β universe, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, a large ocean-going fishing boat floated on the sea, and several civilian yachts followed the fishing boat, rising and falling with the rough waves.

Judging from the appearance alone, anyone who sees this fleet will probably think of them as a tour group to experience sea fishing.

In reality, however, the opposite is true.

There were no tourists or fishing gear in the closed cabin, all armed men.

On the deck outside the cabin, an emaciated man was leaning against the railing and smoking a cigarette, curling up to his ears and looking raunchy and scribbled.

His name is Fick, a former CIA agent and current head of the extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team.

Since the power outage in Virginia, although the CIA's rash action has been criticized by the top officials, it has also made the authorities fully aware of the threat of extraterrestrial civilizations, and urgently set up an extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team.

As the only agent to have ever participated in the investigation of Wasteland Online, Fick was soon summoned by the authorities and appointed by the latter as the leader of the extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team.

Facing the hostile invasion of extraterrestrial civilizations, it was undoubtedly the highlight of Fike's life.

Those who he had only seen on TV take the initiative to shake hands with him at banquets, not only as a guest, but also as the savior of human civilization - and he himself thinks so.

However, the good times were short-lived.

Since the blackout has passed, the extraterrestrial civilizations hiding behind "Wasteland Online" have suddenly reined in their edge, and even played "paid technology transfer" on forums outside the game.

When it is said to be paid, it is not actually paid to game operators, but by various economies paying to recover the in-game currency from players, and then anonymously bidding on some technical materials that are not available on the planet through auctions.

Such a set of riotous operations instantly drew all those forces that were originally suspicious of the "extraterrestrial advanced civilization" to the chariot of the "aliens".

Especially after the giants of Wall Street discovered the amazing market value behind "Wasteland Online", they sent political brokers to lobby Congress, leading public opinion to advocate the theory of good faith contact and the great integration of the universe, and finally succeeded in pressuring the authorities to change their previous contact countermeasures.

Thanks to this, his career has also plummeted, not only has his funds been cut again and again, but the car he travels has changed from an aircraft carrier to a destroyer, and then to a fishing boat.

Unless it is a truly hopelessly stupid idiot and a vested interest who pretends to be confused, no one will insist on a meaningless thing regardless of the cost.

And now the work of the "extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team" is becoming a meaningless thing.

No matter how vividly Fick portrayed the alien threat in Congress, and listed the specious evidence he had gathered from the people, the result was nothing more than dozing off the attendees at the conference table.

Wall Street's political brokers didn't even have a plan to lobby him, because they didn't think it was necessary.

The scars and the pained creatures had long since forgotten how they took him by the hand and shouted that he was the last savior of humanity, and now they saw him and his operatives as an after-dinner joke.

What's even more excessive is the guy who said that he wanted to set up an extraterrestrial civilization countermeasure team.

The esteemed leader gave him an ultimatum directly and gave him another four years.

Four years!

If he can't even find a high-civilization spaceship, he will take his department out of his direct team and merge it into NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

It sounded like it was going to be loaded onto the Voyager rover and shot out.

Anyway, that's how it happened.

In order not to be mounted on the Voyager N probe and shot to the alien hometown as a greeting gift, he can only look at the eyes of the congressional bigwigs like a mad dog while searching for "Wasteland OL" and the traces left on Earth by the advanced civilization.

Fortunately, the hard work paid off.

Just when there was still one year left in the four-year period, things finally took a turn for the better.

Based on anonymous clues provided by an informant who claimed to be a "β fission", he finally locked on to the middle of the Pacific Ocean at his feet after circling the Pacific Ocean.

It is said that this is the place where the high-civilization spaceship landed.

At that time, a fishing boat witnessed its landing.

And the aliens on the spaceship wiped out everyone on deck in order to extinguish their mouths.

Although the accuracy and source of this message are very suspicious, he has no other way at this moment but to come here with the mentality of giving it a try.

Good Faith Contact Theory......

It's hilarious.

That kind of nonsense, who likes to believe in it, he can't believe it anyway.

At least in Fick's opinion, even if the so-called high civilization shows a little goodwill and brings so-called benefits to all countries on the planet, it is to fatten human beings before eating.

