bookbashuk Chapter 29 Please Chapter
Chapter 29 Please Chapter
Ruan Mei sighed and took out a small metal box from her experimental bag.
"Fortunately, as a scholar who often needs to conduct field investigations in various 'uncivilized' star systems, I always keep this kind of thing on hand."
She opened the box, inside which were dozens of transparent film patches neatly stacked.
"This is a portable synesthetic beacon. Simply attach it to the skin near the vocal organs, and it will convert the other person's language into signals that we can understand through neural resonance."
Nguyen Mai took out a piece and walked up to the messenger who was still gesturing anxiously.
"Excuse me."
She raised her hand and gently pressed the patch onto the messenger's carapace-covered neck.
The messenger was clearly startled; all six of its legs retracted simultaneously, and its tentacles trembled violently.
But it did not attack.
Perhaps it was because they sensed that Ruan Mei did not have any murderous intent, or perhaps it was the instinct called "politeness" that was at play.
"Now."
Nguyen Mai took a step back.
"You can speak now."
The envoy was taken aback.
It opened its two hard mouthparts and made that "click" sound again.
But in everyone's minds, that voice was instantly replaced by the gentle male voice from before.
"...Did everyone understand?"
"I understand, I understand!"
March 7th nodded repeatedly and even gave the messenger a thumbs up.
"Now we don't have to play riddles anymore!"
The envoy visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Its two forelimbs came together, and it performed that strange gesture once again.
"Thank you for coming. I am number 7582, and it is an honor to guide you on a tour of our home – the Crystal City of Treme-IV."
"that……"
Danheng did not forget the important matter.
He took a step forward, trying to steer the conversation back to the original question.
"Regarding the 'distress signal' mentioned earlier, and the unusual fluctuations in this galaxy..."
"Ah, look at that dome over there!"
The messenger suddenly turned around and pointed to the top of his head in a slightly exaggeratedly enthusiastic tone.
"That's formed from a special biological gel secreted by our people. It not only insulates against the high pressure of the deep sea but also filters out harmful radiation. Isn't it beautiful?"
Danheng: ...
He frowned.
That's such an abrupt way of changing the subject.
"It is indeed very beautiful."
Xing picked up the conversation, but her eyes remained fixed on the envoy's back.
"But what we're more concerned about is, why is this place..."
"This way, please!"
The messenger didn't give Xing a chance to finish speaking.
It took a step, its six legs moving incredibly fast, instantly creating a distance of several meters.
"Since you've come all this way, how can you not take a look at our city's scenery? This is our most prized residential area; please do us the honor of visiting!"
Hoshi watched that hurried figure disappear into the distance.
That "white moonlight" filter is shattering little by little.
Although the voice is still the same.
But this attitude...
He looks exactly like a shady tour guide who's forcibly operating a business to cover up some shady secret.
"Let's follow them and see."
Nguyen Mai put away the remaining beacons.
"Since it doesn't want to talk, forcing it won't help. Let's see what it wants us to see."
The five followed the envoy into the crystal city.
The streets are wide.
The road surface was paved with some kind of smooth white stone, so clean that it was spotless.
Various crystal buildings stand on both sides.
Some resemble tall towers, some resemble giant seashells, and some resemble some kind of abstract artwork.
Every building exudes that soft, dim light.
nice.
It is indeed very beautiful.
This exotic architectural style is absolutely stunning, even to the well-traveled Starry Sky Train crew.
but.
There is a problem.
A very fatal problem.
It's so quiet here.
It was as quiet as a tomb.
They walked for a full ten minutes.
We crossed several blocks.
Apart from that messenger 7582.
Not a single other "Segmented Insect Clan" was seen.
Inside those beautiful buildings.
In those spacious squares.
Those places that look like shops or public facilities.
It's all empty.
There was no one in sight.
There was no sign of insects.
There was no noise.
There wasn't even any household garbage.
It's like a model city that has been meticulously built but has never been inhabited.
"that……"
On March 7th, I couldn't help but rub my arms; they felt a bit cold.
"Where have all the insects... I mean the residents, gone? During their lunch break?"
The messenger paused for a moment.
But it quickly returned to that light and cheerful rhythm.
Everyone's busy.
Its voice still carried that perfect politeness.
"We have to work to survive. And our race... doesn't really like crowds."
"You don't really like crowds?"
Xing looked around.
It's not that she doesn't like crowds.
They're practically extinct, aren't they?
