Chapter 66: Celestial Calamity
Li Qingsong was a little surprised to hear this answer.
"What observation methods does your Blutuk Civilization use?"
Molomans replied listlessly, "Planetary atmospheric spectrometry."
"We built a massive space telescope array and began observing the planets in this star system. We discovered the third planet was situated squarely in the habitable zone, with temperatures high enough to support liquid water."
"We analyzed the elemental composition of this planet’s atmosphere and confirmed the presence of life. We then tested for industrial markers and analyzed the carbon dioxide concentration curve, which confirmed the absence of intelligent life. So... so we chose it as our migration target..."
Li Qingsong knew what he meant. Industrial markers were gases that couldn’t form naturally and could only be produced by the industrial processes of intelligent life.
For example, common refrigerants used in refrigerators and air conditioners, like Freon, are a classic type of industrial marker.
When this substance is released into the atmosphere, it alters the sunlight passing through it. If a planet is positioned between a distant observer and the Sun, the presence of this substance in its atmosphere will cause a discernible change in the sunlight.
A distant observer can then determine if a planet’s atmosphere contains industrial markers by looking for this specific change in the sunlight.
The presence of industrial markers is clear proof that an intelligent civilization exists on the planet and has reached a certain level of development—at the very least, the industrial age.
’But... this alien is saying there are no industrial markers in Earth’s atmosphere?’
’How is that possible?’
’Human Civilization developed to the point of building the Deep Space Spaceship right here in the Solar System, and you’re telling me there are no industrial markers in Earth’s atmosphere?’
"Still lying."
Li Qingsong sneered and once again had the Clones bring over the electric prod.
Molomans shrieked in terror, "I already answered your question! Why are you still torturing me! AHH—"
As he tortured the alien, Li Qingsong used the Blutuk’s own life support technology to keep him from dying.
Meanwhile, Li Qingsong continued interrogating the other Blutuk People.
"Why did you choose the Solar System as your migration target?"
"...We discovered a habitable planet here. Since there were no industrial markers, it meant there was no advanced intelligent civilization, so we came."
"We wouldn’t have dared come if there were. After all, we have no way of gauging the technological level associated with them..."
"Lies! Torture him!"
"Why did you choose the Solar System as your migration target?"
"...No industrial markers..."
"Torture him!"
"Torture him!"
"Torture him!"
After the 366th Blutuk prisoner was screaming in agony from the shocks but still gave the same answer—"no industrial markers"—a seed of doubt began to sprout in Li Qingsong’s mind.
It wasn’t just the interrogations. He had also found similar descriptions in the mothership’s database.
These captives seemed to truly believe this.
At this point, even Li Qingsong couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt and astonishment.
’Could it be true? Are there really no industrial markers in Earth’s atmosphere? No, impossible. Impossible.’
’Something like an industrial marker would remain in the atmosphere for a very long time, even if Human Civilization vanished completely.’
’The Blutuk main fleet’s maximum speed is only three percent of the speed of light. Factoring in acceleration, deceleration, and inertial travel, the journey would take at least 900 years to complete.’
’Right now, they’ve been traveling for about 500 years. Five hundred years, plus the time for preparation beforehand... they must have started their observations at least 700 years ago!’
’Back then, Earth was in the late feudal period! Early industrial activities like iron smelting, textile production, dyeing, gunpowder manufacturing, and large-scale agriculture were already underway. The atmosphere would have had corresponding markers!’
’There’s no way they could have missed them!’
’Earth definitely has industrial markers, and these prisoners are also telling the truth... which means there’s only one possibility...’
’These prisoners were all deceived! For some reason, the leaders of the Blutuk Civilization lied to them!’
Li Qingsong’s thoughts raced, and he asked another question.
"I found in your database that your vanguard fleet’s environmental survey mission is focused mainly on resource detection."
"Your survey plans indicate you don’t intend to stay in the Solar System for the long haul. Instead, after a period of rapacious, destructive mining, you plan to depart on another long voyage in no more than a few thousand years."
"You said a planet in the Solar System was relatively suitable for your survival. If that’s the case, why do you plan to leave?"
A look of bewilderment crossed Molomans’s eyes. "Is that in our survey plan? I only know that we’re here to survey the environment and resources. I don’t know anything else."
Li Qingsong analyzed his response and concluded he was telling the truth.
’The "malice" hidden beneath the surface of the survey plan was something only he could vaguely perceive—someone who could marshal vast mental resources to analyze the big picture with sufficient care.’
’It was only natural that Molomans didn’t know.’
Li Qingsong then asked another question.
"Why did you leave your home star system to migrate through space?"
"The Commanders said a ’Celestial Calamity’ was coming, and if we didn’t flee quickly, the entire civilization would be annihilated."
"Celestial Calamity? What Celestial Calamity? According to my observations, the Gliese 625 Star System, your home system, has a red dwarf as its primary star. It burns stably, and there’s no possibility of drastic changes in the short term."
"With your level of technology, you could completely handle planet-level cataclysms. What kind of Celestial Calamity could make you abandon your home?"
Confusion once again flashed in Molomans’s eyes. "I don’t know."
"You don’t know?"
"Yes, I don’t know. I only know that the Celestial Calamity was coming, and we had to escape. That’s what the Commanders said, so the entire civilization mobilized, began preparations hundreds of years ago, and then set out..."
"You just believe whatever the Commanders say?"
"Of course."
A look of reverence appeared on Molomans’s face. "Following the Commanders’ path, even unto death, is the key to how our civilization has survived this long. We must never defy their orders, whether we understand them or not."
Li Qingsong sensed a deep-seated conspiracy.
The inexplicable disappearance of Human Civilization... The Blutuk Civilization embarking on a full-scale migration without any apparent cataclysm... The lower and middle classes, all deceived into believing no intelligent life had ever existed here... A migration plan that was supposedly for settlement, but was actually a scheme for rapacious exploitation before moving on...
The disappearance of Human Civilization had to be connected to the Blutuk Civilization!
Even if the Blutuk Civilization wasn’t the mastermind, they were definitely a part of it!
’So in about 400 years, your main fleet will arrive, will it...’
Li Qingsong raised his head and looked in the direction of Gliese 625.