【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 411 [Empire] Green Heart

"You shouldn't be here."

I spun around, only to see a figure slowly stepping out of the shadows. It was the cyborg. His eyes flashed a cold blue light, and behind him, the aliens also appeared, full of fighting posture, clearly harboring ill intentions.

"It seems you're also interested in the secrets here." The cyborg sneered, "However, outsiders are not welcome here, especially intruders like you."

Nightingale stood tall, undeterred, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We are only here to investigate the missing researcher. We have no ill intentions. Please allow us to pass."

"Investigation? Your arrival will only bring more trouble." He responded coldly, and the energy weapon in his hand began to slowly charge, ready to launch an attack at any time.

I gripped my weapon nervously, feeling the sudden increase in tension around me. "Nightingale, be careful!"

Nightingale took a fighting stance and responded calmly. "Don't worry, we're prepared."

Just as the two sides were on the verge of a showdown, the energy core within the device suddenly began to fluctuate violently, emitting a blinding light. The entire control room was instantly enveloped by a powerful energy field, distorting the light and seeming to tear space apart.

"What happened?" I exclaimed, feeling a powerful force surging in the air.

The cyborg's eyes widened, clearly shocked by this sudden change. "This is... impossible!"

At that moment, a dazzling beam of light burst out from the energy core, pointing directly at the cyborg and his followers. The power of the energy wave instantly repelled them, forcing them to step back and retreat to the side in embarrassment.

"It seems that the power in the core area has gotten out of control." Nightingale analyzed calmly, "We must shut down this system immediately to quell this chaos."

He quickly ran to the control console and began emergency operations. As he directed, the energy fluctuations throughout the control room gradually weakened, and the light beam gradually dissipated. The cyborg and his followers took the opportunity to escape, disappearing into the shadows.

"Okay, shut down the system now." Nightingale said calmly, finally restoring peace in the control room.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Although the tension just now was still frightening, Nightingale's decisiveness and calmness made everything go smoothly. "Do we need to continue investigating?"

He nodded. "Yes. The missing researcher may be involved in a larger conspiracy. We must find more clues to uncover the truth."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders, but my heart was filled with determination. "No problem, I'll do my best."

Nightingale smiled with relief.

We searched the place thoroughly, but didn't find anything crucial. However, in a corner beneath the stone bricks, we discovered a battle plant's energy source, a nuclear energy source that resembled a human heart.

I crouched down, carefully examining this energy core. Its appearance was indeed quite similar to a human heart, but the material was entirely different. Beneath the transparent outer shell, I could vaguely see the intricate patterns and shimmering light within. Clearly, this wasn't just any ordinary energy core.

"What is this?" I asked cautiously, my eyes still attracted by the heart-shaped energy.

Nightingale walked over, examined it carefully for a moment, and then whispered, "It looks like the energy source of a battle plant's nuclear essence, but it's clearly been specially modified. Perhaps it's for some specific purpose, or perhaps it's related to the missing researcher."

I nodded, feeling a vague unease. "If this energy source is related to his research, then what is its purpose? Why is it here?"

Nightingale pondered for a moment, then said, "There are probably several possibilities. First, this may be part of his research, attempting to combine the energy of combat plants with human biology to create more powerful warriors, weapons, or defense systems. Second, it may be related to some kind of energy conversion device used to control or regulate the defense system here. Third, it is not ruled out that it is related to a larger conspiracy, perhaps involving other star field technologies or supernatural forces."

I took a deep breath, feeling the pressure on my shoulders grow heavier. "Whatever the possibility, this energy source could be the key to solving this whole incident. We need to take it away and conduct further research."

Nightingale nodded, her eyes steady and composed. "That's right. But we must be careful. Taking it away might trigger some of its defense mechanisms or cause more trouble."

I carefully removed the energy core and found its weight and texture were completely different from ordinary energy cores. It felt as if a certain life force flowed through it. As soon as I lifted it, it began to pulse faintly, as if responding to my movements.

The "heart" is beating.

"We'd better leave here immediately," Nightingale whispered, looking around vigilantly, "otherwise, the situation may become more complicated."

We quickly returned to the control room and relocked the door to ensure no one else could break in again. Nightingale carefully placed the refined nuclear energy into a specially crafted container. The surface of the container flickered with a blue light, seemingly protecting the energy core within, or perhaps keeping it tightly sealed.

"Now, we need to analyze the structure and function of this energy source," he turned to me, a hint of urgency in his tone. "Perhaps understanding it will lead us to the key to the missing researcher."

I nodded, sensing the immense secret hidden behind this energy source. "Okay, let's go to the lab and analyze it now."

Nightingale waved, signaling me to follow him. We quickly left the abandoned research facility and returned to our temporary base. The night wind was still biting, but my heart was filled with an unprecedented, restless heat. Holding this mysterious energy in my hand, I knew that every step I took would determine our fate, and the fate of our target.

Returning to the lab, we immediately connected the Essence Energy source to the analytical equipment. Complex data and graphs quickly flashed across the screen, revealing the energy source's components and energy flow. Nightingale observed the data intently, a frown on her face.

"This energy source isn't just a carrier of energy," he whispered. "It seems to possess some sort of self-repair and evolutionary abilities. In other words, it can adapt to different environmental conditions and adjust itself to maintain optimal energy output."

I looked at the screen carefully, my confusion growing. "Does this mean this energy source possesses some kind of intelligence? Or is it a continuation of some biological organism?"

Nightingale didn't answer immediately, but continued studying the data. "It's possible. The advanced properties of this energy far exceed our current technological level. It could have come from a more advanced civilization, or it could have been accidentally triggered by the missing researcher during an experiment."

I was shocked. I knew this heart-shaped energy source wouldn't be unusual, but I hadn't expected it to be this abnormal. "If this energy source is truly intelligent, is it directly related to the researcher's disappearance?"

Nightingale nodded. "It's possible. We need to investigate further to see if this energy source is related to the research project he was working on. Perhaps this is the reason for his disappearance... or he was forced to participate in some experiment beyond his capabilities."

I took a deep breath, feeling a growing sense of responsibility. "No matter what, we must find the truth."

Nightingale looked at me with a soft look in her eyes. "You have taken a very important step."