Void Jigsaw Puzzle

After about ten minutes, Zhong Chenmu felt his feet were a little numb, so he paced back and forth in the backyard.

He also sensitively looked up and glanced at the backyard wall to see if anyone was snooping.

After all, when he first discovered the contact between Pierce and Hydrogen Thought, he climbed up the wall from the narrow alley outside.

However, there was no one on the wall and the surroundings were very quiet.

At this time, the message from Hydrogen Thought arrived.

"We have to re-examine your Wuming City civilization. The description you just gave us, in a very understated way, conveyed information that is enough to attract the clan leader's attention... Do you suspect that cosmic hooligans have invaded Wuming City?"

"Yes, as I just said, we recently recruited a new member. Her parents mysteriously disappeared a few days ago, only to reappear even more strangely, seemingly unconcerned about their daughter. I hope you can help track them down and help my team achieve a family reunion. After all, she's the only one on our team who seems capable of achieving this wish in the short term. At the same time, I also want to remind you—although this may be too wild a thought—that her parents may have been manipulated by what you call 'cosmic rogues.' I remember you saying they're invisible and invisible to us. So, if they want to achieve their goals, especially concrete ones, they'll have to 'manipulate,' 'possess,' or 'parasitize' someone."

"How do we know if you're deliberately exaggerating to get us to help you find the girl's parents?"

"Just tell me, does my speculation conform to their logic? After all, I have never dealt with them." Zhong Chenmu insisted.

"We cannot rule out this possibility, although it is very unlikely."

"The possibility is small, but the consequences are serious. Multiply the possibility by the severity of the consequences, and the value may be very large."

Zhong Chenmu is very clear about how to calculate risks.

Hydrogen naturally understood.

He agreed: "Okay, we'll do you this 'personal favor', but we also have a small favor of the same nature that we'd like you to do us."

"Great, my bet was right! It seems that the mechanism of the cosmic rogue is indeed as I speculated..."

Zhong Chenmu tried hard to control his emotions and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Do you remember the 'crack' I mentioned to you before? It's appeared again, and it's very troubling to us. If you could investigate its cause, I would be very grateful, and I wouldn't mind helping you with more 'personal favors'."

Zhong Chenmu suppressed his excited heartbeat and replied, "You mentioned this matter last time. To be honest, I don't know the ins and outs of it, but I have some theories of my own. If you can share information about the cosmic rogue with me, I'd also like to discuss my theories—of course, they may not be correct."

He had been waiting for Hydrogen Thought to bring up the topic of "cracks" on his own initiative, because he had found a set of arguments that did not reveal the secrets of his own system and was reasonable. If he used this argument to exchange for information about the "cosmic rogue", it would naturally be a good deal.

Sure enough, Hydron replied, "Okay, you go first."

"Okay... I'm sure you won't play dirty. I believe the creation of these 'cracks' is also related to the cosmic rogues. After you recreated our Wuming City civilization, if there hadn't been any communication with us, they wouldn't have entered our Wuming City, because the border between us and you is essentially no different from the border between you and them. However, we have already begun communication and contact, which has allowed them to discover the possibility of invading you through us. Although you have very carefully implemented a trapping mechanism, using this backyard as our only long-term communication interface, they must have been simultaneously researching other methods. These methods are currently very immature and can only produce intermittent and very short-term effects - that is, creating 'cracks' at our borders. If these cracks persist long enough, they will be able to enter your territory unimpeded."

"It sounds reasonable, but there are still loopholes. If their methods are sufficient to create 'cracks', why have we only sensed their presence at the border with you so far? Logically, our Hydrogen Clan's territory is very vast, and it is possible to detect the existence of cracks anywhere."

"Could it be because their energy or resources are limited? Or perhaps this 'rift' technology isn't mature enough, and your territory is so vast that they have to gather in one spot, and Nameless City just happens to be that spot."

"I'm still not completely convinced."

"Then I can't help it. This is all my speculation about the 'rift' so far. However, whether you believe it or not, you can't go back on your word! You have to tell me the information about the space rogue that you promised me!"

"Okay, I'll tell you..."

So, Hydrogen Thoughts told Zhong Chenmu the details of the cosmic rogue. Although Zhong Chenmu felt that the other party might still have some reservations, it had already opened his eyes.

He decided to share this information with his team as soon as possible, but forget about Pierce.

Zhong Chenmu felt that today's conversation had achieved its intended purpose and decided to return to the topic: "Mr. Qingnian, we've spent quite a bit of time discussing this divergent topic. I'd like to close the conversation. Do you accept our sincere proposal?"

Hydrogen Thoughts replied simply, "We accept."

"Great!"

"...However, what we need you to do specifically may not be as suggested in your proposal. I'm just saying that we appreciate your attitude. Once you agree to do something specific for us, we will naturally open up space outside Wuming City for you. A completely open space."

Zhong Chenmu couldn't believe his ears. He didn't expect it to be so smooth. He asked, "Then... what you need our help to do is not beyond our capabilities, right?"

"No, it must be within your capabilities. Moreover, once we are sure, I will pass it on to you directly. We don't need a formal conversation like today. From now on, the fewer such conversations, the better. If, as you speculate, the cosmic rogues have actually come to Wuming City, it is true."

"I see. I'm looking forward to it!"

At this moment, Zhong Chenmu vaguely heard a "whoosh" sound coming from above.

The sound was very faint, but he still heard it.

It was like the sound of a plastic bag being blown by the wind while walking.

He opened his eyes and quickly looked up at the wall.

It was as if a dark shadow flashed by quickly.

Then there was a slight "click" sound, and then there was no sound.

At this time, the green number appeared in Zhong Chenmu's mind again, changing from "11000001" to "11001000".