Pillar of Yita

The meeting with the military was already three days ago.

This meeting itself was coincidental, because the navy happened to have a sixth-class escort ship passing by Ika Corner, which is quite close to here. And it so happened that Su Changfeng had people on that ship, and the leader of the group was someone he knew.

It was the young officer named Zhang Tianmiu, whom he had met once at Traveler’s Rest.

During the meeting, the other party coldly sized him up and down, as if observing some rare animal. Fang Hong could roughly guess the reason; it was certainly because of the mission at Traveler’s Rest, which he had failed to complete.

In front of the other party and Su Changfeng, he recounted everything that had happened in Idus in detail. Of course, the military was most concerned about the movements of the Dragon Worshippers, as for the secret information from a hundred years ago, it was apparent they had a certain concern for the politics of Colin Ishurian.

But they were not too involved in it themselves—

However, when it came to Wanderer, Su Changfeng clearly cared.

”He told you Earth isn’t a refuge?”

”Did he really say that?”

”If I remember correctly...”

”You can’t afford to remember incorrectly,” Su Changfeng said very seriously, ”You have to remember. Ade, you know, this is crucial.”

For confidentiality, the other side called him Ade like everyone else. And when he joined Stargate Port, he actually had another code name, but seldom used—

Fang Hong nodded, understanding the implications here. He thought for a moment before replying, ”He indeed said so, but I can’t tell if it’s just a simple threat or if there’s another intent? The problem is, the other party is very deep, and I’m worried he deliberately misleads—”

”Is this your analysis?”

”This is my analysis.”

”It makes some sense, but you can’t entirely disbelieve it. After all, you can’t rule out the other party playing tricks.”

”I understand that.”

”Also.”

”Also?”

Fang Hong hesitated and asked, ”About what Mr. Kalatu mentioned?”

Su Changfeng pondered for a brief moment, ”You mean ’Star of Calamity’?”

”Yes.”

”Regarding this matter, there are many rumors.” Su Changfeng clearly organized his thoughts, ”Stargate Port is also collecting relevant information from various aspects and comparing it. But so far, we have gathered some information, yet due to confidentiality agreements—I can only tell you part of it.”

Fang Hong looked at the other party, the military’s frankness was somewhat unexpected. Though they said they could only tell him part of it, speaking openly like this made it easier for him to accept.

Actually, at that time, if the Jiefulite Red Cloak Team had plainly informed that the center of the Morning Dawn Star ruins was the Dead Silence Zone, knowing Miss Sicape and Mr. Kroid’s understanding, the two might not have backed off. And the Descendants of Flor wouldn’t be stingy, even deducting the mercenary’s pay.

And he could roughly guess the reason, just that the other party didn’t really care about the Morning Dawn Star at all—

In comparison, Su Changfeng’s honesty gave him a slight sense of belonging.

He awaited the subsequent words of the other party.

Su Changfeng then replied, ”We understand Eteliria primarily to assess what kind of impact it may have on us. As military personnel, our thinking naturally differs from ordinary Chosen. If ordinary Chosen represent the pioneering and progressive side of the New World, then we are a bottom line.”

”Bottom line?”

Fang Hong was somewhat puzzled.

”This bottom line has two aspects.”

”One aspect is adhering to our bottom line as a civilization, the core of civilization is development rather than conflict. If we were to return to the era of beasts devouring people, we wouldn’t need to develop such a brilliant culture, would we?”

Fang Hong nodded.

”But when facing an unfamiliar world, suspicion and lack of understanding can easily make us categorize the other side as different. Once we artificially designate one side as different, what we are relieving is actually our moral burden. Even in conflicts before the Stargate Era, we adhered to this bottom line.”

”There was extensive discussion among nations on Earth proving, we should decide what kind of path we take—the decision isn’t China’s alone, or any single nation’s decision on Earth. Rather, it’s a collective decision of all humanity, between conflict and civilization’s inclusiveness—we chose the latter.”

”This is an era’s most proud achievement, and I’m fortunate to have experienced that era. And you, Ade, although you might not have witnessed that glorious era, you are still moving along its path. Just like many Pioneers, this is our pride as humans.”

”And precisely because of this, we must remember. Today’s peace wasn’t easily won, the significance of being a soldier lies not in the outbreak of war, but in safeguarding the era of peace.”

Su Changfeng paused, ”I say this, Ade, can you understand?”

Fang Hong nodded again.

”This is the first bottom line,” Su Changfeng then continued, ”Which is exactly our reason for targeting the Dragon Worship Sect.”

”The second bottom line is the safety of Earth. Our generation and the generation before us initiated the Stargate Era, on one hand, opening a broad door to unknown high dimensional worlds for humanity, and humanity has never stopped the pace of exploration in the face of cosmic truth.”