Time to evacuate; things are finally getting back on track, but the Ancient Legions have only just reflected this, and it will still take time to gather enough troops to disrupt the withdrawal. Thus, Yang Ying had ample leisure to satisfy his curiosity.

The Observer received this new directive and began approaching the surface of Europa.

A few minutes later, a new piece of intelligence came back. The staff officer immediately reported to Yang Ying: "The Observer has detected a massive facility two kilometers beneath the ice layer, covering an area of four square kilometers and approximately three hundred meters deep. It appears to be a factory installation, showing a few life signs. Here is the image sent back by the Observer."

The staff officer pressed a button on the control panel, and a light screen immediately appeared in front of the bridge, displaying the image.

Europa’s terrain is much like Antarctica, with liquid subsurface water beneath the ice, much like an ocean. This underground factory complex was built in an environment surrounded by large amounts of water. A long conduit extended from the top of the factory, piercing the water layer and the thick ice sheet, reaching straight to the surface.

A dozen small blue dots indicated life signs appearing inside the factory.

"Are these life signs the military's landing party?" Yang Ying inquired.

"No, the military landing party is currently advancing toward the factory facility; they are estimated to arrive in another five minutes." The staff officer manipulated the controls a few times, shrinking the image on the screen to expand the viewing area. He revealed dozens of other blue dots rushing toward the factory.

Yang Ying nodded and stated, "Continue reconnaissance."

This discovery confirmed that the military was indeed concealing something; this underground factory facility had never appeared in the mission briefing—not a single word about it.

Just then, on the light screen, in a corner inside the underground factory, a red insignia suddenly lit up. It was composed of a central dot and three surrounding sectors radiating at sixty degrees.

The staff officer shouted, "Sir, the Observer is detecting radiation from the factory facility!"

Yang Ying gave a low sound of surprise and murmured to himself, "Secret factory, military, radiation… Could this be—"

In the captain's seat, Howard also showed a serious expression.

Yang Ying pondered for a moment. "Record the location, size, and characteristics of this factory facility, and send all the intelligence back to the base via a special channel. Have Kevin check the Intelligence Department’s database to find out exactly what is going on."

The factory facility was too far from the surface, and the Observer lacked subterranean penetration capabilities, only being able to scan what was beneath the surface, yielding very limited intelligence. Therefore, Yang Ying chose a more convenient method: letting Kevin hack into the Intelligence Department's system to directly search for the required information.

Even though the military had not provided data on that factory facility, as long as the data existed, it would certainly be in the Intelligence Department’s classified databases.

"If things are as I suspect, then today is my lucky day."

After sending the message back to the base, Yang Ying waited for Kevin’s reply.

On a cosmic scale, information traveling at the speed of light taking half an hour to reach its destination is not unusual; such instances are common.

In the Solar System, neither humans nor the Ancient Legions had developed faster-than-light (FTL) communication technology. However, this technology was already in Yang Ying’s possession—this was the "special channel" he mentioned.

By means of FTL communication, Yang Ying could hold a real-time conversation with the base, ignoring the ten-minute light-speed delay between them.

Though communication itself was instantaneous, Kevin still required time to search through such a massive database.

While waiting, Yang Ying instructed the staff officer, "Bring up the physical image of the surface as well."

Another light screen opened before Yang Ying, the image displaying the group of military landing forces directly above.

They were arrayed in four columns, totaling fifty personnel. Each was encased in deep-blue powered armor, making them appear two meters tall. They moved rapidly across the ice surface using jump boots.

Observing the soldiers' attire, Yang Ying felt even more certain that their objective was related to nuclear energy.

Powered armor universally incorporated life support systems, offering resistance to high and low temperatures and radiation, and could even function as a spacesuit. Furthermore, these suits often cost more than the newest fighter jets on the open market. The military would not equip anyone less than the elite of the elite with powered armor.

Soon, this unit arrived directly above the underground factory facility, before a small hill. They showed no intention of stopping, moving straight toward the cliff face.

No collision occurred; they phased into the cliff as if it did not exist.

Yang Ying nodded slightly. This was the electronic camouflage system commonly used by the military—like an enlarged holographic screen projecting various environments to conceal what lay within.

Based on the current findings, the security level of this underground factory was extremely high, so the presence of protective measures like an electronic camouflage system at the entrance was not unexpected.

Howard, who had been sitting in the captain's seat watching Yang Ying issue one order after another, suddenly asked, "Sir, you are having Kevin search for intelligence on this underground factory, even intruding into the Intelligence Department's classified database. Although Kevin’s capabilities make discovery unlikely, going to such lengths to trouble him once shouldn't be..."

