Chapter 810 - This Game Is Too Realistic

### Chapter 810: Our Names Will Be Inscribed on This Eternal Monument As Chu Guang watched his old friend step down from the open hatch, he mirrored his smile and extended his right hand. "Pleasure to see you, Mr. Li! It has indeed been a long time!" The man standing before him was Li Changkong, the manager from the Ideal Group's Construction Department. As one of the representatives initially dispatched by the Corporate Aid Union to Dawn City, Chu Guang had not seen him since the end of the war in the Falling Sunset Province. For quite some time, the foreign correspondence between the council and the union had been managed by the Integrated Management Department staff and Yi Chuan from the Overseas Business Department. Li Changkong's visit to the southern waters this time wasn't on behalf of the corporate council but represented the oldest of the five major corporate groups, the "King of Infrastructure" — Ideal Group. The foundational infrastructure of Ideal City was originally constructed by the Ideal Group. Their transition to property management and operations occurred only after Ideal City was completed. Naturally, Li Changkong's visit aimed to conduct an on-site inspection of the "Trackless Space Elevator" project proposed at the Alliance's Adhesion Conference. Running Ideal City required substantial energy, a task right within the Ideal Group's business scope. Reestablishing a stable route from the surface to outer space, or even resurrecting the Earth-Moon flights that had been discontinued for two centuries, would fundamentally address the potential energy crisis Ideal City might face in the future. Thus, from the moment the Alliance unveiled this plan, the Ideal Group had shown extraordinary interest. As soon as they learned the Alliance had teamed up with the South Sea Union to undertake site selection in the southern waters, the chairman of Ideal Group immediately filed an application through Ambassador Shu Yu in Ideal City for an on-site assessment trip to the south. Seeing the affluent Ideal City so intrigued by his plan, Chu Guang was, of course, delighted. He immediately saw to it that Shu Yu approved their request, even taking it upon himself to welcome Li Changkong aboard the Conch Submarine Carrier. Standing on the sturdy steel deck, Li Changkong surveyed his surroundings. His eyes, half astonishment and half admiration, revealed his incredulity. Incredible. The place that was once just a dilapidated settlement, with nothing but hope, had now completed such an astonishing engineering feat! While Ideal City is situated along the coastline and has been involved in marine resource development, their shipbuilding technology is not particularly advanced, certainly not on par with their aerospace achievements. It's not hard to understand why this might be. During the era of prosperity, the Human Union's development focus continually shifted toward outer space. Ground-based logistics and manufacturing gradually moved to the industrial zones near space elevators. In this broad trend, the market share for orbital and air transport grew significantly, while shipping appeared to stagnate, even shrink. Moreover, to safeguard marine ecosystems, the Human Union adopted a restrictive development policy on ocean resources. As a result, over more than a century of prosperity, human civilization's maritime technology saw little significant development, with the industry maintaining early-era characteristics. Though some vessel materials and power sources progressed, it was largely a consequence of advancements in other high-growth industries guiding them forward. Ideal City inherited much of the Human Union's character. While they didn't strictly continue Human Union's environmental policies, their investment in marine equipment lagged behind other fields. Among the five major groups, none prioritized marine engineering or maritime equipment manufacturing as a primary business. This is why Li Changkong was so astounded. While Chu Guang considered the strategic significance of the "Overlord" transport aircraft greater than that of the Conch Submarine Carrier, Li Changkong perceived quite the opposite. This contraption far surpasses the Alliance's aircraft in impressiveness! "Incredible... a submersible mobile airfield. Is this your design?" Chu Guang chuckled at Li Changkong's amazement and replied. "I can't take full credit. Strictly speaking, it's a joint masterpiece with the South Sea Union." It's quite remarkable to think about. Once upon a time, when he first saw the corporation's Pioneer, he had the same astonished expression. Now, the tables had turned, and the manufacturing prowess of the Alliance was what amazed the company. "Amazing..." Surveying the flat deck beneath his feet, then glancing at the towering bridge, Li Changkong was still visibly unsettled and puzzled as he asked Chu Guang. "Our ships grow barnacles and oysters after just a few months at sea. How do you keep them off your decks?" This wasn't a secret worth concealing. Chu Guang replied in a casual tone. "The Mind Interference Device isn't just for repelling mutants; it’s effective against certain stubborn mollusks too." Li Changkong wore a look of sudden understanding. "Ah, I see." Though not a specialist himself, the innovative solution certainly piqued his interest. "The real marvels are yet to come," Chu Guang said with a mild smile. "Follow me. I'll show you the interior." Leading the way, Chu Guang, accompanied by his guards, took Li Changkong and his entourage towards the submarine's bridge. The entrance to the vessel lay beneath the bridge. They