Alienong took a special car back to his own team’s factory.
As soon as he stepped out of the car in the tightly guarded factory area, several people in various attires surrounded him.
“How did it go? ” they asked.
Alienong held onto the car door and said seriously: “The director wants our plan to wait a bit longer before exposure. But I think something’s off. “
One person said angrily: “If we keep waiting, that Yang Buchen will invest in the preparatory committee, and it will definitely give rise to something spectacular—glowing radiance, rainbows, and countless brilliant lights. I disagree with waiting any longer. “
A woman beside her, wearing a work suit and leather gloves, said.
“President Haimasen, after all, doesn’t understand how important these matters are to us. Never having been contaminated by bloodlines, he simply cannot comprehend things like Radiance and Flash. Therefore, his strategies are quite different from ours. “
“That’s exactly what I think. ” Alienong said, “The President is probably waiting for Yang Buchen to actually enter the Preparatory Committee before having me appear. That way, our contribution would far surpass Yang Buchen’s kind of investment—those unseen and untouchable things from their perspective. “
Several people around fell into deep thought as they listened.
“If that’s the case, then to elevate our status, this plan’s proposer will naturally rise in position as well. In the end, Yang Buchen, who receives an advanced seat on the Preparatory Committee, will instead become the whetstone or stepping brick. “
“Huh~ ” Everyone was convinced by Alienong’s analysis.
“There’s no such thing as ‘so-called Radiance.’ This strategy is indeed beyond reproach. “
“But if we could invest in the Preparatory Committee before Yang Buchen does, then besides a Radiance that this plan is bound to produce, the Scientific Vein matter will also generate at least one Radiance. This way, we kill two birds with one stone. “
Several people exchanged glances. A man in his twenties or thirties, with black-rimmed glasses, said, “Alienong, forget about him. Inform the Military Secretary and the Secretary-General of the Development Planning Minister. Let’s begin directly. “
“That’s exactly what I intended to do. I believe the Warrior members involved in this great task have long been unable to contain their zeal. “
……
As soon as the contract with Steffen was signed, Zorro and Dereiano immediately transmitted the news back to the “World Ark ” headquarters located in the capital of the Blackwing Guest Kingdom via fax and telegram.
In a separate villa dedicated by the Augustus family, near the abandoned factory.
Members of the three main families, along with personnel from other families who came to assist upon hearing the news, and journalists specifically covering the rescue operations, over a hundred people were gathered inside and outside the living room, buzzing with low murmurs.
“If we can truly cooperate with Steffen on such a large scale so smoothly, this would be an unprecedented event in history. “
“It all depends on whether the other side will make things difficult. “
Amidst the discussions, the sudden quick sound of leather shoes running approached from inside the house. Gina Gaz held a document in her hand and, under everyone’s gaze, announced:
_”Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Yang Bucheng, the representative of our World Ark, signed a contract with the Prisoner and Laborer Exchange Office of the Steffen Lion Empire ten minutes ago!
“Wow! ” The crowd erupted. The man continued shouting excitedly:
“All captured laborers of other countries within Steffen, totaling about thirty-four thousand people, can now be unconditionally rescued and repatriated from the country by our World Ark International Relief Committee starting today! “
In an instant, applause and cheers rang out within the room, punctuated by the constant flashing of several cameras.
The leader of the Augustus family, Jenna Guster, along with several middle-aged individuals who stepped forward to stand half a pace behind her, as well as Haili Huikek from the Haili family and his two representatives, arranged themselves into a staggered horizontal line at the entrance of this deeply decorated, retro passageway, making this memorial moment official and solemn as it was captured by the camera.
The newspaper flew out rapidly.
Cheng Yunze and his companions resting inside the tent suddenly heard several mental calls coming from some of the ornaments on their bodies.
Flapping wings~ The pigeons took flight.
They saw the tent curtain being lifted as Tatamingqi walked in, spinning two newly crafted silver leather bracelets around his fingers. He struck a mock formal pose, crossing his arm against his chest in a nobleman’s salute, and said:
“Congratulations to you all, ladies and gentlemen. Not only did you arrive to participate in such a major operation, but you’ve also directly received a share of the ‘Iridescent Brilliance.’ This is something many would envy. “
“Is the Iridescent Brilliance something very good? ” Ning Jiajia asked.
“Yes. It can serve as a supplementary material for various crafts. It can also be used during Flash Investments to better anchor the outcome trajectory with finer precision. “
He stepped closer, handing over the two bracelets from his hand, saying: “These two were commissioned by Mr. Odysseus in April. Take them and split them for now. “
Over an hour later, Cheng Yunze established contact from his end with Yang Zicang, who was more than 2,800 kilometers away.
Cheng Yunze, having expressed his thanks for obtaining the Rainbow Light, touched the black telephone receiver and spoke into it with worry:
“Bu Chen, we have at most three days left on our end. Next up is an entire month of operations. If we leave, have you considered what we should do then? “
－ “I still have another Group Radiance Flash here. If there’s no turnaround in the next two days, I plan to invest it into your side. “
Cheng Yunze was taken aback.