Snuffing out the cigarette butt in his hand, he smashed the cigarette butt into the spray outside the splint.

Wait and see!

His divers are searching along the seabed, and if he is allowed to salvage the slightest suspicious wreckage, he can put a basin of on the heads of the aliens!

He will prove himself!

He will expose the conspiracy of the so-called higher civilization and become the true savior of human civilization!

Just as Fick was thinking this, the waves on the sea suddenly swelled at some point.

The waves crashed against the steel ship's side, and the shoved deck swayed like a swing.

Fike, who was standing on the edge of the railing, did not stand still, and the lighter in his hand fell on the deck.

"Shet-"

With a scolding voice, he bent down and reached out to pick it up, and the undulating hull suddenly had another bump, overturning his whole person.

Hearing the noise on the deck, the operator standing at the door of the cabin pushed open the door and walked out, just in time to see Fick sitting on the ground with an embarrassed face, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to him.

"Team leader? What happened? ”

"Nothing...... A little surprise. ”

Fike, who grabbed the hand, was embarrassed to say that he fell, and was about to get up from the ground with a straight face, but he was stunned on the spot for a moment.

His eyes were straight to the sea level in the distance, and he saw a huge whale emerging from beneath the sea level.

Nope-

More than one!

It's a lot of them!

Not right-

That guy wasn't a whale at all! It's a vertical, gigantic cargo ship!

Layers of waves were pushed around by the bullet-shaped shell, and the whole sea seemed to be boiled, tumbling with unstable ocean currents.

Stunned as he stared at the steel structures that only emerged from the sea, Fick lost his words for a moment.

It's not just him—

The same was true of the operator who stretched out his hand to him, and the moment he followed his gaze to the sea, his wide open mouth was instantly stretched open into a goose egg shape.

What's that?!

Skyscraper?

Vertical aircraft carriers?

Atlantis?

Still is...... Oh, God?

"That's ...... Extraterrestrial Civilizations...... Spaceship? Watching the massive steel structure rise into the sky, the operator holding the hatch struggled to squeeze the words out of his mouth.

The moment he heard this, Fike's expression changed from stunned to ecstatic at the same time.

Got it!

He found !!

"Camera! Camera pointed at them! Oh, God...... Did you see that?! That thing!! That's it!! Evidence of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations——! ”

He screamed in surprise, his eyes full of surprise, and he shouted incoherently, yelling at the operators in the cabin.

Everyone thinks this guy is crazy.

But they soon discover that it wasn't just him who went crazy, but they themselves.

"God...... Is that really a high-civilization spaceship?! ”

"But wait, what about our satellite?! And the fleet and the radar! They...... How did it land under our noses?! ”

"I want to know what they want to do......"

The faces that looked up were written with different expressions, and they looked motionlessly at the magnificent giant that rose into the sky without knowing what kind of power to use, like ants looking up at the gods.

They succeeded in the end.

They have succeeded in finding the mastermind behind Wasteland Online, the high-civilization spaceship that is hiding behind it and controlling everything!

But......

And then what?

Everyone in the extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team remained silent, including Fike, who was so excited that he danced with his hands.

They had no doubt that the F22 was like a fly in front of that kind of thing.

The only suspense is that it is not known whether the nuclear missile can cause even the slightest damage to the suspected stainless steel shell.

Maybe.

After all, no matter how awesome technology is, it can't ignore the laws of physics.

But even so, no one asked whether to give it a try, and they didn't even dare to think about it......

Either way, they still have to do what needs to be done.

Without daring to delay for a second, Fick quickly rushed into the cabin, called the nearest military base to this sea, identified himself and quickly reported the situation.

"This is the Extraterrestrial Civilization Countermeasures Team! We are in the coordinates...... A spaceship suspected of being an extraterrestrial civilization has been found in the sea area! Please send a fleet to support immediately! ”

An answer came from the other end of the line quickly.

However, to Fick's anger, he heard the sound of sluggling melon seeds on the other end of the phone.

Obviously.

Instead of going to the right person, he was thrown at the clerk in the office or the security guard at the door.