stepped onto an elevator, which smoothly descended into the submarine's depths with a slight hum. There, in the spacious hangar, were over twenty Alliance aircraft lined in rows. Among them were Viper VTOL transport aircraft, fixed-wing models like the "Lightning" and "Thunder," and even "Cloud Dragonfly" ornithopters imported from Ideal City. Electromagnetic launch tracks connected directly to the upward-tilted front hatch. The main track linked to secondary tracks for various fixed-wing aircraft. In combat scenarios, the Conch submarine carrier could quickly surface, launching all its onboard aerial units into the sky to form an airstrike formation and utilize the exterior deck for land-based operations. Besides the aviation assets, the submarine's arsenal was equally impressive. Alongside the tracks, the missile racks were packed with munitions of various types. From a sheer numbers perspective, the submarine's current stockpile could sustain three full-scale engagements with ease! And there was more. The ceiling compartment of the expansive hangar housed numerous folded "King Crab" amphibious engineering mechs, ready for deployment. In times of inactivity, they remained docked at charging stations. Upon receiving a deployment order, they could be swiftly placed on the deck using rail-mounted mechanical arms, ready for battle through specialized deployment channels. From the moment Li Changkong set foot inside, he was utterly awe-struck. This was nothing short of a mobile oceanic fortress! Yet, Chu Guang didn't bring him here just to showcase the military prowess of the Alliance. There was something else worth presenting, and he led the reluctant Li Changkong to the observation chamber at the submarine's prow. As they made their way to the observation chamber, Li Changkong remembered the purpose of his visit and turned to Chu Guang. "How has the site selection been progressing? Is everything going smoothly?" Chu Guang replied with a smile. "The site selection was last week's task. We've already moved on to the experimental and verification phase." Li Changkong looked at him in surprise and asked incredulously. "The site selection is complete? So quickly?" He had expected the Alliance to wait for deliberations from the Adhesion Conference, or at least secure some investments before moving on. Instead, the project had already advanced to the experimental phase. The efficiency was unparalleled! Unfazed by Li Changkong’s astonishment, Chu Guang stopped at the observation chamber's door, glancing out the panoramic window before continuing. "We don't believe this unprecedented trackless space elevator can be resolved through discussions alone. Its viability will be confirmed by trials." Regardless of whether Adhesion supports them, the Alliance intends to follow through with the plan. Not merely due to the "Celestial" threat but also because human civilization's future lies in it. Relying solely on inherited assets from the Human Union is insufficient to emerge from the ruins. To truly end the wasteland era and continue the flame of civilization, the Alliance must address lingering issues from the Human Union era. Reconstructing the space elevator is just one element of his plan, with no better time than now to commence. Of course, even though he intended to proceed with the project regardless of outside support, obtaining some investment would undoubtedly be advantageous. After all, for a monumental project of this scale, from both a political and collective wisdom standpoint, the more concentrated the efforts, the higher the probability of success. Regaining his composure after overcoming his initial surprise, Li Changkong focused on Chu Guang and continued his line of inquiry. "I agree with your perspective. Nevertheless, from a practical standpoint, how do you plan to deal with the orbital debris? The amount is astronomical, and without addressing this issue, launching space elevators or even sending spacecraft becomes problematic." The corporations had attempted to launch spacecraft into outer space, but they usually ended up becoming part of the debris once they passed low Earth orbit. The debris alone would be manageable. However, there were still long-dormant automated defense systems patrolling the orbit, capable of identifying intruders. Though the corporation had managed to crack a few of the orbital weapons, they were mere drops in the ocean compared to the astronomical debris field. While he shared the concept of the "trackless space elevator," Li Changkong was more concerned with this tangible issue. Chu Guang wasn't surprised by Li Changkong's question, and he answered fluidly. "We've already considered that problem. We're exploring the possibility of using 'gravity wells' to clear the orbital debris." "Gravity wells?" Li Changkong frowned slightly, a puzzled look on his face. Chu Guang went on to explain. "The gravity well I'm referring to isn't a natural one but an artificial gravity well. Simply put, it involves manipulating gravitons to interfere with Earth's gravitational field, creating a 'well'-shaped gravitational channel in specific regions. This would guide orbital debris that drifts into these regions to fall into areas we designate." Li Changkong stared blankly at Chu Guang, finally speaking up after a moment. "Is such a thing even possible?" He had never heard of anything like it! Chu Guang replied with a sheepish smile. "We're still in the conceptual stage, much like with the 'trackless space elevator.' The specifics of implementing it likely pose significant challenges, as our current knowledge of graviton technology is too limited. The