, so it should be fine."

A tour of the base's most mysterious Research Center? Lin Yilan was slightly stunned, and a vague curiosity arose.

Casey handed over a small triangular golden badge. "Pin this on your lapel. The guards will shoot anyone without an identification marker. Triggering the alarm would be troublesome."

She took it and pinned it on as told. "So strict. What exactly are you researching?"

Passing through two checkpoints, scanning her identity tag again, and with Casey showing his pass, they finally stepped into the research area.

The vast hall was magnificent and spectacular. Statues of saints stood atop giant stone pillars. Luxurious crystal chandeliers twinkled like clusters of stars. The towering dome was painted with scenes of creation from mythology: rolling clouds, surging seas, continents rising from the spray, and gods witnessing the magnificent glory of the new century from the clouds.

"Casey, is this really a research center? The Council is certainly generous to you." Lin Yilan exclaimed in surprise. "Now I understand why you came here."

Casey was quite proud of this. "The conditions at the Xiuwa Research Center are the best in the country. Even the Imperial Capital can't compare."

"The reason?" Turmoil in Xiuwa City had been longstanding. Concentrating the Empire's premier elite in a city rife with chaos was by no means a wise move.

"Xiuwa is special." Casey smiled mysteriously, revealing the key. "It produces a substance essential for research—a rare high-frequency energy crystal. It's unique; a small piece can release immense energy, but its composition is extremely unstable and difficult to transport over long distances. We are trying to find a way to utilize it safely."

"Just utilizing crystals? Then why the need for such secrecy?"

"Dear Yilan, the energy from this crystal can be applied in many areas, far beyond your imagination." Casey walked through the spacious corridor, nodding to the researchers he met. "The Council has other reasons for keeping it secret."

Lin Yilan scanned her surroundings habitually, secretly surprised. The heavy guard felt less like protection for a research area and more like protection for the Emperor's bedchamber.

Casey stopped in front of a door and coughed theatrically.

"Yilan, although I know your personality, I still have to remind you to stay calm and not scream."

The silver-gray door opened gradually. Before she could respond, she was thoroughly shocked.

Pushing open the door revealed an enormous space.

Overhead lights cast a soft glow. In the center stood a colossal machine, several stories high, like a giant beast forged of steel plates and screws. The iron-gray body was densely covered with gauges and needles of unknown purpose, glowing faintly. Thick cables hung from the machine, winding like giant pythons connecting everything. In the center of the machine was a grid-like silver scaffold holding an entire crystal cover. Inside rested a fist-sized crystal. Its pure blue resembled a frozen sea, flashing with unstable light, flickering on and off, casting a hazy pale blue hue over the crystal cover. Two long, slender probes were fixed at both ends of the crystal, controlling the output energy. The characteristic hum of machinery indicated it was in operation.

Looking down from where they stood, more than a dozen researchers dressed in white robes like Casey were working intently, calibrating various unheard-of machines and recording experimental data one by one. Screens flickered with images, reflecting a blurry cold light.

Casey led her down the spiral staircase, pointing things out along the way. She heard nothing. The awe-inspiring giant machine occupied all her attention. It took a long time for her to come back to her senses.

"What is this device?"

Casey looked at her with pity. "It seems you didn't remember a word I said. Understandable. Everyone is the same the first time they step in here."

She tried to recall. "High-frequency energy conversion? You've been researching this? I remember your major in school seemed to be..."

"No. Although this is enough to surprise you, what I research is even more—" Casey stopped himself, looking regretful. "Actually, my involvement isn't here. That place has a higher clearance level and stricter management. If possible, I really want to show you. That is the ultimate challenge humanity can undertake."

"This is already amazing." She understood Casey's concerns and had no desire to pry further.

Casey laughed, hands in the pockets of his white robe, introducing various machines to her. He skimmed over the difficult technical terms, speaking concisely and clearly.

"...These instruments are measuring and controlling the most stable frequency of the crystal, trying to find a way to avoid energy flow turbulence and collapse while protecting the physical structure. Stability adjustment is the most troublesome part. Once this crystal starts outputting energy, it can't even touch the air. Its value is astounding, but the difficulty of controlling it is also immense..."

Lin Yilan was surprised by the detailed explanation.

"Casey, since this isn't the department you are responsible for, how do you know so much?"

"We research the same type of crystal, just involving different methods of utilization. We often exchange data to facilitate the next step of research. After a few years, I'm qualified to be a competent commentator." Casey's gaze turned to the blue-flashing crystal in the center of the machine, filled with longing and sighs.

"Yilan, although the technical principles of energy collection are complex, the research has been very successful, almost mature. The power it generates is enough to cause drastic changes in the Empire. Unfortunately, due to Council orders and certain interests, it cannot be put into application. Regarding confidentiality, I can only tell you a very small part. The Xiuwa Base is incredibly important in the eyes of His Majesty the Emperor and the Council precisely because of the various researches in the center. Hidden here is the future of the Sear Empire—no, it should be the future of all mankind."