Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 338 A Complex Plan
This is a crucial question. Rowan's analysis helped them understand the true nature of the attack; if he were a spy, doing so would be detrimental to the enemy.

“Therefore, Rowan can be cleared of suspicion,” Aloy concluded.

“Then let’s continue investigating the others,” said Emperor Yan.

The subsequent investigation was more in-depth and detailed. They examined the background, motives, and opportunities of everyone with knowledge of the operation. But frustratingly, everyone directly involved in the operation was proven innocent.

“This is very strange,” Emperor Yan frowned. “If the direct participants are all innocent, how was the information leaked?”

“There are several possibilities,” Aloy analyzed. “First, the spy isn’t on this ship, but at headquarters or somewhere else. Second, the information leak was handled discreetly, and we haven’t discovered it. Third…”

"What's the third one?" Rowan asked curiously.

“Third, this spy is of a very high rank, so high that we dare not doubt him,” Aloy’s tone became serious, “He might even be a high-ranking member of the Giant Axe Arena.”

This possibility shocked everyone present. If there was a traitor among the higher-ups of the Giant Axe Arena, the problem would be extremely serious.

"Impossible, right?" Emperor Yan was somewhat incredulous. "The higher-ups at the Giant Axe Arena are all rigorously selected, and they have no reason to betray us."

“There will always be a reason,” Aloy said. “Power, wealth, revenge, even coercion can all be reasons for betrayal.”

"Then what should we do?" Emperor Yan asked.

“This investigation cannot proceed here,” Aloy decided. “We need to return to headquarters for a more in-depth investigation.”

"But what about Blue Crystal Star?" Emperor Yan asked worriedly. "The enemy might return."

“I’ll stay here,” Aloy said. “With me here, they won’t dare to make any rash moves. You, however, need to return to headquarters to assist with the investigation.”

“I understand,” Emperor Yan nodded in agreement.

"Rowan, what are your thoughts?" Aloy suddenly asked.

Rowan pondered for a moment, then said, "I think we might have overlooked an important clue."

“What clue?”

"How did you know there was danger here?" Rowan asked. "You said headquarters notified you to come and provide support, but how did headquarters know about the situation here?"

This question startled Aloy. Indeed, it was a crucial question.

"The communication I received said that Blue Crystal Star might be under a large-scale attack, and I was to come to its aid immediately," Aloy recalled. "But the communication didn't specify the source of the information."

“That’s strange,” Rowan analyzed. “If we have a spy on us, why would he notify headquarters to send reinforcements? That would be disadvantageous to the enemy.”

“Unless…” Emperor Yan suddenly thought of something, “unless there are two spies, one serving the enemy and the other serving us.”

“Or,” Rowan suggested another possibility, “this spy is a double agent, providing intelligence to the enemy while also protecting us to some extent.”

This analysis left everyone deep in thought. The existence of a double agent would only complicate the situation further.

“There’s another possibility,” Aloy said, “that this so-called spy was actually planted by us, we just didn’t know it.”

"What do you mean?" Emperor Yan asked, puzzled.

“The higher-ups at the Giant Axe Arena might be playing a much bigger game,” Aloy explained. “They’re deliberately leaking information to lure the enemy in, then wiping them out in one fell swoop.”

“If that’s the case, then we’re just pawns,” Emperor Yan said with some dissatisfaction.

“In the game of power, everyone is a pawn,” Aloy said calmly. “The key is to know where you are and what role you play.”

"So what should we do now?" Rowan asked.

“Continue with the original plan,” Aloy decided. “I’ll stay on Blue Crystal Star; you all return to headquarters. However, we must all remain vigilant and be prepared to respond to any unforeseen circumstances.”

“I have a suggestion,” Rowan said. “We can deliberately leak some false information and see the enemy’s reaction. If a spy does exist, he will pass this information on, and we can determine the information transmission path by observing the enemy’s actions.”

“That’s a good idea,” Aloy agreed, “but we must be careful in implementing it, and not let the spies realize it’s a trap.”

“We can create several different versions of false intelligence and tell them to different people,” Rowan explained his plan in detail, “and then observe the enemy’s reaction to see which version they believe.”

"A very good plan," Emperor Yan praised, "This way we can gradually narrow down the scope of suspicion."