"Okay, extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team...... So you've found an unidentified shipwreck near the seabed? How big is a salvage boat? ”

Fick roared.

"It's a spaceship! If I repeat it a few more times, it's in the sky, and it probably won't be long before it passes through the atmosphere! ”

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and suddenly there was a burst of uncontrollable laughter.

Fike's face flushed, and he yelled angrily.

"What I said is true! I saved the footage! And with such a big target, won't you use the radar to shine it-"

"Okay, extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team, our radar shouldn't be out of order. You are the only ones in that sea...... Sure, maybe a few seagulls, but we really didn't see any alien ships. ”

Fick shouted with all his strength.

"Then send AWACS! Thousands of kilometers away, what do you expect that broken radar to see! ”

The phone just hung up.

The other party didn't think he was making trouble unreasonably.

Fike knew that all of them would regret it, regretting not believing in themselves...... Because soon the whole world will be startled by the iron lump.

Even if the radar can't see it, such a large spaceship will definitely not be able to hide it.

At present, the topic of extraterrestrial civilization is second only to "Wasteland OL" on the Internet.

Astronomy enthusiasts all over the world keep their telescopes in space 24 hours a day.

Throwing the walkie-talkie back onto the console, Fick cursed excitedly and scaredly.

"! It's a real guy......"

As for what to do next, he had to take a moment to think about it......

……

After wasting a full year circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean, Fick and his men eventually succeeded in their long-sought dream.

Didn't even wait 24 hours!

Later that day, after everyone returned to port, the huge spacecraft made headlines around the world at an incredible speed!

The sleek hull and gigantic hull surpassed any rocket ever fired.

And that's not all!

Its launch principle also shocked everyone's eyes!

It doesn't seem to have been pushed up by burning chemical fuel, but rather as a hot air balloon propelled by a plume of plasma.

Gravity seems to have lost its effect on it!

If it weren't for the fact that the company providing the video data was an extraterrestrial civilization countermeasure team with an official background, people couldn't help but suspect that it was a game CG or a computer-generated image!

It is not only the aerospace industry that has been impacted, but even the physics community, which has recently been excited by the breakthrough in controlled fusion technology, was shocked by that incredible scene!

[Shocked! A giant UFO passes over the Indo-X Ocean! 】

[Suspected showdown! ] The man behind the mysterious MMORPG game "Wasteland Online" is revealed! 】

[War or Peace?!] UFOs in the atmosphere! 】

[On the Verge!] Multinational aircraft carrier battle group goes to the Pacific region for joint reconnaissance! 】

[The International Space Station announced the observation information, and the six UFOs were assembled in synchronous orbit positions! ] 】

[Fick, a former CIA agent and head of the "Extraterrestrial Civilization Countermeasures Team", delivered a speech in an interview with reporters, claiming to have found important evidence of extraterrestrial civilization's aggression against the earth!] 】

[The U.S. authorities urgently issued a statement to clarify, declaring that the extraterrestrial civilization countermeasures team is a non-governmental organization, and its remarks do not represent an official position! ] 】

[Target Mars?! The advanced civilization spacecraft is suspected to have left the Earth-Moon system and is heading in the direction of Mars! 】

[Salvage teams from various countries gathered in the central Pacific Ocean, and more detailed clues are still being investigated......]

【……】

For three whole days, the Internet's Internet has been swept over by that mysterious spaceship.

In addition to the official website of "Wasteland Online", which still calmly announces news related to the game and the open beta, you can now click on almost any website to see the huge starship and the latest news about the latter.

However, although the official website of "Wasteland Online" is still calm, the players on the forum are not calm.

Even if the unidentified ship didn't look exaggerated compared to the Alliance's low-Earth orbit defense platform, and much smaller than the USS Orion missile cruiser, the fact that it appeared in reality still gave them the feeling that the game was in reality.

