Liu Hai remained unaware of the discussion between Irina and Elena, but the outcome indeed aligned with Li Yali's expectations.
After more than a dozen hours, the preliminary analysis report on the Shadow Creature was completed.
Liu Hai and the others gathered once more in the virtual conference room, where a researcher excitedly presented the findings.
"We've named the Shadow Creature 'Shade Beast.' The shadow enveloping its exterior is particularly fascinating. Our observations indicate that the composition of this black smoke is identical to its cellular structure—meaning the smoke is fundamentally part of its body, an external manifestation of its cells."
"Additionally, we've reached a general conclusion regarding its stealth detection capabilities, which are also linked to its unique epidermal cells."
"The Shade Beast's cells are nearly crystalline, capable of absorbing various electromagnetic waves and radiation energy. Once sufficient energy is accumulated, these cells detach from the body and gradually form a layer of black smoke that shrouds it."
"With enough smoke, its ability to absorb waves becomes even more potent. When necessary, it can absorb all nearby light energy through self-regulation, blending seamlessly into the surrounding darkness. The crystalline nature of its cells also grants it some metallic properties, allowing it to mimic encountered metals through molecular rearrangement."
"How far along is the analysis of those energy-absorbing cells? Can we develop similar stealth devices?" Liu Hai interrupted the researcher's presentation. The value of stealth technology was directly tied to his deal with Irina, making it his top priority at the moment.
"Progress has been limited so far. We need more time for analysis, especially given our current equipment constraints—microscopic-level research is difficult to advance." The researcher wasn't annoyed by the interruption; after all, Liu Hai was the boss, and some deference was necessary.
"Submit a report outlining what you need. Your immediate task is to finalize this technology and hand it over to the applications department for cost-benefit evaluation." Liu Hai refrained from pushing too hard, knowing that scientific breakthroughs often depended on luck.
The researcher was actually relieved when the briefing concluded abruptly. Explaining complex research to clueless executives was far less appealing than studying the Shade Beast—those creatures were infinitely more interesting.
The group was primarily interested in the Shade Beast's stealth capabilities, indifferent to any other potential discoveries. Over the millennia, the Federation had encountered countless peculiar organisms, yet few had proven truly useful.
The accidental discovery of the Shade Beast was already a remarkable surprise; no one expected additional benefits.
After the meeting adjourned, Li Yali returned to the command center to monitor the exploration progress of various warships. Using the newly acquired data on the Shade Beast, she began deploying targeted forces to cleanse the space station.
The Clone Soldier squads, now equipped with upgraded gear, set out again. This time, they carried specialized equipment designed to counter the Shade Beasts. Each squad was additionally supported by five Armed Robots for firepower reinforcement, along with enhanced Force Field Cage devices to capture more specimens for research.
The Clone Soldiers split into just two groups this time, entering the space station through the same breach before fanning out in opposite directions to sweep the area.
Since no detection equipment specifically for Shade Beasts had been developed yet, manual inspections were the only option, making progress painfully slow.
Several days later, after scouring dozens of nearby star systems, the Starsea Fleet's dozen or so warships finally located the target star system—thirty-five light-years away.
Liu Hai and his team were baffled by how a Third-level Civilization without Warp Drive capability could have reached this distance to construct a space station. The staff officers couldn't come up with a convincing explanation either.
Upon locating the target, Li Yali didn't act rashly. Instead, she launched hundreds of probe satellites into the star system from various angles while dispatching warships to survey star systems within a fifty-light-year radius of the target.
This investigation uncovered quite a few things.
Within ten light-years of the target star system, they found abandoned infrastructure like space stations and mining facilities—all devoid of any trace of the civilization that built them, not even remains.
This bizarre phenomenon made the Exploration Fleet even more cautious. Thousands of years of Federation exploration experience had taught them that the stranger the phenomenon, the greater the potential danger—not necessarily from a hostile force, but possibly from some bizarre cosmic disaster.
Meanwhile, after over half a month of research, they had gained much clearer data on the Shade Beasts, from cellular structure to material composition, delving deep into their genetics. However, progress had stalled on a peculiar substance synthesized within the Shade Beasts' cells.
This substance didn't form basic molecular structures but instead exhibited an atomic configuration—albeit one magnified hundreds of times. Strangely, it wasn't a heavy metal element but resembled gaseous hydrogen in form.
Such a structure had never been observed or artificially synthesized in any known cosmic civilization within the Federation. Yet, this element was the key to the Shade Beasts' stealth capabilities.
Dubbed "Shadow Element," its unique physical properties had researchers ecstatic—a discovery on par with the Federation's prestigious Stellar River Award. Publishing a paper on it could elevate them from ordinary Ph.D.s to leading figures in Federation research.
Unfortunately, Liu Hai forbade it. He compensated them privately with funding to soothe their disappointment, promising they could conduct extended research and publish non-core theoretical papers once stealth devices based on the element went into production.
Bound by their contracts with Liu Hai, the researchers reluctantly set aside their grumbling and threw themselves back into their work. At least they could still publish some papers to boost their standing in Federation academia—better than nothing.
Just as Liu Hai managed to placate the researchers, another major problem arose.
Shade Beasts had been found in the Humanoid Civilization's abandoned space stations and facilities. The closer they were to the target homeworld, the stronger the Shade Beasts became. In one case, a Force Field Cage capable of withstanding thousands of degrees failed to restrain a Shade Beast in the star system nearest to the homeworld.
At that moment, Liu Hai seemed to understand how that Humanoid Civilization had vanished so abruptly.
Before long, the Clone Soldier squad successfully retrieved partial data about the Humanoid Civilization from the space station's core computer. After the Intelligent Nexus analyzed and translated the information, Liu Hai felt his hair stand on end.
In disbelief, he activated the projection and stared at the Shade Beasts trapped within the Force Field Cages, still relentlessly ramming against the barriers in an attempt to break free.
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