The investigation has temporarily come to a close, but the mystery remains. The spy's identity, motives, and objectives are still unclear, and the situation is far more complex than initially thought.

“Regardless, we must remain vigilant,” Aloy concluded. “This incident is just the beginning; the real test is yet to come.”

“I understand,” Emperor Yan nodded. “I will strengthen security measures to ensure that information is not leaked again.”

“Rowan, you need to be careful too,” Aloy warned. “Although you’ve been cleared of suspicion, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Now that the enemy knows you exist, they might take action against you.”

“I will be careful,” Rowan assured him.

Silent all night.

early morning.

The rising sun shone through the pale blue atmosphere, casting a dreamlike glow upon the beautiful planet. However, inside the command center of the Giant Axe Arena, the atmosphere was unusually solemn.

Emperor Yan stood before the holographic star map, carefully studying the flight route back to the Giant Axe Arena headquarters. After yesterday's investigation and analysis, he realized the seriousness of the espionage issue and knew he had to return to headquarters as soon as possible for a more in-depth investigation.

"Luo Wen, pack your things, we're about to leave," Emperor Yan said, turning to Luo Wen who was organizing documents.

"Leaving so soon?" Rowan looked up, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes. Although he had only stayed on Blue Crystal Star for two days, the beautiful scenery and the friendliness of the Blue Crystal Clan had left a deep impression on him. "The situation is urgent, and we must return to headquarters as soon as possible," Emperor Yan explained. "Moreover, as a key witness in this incident, we must ensure your safety."

"Safe?" Rowan asked, somewhat doubtful. "I'm just an analyst; there shouldn't be any danger, right?"

“You underestimate yourself,” Emperor Yan said seriously. “Your analytical abilities have already proven their value. Now that the enemy knows of your existence, they might try to deal with you. Leaving you here is too dangerous.”

Indeed, from a strategic perspective, bringing Rowan back to headquarters is the safest option. The headquarters of the Giant Axe Arena has the most stringent security, and even a King-level Immortal would find it difficult to force their way in.

“I understand,” Rowan nodded and began packing his belongings.

An hour later, the Breaker ascended again, leaving the atmosphere of Blue Crystal Star. Through the observation cabin window, Rowan took one last look at this beautiful planet. Under the sunlight, Blue Crystal Star resembled a giant sapphire, radiating a mesmerizing light.

"I hope that when I come back next time, this place will still be peaceful," Rowan prayed silently in his heart.

Aloi did not leave with them, but chose to remain on Blue Crystal Star to continue his duties. As a King-level Immortal, his very existence was the best deterrent, enough to make any unscrupulous forces think twice before acting.

"With Lord Aloy here, Blue Crystal Star should be safe," Emperor Yan said to Rowan. "With his strength, even ten more Immortal-level experts wouldn't be a match for him."

"Is the title of Immortal King really that powerful?" Rowan asked curiously.

"The gap between a King-level Immortal and an ordinary Immortal is as vast as the gap between an Immortal and an ordinary martial artist," Emperor Yan explained. "They not only possess extremely high levels of understanding of the laws, but also unique combat techniques and treasures."

"Are there even stronger beings beyond the title of King and Immortal?"

“Of course,” Emperor Yan nodded. “Above the King level is the Universe Venerable, above the Venerable is the Universe Lord, and at the very top is the Strongest Being in the Universe.”

"The strongest in the universe." Rowan repeated the title, his eyes filled with longing.

"Those are beings who truly stand at the pinnacle of the universe," the Flame Emperor said, his tone filled with awe. "Such beings are few and far between throughout the entire universe. The founder of our Giant Axe Arena was one of the strongest beings in the universe."

The two continued their conversation about the levels of power, and time slipped by unnoticed. The Voidbreaker sailed smoothly through space, heading towards the headquarters of the Giant Axe Arena.

However, as time went on, a strange unease began to rise in Rowan's heart. This feeling was strange, without a specific reason, but it just made him uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" Emperor Yan noticed Rowan's unusual behavior. "You seem a little uneasy."

“I don’t know why,” Rowan frowned, “I just feel like something’s not right, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

"Are you worried about spies?" Emperor Yan asked.

