"What is all this?"
"The critical information is completely censored and garbled?"
While Lince was having his showdown with several Bishops of Truth, on the other side, the Countermeasures Bureau in the real world was pondering the information Lince had provided.
"The permissions of the True Game... so even the Chief Player canât reveal the core content?"
"However, the few sentences that did come through are still very useful."
A leading member of the Countermeasures Bureau remarked thoughtfully.
"Thereâs more to the Arctic wormhole than it seems. That means this wormhole, or Star Road, must have some connection to the True Game."
"Even if the connection is unclear, the True Game must know a great deal about this wormhole or Star Road."
"Otherwise, the Chief Player would have never said that the situation in the Arctic is of no great concern."
"But regardless, since the Chief Player said so, can we assume that the Human Alliance can resolve this matter on our own?"
"At the very least, the civilization on the other side might not be any stronger than our own on Blue Star."
As this Countermeasures Bureau leader finished speaking, another leader beside him suddenly shook his head.
"If the True Game can censor the Chief Playerâs words, have you all considered this? It could also alter his text."
"Furthermore, even if the True Game saw no need to alter the content, that doesnât prove the Human Alliance can defeat them with our technological weapons."
"Could it be that âof no great concernâ only applies when the Chief Player is involved? Or even with the True Gameâs intervention?"
At this point, the Countermeasures Bureau leaderâs tone shifted.
"Previously, this Chief Player had no intention of joining the Countermeasures Bureau or any of the Financial Groups. Now, he suddenly comes to us asking for intelligence on the Carter Continent. What do you all make of that?"
"What else could it mean? It simply implies that his True Game permissions are incomplete to some extent. Perhaps heâs just a marginal operator? If not, why would he need to come to us for intelligence on the Carter Continent?"
Another Countermeasures Bureau leader chimed in, a faint smile on his face.
"Still, the fact that the Chief proactively came to us for intelligence means that, in a way, Captain Wu Manyuâs preliminary work was very well done."
"At the very least, he has a decent level of trust in the Human Alliance and the Countermeasures Bureau."
"Even if that trust is born from a relationship of mutual benefit, itâs far better than having the Chief associate with those parasites in the Human Allianceâs major Financial Groups."
Hearing a leader praise her, Wu Manyu felt nothing.
The only thing that piqued her interest was the slim hope of a promotion and a raise.
"Youâre too kind, Elder Nan. It was just a bit of personal luck. Otherwise, I might never have even made contact with the Chief Player."
"Luck is a component of strength, Man Yu. No need to be so modest. After all, the True Game itself uses some kind of fate-based mechanism to match its Players."
"Also, as a Player yourself, Man Yu, how much of what the Chief Player just said do you believe is true?"
Wu Manyu was slightly taken aback.
She looked at the elder, then at the others around her. After a moment of thought, she said pensively,
"Based on my understanding of this Chief from his previous chats in the group,"
"I donât believe he would joke with us about something like this."
"Furthermore, given that he helped Ah Cheng, this Chief Player still has a strong sense of belonging as a member of the Human Alliance."
"Therefore, I speculate that since the Chief Player said the matter in the Arctic is of no great concern, then it probably isnât."
"In fact, based on a theory of mine about the True Game, itâs quite possible the game itself might intervene indirectly in this."
"Just like how the True Game has now opened the Oakland Continent and the Karte Continent to us Blue Star Players."
Wu Manyuâs speculation was not without basis.
Especially now that they knew the True Game was likely having Players invade other worlds, the probability was quite high, considering Blue Starâs Players were the gameâs foundation.
In fact, similar theories had already been circulating within the Countermeasures Bureau.
"See? The young people today are every bit as capable as us old-timers."
A high-ranking elder in the Countermeasures Bureau clapped and laughed.
"To deduce such a conclusion from a single, fragmented statement from the Chief Player."
"The Human Alliance truly has worthy successors."
However, in response to the leaderâs praise, the other two elders present fell into pensive silence.
"We canât rule out the possibility Man Yu mentioned, even if weâve had similar suspicions before."
"But until the very end, nothing can be concluded with certainty."
"After all, we cannot entrust the safety of Blue Star entirely to an unknown âTrue Game,â much less to a single Player or even a few of them."
"However, all things considered, the current situation isnât too dire."
At this point, the elder from the Countermeasures Bureau spoke again,
"The matter of Blue Starâs Arctic is just one piece of the puzzle."
"The Chief Playerâs proactive contact this time, and even his request for intelligence on the Carter Continent... what do you all think is the reason for all this?"
"Logically speaking, this Chief is a first-round Player. He shouldnât have such a strong interest in the Carter Continent."
"So, Elder Li, are you suggesting that even though the Chief Playerâs permissions in the True Game arenât high, he might be able to cross between two worldsâtwo maps?" Wu Manyu reacted at that moment, asking hesitantly.