only 'prototype' we have was acquired from the Legion." Graviton technology was advanced even during the era of prosperity, but its applications were numerous. Classic examples include FTL engines, hyperspace lanes between massive celestial bodies, anti-gravity technology, and parry shield technology, all achieved through graviton manipulation. Though the Alliance's manufacturing level had advanced significantly with the help of the manufacturing center on the B7 layer, it was only just capable of producing parry shields. Replicating the "Frigate Core" from the Iron Heart was still challenging, let alone meddling with massive planetary gravitational fields, akin to "forbidden-level magic." Frankly, when experts from the exploration team suggested this idea, even Chu Guang wondered if their brains were functioning correctly. Before this, Chu Guang inclined more towards the imaginative solutions proposed on forums— Namely, launching numerous rockets to low Earth orbit, deploying large nets to catch as much debris as possible, kite-flying style. After some time, another rocket would launch to retrieve the haul, gradually bringing debris back to Earth. The expert solution from the exploration team seemed more practical than this Sisyphean approach, though the theoretical aspects were too complex for him to grasp. Nevertheless, despite his doubts, Chu Guang wisely refrained from letting outsider ignorance lead experts astray, leaving the verification to the scientific team. Currently, Ying Fang’s preliminary feedback was that "technically feasible, but with considerable difficulty," so at least they hadn’t dismissed the concept outright. Clearly, Li Changkong was also caught off-guard by the whimsical notion, maintaining an awkward smile as he finally spoke after a long pause. "This... is beyond my comprehension. I may need to consult with professors from Cloud University. I really didn’t expect you’d consider even such unique methods. It seems Mr. Chu truly has keen foresight for outer space development." Chu Guang smiled gently and replied. "Of course, the significance behind it needn't be explained." Li Changkong sighed and stated. "True as that may be, our board of directors tends to focus more on immediate interests." Chu Guang responded in a gentle tone. "Focusing on immediate interests isn't wrong; you must tread the path beneath your feet well to reach further. But in my view, you've already advanced your piece of land excellently. So why not expand your ambitions? You have the capacity, so why limit yourselves to just Ideal City?" Hearing this, Li Changkong's eyebrows twitched involuntarily. "Is Ideal City really that small?" He couldn't deny the growth of Dawn City, but comparing it to Ideal City seemed a bit arrogant. Yet, Chu Guang made no concessions, continuing bluntly. "Small, indeed. Not just your city but also us, the Alliance, or even the Legion, which spans half the continent—all tiny compared to the Human Union’s dominion. Honestly, you could potentially expand your business, say... opening a branch of Ideal City five light-years away?" Li Changkong was taken aback, momentarily forgetting his displeasure. "Five light-years away?" "Exactly." Chu Guang nodded, maintaining a mild tone as he continued. "Beyond the distance of Barnard's Star… doesn’t your colony ship’s core contain coordinates of a new world? Once we settle matters on this planet, eventually we'll pursue those unfinished tasks." Li Changkong's laughter was soft as he replied. "Such matters seem far too distant." Chu Guang shook his head. "Not too distant at all. We can begin preparing for that future now. I imagine your forefathers didn't return just to see their descendants trapped endlessly on a hopeless planet. They must have believed this place could sprout new hope and trusted you could embark again one day, guiding them back to save what remained savable." Though he wasn't directly connected to those pioneers, being from Ideal City, a part of him felt no reluctance as he spoke about them. Interestingly, while narrating their tales, he lacked a sense of reverence, naturally adopting their perspective. Such self-confidence might be slightly presumptuous, yet he expressed it naturally. Perhaps because he was an outsider. Discussing that piece of history was like recounting a mundane story, akin to narrating the plot of a game. Li Changkong watched him silently before faintly smiling and responding. "...Perhaps." Ideal City’s residents weren’t sensitive about others mentioning or evaluating their ancestors, unlike the Legion. Still, despite his indifferent expression, Chu Guang’s words unwittingly planted a seed in Li Changkong’s mind. Ideal Group's engineering machinery had indeed gathered dust in warehouses far too long, to the point of rusting. Once, Ideal Group had achieved miraculous feats on the wasteland, and now, they could only patchwork past foundations. Though he was merely a manager in the construction department, he had dreams of rebuilding the glorious feats from two centuries ago. Chu Guang struck a chord with him. Destiny’s colonial ship certainly didn’t turn back for their descendants to fester on this planet. They believed their descendants would someday complete their unfinished missions, turning back decisively to save those still within reach of rescue. Viewed in this light... The endearing prospect five light-years away seemed almost tantalizing. "I'm intrigued by your proposal, however... could you show me something tangible?" Li Changkong shifted his gaze, following Chu Guang's line of sight out the panoramic window, gazing over the endless ocean horizon, as he