If anyone else were present, upon hearing Fang Senyan's words, they would undoubtedly feel as if a vast expanse of clouds had been swept away, revealing a sudden burst of clarity!

Fang Senyan looked at Hadric and said, "My servant informs me that even though you temporarily disabled certain switches, the remaining functions of this derelict vessel are absolutely not limited to the two you mentioned, and even the main computer isn't entirely destroyed. This is an Atlantic-class battleship, commissioned one hundred and thirty-seven years ago. Although production has ceased, thirty-six of them are still in active service within the Imperial Fleet, and its offline database still contains its structural schematics!"

"The primary core of this ship's main computer was indeed destroyed, but the sub-computers installed in the fuselage and tail are still operational, much like a vegetative patient, still maintaining a heartbeat, digestion, and even reproductive functions!"

"Its analysis system will instinctively continue to gather data on surrounding lifeforms and attempt to build databases for research. The information about the Juantong tree seeds restraining the Berserk Beasts—that likely wasn't derived from experiential analysis, but rather information gathered by the ship's analysis system over countless years of reference."

Hadric felt a chill creep up his spine. The people in his residence exchanged glances and began subtly shifting their positions. Fang Senyan, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed, continuing his discourse, "Based on my judgment, a significant reason you wish to bring us back is likely to extract the method by which we can return to civilized society. That's why you slipped the best poison you could find into our food just now? What a shame; one of our companions has profound expertise in botany. He could detect your intentions merely by the scent."

Fang Senyan sighed deeply, picked up the water glass before him, and downed its contents in one go: "There must be poison in this water too, right? Looks like a double dose, but so what? What of it? Even without him, your poisons are merely a joke in our presence! Right now, I am only curious about one thing, Mr. Hadric. You have witnessed our capabilities. Why indulge them in such foolishness?"

Fang Senyan spoke smoothly, his pace seeming slow, yet carrying an undeniable weight of authority. He stood up and walked toward the exit, uttering a final sentence before leaving: "Then, allow me to witness what you are truly relying upon! I will wait for you outside. I trust you wouldn't want any damage to this vessel, would you?"

When Fang Senyan arrived outside the ship, he found several others already there, all giving him an "OK" gesture. Android Unit One immediately recited a list: "Nine bombs installed on the ship have been dismantled."

"Initial command protocols have been formatted, and supreme control over the vessel has been restored."

"The ship's shield has been activated; this shield can currently withstand energy equivalents of at least 3.5 million tons of TNT."

"Due to material limitations, only 17.33% of the ship's structure has been repaired, and 6.13% of its functionality has been optimized. If sufficient materials were available, the repairable structure could increase to 27.11%, with an expected functional improvement exceeding 10.31%."

"The ship's database has been connected, the offline database expanded, and all data collected by this vessel has been imported."

"..."

Looking at this series of accomplishments, Fang Senyan suddenly fixed a deep gaze on Android Unit One: "You are not an ordinary android, are you?"

"Just as the Master is certainly no ordinary Contractor," the android replied with deference. "Those chosen to be assigned missions on this damned planet could never be selected based on courage alone."

Fang Senyan laughed heartily and was about to turn toward the group of native humans before him when Android Unit One suddenly whispered, "Although this might be redundant, Master, I must warn you. Be careful."

Fang Senyan's body stiffened, and he asked in astonishment, "Careful of whom?"

"One or more among these people—if the ship's records are accurate—they should possess a mysterious and terrifying power. Although that power is merely imitation, it incorporates the Empire's pinnacle technology! It is certain that since they are survivors from that program and were chosen by the Predators, there is a high probability they can counter you," Android Unit One stated gravely.

Fang Senyan asked seriously, "What program is that?"

Android Unit One hesitated for a moment, saying with some difficulty, "It is the... Ten Strongest Project—I must add, in stating this name, I am once again violating the Empire's sacred laws."

Fang Senyan smiled lightly: "The Empire's sacred laws don't seem very important to you and General Mongo anymore, do they? What is the Ten Strongest Project?"