“Maybe,” Rowan replied uncertainly, “this whole incident feels so strange to me.”

Emperor Yan patted Luo Wen on the shoulder: "Don't worry, everything will come to light once we get to headquarters."

However, Luo Wen's unease did not disappear despite Yan Di's comfort; instead, it grew stronger. He began to carefully recall everything that had happened in the past two days, trying to find the reason for his unease.

First came the enemy's attack. The configuration of ten Immortal-level powerhouses was indeed unusual, but it was likely because they wanted to ensure the success of the operation. Then there was Aloy's timely appearance, which seemed like a coincidence, but in battles of this level, true coincidences are rare.

"Wait a minute." Rowan suddenly realized something. "How did Lord Aloy know there was danger here?"

They discussed this issue yesterday, but now, the answer isn't satisfactory. Aloy said he was notified by headquarters, but how did headquarters know that?

"If headquarters knew there would be danger here, why didn't they notify Emperor Yan beforehand?" Rowan analyzed in his mind. "Why wait until the battle began before sending reinforcements?"

The timing was crucial. If Aloy had arrived any earlier, the enemy might not have attacked. If he had arrived any later, Emperor Yan might have died. But his arrival was perfectly timed, both initiating the enemy's attack and saving Emperor Yan in time.

“This precise timing is definitely not accidental,” Rowan’s heart began to race. “There must be someone manipulating all of this behind the scenes.”

But who has this ability? The person who can precisely control the timing of Alois's arrival must be of a very high position and must have an accurate grasp of the entire situation.

Rowan began to re-examine the entire incident. The enemy's attack seemed to be aimed at seizing Blue Crystal Star, but what was the real purpose? If they truly wanted Blue Crystal Star, why did they retreat immediately after Aloy appeared? With the strength of ten Immortal-level powerhouses, they weren't entirely without a chance of victory even against a King-level Immortal.

“Unless…” A flash of realization crossed Rowan’s eyes, “unless their true target wasn’t Blue Crystal Star from the very beginning!”

The thought sent a chill down Rowan's spine. If the enemy's true target wasn't Blue Crystal Star, then what was it?

"Emperor Yan!" Luo Wen suddenly realized the answer, "Their target is Emperor Yan!"

This realization gave Luo Wen a completely new understanding of the whole incident. If the enemy's target was Emperor Yan, then many seemingly contradictory points would make sense.

First, the configuration of ten immortal-level powerhouses. This configuration is indeed excessive for seizing Blue Crystal Star, but it is reasonable for killing an important figure like the Flame Emperor.

Secondly, the enemy's intelligence sources. They not only knew that Emperor Yan would come to Blue Crystal Star, but also how many troops he would bring. Such precise intelligence could only be provided by the higher-ups within the Giant Axe Arena.

Finally, Aloy's timely appearance was crucial. If someone wanted the Flame Emperor dead but didn't want the Giant Axe Arena to lose the Blue Crystal Star, a vital asset, then such precise timing was essential.

"Wait, wait, wait," Rowan's thoughts became clearer, "If someone really wants Emperor Yan dead, who could it be?"

This person must meet several conditions: First, they must be of a high position and have access to classified information; second, they must have a motive to want Emperor Yan dead; third, they must have the ability to influence Aloy's actions; and fourth, they must not want the overall interests of the Giant Axe Arena to be harmed.

"An enemy!" Rowan suddenly thought of this word. "This spy is very likely an enemy of Emperor Yan!"

This deduction shocked Rowan. If the spy wasn't an infiltrator from an external force, but rather someone within the Giant Axe Arena—someone who harbored hatred for Emperor Yan—then the entire incident took on a completely different meaning.

Luo Wen began to recall Emperor Yan's words and actions, searching for clues about potential enemies. As a high-ranking member of the Giant Axe Arena, Emperor Yan could indeed have made enemies during the long power struggle.

“Furthermore,” Rowan continued, “this person must hold a very high position; otherwise, they wouldn’t have access to core secrets or be able to influence Aloy’s actions.”

The more I thought about it, the more reasonable this reasoning seemed. An internal enemy, wanting both the death of Emperor Yan and the loss of the Giant Axe Arena's interests, devised such a complex plan.

(End of this chapter)