Although she still hadn't received the 'response' she wanted from Tendo, Chen Xing quickly adjusted her mindset, returning to her usual expressionless, cold demeanor.
It was as if nothing had happened.
"It's good that you don't hate it..."
The more she cared, the more she had to pretend she didn't.
Although Chen Xing wanted to continue their 'truth-telling session,' she knew that if she did, Tendo would most likely feign ignorance and change the subject again.
But that was fine. She believed that if she kept this up, this 'blockhead' who was playing dumb would eventually be unable to continue the act.
And she had enough patience to wait for that day to arrive.
That is, as long as a certain meddlesome green-haired girl didn't show up too early.
Otherwise, given how much Tendo cared about that person, anything she did would be in vain.
Thinking of this, Chen Xing made a decision.
Although the method was a bit despicable, on the battlefield, there was only winning and losing, not so much about playing fair.
Since the mech-cat was still in the dark and Tendo, due to the current situation, couldn't tell her the truth yet, she had to seize this golden opportunity to maintain this 'bubble' that could burst at any moment.
And she had to try and secure a decisive victory before that bubble burst.
However, the time wasn't right yet, and she couldn't show her hand too early.
Otherwise, this 'shadow' she had finally caught might quietly slip away again.
[First Floating City - Star Orbit Corridor, Star Envoy Association Headquarters]
[First Mech-Tech Research Institute]
"What's wrong, Chen Xing? Why are you contacting me so late?"
Caroline, who had been busy all day, connected her mind to a data terminal nearby while taking off her white lab coat and lying down in a high-tech quantum computation pod in the room.
On the other side of the data terminal, Chen Xing was soaking in a steaming bathtub as she answered Caroline's question.
"Caroline, I've made some headway on the matter you asked me to investigate, but the other party is well-hidden. If I want to dig them out completely, it's going to take more effort."
"As expected."
Caroline's voice came through the data terminal. The nutrient solution in the advanced quantum computation pod submerged her delicate collarbones and eventually covered her completely.
"The Cognitives have been able to lie low in the New Federation for so long, which means there must be a 'leader' figure behind them."
"So don't rush. Just take your time."
"Once my 'Spirit Realm' is complete and widely adopted throughout the New Federation, everything will become much simpler."
"Because in that world where souls are made tangible, the Cognitives' real-world disguises will be meaningless."
There was no human arrogance in Caroline's tone, only the absolute rationality that came from a large amount of data analysis.
But despite her words, the purpose of Caroline developing the Spirit Realm wasn't to catch 'Cognitives.'
That was just something she would do on the side.
After a brief discussion of business, Chen Xing on the other end of the data terminal suddenly said, out of the blue, "Caroline, are you still looking for a way to break through 'that thing'?"
Chen Xing deliberately avoided the words 'memory seal,' a code they had developed over the years. It could temporarily bypass the troublesome 'memory correction' mechanism in Caroline's mech-tech personality, allowing her to get closer to the truth to a certain extent.
It wasn't a cure, but it could occasionally treat the symptoms.
"Yes, because I always feel there's something very important hidden in that modified memory. I must find it, and I will."
"And the Spirit Realm... is the key to solving this mystery."
"Is that so..."
Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then changed the subject. "Caroline, you've been stuck at Level Two for a while now. You should be close to a breakthrough, right?"
As the lid of the quantum computation pod closed, Caroline's mind instantly connected to the quantum space.
From there, she continued the conversation with Chen Xing, who was far away in the Steam City.
"Soon. Once the initial structure of the Spirit Realm is complete, the rest will be the construction of basic equipment, and I won't have to worry about it too much."
"So, are you planning to try and use the Spirit Realm to break through 'that thing' first, or will you wait until you've completed your promotion before entering the Spirit Realm?"
Although Chen Xing tried not to show any abnormalities while saying this, the meticulous Caroline still noticed a subtle change in her tone, sensing her emotional shift.
"Is that question important to you?"
Caroline didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question of her own.
Although the existing information wasn't enough for Caroline to deduce the true intent behind Chen Xing's words, out of trust for her close friend, she answered honestly.
"I want to try the Spirit Realm first, after all, I've been waiting for this day... for far too long."
Upon hearing this answer, the data terminal on the other end fell into a long silence, so much so that Caroline almost thought there was a problem with Chen Xing's equipment.
Fortunately, after a moment of waiting, Chen Xing's voice returned.
"But I remember the President of the Association said that the more powerful a mech-tech Star Envoy is, the greater the risk of data assimilation they face when breaking through in the quantum space."
"With your talent, if you were to recklessly try the Spirit Realm first and then break through, I'm worried about unpredictable accidents."
"After all, new technology brings new opportunities, but it also brings new risks, doesn't it?"
Chen Xing's words were calm and logical.
As one of their few genuine friends in the Association, it was reasonable for her to offer such advice.
But for some reason, Caroline felt that Chen Xing was a bit strange today.
While everything she said was logical, it also had an inexplicable sense of discord.
It was as if she was hiding a secret while also carrying a subtle sense of guilt.
But Caroline never liked to jump to conclusions about things that hadn't been proven.
So, she simply cut to the chase. "Xing, you want me to break through first, right?"
Knowing that Caroline couldn't be 'deceived,' Chen Xing also decided to be direct.
"Yes, because I'm afraid of losing you as a friend."
Although she knew this wasn't the sole reason Chen Xing was trying to persuade her, Caroline could still sense the genuine concern for her in Chen Xing's words.
Thinking of this, Caroline smiled. "Don't worry, I won't do anything reckless."
"Based on the current situation, I won't take any risks unless the Spirit Realm experiment has reached a mature and complete stage."
"And that process will take at least six months to produce a phased result."
"Six months, you say..."
Upon hearing this answer, Chen Xing thought for a moment before saying, "Caroline, while I know that as a genius mech-tech, you've surely anticipated all kinds of scenarios, I still hope you'll seriously consider my advice."
"Mm, I will."
After these words, their conversation ended.
But what was strange was that Caroline, who would usually perform data simulations in her computation pod every night, oddly opened the pod and stepped out tonight.
She picked up the pajamas from the side, put them on her grown-up body, and walked barefoot to the floor-to-ceiling window in her room, looking down at the brightly lit Star Orbit Corridor below.
Even though there was no data to support it, no objective evidence, she was certain that a strong sense of unease had arisen in her heart after talking with Chen Xing.
This unease had no cause or origin, but it was real.
It was so real that the usually calm Caroline was a bit distracted tonight, unable to fully focus on her quantum space computations.
After a period of reflection, Caroline finally came to a decision.
While trusting her intuition was not something a mech-tech like her was supposed to do, this time, she felt inexplicably that she should.
So, after a moment of hesitation, Caroline picked up her terminal. She dialed a different number.
Soon, the terminal in her hand rang with Jing Liuli's signature lively voice.
"Hello, Caroline, why are you calling me in the middle of the night? My concert just ended, and I'm sleeping with a face mask on to get my beauty sleep!"
"Nothing much. I just couldn't sleep, so I wanted to chat."
"Ooh, la la!"
Jing Liuli excitedly flipped over and sat up on her bed.
Her movements were so dramatic that she even tossed the pillow she was hugging to the side.
"Alright, your most trusted life coach, Jing Liuli, is online and at your service!"