Chapter 914: Heading to Sanpimu Star (2)

There was a pause on the other end, and then a reply.

"The situation here... you had best see it for yourself, Lord Mortarion."

When Lion and Mortarion arrived at Cargo Bay C-4, they saw the entire cargo bay covered in a layer of purple, moss-like substance that was growing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Several technicians stood outside the safety perimeter, at a loss for what to do.

"Explain."

Mortarion looked toward a technical supervisor and spoke.

The technical supervisor stepped forward nervously to answer.

"We aren't sure either, sir. It appeared suddenly within the hour. It seems to have started from that container."

He pointed to a cargo crate already half-covered in moss.

Lion narrowed his eyes and said in a low tone.

"What cargo crate is that?"

"It is a supply shipment brought from the Star Alliance, marked as... a special gift for the two lords."

Lion and Mortarion looked at the scene before them and said in unison.

"Yingxin, a gift from Yingxin?"

Mortarion walked forward, avoiding the spreading moss, to check the label on the crate.

"It is marked 'Ecological Improvement Experiment, do not expose directly to air'."

As he spoke, Mortarion turned his head to look at the technicians.

"Who opened it?"

A young technician lowered his head in shame.

"I did, my lord. I didn't know... Her Highness said it was a surprise for her brothers..."

Lion rubbed his forehead and said helplessly.

"She is always like this. The 'gift' she sent last time ate the circuitry of half a Frigate."

Mortarion observed the growth pattern of the moss and spoke.

"This is no ordinary plant. Look, it is mimicking the structure of the surrounding environment."

"How do we clear it?"

Lion asked the technical supervisor.

The technical supervisor shook his head and replied.

"We tried conventional methods, but they were ineffective. It actually grew faster after being scorched by lasers. It seems to be absorbing energy."

Mortarion suddenly walked forward, stepping directly into the moss-covered area.

The moss recoiled slightly under Mortarion's feet, forming a small circle.

"Interesting."

Mortarion crouched down and reached out to touch the moss.

As his fingers made contact, the moss began to change color, shifting from purple to a deep green that matched his Power Armor.

"Biological mimicry adaptation?"

Mortarion stood up and spoke.

"Not just mimicry. It is learning. Get an isolation container. Do not touch it directly; wrap it in an energy field."

After a technician brought the container over, Mortarion collected some samples.

Once isolated, the moss stopped growing and turned into an inert state.

"Are there any instructions attached?"

Lion asked the technician to the side.

The technician hurriedly handed over a Data Pad and replied.

"Yes, my lord. But we didn't have time to look at it just now."

Lion took the Data Pad and read the message left by Yingxin together with Mortarion.

Dearest brothers Lion and Mortarion:

This is Little Moss! A new friend I cultivated! It is very smart and can learn from and adapt to its environment.

I think it might be able to help you on strange planets!

As long as you don't let it touch too much energy, it is very well-behaved.

Love, Yingxin.

P. S.: If Little Moss starts growing too fast, sing the lullaby I taught you, and it will quiet down! I've tested it!

Lion and Mortarion exchanged a glance and simultaneously revealed helpless smiles.

Only Yingxin would call an alien organism capable of swallowing an entire warship "Little Moss" and think a lullaby could control it.

Mortarion turned toward the moss, hesitated for a moment, and then began to hum in a low voice.

It was the lullaby Yingxin often sang; as Mortarion hummed, the moss in the cargo bay slowed its growth, gradually became still, and finally went completely dormant.

Lion hurriedly clapped his hands to get the technicians moving.

"Alright, while it's quiet, isolate all affected areas. Handle it with care."

"Yes, Lord Lion!"

On the way back to the Bridge, Lion couldn't help but laugh.

"Remember when she was 7 and tried to bake us a birthday cake, only to create that walking dough monster?"

The corners of Mortarion's mouth lifted slightly.

"It followed our little sister around for an entire day before falling into a fountain and dissolving. Our little sister cried for ages, until Angron and Ferrus promised to help her improve the recipe."

"She is always like this, causing trouble and then solving it in her own way. Last time I accidentally said her little invention was useless, she ignored me for a week until I apologized three times."

"Father always tells us not to lead our little sister astray, but she doesn't care about that at all; Auntie must have quite the headache."

Returning to the Bridge, the holographic projection showed the fleet was about to complete preparations for the final jump.

The navigator was calculating the final coordinates, and each ship was reporting its status.

Lion walked toward the communications console and said to the communications officer.

"Connect me to the private channel of Xiuluo Holy Star."

"Yes, my lord."

A few minutes later, the figure of a nine-year-old girl appeared on the communication screen.

She had messy black hair, sleepy eyes, and was wearing a lab coat stained with various suspicious smudges.

The background was clearly some laboratory, although according to regulations she should have been forbidden from entering; it must have been Perturabo or Ferrus who brought her into the lab.

Seeing Mortarion and Lion, Yingxin, who had been a bit listless, had her eyes light up.

"Brother Lion! Brother Mortarion! Did you receive Little Moss? Did it help?"

Lion answered with a smile.

"We received it, little one. It is indeed... very energetic."

Mortarion gave a light cough and joined the conversation.

"Ahem, little sister, you didn't tell us it would grow to fill the entire cargo hold."

Yingxin blinked and pressed a finger to her lips.

"Oh, that. Little Moss was just hungry. It needs regular feeding, I forgot to mention it. Did you feed it anything?"

"Feed it what?"

"Energy! But not too much, or it will get bloated. Just a little bit of electrical energy is fine, like feeding a little goldfish."

"Little sister, next time you send this kind of 'gift', please attach a detailed instruction manual."

Hearing Mortarion say this, Yingxin immediately raised her small hand in protest.

"I did! On the back of the card!"

Lion picked up the Data Pad from earlier and flipped it to the back; sure enough, there was a line of small text.

"Daily feeding: 0.5 units of electrical energy, do not exceed."

The font was so small it was almost invisible.

"Little sister..."

Lion looked at Yingxin, and Yingxin, being stared at, laughed sheepishly.

"Hehehe, sorry, the ink was running out at the time. Is Little Moss okay now? Do you like it?"

Lion weighed his words carefully before replying.

"It is very... special, just like you."

Yingxin clapped her hands happily: "I knew you would like it! It can help you adapt to the environment of the new planet! Little Moss can change its own attributes to match the surrounding environment, isn't that amazing?"