“You, a Group Radiance Flash… use it on us? “
“Yes! ” Yang Zicang’s voice came through the rustling static on the other end of the line. “I want you to pour all the Rainbow Light you just obtained into this flash, so it can anchor our team more precisely and further into the future for some of the upcoming plans. “
Cheng Yunze glanced out the window, half-turned, and listened intently to the voice in the earpiece.
He knew Yang Zicang’s use of “our ” was just a formality. Ultimately, it would be his own team making the key decisions on the pulse of future events.
As the captain of the city’s premier team, Cheng Yunze desperately wanted to say, “I’ll find a way myself, ” right then.
But the words wouldn’t come.
With only three days left—still fresh and knowing nothing—it was absolutely impossible for him to rely on his own observations of his surroundings to orchestrate such a ground-breaking shift in the Track of Fate.
Hanging up the phone, he let out a light sigh, opened the door, and stepped out.
Looking at the remaining members of the Four Phases team waiting outside the door, Cheng Yunze still felt a hint of disappointment, even though he was the one being roped in for help. He didn’t want such a valuable investment to come with assistance from a former competitor.
“What’s the verdict, Captain? Does Master Yang have a solution? ” asked Zhang Zhiquan, whose muscles were a bit more defined now.
Cheng Yunze nodded.
Across from them, the maiden in round-rimmed glasses, along with Wang Tianyi, Ning Jiajia, and others, immediately looked shocked.
None of them were certain Yang Zicang would really have a way. Yet, it turned out to be good news.
“Maybe because this undertaking’s success will earn him a share of that Heroic Flash, Yang Zicang’s not being stingy about his delayed investment in us. “
As the words were spoken, a dark-haired maiden from a family called running in, saying, “Brother Cheng Yunze, someone out here is looking for you, saying he’s Brother Yang Buchen’s friend. He said his name is Wager, and he seems to be a person of the Fog. Do you guys want to entertain him? “
Cheng Yunze thought for a moment and replied, “Let me call and ask again. Could you trouble yourselves to reconnect me, please. “
These phones around here are way too difficult to use.
……
Under the westerly slanting sun, Yang Zicang, along with several enthusiastic Staefan folk, walked across a plaza paved with square stone tiles.
His hand gently touched the pendant beneath his shirt at his chest.
｛I (the world/history/eye) have completed the chaptering of a new life experience for you.｝
｛A glint of fellowship: The one who lifts up the brokenness again below a family’s roofpeak.｝
｛A token from the well-famed gold skull side marker ( “his fate partner/churned form “) tells: still more life milestones remain for the ones yet far to be cut into glowing intervals.｝
“Mr. Yang, are you still faring well with this strange kind of air/sky around here? “
Yang Zicang smiled as he looked at the official from the Labor Issues Office beside him, who sported short, scraggly beard stubble. “It is indeed a bit cold here. Is this climate due to latitude, or because of the monsoon winds from somewhere? “
Yang Zicang casually glanced into the distance, at the rising hills barely visible through the gaps between towering buildings. Silently, he began investing in his necklace within his mind.
“Ah, I guess it’s wind blowing in from the sea. “
｛I rejected the investment and guessed that maybe activating the catalog entries after checking into a hotel room would bring some unexpected benefits.｝
Yang Zicang lowered his hand, and a lady from the Labor Affairs Office beside him chatted casually:
“I heard from the elders that the weather in May and June wasn’t this cold in the past. At least we didn’t have to wear jackets at this time of year. But personally, I find this kind of weather quite pleasant. “
“How long ago was ‘the past’? “
“Maybe fifty or sixty years ago, or forty or fifty years. The temperature back then might have been two or three degrees higher. Oh, gentlemen… “
The lady just realized that the people before her weren’t ordinary humans. She smiled apologetically and said:
“I was just rambling about some things my grandmother has been going on about for the past couple of days. I didn’t mean anything else… “
Zorro laughed.
“Aha. ” Dereiano asked from the side:
“So, do you think the reason it’s cold is because the sea breeze over the past two years has been carrying away a lot of heat? Is it because there are no mountains to block it? Or did some meddlesome guys do something in previous years? “
This question startled the few locals present, who recalled something in surprise.
“To be honest, I do vaguely recall Yoru once proposed to dig an opening through the Jisuo Mountain Range in the middle of the continent, allowing the warm currents from the east to flow into our western side, and at the same time letting the cold currents from the west pass over to the east. “
“That’s no different than carving an opening through the Alps or the Qinling Mountains, ” Zorro said.
“If we don’t think such a thing through carefully, the ecological consequences would be unimaginable, ” Yang Zicang said after a slight hesitation.
“Hmm… They say the guy who proposed it was immediately dragged out for a public debate, and in the end, at the town square, because he couldn’t answer questions about monsoons, cumulus cloud layers, and convection currents, he was whipped three hundred times before he admitted to the fact that he’d only graduated from elementary school. Then he slunk away in disgrace. “
“If they actually did it, what would happen? ” the woman beside couldn’t help asking.
