Chapter 279: 「Qiu Min」 Empire

This appearance…

It is completely different from the Forerunners in Sui Bian's memory.

In memory, the Forerunner species of Halo, regardless of gender, setting aside physique and looking only at the face, absolutely does not conform to human aesthetics.

Moreover, Magnus and Leon's report deliberately mentioned that the Flood has the characteristic of suppressing Spiritual Energy, which shows that in his universe, the relationship between humanity, the Forerunners, and the Flood is worlds apart.

But the specific situation still requires waiting for the return of the Teutonic Knight before it can be further known.

Before this, Sui Bian's primary concern was how the public felt about humanity's allies.

———————

…

Earth.

In Raccoon City at dusk, traffic was also at its most congested period.

People off work left their posts, either going home directly or first hanging out with friends outside.

At this moment.

A two-door, four-seat flying car with red spray paint, following the air corridor, shuttled above the most prosperous district in the city center, turned left, then veered right off the corridor, slowing down to approach a massive apartment building.

Immediately after, the flying car entered the apartment interior through an entrance in the mid-level zone and arrived at the flying car's dedicated docking floor.

Following the signal lights' guidance, the flying car docked in an elevating vacant spot.

After shutting off, opening the butterfly-wing structure's 'car door', a female driver with wavy long hair, wearing a white shirt and black skirt, took her bag and left the flying car, walking toward a nearby elevator waiting area.

The 'car door' automatically closed, and the flying car was lifted by the docking platform upward to free up space for other residents.

Subsequently, this female driver, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties and exuded a professional elite aura, took the elevator to the apartment's 198th floor.

Exiting the elevator.

Walking on a carpet with noise-reducing effect, she came to the apartment door at the end, placed her left hand on the terminal's biometric sensor to unlock it.

With a 'beep', the metal door slid to the right.

'Mom!'

Before the door had fully opened, an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy ran toward her, full of excitement.

'Ah, my son.'

The female driver changed from her earlier cool, professional elite expression, entered the apartment as a single mother, closed the door while also reaching out to pinch the boy's cheek, and asked gently:

'Are you hungry? Want to go out together…'

'Mom, hurry up, come quick!'

However, the boy interrupted the question, tugging his mother and impatiently heading toward the spacious living room.

?

The mother hadn't even had time to change shoes when she followed her child in a quick jog to the living room, where she saw a 98-inch holographic TV projecting an intense battle video.

The upper-right corner of the TV displayed the words 'Raccoon City Military Affairs Reception Hall', and the video content came from the helmet camera of an Extreme Legion auxiliary soldier.

This auxiliary soldier disembarked onto the surface aboard the Yu Ou, and at the moment the hatch opened, several blue-armored elites flashed past from the right side of the Yu Ou, charging forward into a city unlike human style.

Subsequently, the auxiliary soldier also advanced together with the troops.

During this, the elites even actively took the front, using energy shields to help the human side resist the plasma cannon barrage.

The video lasted only over thirty seconds.

After the playback ended, the screen switched back to the live studio of a talk show, where a female host in a rose-red suit sat on the single sofa farthest to the right of the camera.

On the left side of the central guest sofa sat, in turn, a retired major general wearing formal uniform with medals covering his left chest, and a biologist in a black suit.

At this moment.

The female host slightly turned sideways and asked the two guests: 'This is a clip selected by our show team from the many videos officially released by Umbrella and UNSC; I don't know how General Zhang and Dr. Rolf view the Sangheili species appearing in the video.'

The surnamed Zhang major general spoke first: 'The official intention is obvious; being able to release such videos at points where our military's frontline progress is smooth shows our attitude toward friendly alien species…'

Before the major general finished speaking, the mother closed the holographic TV.

'Mom?' the boy said, somewhat puzzled.

'Let's go, Mom will take you out to eat.' the mother deliberately changed the subject.

'But…'

'After eating, I'll take you to the mall to browse; I think… the hobby shop's shelves should have new stock.'

'I'm going to change clothes!!'

Upon hearing the keyword 'hobby', the boy changed from his previous puzzlement, cheering and running toward his bedroom.