Yang Ying looked up at him and smiled, "Since radiation was discovered in the underground factory, this matter is no longer just about simple curiosity."

"Then what is it about?" Howard narrowed his eyes, as if sensing something.

Yang Ying shook his head. "Let's not discuss it yet. It’s still just my speculation. We’ll talk once we have news from Kevin, to avoid getting our hopes up for nothing."

The staff officer opportunely announced, "Sir, Colonel Kevin wishes to speak with you."

Yang Ying immediately responded, "Good, put him through. Kevin is truly exceptional!"

Kevin, the half-man, half-machine supercomputer, appeared on the screen and stated, "Sir, I have a lead on what you asked me to investigate. The Intelligence Department's classified database has a record of this underground factory. The facility is managed by the Military Intelligence Bureau. The security clearance required to view the record is Level Omega—even the Vice President only has that level of clearance."

The Intelligence Department managed a series of intelligence organizations, including the General Intelligence Bureau, the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Solar System Security Agency, the Joint Investigation Bureau, and several highly confidential research and production departments that also fell under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Department or its subordinate bodies.

Yang Ying nodded. "That explains why the military kept it secret from us, but that’s not the important part. The crucial question is what this underground factory is actually for."

Kevin replied, "This underground factory is a nuclear facility. Its existence is for extracting Uranium, Plutonium, Neon, and Argon from Europa’s ice layers and purifying them..."

He paused, then continued with extreme gravity, "...for the purpose of manufacturing nuclear weapons."

The expressions of the staff officers on the bridge subtly changed. Yang Ying’s and Howard’s expressions also shifted.

They became solemn.

They became eager!

Yang Ying slowly stood up, his eyes flashing with bright light, and stated, "It’s just as I suspected."

Kevin continued, "The codename for this secret factory is 'Prometheus.' It is the frontline's largest nuclear weapons production base. Furthermore, I found that after the frontline military bases were completely wiped out, this factory shipped out all its recently produced nuclear warheads—some handed over for frontline use, others stored in the rear. However, a substantial amount of difficult-to-transport nuclear raw materials remain in the factory, such as weapon-grade Uranium and Plutonium, along with Deuterium and Tritium gas, amounting to tons!"

This secret factory was not destroyed in the Helas attack because, besides necessary security installations, it possessed no weapon systems, nor was it controlled by fire-control passwords. Moreover, it was not managed by the conventional military; it was officially listed under the Intelligence Department and thus fell outside Helas's targeting parameters.

Yang Ying nodded as he listened, his smile growing wider. The reason he was so keen on this underground factory was precisely for these potentially available nuclear materials—though existing nuclear warheads would be even better. If not, these raw materials alone could significantly accelerate the timetable for manufacturing nuclear weapons on the Floating Continent.

Although humanity could convert silicon ore into any known substance, the difficulty of transmutation varied greatly between different materials. Among them, radioactive materials were the most difficult to transmute. In the process of manufacturing nuclear bombs, a large amount of time was spent converting silicon ore into Uranium and Plutonium. Obtaining ready-made nuclear materials would bypass this step, greatly speeding up nuclear warhead production. They could even assemble a few warheads immediately using the casings already built. Yang Ying knew that on the Floating Continent, several nuclear bombs were fully prepared, only lacking the nuclear fuel core.

"Furthermore," Kevin added, "according to the latest records, to prevent the Ancient Legions from obtaining the nuclear facilities in the factory, the Military Intelligence Bureau has dispatched an elite unit from its ranks. Under the cover of the Jupiter evacuation mission, they plan to demolish this factory, sinking it to the seabed."

"I see. If they are going to act, I need to move faster."

Yang Ying turned to Howard and said, "By now, you should have guessed what I plan to do. Explain the situation to Kevin, and then notify Katerina."

That demolition unit had already been inside for five minutes; if he didn't act now, it would be too late after the factory exploded.

Howard’s face showed understanding. "Understood, Sir."

After speaking, Yang Ying walked out of the bridge, contacted Catherina via communicator to arrange a meeting in his quarters, and then used a 'Shortening Step' to cross to his room door, which automatically opened.

Inside the room was a medical pod. Yang Ying opened the hatch and lay down inside.

Then, he extended his right hand out of the pod. With a flash of golden light, he summoned a cloned body that dropped directly onto the bed.

Just then, the room door opened. Catherina walked in and was surprised by the scene in the room: "Sir, you summoned a clone—what are you planning?"

"Ask Howard about the specifics. You stay here and look after my body." With that, Yang Ying closed the medical pod hatch, and several indicator lights illuminated, showing the pod was active.

The clone lying on the bed suddenly opened its eyes. Simultaneously, a small 'Tian' symbol appeared on the back of its right hand.