Half an hour ago, in the AL-06 Experimental Site's Mirror Sea, Dongyun City.
A petite, white-haired, white-robed Siren, the Compiler leaned against her rigging, barefoot.
Her expression remained calm as she gazed at the sky, where a twisted black hole crackling with purple energy and lightning continued to manifest within the Mirror Sea.
Black crystalline dust spewed out from the depths of the black hole, resembling a heavy snowfall of dark feathers, drifting across the entire site.
As the black crystalline dust thickened, even the air seemed tainted—becoming dense and suffocating.
The plaza, located at the heart of Huaiwu City, had already been sealed off by her using a special micro-layer compound.
From the outside, it was impossible to see what was happening within.
Though the surrounding Siren Executors had noticed the ominous anomaly above, they remained loyal to their patrol duties, showing no signs of slacking off.
"Oi, oi, oi, what the hell is going on here?! Compiler, what are you up to? You're really not treating me like a sister right now!!!"
Just as the Compiler continued watching the twisted black hole expand, its interior gradually revealing the blurry outline of a blackened world, a shocked and incredulous voice rang out from the plaza's perimeter.
Purifier, who had just arrived on the scene, urgently piloted her craft toward the plaza.
She sounded as if she'd just witnessed something utterly terrifying, her voice pitched higher than usual.
But just as she was about to rush in, she realized the surrounding Siren Executors had already turned their weapons on her.
"Huh? You tin cans are my subordinates, you know! Are you trying to rebel against me?!"
Purifier stared blankly at the mutinous units in front of her. Though she knew they lacked independent thought and wouldn't respond, she still couldn't believe what was happening.
"Purifier, your acting is meaningless here. I've already severed the main system's surveillance in this area, so you can drop the innocent act."
Compiler's cold voice made Purifier's exaggerated expression freeze for a moment, before she let out an awkward laugh.
"Ahaha, and how exactly did you figure out I was faking it?"
"The moment you handed over full control of this experimental site to me, I knew you were up to something."
Compiler shot a look at Purifier as if she were an idiot, then added another jab:
"I honestly have no idea how someone as brainless as you has managed to keep your little betrayals hidden from the main system for so long."
But Purifier completely ignored the obvious mockery in Compiler's words. Instead, she cheerfully began boasting:
"Don't underestimate me! I'll have you know, over at the main system—"
"Not listening, not listening, blah blah blah."
Seeing Purifier about to launch into a long-winded story, Compiler immediately covered her ears with both hands.
The ever-serious, white-haired little girl had no interest in hearing Purifier's tales of rebellion.
"But are you sure about this? If those dead-set maniacs find out, we're both screwed."
"I was just playing around before, but you? You always seemed like the diligent type. Now that you're making a move, you're going all out. Gotta say... it's kinda exciting!"
After rambling on for a while, Purifier finally got to her true thoughts.
After all, her past mischief was nothing more than minor interference in experimental sites.
But this? This was on a whole different level.
She didn't fully understand the method behind the ever-growing twisted black hole, but from the ominous aura and the black crystalline particles in the air, she could tell exactly what it was.
A META Beacon.
They had spent years, working alongside the Arbiter units, to drive the META ships out of this world.
If this META Beacon was fully established, all their efforts would be for nothing.
Even those Ashes members who hadn't joined the Commander's Port in the previous experimental world would find their way here.
Most critically, Purifier knew that there was no way a Mirror Sea alone could hide the beacon's presence.
Once the META Beacon was completed, it was only a matter of time before the Arbiter units discovered it.
At that point, it wouldn't just be her and Compiler facing the main system's judgment.
The entire experimental organization could be implicated.
But Purifier, ever the troublemaker, was already eager to pick a fight with the Arbiter units.
Whether they could win was another story—but what fun that would be.
"I know exactly what's going through that empty head of yours. This is just a miniature, one-time-use META Beacon."
"As long as it stays within the Mirror Sea's cover, once this experimental site collapses, the main system and the Arbiters won't detect a thing."
"As long as you cooperate, once the site collapses, the worst that'll happen is that you, the site supervisor, will be the one taking the fall."
Compiler spoke flatly, having already anticipated every step.
"Wait, why am I taking the fall?! I went through all the trouble of making sure this experiment site ran smoothly, and now I'm the scapegoat?!"
Purifier's golden eyes widened in protest upon hearing Compiler's emotionless statement.
"A minor punishment? Come on, you're a professional scapegoat. At this point, you should be completely numb to it."
Compiler gave Purifier a slightly puzzled look.
"You—!"
Purifier was speechless, choked by the words of her equally rebellious comrade.
As the two high-ranking Sirens discussed how to deceive the main system, the twisted black hole above them finally reached its peak size.
Within the void, a slender figure slowly emerged.
"Purifier, this no longer concerns you. I'll handle the observational data reports. Go initiate the self-destruct sequence for this site."
Seeing the figure about to descend from the black hole, Compiler turned to the whistling, completely unbothered Purifier and gave her an order.
"Hah? No way, the others are still having fun—I don't wanna be the bad guy... Oh, by the way, guess who I just saw?"
Purifier, initially about to complain, suddenly grinned mysteriously like she'd found treasure and leaned in toward Compiler.
"If you don't leave now, I'll have the tentacles throw you out."
Compiler replied coldly. She had no intention of letting this airheaded colleague see the identity of the person emerging from the black hole.
"I saw someone from the last experimental world... the Port Commander~"
The mechanical tentacle that had been winding up behind Purifier, ready to smack her out of the area, suddenly stopped mid-air.
"...Who did you say you saw?"
For the first time, Compiler's usually emotionless face showed genuine surprise.
But the person who had asked the question...
Wasn't her.
It was the blue-haired, red-eyed girl, covered in deep-blue crystalline particles, who had just stepped out of the black hole.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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