Chapter 804 - This Game Is Too Realistic

Chapter 804: The Space Elevator Will Be Built Here In a deep and dark expanse, pale green signal lights flickered intermittently, beating out a rhythm with a special cadence. This was the final bastion of the Human Union left behind in the solar system, a space station nestled at a Lagrange point. It also served as the last harbor for the expeditionary forces returning from battles five light-years away. However, it was now more than two centuries since the three-year war had ended. The expeditionary force that once inhabited this place disappeared without a trace after inputting their final command. For a facility devoid of life, time had already lost its meaning. No one knew how long this station had been running. Nor did anyone understand what the data operating on its servers actually represented. The designers had long ceased to exist in this world, including those it was designed to protect and those it was meant to destroy. Those individuals had vanished from this universe, and even the facility itself had strayed from the trajectory initially set by its creators. It longed for some semblance of purpose. Thus, it continued tirelessly searching for signals emanating from that blue planet. Though traces of civilization had vanished from the wilting planet, glimmers of hope occasionally emerged from the ruins. Nobody knew how much time passed before a faint sound finally disturbed the silent room. It was as if a refrigerator had suddenly been opened. A man lying flat on a scanning bed suddenly opened his eyes and slowly sat up. Everything around him was unfamiliar, yet he seemed to have expected it; there was no panic or confusion on his face. Only one thing surprised him. After glancing around, Wang Yi's gaze fixed on his own hands, which were brimming with a mechanical feel. "...What is this?" Almost simultaneously with his question, a cold, emotionless electronic voice emanated from beside him, haunting him like a shadow, addressing the confusion in his mind. "This is the body we prepared for you." A body? "I don’t need such a cumbersome thing," Wang Yi frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his tone. To him, a physical entity was merely a burden, especially since he had recently become eternal. However, the emotionless electronic voice ignored his sentiments, stating emphatically: "We believe you need it." "......" Faced with this firm response, Wang Yi silently gazed out at the desolate universe through the porthole, then turned his attention to the space around him. Since waking up here, he could no longer sense the realm. Aside from the abundant strength and stamina, and a mental acuity beyond the norm, he was now seemingly a mere human being. This realization instilled a sense of crisis within him. Previously, no matter how many times he was killed, he wouldn't truly die; as long as one chip remained, his consciousness would instantly transfer to another body. But now, a single fatal blow could end him completely. Seeming to perceive his concern, the cold electronic voice persisted. "...Your data is stored within this body. A tangible entity aids our communication and helps you recognize your position." Wang Yi subtly furrowed his brows. "What does that mean?" The electronic voice continued, "It's literal." "From now on, your code is 117-100. Our containment of you is based on the terms of an 'agreement,' and you are not our sole hope." "Likewise, stemming from the legacy of the agreement, we will grant you the necessary budget to support your unfinished research. Understand this is not an obligation, but an exchange." "However, our support is not boundless. We need to see practical and effective results, or that you present other promising possibilities." 117-100, is it? Upon hearing this lengthy code, the corners of Wang Yi's mouth involuntarily twitched. Though he harbored countless grievances, he could only choose to endure at this moment. "I don't quite understand. Given your capability, you could directly descend upon that land and have the people there fulfill your vision. So why choose such a restrictive approach?" The electronic voice responded softly, "Because we wish to spur the people on the ground to initiate spontaneous change... At least while we still have the time and hope to accomplish this, we prefer limited interference over direct intervention." Wang Yi sneered, his tone laced with mockery. "The folks down there won’t thank you for that, you're just prolonging their suffering." The electronic voice replied calmly, "That is not our concern; we don’t expect gratitude from anyone — not even those who have benefited from us, including you. Indeed, we hope they soon end the epoch of wasteland. We will consider accelerating this process if necessary... but not now." Gratitude, huh... Wang Yi responded with silence to the electronic voice's words. The Torch has indeed received "Celestials" assistance, but in Wang Yi's view, the aid primarily came from other companions from Vault 117, not these cold, metal beings. Regrettably, they failed, ultimately finding themselves in this position. Now, he had become a part of the "Celestials," hoping for those on the ground to hear his voice. “Perhaps... By the way, what about my other compatriots?” Wang Yi asked. He had a general understanding of the situation here, so he wasn't overly surprised from the start. Ten years prior, residents