Nguyen Mai then took out her recorder and scanned the surrounding buildings.
"Vitality response is extremely low."
She spoke in a low voice, so that only Hoshino beside her could hear her.
"This city is designed to accommodate at least 100,000 individuals. But the current active sources of response..."
She glanced at the numbers on the screen.
"Less than one hundred."
one hundred?
In such a big city, there are less than a hundred insects?
Hoshi felt a chill run down her spine.
What kind of prosperous future is this?
This is clearly a will-o'-the-wisp that is about to go out.
"Ah, we've arrived!"
The messenger suddenly stopped in front of a circular building.
This building looks rougher than the others, like an open-air arena.
A few muffled thuds could be faintly heard coming from inside.
"This is our most popular entertainment venue."
The messenger turned to the side and gestured an invitation.
"Since you are distinguished guests who have come from afar, you must experience our unique culture."
The group exchanged glances.
Entertainment venues?
In this ghost town?
Filled with questions, the five entered the arena.
In the center of the venue is a circular sand table.
Two enormous insectoid creatures are facing off above.
They didn't use any weapons, nor did they use the spears they had seen in the illusion before.
Instead, they used their thick head carapaces to collide with each other.
boom!
boom!
boom!
Each impact produced a dull thud.
Dust flew everywhere.
Meanwhile, in the stands surrounding the venue.
A dozen or so members of the Segmenter Clan sat scattered about.
They lay there quietly.
There was no cheering.
There was no shouting.
Even its antennae rarely move.
They just stared intently at the two "players" on the field.
In those countless pairs of eyes, there was only one emotion.
An emotion so pure it's outrageous.
Competitive.
They long to see one of them fall.
Eager to see the outcome.
There is nothing else besides that.
"This is... sumo?"
Xing asked somewhat uncertainly.
"Still cricket fighting?"
"This is a demonstration of power."
As the envoy watched the game, a barely perceptible fervor crept into his usually gentle voice.
Only the strong survive. Only the victors are entitled to... perpetuation.
"continue?"
Hoshino keenly grasped this word.
"Continue what?"
The messenger did not answer.
On the field, a Zergling suddenly exerted its strength, knocking its opponent to the ground.
The outcome is decided.
In that very instant.
More than twenty spectators in the stands stood up at the same time.
They all let out a unified cry.
"squeak--!"
no joy.
There's only one kind of relief... like the feeling of having completed some kind of task.
Then they turned and left.
Without any regrets.
It was as if the fierce fight just now was merely to confirm a result.
"Is this your entertainment?"
March 7th feels a bit creepy.
"Why do I feel...unhappy at all?"
"happy?"
The messenger tilted his head, seemingly unable to understand the word.
"That's a useless emotion."
"Here, only survival and victory have meaning."
It turned away, no longer looking at the empty arena.
"Let's go. To the next place."
……
After passing through the city, the group arrived at the edge.
There was a spacious viewing platform there.
Outside lies the deep, isolated ocean.
There is no sunlight.
Only the faint light from the red dwarf star penetrated the thick ice and water, casting a pale red glow.
The seawater appeared to be a deep, dark color.
It was so oppressive that it was suffocating.
The messenger stood before the railing.
He had his back to everyone.
Looking at that pitch-black sea.
"Isn't our planet beautiful?"
Its sound was very soft.
But in this oppressive environment, it appears exceptionally clear.
"She is quite beautiful..."
Xing walked over to it and looked out at the deep sea.
"It's just... a bit too quiet."
"Quiet is a good thing."
The messenger sighed.
It was a sigh filled with weariness.
"Quiet means safe. It means...we haven't been discovered yet."
"Discover?"
Dan Heng frowned.
"Who discovered it?"
The messenger did not answer.
It turned around and looked at the five people.
The light in those crystalline compound eyes flickered erratically.
"Everyone."
It suddenly changed its tone.
It's no longer that kind of formulaic politeness.
Instead, it carried a sense of... urgency.
"Now that the tour is over..."
"Now that we've seen our lives..."
"So..."
It took a step forward.
"Please leave."
"ha?"
March 7th was stunned.
"They're kicking us out already? We've only been here for less than an hour!"
"There's nothing here that you should miss."
The messenger spoke faster.
"There is no treasure here, no miraculous encounters, and no crisis you wish to avert."
"This is just a city... clinging to life."
"You don't belong here."
"Let's go quickly."
"Before that door closes."
"While...they haven't woken up yet."