Tail: "I'm giao...... Ah Guang is really an alien?! (stunned)"

Roshan Big Bun: "Wait, if Wasteland OL is really an alien-run game, then what are we aliens?" (frightened)"

Siss: "The subject of the study?" Or diplomats? emmm…… I've always felt like it's not that simple. ”

Tail: "Oh! The tail also feels! ”

Sigh sesame paste: "Hmm...... No matter where the ship came from, I always felt like it wasn't showing any malice? ”

Commander of the Spring: "Well, the most worrying part is here, we don't know anything about them, and they know everything about us. ”

Night Ten: "Well, do you think there's a possibility...... Are they actually the future us? ”

Siss: "Oh? Did you see something through your psionic abilities? ”

Night Ten: "Not really, it's just my gut ......"

Tail: "Is perception the intuition of the big guy!" I don't know if that's the case! (☆。 ☆)”

Fang Chang: "Hmm...... It is true that this possibility is not ruled out, although it sounds a bit. ”

Quit smoking: "But why do they do it?" I don't understand, change the future by changing the past? Can that really be done? (stunned)"

Fang Chang: "I don't know, as you said, they will prevent the arrival of the Wasteland Age by exerting influence on us. ”

Night Ten: "Good fellow...... Don't be a crow's mouth, I don't want to go to the wasteland. ”

Fang Chang: "Why the crow's mouth?" Maybe they've found a way to avoid the Wasteland Age, and the plan has worked? In that case, there may not be a wasteland era in our timeline. (squint)"

It may be an overly optimistic idea, but it is clear that the different situations in different worlds cannot be generalized.

Edge paddling: "Through the game...... Wouldn't it feel too sloppy, and wouldn't there be a better way? ”

Fang Chang: "Maybe a better way has already been tried, maybe this is the best arrangement after countless attempts." ”

Fang Chang: "As for the better, less hasty method you mentioned, maybe there is. But the possibilities outside of time are only known to people outside of time. ”

“……”

……

The heated discussion on the official website forum continues, and speculation about the operator behind "Wasteland Online" has become the hottest topic on the forum.

Chu Guang never thought that just when he was planning to make a big news on the day of the open beta, the "β Fission Variant" actually made a big news before him.

Should I say it's another me?

What he thought of, the "other self" in the β universe not only thought of it, but also did it for him.

Level B5 of Vault 404.

Chu Guang, who was sitting in the office chair, finally saw the Doctor of Principles located in the β universe through the large screen in the room.

Strictly speaking, this is the first time the two have communicated face-to-face.

And the "principle" standing behind the screen is far younger than the man he saw in the hologram.

"Fortunately."

Although there were many things he wanted to ask, Chu Guang did not immediately throw out his questions, but politely greeted him first.

The Doctor on the screen bowed slightly, and said in a voice with a hint of respect.

"It's me who should say it's a good meeting, honorable ...... Mr. Manager. ”

"Don't be so polite, please sit down and talk." Chu Guang said in a kind tone.

The principle nodded, and naturally sat down in the chair behind him.

His location at the moment was supposed to be Vault 404-β, the undersea shelter in the trough on the western side of the Pacific Ocean.

"Before we start talking, I want to say sorry to you...... The ship was deployed by the professor before the end of Project 404. We apologize for the storm it has caused and the impact it has had on your work. ”

Looking at the Doctor of Principle, who sincerely apologized, Chu Guang smiled mildly and said.

"Don't feel guilty, it was his decision, it has nothing to do with you. To be honest, although his action was a bit surprising and sudden to me, I actually had a plan for a showdown with the people of the β universe during the open beta half a year ago...... It's only half a year ahead of schedule. The two of us thought of going together, and we could only say that it was worthy of being the 'other me'. ”

In fact, after thinking about it a little, it is not difficult for him to guess the true intention of the "β fission".

Although that guy inherited all the memories of the professor and the mission of saving human civilization in the α universe, he used a body that was already β the universe after all.

It is precisely because of this that he still has feelings for the β universe, and may even realize that he is not a "professor" in the true sense of the word, but also a new beginning.

Based on such an underlying logic, although he will not hesitate to use the resources of the β universe, it is impossible to really "use up and throw away" the people who β the universe.

Therefore, before he left the earth, he did one last thing to the people living on that planet -

That is to openly highlight the existence of a higher civilization, and turn the unspoken rules that were originally placed under the table into explicit rules that do not need to be argued!

