---

Blooming Bonds

Chapter 1: The Incident

Multiverse Research Agency

7:13 A.M.

A shrill alarm shattered the morning silence.

"Sir! We just lost Satellite Orion!"

"What?"

"It stopped transmitting over Blackwood Forest!"

Every monitor inside the control room flickered.

A massive red dot pulsed on the digital map.

UNKNOWN ENERGY DETECTED

Scientists rushed from one workstation to another.

"Signal strength keeps increasing!"

"No radiation."

"No thermal signature."

"No known electromagnetic frequency."

Dr. Aaron's fingers danced across the keyboard.

His face slowly turned pale.

"...This is impossible."

The room fell silent.

Everyone stared at the screen.

The energy wasn't moving.

It wasn't fading.

It was...

waiting.

---

The laboratory doors slid open.

Footsteps echoed across the room.

Every scientist instinctively straightened.

"Director."

Dr. He entered without saying a word.

He calmly placed a folder on the table before looking at the monitors.

His eyes narrowed for only a second.

Then...

Nothing.

No surprise.

No fear.

No excitement.

Just silence.

Dr. Aaron hurried toward him.

"Sir, we've never recorded anything like this."

"We've already lost three surveillance drones."

"The fourth one returned..."

He swallowed.

"...destroyed."

The room grew colder.

Another scientist asked nervously,

"Should we alert the military?"

Dr. He looked at the red point glowing on the map.

"...Seal the area."

"Nobody enters."

"But sir..."

"That's an order."

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

Some of the researchers exchanged uneasy glances.

Why wasn't he asking questions?

Why wasn't he shocked?

Almost...

As though he had expected this day.

---

10:40 A.M.

The emergency conference room.

Government officials.

Military representatives.

Leading investors.

Scientists.

Everyone wanted answers.

A large screen displayed satellite images.

Nothing unusual could be seen.

Only an endless forest.

One investor broke the silence.

"Dr. He."

"What exactly happened this morning?"

Every eye turned toward him.

Dr. He stood.

"We detected an unknown energy source."

"It appeared without warning."

"It has disabled multiple satellites and unmanned aircraft."

Another official frowned.

"Can you identify its origin?"

"No."

"Is it dangerous?"

"We don't know."

"Is it man-made?"

"There is no evidence suggesting that."

Every answer was truthful.

Yet every answer hid something.

Ace Reese's father leaned forward.

"If this phenomenon is real..."

"...how much funding will your agency require?"

Dr. He met his gaze.

"Enough to ensure that humanity reaches it first."

The room fell silent.

The investors looked at one another.

One by one...

They nodded.

---

11:52 P.M.

The agency had emptied.

Only one office remained lit.

Dr. He quietly locked the door.

He walked toward an old wooden cabinet.

Hidden behind several research files rested a small black box.

Its lock wasn't electronic.

It was ancient.

He opened it slowly.

Inside...

A silver pendant.

Its surface was covered in unfamiliar symbols.

The moment it touched his palm...

A soft golden light spread across the room.

For the first time in twenty years...

It had awakened.

Dr. He's hand trembled.

Only slightly.

He whispered,

"...So..."

"...you've finally called me."

The pendant grew warmer.

Warmer.

Then...

Its chain slowly turned by itself.

Pointing toward the city.

Not the forest.

The city.

Dr. He closed his fingers around it.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Not one of happiness.

One of certainty.

"The search..."

"...begins tomorrow."

He extinguished the light.

Closed the box.

And walked out.

Leaving behind a question no one else knew to ask.

What was the pendant searching for?

---

End of Chapter 1

What happened in Blackwood Forest?

Why is Dr. He the only calm person?

What is the pendant?

Why did it point toward the city instead of the anomaly?

What is Dr. He going to search for tomorrow?

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