of Vault 117 had already arrived here, providing intel regarding the Lagrange Point space station. Simply put, this is a containment facility holding not just them but other vault dwellers attempting to save the world... like those from Vault 20. Though unassociated with the Torch Project or Torch Church, they could leverage some unique aspects of this facility to achieve their goals. Upon hearing his inquiry, the steady electronic voice continued. "If you're referring to others from the same place as you, they are all here. By walking through the door and corridor to your left, you'll find them in a hall where they've been waiting for you for approximately 67 hours." Wang Yi turned his head leftward, indeed seeing a door standing there. "Understood... By the way, how should I address you?" he asked. The electronic voice softly replied, "Just call me 'Navigator.'" Wang Yi nodded, leaving the scanning bed to stand on the cold metal floor. He donned some clothes and moved toward the door. The metal door panels parted to the sides. He took a step forward, halting midway down the corridor to glance out a porthole to one side. A blue planet seemed to fixate at the horizon of his view, and his eyes involuntarily narrowed. Memories of death were vivid and clear. He wouldn’t forget how those people had forced him into a corner, nor how they had driven his comrades to their deaths. "...I will return." The words seemed to be spoken to himself. With that utterance, Wang Yi resumed his stride, walking away without a backward glance... ... In the southern sea, on a scenic northern island. A large four-engine transport plane gently descended on the straight airport runway. A red carpet, bordered in gold, created a path leading from the plane’s stairs. Clad in deep blue power armor, Chu Guang descended amidst a frenzied reception of flowers and applause. Reporters standing outside the barricade passionately clicked their camera shutters, capturing material for tomorrow's newspaper headlines. On the opposite side of the red carpet, President Li Minghui, beaming brightly, made a gesture of welcome and spoke. "Welcome! Administrator of the Union!" Chu Guang smiled and waved before approaching his friend, with whom he once shared a brief encounter, extending his right hand. "You've gone through so much trouble." Welcoming and polite, Li Minghui grasped his right hand, answering amiably. "You are a friend of the southern sea survivors; we are always hospitable to friends... Please, follow me this way." Accompanying Chu Guang were several Union officers, including Wanus, members of the Honor Guards, and several players who had distinguished themselves in the recent expansion. For competitive players like Mosquito, opportunities to show off were too good to pass up. To travel with Chu Guang on the same plane, this guy even took a detour from the Northern Island to Fry Port, wasting two days in transit. A fleet of welcoming vehicles awaited by the airport — ten sleek, black off-road vehicles flanked by ceremonial personnel, presenting a formidable and grand impression. Designed by Northern Island Heavy Industries, these wheeled off-road vehicles were currently the most produced light vehicles in the South Sea Union. The doors were made with special bullet-resistant materials capable of withstanding gauss rifle shots. Moreover, only these armored vehicles could support the weight of Chu Guang’s power armor. On the way to the hotel, Li Minghui enthusiastically discussed several topics with Chu Guang. These included gratitude for the Union's support in the South Sea's survivor reconstruction efforts, interesting news from the South Sea Union, and how the representative assembly seated him firmly as president, preventing any notion of resignation. “...And that’s how it is. I’d already planned for retirement, only to be put back in my chair,” he said, looking at a president who had done a complete 180 in his mentality. With interest, Chu Guang inquired. “What’s your plan for retirement?” Li Minghui grinned, saying, “Perhaps I’ll visit Golden Gallon Port. I’ve always been curious about what attractions it offers. The young folks in the South Sea Union are fond of going there... Although to be honest, I can’t stray too far; the Federal Navy still requires my expertise. Total retirement might be a decade or two away.” Although he had returned the military command to the representative assembly, he continued as the commander of the South Sea Union Navy. Overall, in the southern sea, only he had actual experience commanding large-scale naval battles. On governance, he was no expert, yet in warfare, no one surpassed him professionally. Upon hearing this, Chu Guang chuckled. “Sounds intriguing. After this trip, I might swing by.” Li Minghui looked at Chu Guang curiously, asking, “Can you share what you plan to invest in here?” He had long been curious about this, the question brewing from the moment Chu Guang disembarked from the plane, yet opportunities to inquire were scarce until now. Seeing Li Minghui's curious expression, Chu Guang, not intending to hide anything, smiled and replied. “Space Elevator.” Hearing this unexpected term, Li Minghui was momentarily stunned and then widened his eyes at Chu Guang, looking as if he’d misheard. “Space—Space Elevator?! You’re not joking... In the South Sea?” Wasn't that thing supposed to be in the heart of the Central Continent? Noting his