This was also the reason for the official rule that Mechas could only be used once they reached the Glacier Zone.

To face the harsh conditions that followed with only their physical bodies would be extremely taxing.

After all, this was a friendship match, and the participants were still academy students. There was no need to make it so brutal.

Especially since there were two Omegas among them.

It needed to be a spectacle, but also difficult and competitive.

The match would only end when one side brought the Token back to its starting point. Mechas were fast, but participants still had to travel on foot after leaving the Glacier Zone.

This created a window of opportunity for the opposing team to seize it.

The group sat in a circle and finished their hot meal when Nathan Lockwood suddenly spoke. "We’ll rest for four hours, then set out."

People weren’t machines; it was impossible to go four or five days without rest.

They had actually rested quite a bit today, so no one objected.

However, after catching Nathan Lockwood’s eye, Erin Xavier suddenly suggested, "How about we chat for a bit?"

"Nathan, what kind of Xenobeast was that, the one that ran off? It’s a shame, really. You should have called for me..."

Zoe Pierce and the others all looked at Nathan Lockwood.

Nathan Lockwood added a log to the fire. "I didn’t get a good look. I just saw a pair of red eyes, and then it ran off."

He said it nonchalantly.

But Director Quinn, who was watching them intently on the screen, immediately furrowed his brow.

"Blood-red eyes? They’re rare, but not unheard of. I’ve seen them before." Erin Xavier’s words also seemed casual.

None of the viewers in the audience paid her words any mind. Some even started listing which Xenobeasts had red eyes.

But a few instructors from the Federal Military Academy sensed something was amiss.

Erin Xavier’s emphasis on "blood-red" eyes was wrong.

Even if a Xenobeast’s eyes were red, they would never be blood-red. They were usually a bright crimson or berry-red.

Director Quinn reacted even more quickly, instantly connecting it to Zoe Pierce’s unusual behavior from earlier.

’Did she sense something was wrong? Is that why the team members are communicating like this?’

If he remembered correctly, during the joint entrance exam, the Xenobeast that Miles Sherman and Nathan Lockwood had brought in had remained in a comatose state even after reaching the laboratory.

And the most obvious feature of the two Xenobeasts that Zoe Pierce and Erin Xavier had discovered was their blood-red eyes.

"I’m stepping out," Director Quinn said to the other instructors from the Federal Military Academy who were watching. Noticing the confused looks on some of their faces, he added bluntly, "Don’t mention this situation to anyone."

The instructors, who had been slightly bewildered, suddenly understood.

They were all high-ranking instructors. Even if they hadn’t been directly involved, they had heard whispers about what happened during the joint entrance exam.

Their expressions instantly turned grim.

Director Quinn straightened his uniform, his expression grave. He began filing a request as he walked out.

The Military had its own separate section. Director Quinn’s military rank granted him unimpeded access until he reached the main gate, where a soldier stopped him.

"Please report that Jasper Quinn of the Federal Military Academy wishes to see the Major General."

The soldier saluted Director Quinn, reported the request via his Intelligent Brain, and then took the initiative to open the gate.

As soon as he entered, Director Quinn saw people from the diplomatic corps and The Military sitting together. A quick glance revealed several council representatives were also present.

Quentin Ford was there, too.

Ahead, a massive projection showed Zoe Pierce’s team, while another screen displayed the Imperial Squad.

"Jasper, what brings you here all of a sudden? Is something the matter?" The military official present was an acquaintance of Director Quinn’s. Director Quinn glanced at the others in the room, considered for a moment, and then spoke.

"Major General, I have an urgent matter to report."

For someone who never showed up without a reason, his sudden appearance was puzzling enough.

Now that he mentioned a report, the Major General glanced at the others in the room.

"It concerns the current friendship match," Director Quinn added.

The Major General’s gaze darkened. "In that case, you may state the situation directly."

If something had truly gone wrong with the friendship match, everyone in the room was in the same boat; none of them could escape responsibility.

Director Quinn saluted and projected the information he had organized on his way over. "I suspect that the mysterious research center has a presence on this planet as well."

The first image displayed was of a dead Xenobeast whose eyes were still a shocking blood-red.

Everyone, who had initially been confused, immediately recalled Nathan Lockwood’s words from moments before.

"During the joint entrance exam, a matter concerning Xenobeast experiments was reported to the research division. We only know that this research center has been conducting extensive genetic modification and experimentation on Xenobeasts."

"The experimented Xenobeasts possess a more potent spiritual power contamination effect, causing a more profound impact on an Alpha’s spirit sea."

"And in a similar vein to this organization’s methods, there were the human experiments on Betas on Planet B36." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Frankly, some of this information was supposed to be above Director Quinn’s security clearance.

But because Zoe Pierce and the others had been the ones to come into contact with it, Director Quinn, as the academy’s designated guardian for the event, had been privy to a great deal.

"According to some testimonies from Planet B36, we know that someone provided them with human experimentation technology, including spiritual power deprivation, spirit sea transplantation..."

"Even for a desolate region, the Xenobeast population here is too low," Director Quinn said.

As everyone in the room listened to Director Quinn’s formal, step-by-step report, their brows began to furrow.

The Major General steepled his fingers, his gaze fixed on him. "You’re saying that Nathan Lockwood and Erin Xavier’s passing mention of ’red eyes’ made you suspicious?"

Director Quinn said, "That is the message they are trying to send us."

"Major General, they would not have specifically mentioned the red eyes for no reason." Director Quinn was certain of this.

The Major General didn’t deny it. The team’s suspicious behavior did seem to support his claim.

However, concluding there was a problem based on this alone felt too hasty.

"I’ll take your opinion under advisement. You may return for now. We will conduct an investigation."

The moment Director Quinn left, the previously quiet lounge erupted into chaos.

"Who conducted the preliminary survey? How could they miss such an obvious detail?" A representative from the diplomatic corps was the first to lash out.

This issue was too significant. If something went wrong, it would become a diplomatic laughingstock, and the entire friendship match would be the butt of jokes across Interstellar Space for years to come.

"What exactly is this research center involved in? I need to know immediately!" The diplomat slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. Their emergency response plans were a complete mess.

They had maintained their composure while Director Quinn was present, but now that he was gone, no one wanted to be held responsible for this.

The problem was that, strictly speaking, this matter didn’t fall squarely under any single department’s jurisdiction.

The research division wasn’t present, and there was almost no one who knew the full story.

Even The Military personnel only knew about the incident on Planet B36.

As a result, they were all flying completely blind.

Only a few people remained calmly seated. The Major General glanced at Quentin Ford, who appeared completely composed and unaffected.

’Right,’ the Major General thought. ’This matter probably has the least to do with a Beta councilman like him.’

But if anyone had bent down to look under the table, they would have seen the man’s hands clenched into tight fists, his fingertips pale from the force of his grip.