Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

Chapter 166 – Top-secret Envelope

Beijing, inside an unlisted building’s conference room…

“It’s finally over…”

Seeing the screen falling into darkness, everyone inside the conference room immediately started having quiet discussions among themselves. They were also busy exchanging information and analysis reports with each other.

Meanwhile, the special situation team’s leader sitting at the meeting table’s head closed his eyes tiredly as he massaged his temples.

Aside from the growing complexity of the situation, what he was more concerned about was Chen Yu’s growth.

A high schooler who had yet to properly establish his worldview had actually employed a political strategy! Moreover, he had even succeeded to a certain extent…

This situation put the middle-aged team leader in a bind.

Combined with his personality portrait, it can be judged that Chen Yu’s actions had a strong purpose.

“We’ll have an increasingly difficult time controlling him at this rate.”

Sighing, the middle-aged team leader opened his eyes and scanned the room. Just as he was about to conclude the meeting, the doors to the room suddenly opened.

“Leader, there’s a report here that you need to look at alone.”

The newcomer was a robust young man wearing a tunic suit.

A stern expression appeared on the middle-aged team leader’s face. After gesturing for everyone to continue with their discussions, he stood up and left for an isolated room together with the youth.

“Is it a top-secret crown?” the team leader asked tentatively after closing the door to the room.

“Yes.” The young man nodded. He then raised the briefcase handcuffed to his wrist, removed the seal, and opened it.

Inside the briefcase sat a brownish-yellow envelope, and the words “Top Secret” were written on the envelope.

There was also a red seal with gold rims placed on the envelope’s flap.

Paper documents like these were referred to as “crowns” internally.

“Hu…”

After taking a deep breath, the middle-aged team leader picked up the document and removed the seal in front of the youth. He then pulled out two sheets of paper and started reading through their content carefully.

The more he read, however, the more solemn his expression became…

He felt as if his worldview was devastated once more.

The amount of shock he felt now was only second to his initial discovery of Transdimensional Review…

“Are you sure there are no mistakes?” the middle-aged team leader asked a pointless question.

“None.” The youth in the tunic suit shook his head expressionlessly.

“Can I read it again?”

“Yes, but make it quick.”

“Thank you.”

Nodding, the team leader started looking through the first page again, his eyes focused on the bold headline in the top row.

Summary of Europa’s Subglacial Liquid Analysis.

1. Observation and drawing of the SHAPE-MaP of seawater sediments under Europa’s ice layer…

Five minutes later, he placed the documents back into the envelope with trembling hands. He then handed the envelope to the youth and said, “T-Thank you.”

“This is my duty.” After receiving the envelope, the youth carefully returned it into the briefcase. “In reality, this kind of information is unrelated to your position. According to regulations, you shouldn’t be allowed to know of it. However, considering the particularity of your current task, the higher-ups have decided to make an exception.”

“I know.” The middle-aged team leader nodded. “I understand. I will include this information in our future analyses.”

“Alright. I will be leaving first, then.”

After saying so, the youth opened the door and left the room.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged team leader remained standing still for some time, his mind in a chaotic mess.

The content of the top-secret file was straightforward, and it disclosed only one information.

There was life under Europa’s ice layer!

Moreover, it was a highly evolved, multicellular organism!

The active geological environment, temperature, oxygen, carbon, sulfur, and other organic matter available provided a suitable breeding ground for the birth of life.

This meant that humans were not unique.

In just one solar system, two terrestrial objects had given birth to life.

Meanwhile, how many terrestrial objects were there in the entire galaxy?

Incalculable!

Taking a step back, how many solar systems were there in the Milky Way?

A conservative estimate placed the number at 380 billion.

Setting aside Kepler-62F, TRAPPIST-1d, Teegarden’s Star b, and other planets that have been discovered to have a large amount of liquid water and organic matter, there were at least 90 billion star systems with habitable terrestrial planets.

As for the number of terrestrial planets existing in galaxy groups, superclusters, and universes outside the Milky Way galaxy… There was no longer any meaning to calculate it.

Hence, through inferring from this data, it was inevitable for life to exist in the universe.

At least, Earth’s existence had proven this point already.

Presumably, in 2020, not many people would still think that Earth was a unique existence…

In the vast and boundless universe, life existed like women’s clothing. There were either none or a countless amount.

However, knowing was one thing. Finding evidence that proved this theory was another thing altogether.

The middle-aged team leader still suffered a severe blow to his spirit after finding out about this information.

Combined with the unforgettable products Transdimensional Review had revealed, he gradually felt uneasy and made unrealistic guesses…

…

“It’s finally over. I’m exhausted.”

By the time Chen Yu and Little Peach returned home, it was already half past one in the afternoon.

After walking through the Interstellar Portal and arriving inside his bedroom, Chen Yu threw himself straight onto the bed.

The liquid-touch control was novel, and the sensory feedback the liquid provided was also excellent. The only problem was that liquid-touch control required a lot of stamina to operate. With Chen Yu’s current physical abilities, he was still far from comparing to the 24th century’s elite soldiers.

Operating the Type-K Beast Armor continuously for several hours had inevitably made his muscles accumulate too much lactic acid. Now, his muscles were aching all over.

“Mr. Chen, will you be sleeping now?”

Seeing Chen Yu lying motionlessly on the bed, Little Peach walked over and picked up the Hypnosis Rattle from the bedside table.

“Mhm.” Turning his head around, Chen Yu stared at Little Peach and asked, “Why are you so eager for me to sleep nowadays? You’re even offering to hypnotize me every time.”

“I’m worried that you’ll overwork yourself, Mr. Chen,” Little Peach said without blinking.

“Are you doing something while I’m sleeping?” Chen Yu suddenly sat up, a skeptical look on his face.

“No.”

“Look at my eyes.”

“I’m looking at them.” Little Peach looked at Chen Yu innocently.

“…”

“…”

“Can’t you put some expressions on your face?”

“What expression would you like to see? I can simulate it for you.”

“…Forget it. Stay away from me. I’m going to rest.”

“I’ll hypnotize you!” Little Peach hurriedly raised the rattle.

“No need! Go write codes!”

“Oh.”

After responding with a grunt, Little Peach turned around regretfully. As she sat before the computer desk and typed away on the keyboard, she would occasionally sneak a peek at Chen Yu. Her behavior made it seem as if she was looking for an opportunity to strike…

Lying back on the bed, Chen Yu buried his face in his pillow and rested for 10 minutes or so. He then rolled over lazily and raised his watch to inspect the income he generated from today’s livestream.

…

Name: Chen Yu

Access Level: D (Number of live streaming platforms opened: 5)

Current Subscribers: 2,826,601

Current Accumulated Points: 287

Main Target: Raise your access level to D within four promotional quarters.

…

“Hehe, not bad, not bad.”

Seeing the three digits under Accumulated Points, Chen Yu could not help but laugh in excitement.

The fifth official livestream was very successful. He had attracted a total of 2.32 million viewers. Including the 55 leftover points, he now had a massive sum of 287 points.

According to the Transdimensional Store’s rules, the more points he had, the better the products recommended would be. Chen Yu had reason to look forward to the store’s next refresh.

Hence, he eagerly swiped his finger across his watch and entered the Transdimensional Store.

After a quick refresh, five products were listed on the screen in an orderly manner. The information of these products was reflected in Chen Yu’s energetic eyes.

However, when he saw the first recommended product, he immediately became dumbfounded.