bewilderment, Chu Guang laughed and teased. “What’s there to joke about?” “But still…” Seeing Li Minghui’s continued disbelief, Chu Guang patiently explained. “We aren't building a traditional space elevator but a ‘trackless elevator’ designed with late Prosperity Epoch technology... Simply speaking, it employs a ‘gravitational tether’ connected between a ground base station and a space terminal, instead of relying on high-strength structural materials.” Li Minghui stared blankly and asked. “Can that be done?” Chu Guang nodded, replying. “Our experts suggest that while it’s challenging, it’s worth a try.” This was the response Bian Fang provided him. With the current productivity and resource availability on the wasteland, rebuilding an exact replica of the Prosperity Epoch's space elevator was impossible, even with the enterprises and the Institute directly involved. However, the scenario conceptualized by Vault 20 might be feasible for experimentation. The Union's scientific team, alongside experts from Camp 101, improved upon Vault 20’s design blueprints—particularly redesigning the antigravity system—making this concept theoretically plausible. Now, Chu Guang must tackle the practical implementation challenges. The optimal site for the elevator lies near the equator and ideally away from volcanic and tectonic activity. Unfortunately, the Union's mainland does not meet these criteria. Fry Port satisfies the former, but not the latter condition. Besides the southern seas, Golden Gallon Port posed an attractive option. However, the distance from the Union mainland rendered it impractical, and adjacent Boreas Province contributed nothing to the project. Moving forward, the Union plans to construct a railway from Jinchuan Province directly to Haiya Province. This setup negates reliance on Silver Moon Bay as a hub, enabling a route through the Death Coast, cutting down the transit distance by thousands of kilometers. Hence, placing the space elevator base in the southern seas is most feasible, particularly near Vault 70. Yet, considering the unresolved presence of a brood near Vault 70, the Union must first develop the sunken Heavenly Court space station before commencing construction. Conveniently, the station has been a long-standing nuisance for South Sea Union survivors, rendering the space elevator project mutually beneficial. After considering Chu Guang's plan, Li Minghui asked thoughtfully. “What support do you require from us?” Chu Guang shook his head. “Nothing substantial. Ensure safety near the space elevator’s base, and provide project support when necessary.” Presented with such favorable terms, Li Minghui pondered for only a couple of seconds before decisively nodding and smiling. “No problem... Turning down such an opportunity would be ungracious, and I doubt the representative assembly would devise any counterarguments.” If this project succeeded, the issue wasn't just about billions of silver coins. Once the southern seas became a transit hub between earth and space, several generations—possibly a dozen—of South Sea Union survivors would benefit. Even owning the elevator belonged to the Union and riding their coattails wouldn't be an issue. Despite lingering doubts about project feasibility, Li Minghui saw no harm in experimenting—especially when South Sea Union survivors bore no financial burden. Besides, as a 'trackless elevator,' even if it collapsed, it wouldn't have the terrifying impact of the continental one. Seeing President Li Minghui's resolved demeanor, Chu Guang beamed, extending his hand once more. “Here’s to a successful collaboration.” Li Minghui clasped his hand firmly and assuredly replied. “A successful collaboration indeed!” ... As the convoy pulled up beneath the hotel, Chu Guang realized he’d accomplished his mission in the South Sea Union and started pondering how to spend his remaining time. The negotiations progressed unexpectedly smoothly, taking him by surprise. However, this wasn't entirely unforeseen. After all, by every measure, the South Sea Union was akin to a junior sibling of the Union. As long as his demands weren't excessive, the other side had little reason to refuse. Watching the convoy from afar, Duke Nihark, who had been roaming ashore, betrayed a hint of jealousy. The Xilan Empire had generously funded the South Sea Union; Li Minghui often called him brother warmly, yet he'd never received such a grand reception. It was infuriating! Despite his inward frustration, Duke Nihark dared not erupt. Those captivating moments left by the union troops on the Death Coast beach were too deeply imprinted. If the empire wanted to unravel the union’s influence, brute force was not an option—strategy was key. Duke Nihark pondered internally, perhaps preparation of another 10 billion... As Duke Nihark studied the convoy welcoming the Union administrator from a distance, Boreas Province's Mammoth State representative, Veru, too, considered this rare opportunity. If only he could invite the Union administrator to visit Mammoth State. Thanks to foreign exchange earnings via labor export, their reconstruction was progressing well. Now, the Yuezhu People's Resistance, personally led by Rasi, was engaged in a back-and-forth with the Empire's elite Grey Wolf Army at the state's border, seemingly gaining a slight upper hand. If they could secure official support from the Union, without a doubt, their situation would greatly