Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 1)
The Stargate Corporation's floating city, named "New Era," hung in the sky like a giant, shimmering jewel. To the people on the surface, it was more than just a symbol of power and wealth; it was an impassable chasm. Aaron stood at the edge of the surface world, gazing up at the city, his heart a mixture of conflicting emotions. He had once lived and worked there; it was his land of dreams, but now it had become his target for revenge and truth. He knew the security was airtight; no surface dweller could enter freely. But he had his own methods. He didn't attempt a forced entry. Instead, he used his connections as a private investigator to find a black market merchant on the surface who was willing to help. The merchant provided him with a uniform for a low-level maintenance worker in the floating city and a forged access card.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 2)
Aaron put on the uniform, blending into the background of the noisy maintenance robots. He boarded an automated cargo lift, ascending slowly toward the floating city. Inside the lift, he witnessed the massive disparity between the city and the surface. The surface was gray and chaotic, while the floating city was a world of silver and order. Every street, every building was meticulously designed, exuding a sense of futurism. The people wore exquisitely tailored clothes, their faces marked by an air of superiority. Aaron's mood grew somber. He had once been one of them, but he never truly belonged there. He felt like a ghost, infiltrating a place he once called home.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 3)
His target was the Stargate Corporation's data center. He knew the detailed data for the "New Dawn" project, mentioned in his father's journal, had to be stored there. Using his familiarity with the floating city's structure and his spatial sense, he cleverly evaded the patrolling security bots. In one corner, he saw a familiar face—Lilith. Lilith had been his classmate at the Stargate Academy. She was a brilliant data analyst and one of the few who had genuinely understood and appreciated his gift. But Aaron knew she was now a core member of the Stargate Corporation, and he wasn't sure if he could still trust her.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 4)
Aaron hesitated for a moment but decided to be honest with her. He walked up to her and whispered her name. Lilith turned, her eyes filled with shock and caution. "Aaron? What are you doing here? Are you insane?" Lilith's voice was barely a whisper. Aaron quickly told her everything: his findings in the underground lab and the contents of his father's journal. He didn't hide any details, including his father's "ripple guiding" research and the corporation's "New Dawn" project. He knew this was a huge gamble; if Lilith betrayed him, he would have nowhere to run.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 5)
After listening to Aaron, Lilith's expression shifted from shock to deep thought. She didn't answer right away but led Aaron to a secluded corner. She confessed that she had always been suspicious of his father's disappearance and had privately investigated it. She had found that all of his father's experiment data and research reports had been encrypted and moved after the accident, an highly unusual procedure within the corporation. Lilith also knew about the "New Dawn" project, but she didn't know its true purpose. All she knew was that it was a massive, highly confidential project directly controlled by the highest-ranking executives of the corporation.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 6)
Lilith looked at Aaron, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She had long been disgruntled with the Stargate Corporation's monopoly and the coldness of its nobility. She was also tired of the floating city's seemingly perfect but hollow life. Aaron's appearance felt like an opportunity, a chance to change everything. She finally made her decision. "I'll help you," she said, "But you have to be careful. The person in charge of the 'New Dawn' project is ruthless and won't let anyone get in his way. Also, he has an enforcer codenamed 'Ghost' who handles all project-related threats. I heard this person is also a Navigator."
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 7)
Aaron's heart sank again. He knew the "Ghost" Lilith was talking about was Cullen. He didn't tell Lilith about his confrontation with Cullen; he didn't want her to know that his friend was his enemy. He only asked Lilith if she could help him retrieve the "New Dawn" project data. Lilith nodded. She told Aaron she could use her access to enter the data center, but it would take time and was extremely risky. She told Aaron to wait at a hidden location in the floating city and warned him to absolutely not reveal his identity.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 8)
Aaron found his hiding spot in the floating city's lower-level maintenance area. The place was a maze of pipes and cables; no one would notice him here. He waited quietly, his mind filled with unease. He didn't know if he could truly trust Lilith, and he didn't know if Cullen would suddenly appear. He looked out the window. The floating city's nobles were holding a grand banquet. They were laughing and enjoying fine wine and music in a brightly lit hall. They were oblivious to the fact that their opulent lifestyle was built on the sweat and blood of countless surface dwellers and a dangerous project that could trigger a cosmic catastrophe at any moment.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 9)
Just then, Aaron's comm unit received a message from Lilith. She had successfully entered the data center and had started the download. But she also sent a warning: "I've detected an anomaly! Someone is monitoring the data center's transmissions, I might be exposed!" Aaron's heart leaped into his throat. He knew he couldn't just sit and wait. He quickly analyzed the floating city's structure, trying to find a way to externally interfere with the data center's transmission. He knew it was an impossible task, but he had no other choice.
Chapter 3: The Ghost of the Floating City (Part 10)
Aaron finally decided he had to go help Lilith himself. He used his spatial sense to find a hidden maintenance tunnel leading to the data center. He climbed up the tunnel, his heart filled with determination. He knew this time he wasn't just facing Cullen, but the massive power of the entire Stargate Corporation. He had to act like a ghost, finding a breakthrough in this seemingly impregnable fortress. Every step he took was like walking a tightrope, but he knew there was no turning back. He had to uncover the truth and seek justice for his father and all the oppressed people.