This is actually a trick.

After this is done, whether the "α clone" who inherited Vault 404 - that is, himself, continues to package the operator behind the game as a god-like advanced civilization, or picks out the existence of the form formation field and the AB universe theory, he will be able to have a dialogue with the people of the β universe in an open form.

In other words, with a position of neutrality or above, in response to the goodwill that the latter has unleashed -

If you still want to continue Project 404 and use the power of the consciousness of another universe.

Unexpectedly, the guy defended himself before leaving, and Chu Guang also did a serious self-examination.

Perhaps it was the impression he had always left on the "β Fission Variant" that he had little confidence in him, so he made such a move out of the interest of safety.

Actually, there is no need for that at all.

Because he had intended it from the beginning - even if Project 404 ended, the alliance he represented would still maintain friendly contact with the people living in the β universe, and even face possible future crises together.

As a manager and game planner, he knows better than anyone that the players and "NPCs" of Wasteland Online are always influencing each other, and it's never just the former that influences the latter.

The fate of the former is also changing imperceptibly!

Although people living in two different universes cannot directly touch each other, the fate of the two universes has long been maintained together under the effect of the resonance field.

That guy can imagine it, how can he not think of it?

Looking at this serious looking Doctor of Principle, Chu Guang paused for a moment and continued.

"Actually, I want to talk to you, mainly because I want to talk about two issues. One is about the Wasteland Online open beta...... I'm planning to build a local server on the β side of the universe to accommodate open beta players. ”

"Local server?" Doctor Principle was stunned for a moment, and did not understand what Chu Guang meant for a while.

"That's right, not based on morphological field theory, but online game ...... in the traditional sense"

Chu Guang nodded, and told the doctor of principle the plan and inventory that he had thought of half a year ago.

"I plan to put our story into the program and tell it in a form that is closer to the ninth art. Since there is no need to connect based on form-forming field technology, the production and installation of related equipment will also be easier, and it can even be outsourced to other manufacturing companies altogether. ”

"This not only solves the problem of insufficient production capacity, but also makes up for the regret of missing out on the expansion for new players."

Doctor Principle was stunned.

“…… What about players in closed beta? ”

Chu Guang smiled faintly.

"It's still the same as before, including the qualification for the closed beta and the distribution of helmets, etc., after all, the update of the official server is still counting on them...... You can think of it as a test suit. ”

Dr. Principle: "I see...... A parallel Plan B on the basis of Plan 404? I kind of see what you mean. ”

"It's good if you can understand, I will synchronize more details of the plan to you through Xiaoqi."

Looking at the principle that his eyes were getting brighter and brighter, Chu Guang smiled and continued in a gentle tone.

"It's time to say the second thing. I'd like to ask you if you want to come back or stay there...... Have you thought about it? ”

Without hesitating for long, Dr. Principle was silent for a moment before speaking in an affirmative tone.

"I want to stay here."

Not surprised by his final choice, Chu Guang simply nodded.

"Really? That's right. ”

Dr. Principle gave him a surprised look.

"Don't you ask why?"

Chu Guang smiled and shook his head.

"There's no need to ask, there's nothing to ask, I can probably guess that kind of thing."

Do they become one, or do they become each other's past and continuation...... He wasn't alone in this choice.

Rather, the moment this guy appeared on the other side of the screen, he already knew his choice.

They all made the same choice.

Loosening his tense shoulders, Dr. Principle sighed as if relieved.

"Really? But it's also ...... It's you, after all. ”

In his mind, there was nothing that this honorable gentleman could not do.

"I don't think you'd better think of me as omnipotent, I've failed 776 times."

made a joke in a joking tone, Chu Guang restrained his laughing expression, looked at the principle on the screen and said solemnly.

"As of today, you are the administrator of Vault 404-β. You will play the role of the α Universe Ambassador β Universe, taking over the work of the Professor, acting as a bridge between the two universes, and being directly responsible to me! ”

"I will provide you with the data of the open beta version of "Wasteland Online", and the operation and maintenance will be left to you!"