Chapter 359: Characteristics of the Base
"How is it, Belle? What's the situation outside?" Wise asked, stepping forward the moment his sister returned. The rest of the Chat Group members immediately crowded around her, their faces alight with curiosity.
Belle took a deep, shaky breath, pressing a hand to her chest to steady her racing heart. "Everyone... it's too strange. It's completely bizarre!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "From the outside, this place is just an ordinary, run-down little warehouse. The paint is peeling off the rusted corrugated metal, and it looks entirely unremarkable. The exterior footprint perfectly matches the description of a cramped storage unit."
She gestured wildly at the massive expanse around them. "But the second you step through that door... the interior is dozens, maybe even hundreds of times larger than the outside! I... I can't even begin to comprehend the physics behind this..."
As the group erupted into excited chatter, marveling at the impossible spatial technology, Zhongli stepped forward at a measured pace. He had been quietly observing their surroundings since they arrived. His piercing golden eyes swept across the towering dome of the hall, tracing the distant, hazy boundaries and the softly glowing energy nodes operating in perfect synchronization. A faint nod indicated he had already unraveled the mystery.
"I see," Zhongli's voice connected through the cavernous room, carrying a steady, grounding authority that instantly quieted the murmurs. "Everyone, there is no need for concern. This phenomenon is simply a matter of this world—or rather, the Chat Group itself—significantly expanding and stretching the physical dimensions of this localized space."
He met the gazes of his companions, offering a simpler analogy. "Consider the Serenitea Pot carried by Lumine. On the outside, it appears to be nothing more than a delicate teapot resting in the palm of one's hand. Yet, within its ceramic shell, it relies on the power of an adeptal abode to sustain an entire pocket world, complete with sweeping mountains, flowing rivers, and towering pavilions."
Zhongli gestured toward the high ceiling. "This facility operates on a similar principle, albeit through a different manifestation. Rather than forging an entirely independent adeptal realm, it uses an immense, localized force to stretch and expand the existing physical reality. Thus, the internal volume vastly exceeds the external shell."
Raising a gloved hand, he pointed toward the distant, bustling black Bangboo and the humming machinery. A faint, geometric flicker of golden Geo energy danced across his fingertips as he pulsed his elemental awareness into the surrounding air, testing the structural integrity.
", speaking from a strictly rational perspective, the spatial architecture here is exceptionally secure," he continued. "The ambient energy flows in a steady, orderly current. The dimensional boundaries are rigid, showing absolutely no signs of disorder, friction, or impending collapse."
He lowered his hand, his amber eyes softening slightly. "Those uniformly acting Bangboo were likely arranged by the Chat Group to serve as the foundational anchors, maintaining both the stability and the daily operations of this expanded zone. You may all rest assured and explore freely. There is no danger of the space caving in on us."
Zhongli's vast knowledge and flawless judgment had always commanded absolute respect within their chaotic ranks. Hearing his clear, definitive assessment, the lingering unease born from the unknown instantly evaporated. It was replaced by a collective, buzzing excitement and a deep appreciation for the Chat Group's ridiculous capabilities.
"Oh, Paimon gets it now! It's exactly like the Serenitea Pot, except it just blew up the inside of a regular house! The Chat Group is amazing!" Paimon cheered, doing a series of happy flips in the air while clapping her tiny hands.
"Hehe, is it really that magical? Then this Hall Master simply must take a thorough tour of this giant-sized Serenitea Pot!" Hu Tao declared. Instantly regaining her boundless vitality, the young director grabbed the wrist of March 7th, whose pink and blue eyes were already sparkling with curiosity.
"Come on, come on, March! Let's go see what kind of fun trinkets they have in that Gear Coin Shop! Who knows, maybe we'll find some fresh inspiration to expand the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's cross-universal business!"
"Wait for me!" Stelle yelled. Like a hound released from its leash, the Trailblazer sprinted past them, making a beeline straight for the trading area and the firearm modification station. She immediately began poking at the machinery, eager to scavenge every corner of their new headquarters.
However, amidst the cheering and sprinting, Wise and Dan Heng hung back. The two calmer minds of the group exchanged a loaded glance, both catching the identical shadow of concern lurking in the other's eyes.
