o— “The first being who looked up felt a desire to explore the starry sky, and so civilization was born.
If what they felt at that moment was not desire, but fear, then that’s even more impressive.
Because they planted the seed of the stars in fear, and later generations did indeed produce a group of people who soared to the heavens and embraced the cosmos.” “!!” Guen’s eyes trembled violently, the stagnant stillness from before completely gone.
“The flame of civilization has not been extinguished.
The weak are still the vast majority in the cosmos, and we are still stubbornly alive.
Why give in to despair?” “You…
you!…” “Alright, that’s enough late-night chatting.
It’s time to sleep.
Good night.” Hua Yi waved and turned to leave, leaving Guen staring after him.
Trembling, he raised his arm with immense effort, as if trying to grasp the receding figure.
A Level II Researcher in the Department of Lumina Archives?
A monstrous waste of talent!
A pearl gathering dust!
He should be in the Department of Galactic Jurisprudence!
He will change the Department of Jurisprudence!
Forcibly suppressing the astonishing vitality that had erupted within his aged body, Guen fought back the impulse to rush over, stop Hua Yi, drag him into the closed archive room, and call the already-resting staff to process a department transfer.
He repeatedly warned himself in his heart—a young man like this must be nurtured carefully, one must not act rashly.
It’s too late now; he really should get a good night’s sleep.
Otherwise, what if Hua Yi fell ill from lack of sleep?
Guen was already beginning to doubt the professional competence of the station’s Medical Department.
If the hope of the Department of Jurisprudence truly felt unwell, could the Medical Department, which boasted it could save anyone as long as they were still breathing, truly be trusted?
What a good child.
Traveling between the stars all alone to come to the station.
Who knows if he’s adjusted properly?
Has he been eating well these past few days?
Has he been sleeping warmly?
The benefits for a Level II Researcher were far too low.
The Department of Lumina Archives truly had no eye for talent.
This kind of person deserved an exceptional promotion.
No matter.
The Department of Lumina Archives can’t hold on to him, so I will!
Once Hua Yi joins the Department of Jurisprudence, everything will be better.
Guen drained the bottle of honey water in one go, feeling better than he had in years.
His cough was gone, and he strode away from the corridor with purpose.
—o— On the other side, though it was the middle of the night, the former Head of the Department of Universal Things, Wen Huairen, was still browsing the Interastral Peace Network, searching for valuable goods that could generate extra revenue for his department and the entire station.
“This one won’t do.
It’s space survival gear, but the price is far higher than the Galactic Lifesaving Blanket I purchased back then.
This one won’t do either.
The expected return rate is lower than the Compound Eye, which only made four thousand Credits…” Wen Huairen shook his head in dissatisfaction.
Panning for gold on the Corporation’s shopping website, finding items of special value, was no easy task.
The Herta Space Station was, after all, a veritable museum of the cosmos.
It bore the name of a Genius Society member, housed countless scholars, collected all sorts of Curios, and was backed by the Interastral Peace Corporation.
Ordinary items, even treasures that would make a planetary civilization or a so-called powerful kingdom go into a frenzy, were mostly beneath Wen Huairen’s notice and offered little economic or research value.
He continued to scroll through the webpage, his eyes scanning the various product images and descriptions, but his thoughts gradually drifted, recalling the conversation between Hua Yi and Wen Shiling a few system hours ago.
“That kid—would it be better to poach him for the Department of Universal Things?” He mumbled subconsciously.
When Wen Huairen came back to his senses, he slapped his thigh and made up his mind.
“That’s right.
Hua Yi should be in the Department of Universal Things.
That talent and character are a perfect fit for us.” —o— Time trickled by.
Six system hours passed, and the tranquil Herta Space Station was about to get busy again.
A new day meant a new batch of tourists would arrive for their tours, and the researchers had to prepare for their new work.
The senior scholars in the major research departments had already mentally prepared themselves.
As they brushed their teeth, they checked their personal terminals for the latest experiment reports submitted by their subordinates.
To the senior scholars, the research of most researchers was basic beyond belief.
Yet they would spend a long time and a considerable amount of research funding, dragging it out until the last possible moment or even repeatedly applying for extensions, just to turn in their reports.
And even then, they couldn’t guarantee the content was rigorous or accurate, often making elementary mistakes that made the scholars’ blood boil.
For example, after a series of complex deductions and calculations, concluding that a certain starship contained one and a half Curios.
And the researchers actually dared to submit such a report!
What was the deal with the half Curio?
Did someone break one?!
Even if they did, the formulas for a complete Curio and a broken one are different!
How could you calculate it like that?!
Despite this, the scholars could only suppress their anger and tell themselves not to get worked up.
Anger was bad for their health.
If they fell ill, a mountain of files would pile up, and they would just be caught in a vicious cycle after they recovered.
All they could do was coldly reject the report and demand a do-over.
The more good-tempered ones might patiently point out the elementary mistakes.
The short-tempered ones had to keep heart medication on hand and regularly visit the Medical Department for psychological counseling, lest they get bogged down wondering if spending so much time on those idiots was worth it, even questioning their own lives and the meaning of existence.
A scholar from the Department of Lumina Archives had already prepared himself mentally, repeatedly telling himself to remain calm.
He would finish washing up and eat a normal breakfast; he absolutely would not let his anger ruin his appetite.
Even if he had to force it down, he would get something in his stomach.
Let’s see what “surprises” the researchers have sent in this time.
Is it a secret record of an Aeon riding a Warp Trotter through the mortal realm with a trash can lid on its head, or a thesis full of meaningless adjectives trying to verify whose beard at the station is most effective for a ritual?
“Experiment record regarding [Calyx (Simulated): Bud of Erudition]?
Don’t tell me they just grabbed a random plant from the Department of Star-Field Species and poured some random chemicals on it.” The scholar mumbled incoherently as he brushed his teeth.
But when he saw that the file was submitted by Hua Yi, that already-famous super-newcomer, his gaze immediately sharpened.
As he delved deeper into the experiment record, his brushing movements slowed to a stop without him realizing it.
He stood frozen for a long time, mouth agape.
Then, he shuddered violently, hastily wiped the foam from his mouth with his sleeve, and forced himself to swallow the toothpaste he hadn’t even rinsed out.
Completely ignoring the breakfast on his table, he bolted out the door.
Last night, a brand-new High-rank Mystery related to the Path of Erudition…
had actually succeeded?!
—o—