'Ah…'

The mother, who originally had a smile, saw the boy enter his bedroom and then let out a soft sigh, no longer hiding her fatigue and melancholy as she walked toward the door.

Her child has loved space since childhood.

His dream is to become a naval captain, leading sailors and marines to roam the stars.

He also greatly enjoys the storyline in comics and games where humanity and friendly alien species jointly resist evil forces, ultimately achieving victory at a bitter cost and forging deep friendships.

Although she does not want to suppress her child's aspirations, as a single mother she also does not want her only son to enlist.

Especially since the government has officially stated that countless alien forces exist in the universe.

All she can currently do is pay taxes actively to support humanity as much as possible, while subtly guiding her son to change his aspiration.

However…

She also knows that her child's future is up to the child himself, which is why she feels somewhat melancholy.

As the mother and child prepared to go out, societal reactions varied—some were torn like the mother, others excited like the boy, with differing responses.

From August 11 to now, in less than half a month, public opinion surged like a huge wave with the consecutive announcements of Astate, the Holy Covenant Empire, and humanity's allies, leaving people somewhat overwhelmed.

But people can tolerate such events to a far greater extent than before; life continues as usual, and they are not anxious just because hostile alien forces exist.

———————

…

More than ten hours later.

Inside the hangar of the Courage Anthem.

A large transport craft passed through the airlock, and under the guidance of ground crew holding glow sticks, it landed in the designated deck area.

It steadied, and the lower rear hatch opened.

Leon and Magnus, who had destroyed the Shield World, together with the accompanying Holy Knights and Sekhmet, left the cabin and returned to the deck of the Courage Anthem.

Rescued by the Teutonic Knight, the elite faction allies led by Wo'ersa were then sent to the settlement camp on the surface of Harvest Star to await further arrangements.

The City of Universal Love?

Currently, this capital of the Covenant Empire is facing a joint "disassembly" by multiple departments of Umbrella's engineering and research divisions.

After all, the City of Universal Love is a spoil of war captured by Kelakesi and NuoWa; thoroughly studying it and reverse‑engineering all its technology is the most basic form of "respect".

Even if it were the human side of the allies, or even Sui Bian's personal decision, it would be impossible to give the City of Universal Love back to the elites for use.

As for this, the elite commanders Wadami, Aties, and Mu'er had no complaints, especially since their homeworlds still "survive".

And Sui Bian.

At this moment he stood not far from the transport craft, wearing a faint smile, watching his descendants gradually approach him.

Leon, with his helmet unfolded, handed the memory storage device—that continuously emitted a blue‑green glow, a translucent sphere—to the White Empress, and said to Sui Bian:

"Father, this contains the core of the Shield World."

Magnus also said: "Father, how is Robert's side doing in battle? If needed, I can lead the Sekhmet to the front."

Upon hearing this.

Sui Bian revealed a kindly smile belied by his outward age, first raising both hands to lightly pat his sons' arm armor, then lowering his hands and said:

"You've worked hard; you managed to contain the Flood's surge at its onset— as for the front line?"

Heh.

"Robert and his forces are advancing triumphantly; before you even left the Rift Space, the war situation had already become clear, the Covenant Empire had fractured and become a thing of the past, and the Prophets' kind should now be suffering reprisals from all sides."

"Father, what is our next mission…?" Magnus asked.

"Hmm…" Sui Bian feigned contemplation, then continued smiling: "Go to the surface of Harvest Star and negotiate well with our allies there, help me solidify atheism, Leon, you go too."

"Yes." Leon, obeying the order without hesitation, turned and headed for the transport craft.

Magnus also nodded and said: "Understood, father."

"Alright, go."

"Yes."

Afterward.

Seeing the transport craft lift off the deck again, pass through the airlock membrane and exit the hangar, Sui Bian also turned his gaze to that sphere and, in a low voice, said to the two AI secretaries:

"Prepare for an 'interrogation'; over the coming years, even decades, you two will need to assist the company's researchers in absorbing and digesting technology far surpassing that of the Covenant Empire."

Saying that, Sui Bian turned and left, heading toward the tram station beside the hangar, and reminded over his shoulder: "Let's go."

The red and white empresses who had been standing at his sides exchanged a glance, then their tones grew equally heavier as they responded in unison:

"Very well, Chairman."

