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Academician Ding had been under imnse stress for the past couple of days, which naturally took a toll on an elderly person's health. He fell ill on the day of his return to his holand, but the responsible old man still insisted on detailing the specific situation before he could rest easy to recuperate.
Academician Ding was also sowhat paranoid, the mory of the Brain Worm's appearance still fresh in his mind. Bai Zhongqi was worried about the extent of the Brain Worm's developnt on Earth, how much control it had over human society. Considering this, Academician Ding was deeply concerned.
Clutching the detector that Bai Zhongqi had given him, he would scan anyone he t—by now, he must have scanned dozens of people since his return, but no abnormalities were found, which sowhat eased his mind.
Senior officials sent a high-ranking secretary to personally visit Academician Ding and learn about the specifics. This secretary, nad Xiang Fei, was about forty years old, which was rather young for such a position. Coming from a family with a revolutionary background, he was quite talented himself, and it was said that he had a hand in many of the new policies and events.
Academician Ding had t Xiang Fei several tis before, and Xiang Fei was extrely respectful in his presence. However, it was Academician Ding who, playing with the detector in his hand, scanned Xiang Fei first, confirming that he was undoubtedly a normal human, before setting the device aside.
Xiang Fei, apparently forewarned of Academician Ding's recent habit, said, "Academician Ding, you're like searching for spies, scanning everyone you et—it must be tiring."
Academician Ding had a pallid complexion and looked quite ill. After coughing twice, the doctor responsible for his health quickly brought him water and dication. Xiang Fei also attended to him. Academician Ding said solemnly, "Ambassador Zhong should have briefed you. There exists a highly dangerous parasitic organism on Earth. If we are not careful, it could lead to enormous chaos."
Xiang Fei nodded, approached Academician Ding's bedside, and said, "After hearing about this situation, we are taking it very seriously. However, it is difficult for us to comprehensively search and determine who among us is an alien creature. On the other hand, if we make it public, it might cause panic.
People have just started recovering from the Iridium Star crisis; another Brain Worm crisis might make the situation even more challenging to control."
Xiang Fei continued, "And there's sothing suspect about this situation. It just ca out of nowhere. We've never seen aliens before, and now, following the arrival of the Iridium Star people, out pops a Brain Worm. Could this also be the work of the Iridium Star people?"
Academician Ding disagreed. After drinking so water and taking his dicine, he said, "The strength of the Iridium Star people in warfare is imnse. If they wanted to do sothing, they could just forcefully take it; why introduce an alien creature? Besides, this was discovered in the United States. If anything, we should be suspecting them."
Xiang Fei, however, had his own suspicions, saying, "Maybe the Iridium Star people want to use the Brain Worm to intimidate us, making us cooperate with them to prevent and eradicate the Brain Worm, agreeing to their terms, ceding so benefits to them, and allowing the Iridium Star people to control us effortlessly?"
Academician Ding smiled dismissively at Xiang Fei and said, "You haven't seen the technological ans of the Iridium Star people. If it really were a ploy, they wouldn't have rushed to give the device that detects Brain Worms. The Chancellor, who is considered half compatriot, wouldn't have discussed such a significant matter with either."
Xiang Fei's interest peaked as he said, "You ntioned that the Chancellor provided you with Iridium Star technology and proposed a very specific cooperation model. My visit this ti was especially to have a look at these."
Academician Ding took out the smart device that looked like a glass panel, his expression resembling a child showing off their most prized toy. Yet, with his next sentence, he seed sowhat embarrassed, saying, "I've troubled you to co here.
Actually, I've just figured out so principles of how this device works and have encrypted the detailed docunts of the cooperation model and sent them to your secure email."
Xiang Fei was a bit bemused and said, "No trouble, just give a brief overview, and then I'll go back and study it by myself so you can continue to recuperate."
Academician Ding nodded in agreent, activated the holographic display, and felt rather proud seeing the shock on Xiang Fei's face. The old man had instantly beco an enthusiastic fan of Iridium Star, and such a reaction was to be expected.
"The Iridium Star Chancellor Bai Zhongqi appears very young, almost the sa age as many of my colleagues, but there's always sothing unfathomable about him. For instance, his motives—he's proposed this plan, parts of which seem logical to , while others appear quite peculiar. According to him, the Iridium Star people plan to settle in our Solar System and establish their Empire here."
Xiang Fei's brow furrowed, and he said, "Our intelligence shows that the Iridium Star people are 'moving earth and heavens' on the Moon and in Earth orbit, on a scale that is beyond the imagination of any country on Earth. But aren't they a vast Empire? Isn't the Chancellor supposed to return to his Empire?"
Academician Ding replied, "Well, it seems he doesn't want to go back. Regarding this, Bai Zhongqi is evasive and vague, which I think is problematic. Normally, after receiving their Chancellor, they should imdiately return.
Even if they wanted to occupy Earth or enter into a developnt and cooperation agreent, only a portion of them should stay behind for this, whereas the Chancellor should return. Yet they're not acting accordingly; Bai Zhongqi remains on Earth as if it is his ho, and the Iridium Star people seem very calm, with no intention of leaving, raising doubts."
Xiang Fei asked, "Do you have any theories?"
Academician Ding wrapped himself in his blanket on the sickbed, perhaps feeling cold, then said, "There are two possibilities: one is that the journey from Iridium Star to Earth is extrely far and difficult, requiring a lot of ti and extensive preparations before they can depart."
"And the other?"
The eyes of the ill old man sparkled as he replied, "The other possibility is that they simply cannot leave and must remain in the Solar System."
Xiang Fei was startled, asking, "Is that really possible?"
Academician Ding said, "There's still a great chance of that. I don't know exactly why they cannot leave. However, Bai Zhongqi seems so eager to explore and develop the universe, it must not be that their ships have lost power but rather so other reason."
Xiang Fei, a man of high intellect, pondered and said, "If that's the case, it could be both good and bad for us. If Iridium Star cannot leave, they may consider Earth their stronghold, which ans a new overlord hangs over the heads of Earth nations. The advantage, however, is that we might have exchanges with an advanced interstellar civilization, spurring our own developnt."
Academician Ding nodded approvingly, finding the high-ranking secretary's insight trustworthy. His judgnt had scope and rather closely aligned with Academician Ding's thoughts.
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