Android Unit One quickly recovered from the awe of the Empire's sacred laws and began recounting with the fluency of an old butler: The Nightmare Space was not actually developed through human technology. When humanity entered its colonization era, the first celestial body targeted for conquest was naturally the Moon, only 380,000 kilometers away. During the development of the Moon, something extremely bizarre was discovered on its far side.

It was a rock mass as immense as a mountain range!!

Yet, the shape of that rock resembled the uterus of a human female.

Magnified countless times, perfectly lifelike, a uterus forged as hard as black iron!!

Opening this strange and colossal object was deceptively easy; it seemed to possess the ability to sense human proximity, naturally fracturing open as humans approached. From within emerged eight enormous eggs. These eggs lacked shells, presenting a bronze hue, as if formed instantly from thickened prostatic fluid, much like milk-coffee frozen in an instant. However, one of the eggs, for unknown reasons, was missing one-third of its mass.

After being transported back to Earth, these eggs began to hatch, birthing the first generation of the Nightmare Space, which immediately began to serve humanity loyally.

All humanity did for the Nightmare Space was provide adequate sustenance. As for their origins, humanity remained utterly perplexed.

The reason this is called the first generation of Nightmare Space is that they too could reproduce, doing so simply through fission—splitting from one into two. During this process of division, the Nightmare Space that had been damaged from its initial egg stage exhibited anomalies. Humanity seized this opportunity, finally acquiring some of the core tissues of the Nightmare Space. From these tissues, not only was the foundation laid for modulating the Ten Strongest Project, but human molecular biology also advanced by leaps and bounds.

This information diverged from official records, but official records often reflect only what the authorities wish you to see, never the absolute truth. The truth is submerged... within a small node on the colossal photonic hard drives of the Imperial data center.

As Android Unit One recounted the details, Fang Senyan's expression grew increasingly grim. While their conversation seemed somewhat time-consuming, for those humans present, most were secretly hoping the delay would stretch longer, as the poisons introduced into the water and food required sufficient time to take full effect.

"You mean the Ten Strongest Project is essentially the method the first-generation Nightmare Space used to create powerful warriors, and humanity is merely imitating it?"

"Precisely. But the crucial difference between imitation and originality is this: as long as the Nightmare Space wills it, it can make any warrior a Ten Strongest. However, the imitated technique is so demanding that among the entire human race today, perhaps only fifty to eighty individuals meet even the first preliminary qualification criteria!"

Fang Senyan sucked in a sharp breath. Back in the Earth era, the population had already exceeded ten billion, and the current Empire occupied planets numbering far more than just ten billion. Given such a terrifying population base, to screen out only fifty to eighty people—and that was just for passing the initial selection—made him, for the first time, feel a distinct lack of certainty in victory.

"However, based on my estimation, those present here cannot possibly be true Ten Strongest," Android Unit One stated earnestly. "A true Ten Strongest would never be captured by the Predators. This individual must be an experimental subject who failed the modulation process but still managed to retain some of the abilities. They would have major defects compared to the original, but... they would also inherit some of the inherent, formidable powers. And every single capability of the Ten Strongest is exceptionally fatal."

As night deepened, only the yellow light filtering down from the Eplos Meteoroid Belt illuminated the scene. Two groups of humans, who moments ago were engaged in seemingly congenial conversation, were now set to engage in a fight to the death right here. While in the eyes of the Contractors this seemed like the ridiculous attempt of an ant challenging an elephant, the eyes of these humans, driven mad by the near-obsessive desire to return home, shone with an unyielding light of assured victory. What a conviction that was.

A small, seemingly frail man pushed Hadric aside and looked at Fang Senyan and his companions: "The poisoning was the decision of the three of us! Since you have already obtained the data from the ship, do you dare take a bet with us?"

Fang Senyan replied flatly, "What kind of bet? And what do you possibly have to bet against us with?"

"We also understand the greed of those damned higher-ups; only profit moves them. Since arriving here, we have also seized every opportunity to collect Xuan ore. These Xuan ores are right behind us now. If you win, you can take all the Xuan ore! And we ask that, in consideration of this wealth, you spare the rest of our people."

The small man spoke earnestly: "Of course, if you lose, you must tell us the method of your return." (To be continued)