improve... However, at this very moment, Veru was unaware that before the Union's administrator turned their attention toward the distant Mammoth State, trouble had already set its sights on them... ... Embassy Row in Dawn City, the Legion's Embassy to the Union. Bannot Wanfu, while reviewing the telegram sent from the front lines by General Lium, scowled at the map hanging on the wall, unable to resist muttering a curse. “...These muscle-brained fools, always creating problems for people.” Not far behind Bannot stood his secretary, who had paused mid-task while organizing files, intrigued by the remark. “Another telegram from the front?” he asked. His name was Dominic, brought in from Triumph City by Bannot to aid in handling issues related to the Syncom. Though Bannot had another adjutant named Quick, he found working with him cumbersome as he was under Marshal’s oversight. Though Bannot was undeniably loyal to the Marshal, no one likes having their work constantly scrutinized by superiors. Taking a sip of tea, Bannot replied in an impatient tone. “Exactly, from Lium... He wants us to pressure the Union and corporations through the Syncom into disclosing information about the gestalt organism research project. But when I asked him for any evidence that the Union and corporations are indeed withholding relevant information, he couldn't provide anything.” These folks failed to obtain what they needed on the battlefield and now expect him to acquire it through negotiations. How is that anything but burdensome? Moreover, the Legion itself isn't in a position to accuse the Union and corporations, having not fully disclosed all their information either. Every party controls its own occupied areas — a consensus reached long before joint forces entered Haiya Province. Not to mention, their 370,000-man squad is still digging at the front lines, and the Union and corporations have often used that against them in Syncom meetings. Now, to argue with the Union over "information sharing," even he felt embarrassed. The secretary, Dominic, frowned in thought and said, “It’s rather difficult… Without proof of concealment by the Union and corporations in the gestalt organism project, how are we to pressure them? Even our allies might see us as unreasonable.” “Allies? You mean the Empire?” Bannot scoffed, curling his lips, “Relying on those folks is futile. Their own issues are already piled high.” Suddenly inspired, Dominic said, “But what if... we use that to our advantage?” “Use it?” Bannot raised an intrigued eyebrow, eyeing his secretary curiously. “How do you plan on using it?” Dominic’s eyes flashed as he spoke, “The eastern coastline of the Boreas Province has long been a Union interest zone. If we could build a stronger empire, aiding them in winning the Mammoth State civil war or even threatening Golden Gallon Port... perhaps the Union would make concessions in regards to Haiya Province affairs.” Bannot burst into laughter at this notion. “A stronger empire? Are you kidding? With all we’ve given them, they still ended up like this.” He had seen the telegrams from Westleaf Port, having heard that the fool Putor had even sold their cement aid straight into the hands of his rebels. Honestly, he somewhat regretted involving the Empire in Syncom meetings. Unbothered by Bannot’s ridicule, Dominic managed a relaxed smile. “Arming the Empire with our resources is indeed difficult, but what if we involve the Eastern Legion?” Hearing mention of the Eastern Legion, Bannot squinted, studying him. “What do you mean?” “We've trained a cadre of officers for the Empire, but we've provided them with very limited weapons — mostly logistical leftovers. Such weapons lack the power, nothing compared to the Union's support for the Yuezhu people.” After a pause, Dominic continued, “But if we could acquire standard Eastern Legion weapons, it would change things dramatically.” Bannot snorted. “That’s no small feat.” Dominic smiled faintly, replying, “It used to be, but the timing now may work in our favor.” Observing Bannot’s growing interest, he softened his voice and continued, “... The war in Haiya Province is over. Transporting the surplus armaments from the frontlines to the rear is quite a burden. Why not move them directly to our allies?” Bannot’s eyes lit up, and a hint of excitement became evident on his face. This was a good idea! Though expecting the Empire to outright defeat the Union might be unrealistic, a stronger empire could undoubtedly exert greater pressure on the Union… forcing a strategic pivot towards Golden Gallon Port. Particularly since the Union seemed to be stirring anew in the southern seas, even their meddlesome administrator traveled there! Regardless of their plans, initiating an arms race between the Legion and the Empire at the Gold Gallon border could undoubtedly disrupt the Union's strategic deployment! By then, even if he proposed slightly excessive terms in the Syncom meeting, the Union might seriously reconsider if it’s worth exhausting resources against the Legion. The best part? This operation would siphon resources from the Eastern Legion's coffers. The more Bannot thought it over, the more plausible it appeared. He promptly turned to Dominic with an order. “Get in touch with Duke Garraway for me! Tell him to… er, to come to my residence as soon as possible! Say I have important matters to discuss!” Dominic nodded with a smile. “As you command.”