Dan Heng crossed his arms, his brow furrowing slightly as he leaned closer to Wise. "Such high-profile spatial expansion technology is a double-edged sword," the archivist murmured, keeping his voice low. "Although the exterior appears perfectly normal and boasts strong visual concealment, there is no absolute guarantee it won't be detected. Under specific circumstances, or if an individual possesses acute sensory abilities, they might notice the dimensional anomaly bleeding into the surrounding street."
Wise nodded slowly, his expression turning grave. "That's exactly what I'm worried about. Belle and I have operated in New Eridu for a long time. We know how the factions operate. If a base like this—one that completely shatters the current ceiling of modern technology—attracts the attention of the higher-ups at H.A.N.D...."
He trailed off, his jaw tightening. "Or worse, if it draws the covetous gaze of the underground syndicates hiding in the shadows. Anyone interested in monopolizing spatial tech would swarm this place. It could bring an avalanche of unexpected trouble down on our heads, and by extension, endanger our friends."
Their shared fear was entirely justified. This miraculous, physics-defying sanctuary had the potential to shatter the delicate political balance of New Eridu, threatening to drag the proxy siblings and their multiversal companions into a deadly, inescapable vortex.
As if directly responding to the heavy anxieties weighing on their minds, a familiar chime echoed in their heads. A translucent, pale blue light screen materialized in the consciousness of every Chat Group member simultaneously.
[System Announcement: Chat Group members have successfully established occupancy in the Epis Port Base! Identity Badges are currently being minted...]
[Supplementary Explanation for the Team Mechanism: Whenever a Chat Group member successfully forms a party with a native resident of this world, the System will automatically generate and issue a temporary Identity Badge for that specific teammate.]
[Function Details:]
[Entry by Badge: Native teammates possessing an Identity Badge may freely enter and exit the base. Official members of the Chat Group are naturally exempt from requiring a badge.]
[Security Masking: To guarantee the absolute safety and concealment of the facility, unauthorized entities lacking an Identity Badge are physically barred from entry. Any unbadged individual approaching within a three-meter radius of the perimeter will be subjected to overwhelming cognitive interference and spatial refraction. They will automatically ignore the base's true existence, their brains forcing them to perceive nothing more than the original, dilapidated warehouse.]
[Logistics Support: All internal operational matters—including material exchange, equipment maintenance, and intelligence inquiries—can be handled by the uniformed logistics units designated as Z-Bao (the black Bangboo personnel operating within the facility).]
[Note: The Identity Badge is soul-bound to the specific teammate and strictly provides basic entry/exit permissions. It does NOT grant the native access to the Chat Group interface., the dimensional stability of the base has been permanently reinforced by the System, rendering it entirely immune to conventional scanning, detection, or kinetic impact.]
Just as they finished reading the prompt, a slightly larger Z-Bao waddled up to the group. A gleaming golden gear emblem was proudly stamped across its chassis. It halted with a crisp, metallic click, raised a stubby mechanical arm in a sharp salute, and spoke.
"En na, en na, en na na!"
Surprisingly, the translation echoed perfectly in everyone's minds: [Welcome to the Epis Port frontline base! I am Z-Bao Unit 01, and I am extremely happy to serve you. Should you have any inquiries regarding base facilities, material supplies, or mission handovers, please consult me or any of my fellow Z-Bao units. We wish you all a smooth and successful Hollow Evacuation Operation!]
Logically speaking, only seasoned New Eridu locals like Wise and Belle should have been able to decipher the complex linguistic nuances of Bangboo vocalizations. Yet, thanks to the System's integration, every off-world member of the Chat Group understood the little machine perfectly.
Lumine blinked in surprise, crossing her arms. "This Bangboo-speak is incredibly efficient," the Traveler remarked, looking impressed. "It's literally just a few simple 'en na' sounds, yet it conveys entire paragraphs of meaning."
Meanwhile, the System's detailed breakdown of the cognitive interference security protocols had completely washed away the lingering haze of anxiety in Wise's chest. He let out a long, shuddering breath, feeling a massive weight lift from his shoulders.
For so long, the greatest source of inner torment for him and his sister had been the suffocating guilt of deceiving the people closest to them. They desperately craved honesty. They longed for the day they could fight side-by-side with trusted allies like Zhu Yuan and Miyabi without holding anything back. But the catastrophic risks tied to their multiversal secrets had always acted as an invisible, choking shackle.
Now, with a single, elegant solution, the Chat Group had shattered those chains entirely.
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