continued, "The surprise you mentioned on the call… is it just this Conch?" Before arriving, Li Changkong had a phone conversation with Chu Guang, during which Chu Guang promised him a surprise during his visit. He had been looking forward to it, especially after finding out that the Alliance had already moved to the experimental verification phase of their project. However, standing in the observation chamber now, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Though the Conch submarine carrier was impressive from an engineering perspective, it wasn't the maritime strength of the Alliance he had come here to explore. Perhaps the council might find it interesting, but it wasn't related to his main purpose for this trip. "Of course not. You'll see the surprise I mentioned soon," Chu Guang replied with a mysterious smile. He then turned to the captain beside him and gave an order. "Prepare to dive!" The captain immediately stood at attention, saluting sharply. "Yes, sir!" With command issued, the captain removed the radio from his shoulder and issued a firm instruction. "Submerge the vessel!" As the order resounded, the massive steel behemoth pushed through the waves and slowly dipped beneath the surface. As the panoramic window submerged with the vessel, Li Changkong suddenly recalled his aircraft was still on the landing pad, and he urgently turned to Chu Guang. "My aircraft—" "Don't worry," Chu Guang reassured him, having anticipated his concern. "We've already taken care of bringing it onboard." The landing pad itself was an elevator, and as they descended, the Viper-like transport aircraft descended into the hold alongside them. Hearing this eased Li Changkong's worries, and he refocused on the scene outside the panoramic window. At that moment, the view outside took his breath away. In the deep blue waters, arcs of light danced like "sprites" beneath the sea, encircling a towering alloy structure at the center. The extending metal framework slowly coalesced with the flickering light, forming a substantive edifice. Li Changkong's eyes widened in astonishment. He was about to question Chu Guang about the scene, but Chu Guang had anticipated his curiosity and gestured to the captain beside him. Understanding the cue, the captain ordered the activation of the submarine's forward floodlights. As the beams of milky white light illuminated the darkness, Li Changkong finally discerned what those shimmering sprites were. Mechanical constructs resembling manta rays beat their expansive pectoral fins, encircling a sprawling construction site. The shimmering lights emanated from cold-arc welding equipment mounted on their heads. In the flashes of the arc, metal tubes and panels were swiftly welded onto the pre-installed metal framework. Surrounding the structure, crab-like mechanical units busily assisted, taking over the precise tasks from the "mantas." "Those manta ray-like units are called electric rays. They're underwater autonomous welding drones we developed recently—I can't quite recall the company. The crabs are our 'Crab' models, engineered from the 'Scarab' suits. You should be familiar with them, being in construction," Chu Guang explained. Li Changkong numbly nodded, taking a moment before voicing his genuine admiration. "Impressive." While the corporation was never short on innovation, the Alliance's incredible pace was truly eye-opening. Their development velocity was mind-boggling! Even a snowball metaphor couldn't do justice to their acceleration! Though the corporation had some hand in their progress, everything here was entirely the creation of the Alliance's residents and wastelanders. Beyond disbelief, what he felt most was sincere admiration. These people were truly remarkable. Over the past two centuries, Ideal City had primarily been repeating the glories of the prosperous era without advancing beyond it. Yet, a survivor coalition established only a few years prior dared to conquer peaks the corporation never dared dream of—constructing a new Tower of Babel, not even conceived during the prosperous era! No wonder the council held them in high regard! With such torch-bearers leading the charge, even the lazier residents of Ideal City would be unwittingly propelled forward. Including himself— Which was exactly why he stood here! As Li Changkong observed the man before him, he suddenly envisioned possibilities he had never considered. If anyone could end the wasteland era, perhaps he could. "Before coming here, I had my doubts, including whether rebuilding the space elevator at this time was premature," Li Changkong candidly admitted as he turned to Chu Guang, his tone sincere. "Yet, after witnessing all this, I feel ashamed of my previous reservations." "Calculating this project's value purely through return on investment insults it—it's a project that could launch a new era!" "As you said, if we can truly rebuild the bridge between the surface and space, perhaps one day we can reclaim the entirety of the Human Union's dominion." "The names of Ideal City's citizens should be inscribed on this monumental endeavor. Please, let us contribute our strength!" Li Changkong's spirited declaration nearly caused Chu Guang's composure to falter, almost blushing with pride. However, as a seasoned negotiator, he had long developed a skin as thick as a city wall. Meeting Li Changkong's earnest gaze, Chu Guang firmly grasped his extended hand, shaking it vigorously. "On behalf of all survivors who have joined and are joining our cause, thank you!" "Thank you for your participation!" "I promise, our names will all be inscribed on this eternal monument!" To be continued...