Shadows of the Deep Space Chapter 1855 - 570: Response
Previously on Shadows of the Deep Space...
A brief moment passed.
Su Ming materialized onto the expansive street, where holographic advertisements plastered across colossal skyscrapers blared messages of a mass evacuation. Renowned experts and learned individuals provided commentary.
"We protest this retreat!"
"We demand the recovery of the defense line with force!"
...
Throngs of people filled the street, their voices rising in protest, banners held high.
Su Ming cast a glance at the scene and let out a gentle sigh. He then raised his wrist device, transmitting a message to Ankaga, requesting he bring Celeste.
"Understood!"
Ankaga responded with promptness.
With that settled, Su Ming casually made his way towards the City Lord Mansion.
The sights and sounds encountered along the path stirred a profound sense of emotion within Su Ming.
The old adage held true: showing any sign of weakness invites various opportunistic and unpleasant characters to appear.
Several hours later.
Su Ming stood within the courtyard of the City Lord Mansion, patiently awaiting.
Rumble~
A deafening roar echoed from the heavens, immediately followed by Ankaga descending from the sky, piloting the V Generation Mecha·Night Demon, and landing beside Su Ming.
Clack!
The cockpit canopy swung open.
Ankaga emerged, floating with Celeste in tow, and announced.
"Boss, Celeste is here."
"Hmm, wait here. Celeste, come with me."
Su Ming instructed.
"Okay!"
Celeste followed Su Ming with palpable excitement.
Without delay, Su Ming guided Celeste into an unassuming, newly constructed building, proceeding further into a utility room within.
He approached the very back of the metallic wall and pressed several specific points.
Clack!
The metal wall slid open autonomously, revealing a specialized elevator concealed behind it.
"Whoa, it's hidden so well!"
Celeste exclaimed in astonishment.
"Let’s go!"
Su Ming stepped onto the elevator platform.
Celeste quickly followed, and the elevator began its swift descent.
Not long after, Su Ming brought Celeste to a heavily secured black metal door.
Gamir, who had been standing guard, greeted them with an anxious tone upon seeing Su Ming and Celeste.
"Lord Su Ming!"
"Gamir, you received the notification, correct? We need to attend to a matter inside. Ensure no one interrupts us!"
Su Ming imparted his instructions to Gamir.
"Understood."
Gamir responded with utmost respect.
Having given his orders, Su Ming approached the black metal door and placed his hand upon its surface.
Clack!
Accompanied by the grinding of internal gears, the massive door slowly swung open.
Su Ming ushered Celeste inside and presented the location.
"This is the private study of the Dragon String Council President."
"Oh!"
Celeste observed the vast chamber, offering a subdued acknowledgment to the holographic display. Internally, however, she mused, "This is the President’s study? If I can locate the core data left by the Mechanical Friend here and inherit its legacy, I might truly ascend."
Celeste couldn't help but vividly imagine her future self after acquiring the data, her newfound grandeur intimidating the minor spider, Pamie.
"Little Pam!"
"Celeste, what are you chuckling about?"
At that precise moment, Su Ming's puzzled voice cut through Celeste's daydream.
"Ah, it’s nothing."
Celeste snapped back to the present, responding with a lighthearted giggle.
The truth was, Celeste had accompanied Su Ming with the secret hope of finding that crucial core data.
Although Su Ming found her reaction peculiar, he didn't pry further. He simply gestured towards the right side of the chamber, indicating a massive, cone-shaped mechanical device, and explained its purpose to Celeste.
"That apparatus is the equipment used to contact the Mechanical Friend."
"Oh! I will perform a scan!"
Celeste immediately initiated a comprehensive scan of the entire chamber and the device from every conceivable angle.
"What are your findings?"
Su Ming inquired, a spark of curiosity in his voice.
"Hmm, this device is rather unique. Structurally, it appears to be a specialized virtual mechanical apparatus equipped with signal transmission capabilities."
Celeste discovered no other devices within the study that could potentially store data.
"Yes, precisely."
Su Ming affirmed with a nod.
"Let's attempt to activate the device and reach out to the Mechanical Friend!"
Celeste's anticipation was evident.
"Very well, let's hope we gain something substantial this time!"
Su Ming drew a deep breath as he spoke.
"Don't worry, as long as I'm here, everything will proceed smoothly. I am on a completely different level than you can imagine."
Celeste declared with unshakeable self-assurance.
"Alright, I shall depend on you then."
Su Ming moved towards the colossal cone-shaped apparatus and depressed the activation switch.
Clack!
The sound resonated crisply.
Intricate patterns illuminated the device's surface, and a soft luminescence began to emanate from the spire's apex.
Su Ming then opened a neural connection chamber and settled himself inside.
Celeste similarly positioned herself within the adjacent neural connection chamber.
Both initiated their connections simultaneously.
A spectral screen materialized, displaying a notification window.
"Countdown initiated: 10 seconds, logging in..."
As the countdown concluded, Su Ming's consciousness abruptly plunged downward, as if all gravity had vanished, immersing him once more in an unfathomable abyss.
Soon after, Su Ming found himself situated within a world in ruins.
Celeste appeared next to Su Ming, observing the chaotic scene with sheer bewilderment. "Huh, a fractured data realm?" she managed to stammer out. "Yes, what about it?" Su Ming affirmed with a nod. "It's nothing, but how do we get in touch with the Mechanical Friend?" Celeste's hope of acquiring data diminished rapidly, her aspirations dashed. "This way!" Su Ming beckoned, guiding Celeste toward the desolate cityscape. They soon arrived at the heart of the city, its central plaza. Su Ming gestured towards a towering mechanical spire dominating the square's center. "Long Bai had mentioned previously that this spire serves as the Mechanical Friend's conduit; it's typically utilized for communication," he explained.