———————

…

Inside the exclusive chamber.

The memory storage device, employing some form of levitation technology, maintained a certain height above the carpeted floor, hovering in the center of the chamber.

Immediately afterward, the storage device increased her own blue‑green radiance, projecting a holographic image lacking tangible substance.

After all, this is not that empty chamber, so the storage device cannot make use of a more advanced holographic projector.

"…"

With his hands crossed in front of him, Sui Bian, leaning against the fixed desk, slightly raised his chin and observed the figure about 2.5 meters tall, with medium‑length slightly curled hair and dressed in a white gown.

Conversely, from the storage device's side:

"She" likewise looked down on Sui Bian and the red and white empresses, and spoke in a cold tone:

"Scan complete; identity verified as Reclaimer and Deviant. According to the latest canon amendment 145, please, Reclaimer, swiftly eliminate the Deviant."

Deviant?

Hearing those words, the red and white empresses and the White Empress tilted their heads slightly, then each raised her left or right hand to point at herself, puzzled as to why the storage device had immediately labeled them as Deviants.

Ignoring the destruction proposal, Sui Bian directly asked: "You previously claimed to be the memory storage of the Shield World's administrator; then is your outward appearance consistent with "her"?"

And what are the results of "her" and "her"'s species?

What is the relationship between us humans—or rather, us Reclaimers—and you, and why do you call the artificial intelligences Deviants?

Are the weapons imprisoned within the Shield World also manufactured by the administrator's species?

After Sui Bian finished his series of questions, the storage device paused briefly, then began to answer each one in turn:

"My appearance matches the physical traits of the Shield World 0314 administrator, named Aliya Hongtu Jingmo."

The administrator's final fate was death in a cross‑phase pulse wave; after that I took over as administrator, maintaining the basic functions of Shield World 0314, waiting and welcoming the Reclaimers' arrival.

The relationship between Reclaimers and administrators is…

Next.

This memory storage device, whose outward appearance is that of Aliya Hongtu Jingmo, explained the relationship between humanity, the administrators, and the Flood, as well as how the administrators were exterminated, to Sui Bian and the two AIs.

First, the administrators.

Because of the Halo's influence, Sui Bian's preconception led him, through observing the architectural style and technology revealed in the ruins of Harvest Star and Meisi Ruiyin, to call the advanced species that built the Shield World the Forerunners.

But Sui Bian had also said that this universe might not have Precursors, and the past of the Forerunners might also differ greatly from Halo (Superweapon).

In fact, the silent race of Ariya Hongtu calls itself 'Qiumi'.

If one must use the suffix "-zhe" to refer to them, they would prefer to call themselves Administrators rather than the Forerunners in Halo (Superweapon).

Afterward.

Based on the time points given by the storage, the two artificial intelligences calculated, letting Sui Bian know that the Administrators, eighty million years ago in Earth years, began to leave their homeworld Qila, explore, and prepare to conquer the galaxy.

During this period, the Administrators used advanced technology to crush and destroy any species that tried to resist, conquering one star system after another.

This also included humanity's home star system, the Solar System.

However, eighty million years ago, the overlord dominating Earth's surface was dinosaurs.

Thus the Administrators easily incorporated the Solar System into their territory, establishing a research station on Earth to observe dinosaurs and the planet's native lifeforms.

As late as seventy-eight million years ago, the Administrators became the undisputed galactic overlords and also established the Qiumi Empire.

However, after becoming the absolute rulers of the galaxy, the Administrators instantly lost their drive and had no plans to venture beyond the system.

It is like when a player completes a game 100%, with no remaining exploration value, and thus loses interest in that game, and even in that genre of games.

Venturing outward would merely repeat the process of conquering the galaxy, becoming dull and uninteresting.

Moreover, the Qiumi Empire's rule lasted only twenty thousand years before a new wave of thought swept through the entire people, ultimately ending in civil war among the Administrators.

The core idea of this thought wave is——

"All things in the galaxy should flourish under our protection; we should, like the warm radiance emitted by stars, nurture the vigorous blossoming of life, rather than being tyrants who only know conquest, destruction, and oppression, for we are……

Administrators."

(End of chapter)