Meanwhile, in the Riken Star System, the Swarm’s two Megaliths had self-destructed and plunged into the star,pleting their annihtion without leaving a trace for onlookers to examine.


    However, the seemingly redundant and over-the-top maneuver by the Swarm didn’t escape the notice of certain attentive observers. As they analyzed the data collected from the event, they were surprised to find anomalies—some energy signatures appeared to have simply vanished, as if they had been obliterated.


    The unusual data sparked debates among these interested parties. One faction argued that the Swarm must have done something and that an investigation was necessary to uncover the truth. The other faction dismissed the concern, suggesting that the proximity to the star likely caused data inuracies.


    Even if the Swarm had been up to something, they reasoned, it wasn’t worth overreacting—what could the Swarm possibly aplish with their level of technology?


    Luo Wen was unaware of these debates, much less their eventual oue. He was focused solely on executing his carefullyid ns.


    Due to the uncertainty surrounding the new gxy’s political and military dynamics, the Swarm elerated its evacuation following the Megaliths’ destruction.


    Over 60% of the Swarm’s forces in the Riken Star System had already withdrawn, though their departure had been spread over more than a decade, carried out in small, stealthy batches under optical cloaking. As a result, most outside observers still had little idea of the Swarm’s true numbers.


    At the Sr Orbital Base, which housed nearly 40% of the Swarm’s remaining forces in the Riken Star System, things were different. Previously, these forces had clustered together in an unassuming, sunbathing formation, drawing little attention.


    But as they began their mass exodus, a seemingly endless procession of Primordial-ss units stretched across millions of kilometers. For many onlookers, it was the first time they trulyprehended the Swarm’s sheer scale.“What a terrifying race,” someone muttered.


    “I think we’ve made a mistake,” said another, their voice tinged with regret.


    “We shouldn’t have provoked them.”


    Simr sentiments echoed repeatedly, especially among members of the Koya Alliance. However, not all shared this unease.


    “What’s there to fear? Against superior technology, numbers are meaningless,” scoffed one alien, his tone dripping with disdain.


    “Exactly!” a supporter chimed in.


    Of course, those voicing such dismissive opinions were primarily from species whose territories were far removed from Swarm-controlled space. Without ess to efficient interster travel, the Swarm’s numbers posed little immediate threat to them.


    At the same time, others raised more substantive questions rather than indulging in idlementary.


    “What kind of societal structure do they have? It seems like they can convert almost all their economic output into military potential.”


    “Indeed. For such a militaristic race, how does their ruling ss even survive? Why don’t their people rise up against them?”


    “Perhaps their ruling ss is deceiving the masses.”


    “It seems we should consider spreading more progressive ideologies to them.”


    “Agreed.”


    Thus, the seeds of intrigue were sown. Yet, for these ns to bear fruit, they would first need to identify the Swarm’s civilian poption—a daunting challenge in and of itself.@@novelbin@@


    After withdrawing from the tumultuous Riken Star System, the Swarm fell into silence once more. Apart from limited operations in Trade City within the Sandstorm System, the rest of the Swarm’s territories closed off entirely, entering a state akin to “istionism.”


    Even when the Interster Technological Confederation’s news outlets mocked the Swarm’s “concessionary retreat” with a fresh wave of sneers and ridicule, the Swarm remained unresponsive.


    A one-handed p makes no sound; the Swarm’s stance of non-engagement left many subsequent plots and conspiracies feeling like futile punches against a cloud. Interest in the Swarm cooled over time, reced by the next shiny news cycle.


    Meanwhile, the true masterminds seemed to need more time to devise follow-up ns, resulting in a strange calm around Swarm-controlled territories.


    This rtive peace finally gave Luo Wen the opportunity to thoroughly explore the new gxy.


    Before the Recon Bugs could even emerge from the seabed’s sediment, they detected something unusual—dense vibrationsing from above. To create such tremors in the deep sea, it had to be some colossal entity. Judging by the frequency of the vibrations, there were many of them.


    This discovery made the Recon Bugs even more cautious. They slowed their movements, carefully inching upward. While inconspicuous, they could not afford even the slightest exposure. If discovered, their alien physiology and ipatible circtory systems would surely bring unnecessary danger to the Swarm.


    Near the seabed’s surface, the Recon Bugs encountered native creatures hidden beneath the sand. Concerned about creating disturbances, the bugs avoided them and silently emerged above the seabed.


    With no natural light at these depths, the Recon Bugs’ gic configurations had been carefully selected to include both optical observation systems and sonar capabilities. Underwater organisms often possessed simr organs, and with thousands of sonar variants in the Swarm’s gic library, gathered from multiple life-sustainings, Luo Wen had no trouble selecting one suited to this environment.


    Unexpectedly, the optical systems were the first to provide useful data. Above the seabed, Luo Wen observed over a dozen mecha warriors, their bodies illuminated by numerous lights, apanied by submarines and an array of small underwater robots. These machines wandered the seafloor as though they were searching for something.


    The vibrations hade from the mecha warriors.


    Though the sight of these enormous steel constructs startled Luo Wen for a moment, his experience quickly tempered his reaction. Having witnessed countless technological marvels, he considered these mechas—tens of meters tall—rtively ordinary. Moreover, he had already suspected the presence of intelligent life in this region, so this revtion didn’t surprise him much.


    What unsettled Luo Wen was a nagging feeling that something about the scene was off. He deliberated for a long while before finally identifying the source of his unease.


    The Swarm was no longer the primitive, mud-slinging race it once was. Through interactions with various alien species, the Swarm’s database had umted numerous samples of alien technology.


    By analyzing the external structure, manufacturing techniques, movement fluidity, turning capabilities, and even the surface wear of these machines, the Swarm could infer a civilization’s approximate technological level.


    The steel constructs before him didn’t match the image of an advanced civilization capable of creating artificial wormholes.


    Still, Luo Wen didn’t act rashly. Perhaps this civilization simply favored a retro aesthetic. He recalled films from Earth that depicted pivotal cosmic battles, deciding the fate of half the universe’s poption through close-quartersbat and frontal charges.


    Perhaps this universe had simr preferences. After all, the Swarm’sbat units—whethernd, sea, or air—were all equipped with formidable melee capabilities.


    If the Interster Technological Confederation dared to abandon their long-range weaponry and engage purely in closebat, the Swarm might already be strong enough to defeat the entire Confederation, including the New Ji Race.


    Of course, such a scenario was nothing more than a dream.