Chapter 311: A Prophetic Warning

After resolving Yoen's curiosity about his grandfather's knowledge, He Qi closed the player, shut the ancient tome, and handed them both to Yoen. Seeing Yoen's confusion, He Qi smiled and asked, "It seems you can scan objects. Could you tell me the composition of that medicine? If you do, these items are yours."

Yoen glanced at the bottle containing the water-purifying tablets, and their ingredients appeared gradually within his electronic sight. None of these components were natural; some were extracted in the Tyrone Star Region using precision instruments to craft nanobots for medicinal use. The Northso Nest lacked the ability to synthesize such compounds, but this didn't mean the First District would be doomed to drink foul water once the pills were gone.

"If the goal is to purify water, there's a simpler solution." Yoen turned his gaze to the wall and projected a beam from his eye, engraving a blueprint and detailed component list. It was the same device Qin Mo once used in the lower nest—a machine less convenient than the pills but unmatched in durability for continuous water purification. Even miniaturized versions of this device had been integrated into military power armor to recycle bodily fluids into drinkable water.

With the engraving complete, Yoen took the ancient tome from He Qi's hand but hesitated before stowing it in his bag. "Are you certain you want to give this to me? Didn't you say your family would sell their respirators before letting go of these relics?"

"I'll die," He Qi replied calmly, "Maybe one day, I'll be killed by a creature with a long, slender tail, just like my grandfather."

Yoen nodded, finding this likely. 

"My grandfather's work vanished with him, but I don't want my efforts to fade the same way. At the very least, I want to leave the people of the First District a lasting source of water," He Qi continued. 

"Would you share these plans with other districts?" Yoen asked.

He Qi sensed Yoen's concern about hoarding and, after a moment's thought, answered truthfully: "No. The gangs and profiteers would hoard water supplies, then unite to destroy both the machine and blueprints here. Such a monopoly would be more profitable than powder."

"Good. You're no fool blinded by ideals," Yoen said with satisfaction, handing back the ancient tome. He Qi looked stunned, unable to react as Yoen pressed it into his hands. "Keep it. Perhaps its knowledge will serve you someday," Yoen said.

As if struck by a revelation, He Qi moved to ask a question, but Yoen had already left the hidden room. On his way back to the surface, Yoen contacted Andreda, recounting everything he'd learned. Andreda scanned the book's records, confirming He Qi's story about his grandfather was indeed true.

"What next?" Yoen asked.

"You know what to do; there's no need to ask me." Andreda's gaze was ice-cold. "A governor's family using pureblood Gene Thieves for assassinations… such a family shouldn't exist at the Gate of Tyrone."

"Have you detected any Gene Thief DNA among the nobles?" Yoen asked.

"No, biologically they appear normal. But traitors are as abhorrent as enemies here, and I'll root out those colluding with Gene Thieves and eradicate them," Andreda declared.

"Understood. Communication over."

Returning to the surface, Yoen found the Psychic waiting outside. The sounds of cannons echoed as the First District clashed with its attackers. Yoen prepared to assist in the battle, but before leaving the room, he asked the Psychic, "In your visions, did our forces successfully take the nest?"

"I saw Northso One being devoured by the Swarm," the Psychic replied. "But I also saw new void fortresses appear across the Northso System and the Tyrone fleet stationed here."

Yoen nodded. "You saw two entirely different futures?"

The Psychic nodded, then hesitated, shaking his head. "Truthfully, I can't see the second future at all—I couldn't even foresee your arrival or any events following it. To me, you're a dead man walking. All visions about your coming were shared by my master, whose power far surpasses mine."

This revelation startled Yoen.

The Psychic continued, "Seventy years ago today, my master told me, 'Inform the soulless one that a cataclysm will strike the Tyrone Star Region in seventy-one years.'"

Yoen stared wide-eyed at the Psychic, wondering if this was madness or a grim truth.

"I feel as though this memory didn't exist before… yet I'm certain I heard my master's words back then. It's strange," the Psychic murmured to himself, perplexed.

Yoen immediately saved this information and transmitted it to the Tyrone Overlord in the distant star system, then hurried to the walls to join the fight.

...

At the spire, Andreda arrived at the governor's audience chamber. After passing his demand to meet the governor to the attendants, he waited in silence. If the governor came, Andreda would control him and read his mind.

Soon, the clanking of tank treads and the creak of dual-mounted woodcutter gun wheels reached his ears, along with a steady cadence of footsteps. The chamber doors swung open, and the noble guard entered—a troop of noble family descendants in ornate uniforms, each bearing a different crest on their shoulders.

Leading them was a new officer, one Andreda hadn't seen in the parade before.

**[Gene Thief Genome Detected.]**

As the notice flashed in Andreda's view, he realized the governor was aware of Yoen's investigation and of his exposure. But… how?

"Hold on a moment," Andreda raised a finger, "How did your governor learn of his exposure?"

From atop a Leman Russ tank, an officer laughed and replied, "Did you and that soulless one really think only that guttersnipe's lackey had Psychics?"

"Oh, I understand," Andreda replied with sudden clarity. "Alright then. Let's begin."