Someone in the crowd who remembered discussions from back then said:
“According to some experts, if it was really done, first of all, it would harm the local biodiversity. Next, there’d be soil erosion issues along the rivers. But in the end, the impact on the climate would be extremely limited—it wouldn’t even be as effective as building a power station on the mountain range. “
So that means it’s a waste of effort, backbreaking work that brings no benefit.
Indeed, I shouldn’t take for granted grandiose plans that seem impressive but ultimately lead to nothing. Come to think of it, I ought to go to the library and spend a good long time there.
While silently listening to this discussion about a conversation from ten years ago, Yang Zicang couldn’t help but think about the ocean they had mentioned.
The ocean…
The great ocean…
Yang Zicang suddenly paused in his steps.
Dereiano keenly noticed a change in Yang Zicang’s posture. He and the vibrant Hailikoni turned to look at the contemplative Yang Zicang.
“What’s wrong? ” Hailikoni asked, stepping closer.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just… suddenly thought of something, that’s all. “
After a simple yet lively dinner with the delegation, Yang Zicang returned to the doorway of his high-standard suite in the guest reception building.
With his hand on the doorknob, he turned his head to look back down the corridor.
“Kim Bei… how did they do it… “
……
Haimasen received some terrible news just before leaving work.
Upon hearing from the military and political minister who rushed to inform him, Haimasen learned that the plan he had orchestrated was about to be advanced by the Fogfolk within the team!
The moment he got off work, he frantically rode his vehicle to the factory to inquire. The news he received was confirmed as true.
“We can understand your desire, President Haimasen, to perfect the plan before unveiling it. However. “
The gaunt man with the narrow face pointed toward the seemingly endless factory buildings and towering walls behind him and said:
“If we continue to conceal it, those factory zones around here will have to expand their territory again. “
“But if we expose our plan now… this is clearly not maximizing our benefits! “
“Regarding the issue of maximizing benefits. “
From beside the workshop door, a lady wearing leather gloves approached and stated directly and courteously:
“President, you probably won’t understand. What we Fogfolk call fun isn’t about presenting all plans perfectly, but rather having a kind of competition, like grass scrambling for sunlight. Whoever does well and does it fast earns the right to be bathed in that light. “
“But if you’d just wait a few more days, all of you could leverage this very incident to become pivotal pillars of the Preparatory Committee, and even secure important seats at the upcoming general meeting… “
Across from him, there was only a faint smile and a shake of the head.
Facing the attitudes of the two before him, Haimasen, after a few futile arguments, realized he was completely out of sync with them.
The other party didn’t care one bit about these so-called promises of high positions.
Amidst the roar of machinery in the workshop, the frustrated President thought it over and said helplessly:
“How long until you finish the final preparations? “
“We can have the first batch of soldiers in the target state in about ten hours. It’ll take about twenty-four hours for everything to be fully completed. “
Haimasen’s lungs heaved like a pair of bellows, then he waved his hand, “Make it faster. ” He glanced at the mechanical watch on his raised arm and said, “Better start the plan uniformly at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. “
“Why? ” The gaunt man with high cheekbones actually looked puzzled.
“Because at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, Yang Buchen will be paying a visit to the Science Heritage Preparatory Committee. “
Haimasen said coldly, “At that time, I will introduce this team of ours to the Interim Chair of the Science Preparatory Committee, along with the ‘Complete Great Krupp’ project intended to save our people. “
……
In a quiet mansion nestled under the dappled shadows of trees at night.
The “Mordaf Type 1 Visualizer ” was placed in the center of the living room, resting on a soft hand-woven wool blanket over a long, ornate table beneath it. Above, it was draped with a lace sofa cover, crocheted with fine patterns, to shield it from dust.
A dozen distinguished Krone luminaries, invited by the Minister of State, admired within this modestly sized room, with murmurs of endless praise, a recording that had already been played three times on the viewing screen.
“To be specific, this machine, which doesn’t even have an official name yet, is just like a radio broadcast—once there’s a source of signal supply, it can continuously broadcast moving images. “
“It’s absolutely wonderful. “
“A shame it’s a bit born out of its time, ” the speaker quickly corrected himself, “but if it holds on until July, I believe starting in the second half of the year, it will be the moment when it gradually shows its influence. “
“Indeed, gentlemen, ” spoke Secretary of State Eriech gravely from his armchair. “If I weren’t tied up with more pressing matters, the designer of this machine would be here now, sharing this fine evening with you all. “
“Yes, state affairs are of utmost importance right now. Commissioner Eriech, you have worked hard. “
“For Mr. Eriech to remember to recommend such excellent talent and cutting-edge technology to us amidst such a busy season—we are truly humbled. Should this designer require any assistance, we will surely lend our support. “
“That won’t be necessary, Sir Ryne Ostrick. Your workload is already heavy enough. “
As the chorus of supporting gentry gradually fell silent, a portly man with three folds of wrinkles around his neck stepped forward with a smile. “Respected Mr. Ehrlich, might I ask if the provider of this technology happens to be part of today’s delegation from Heiverunsk accompanying our nation? “
“Oh? ” The State Councilor turned his gaze toward this well-known wealthy merchant in the city. He hadn’t been particularly interested in the man, but even someone like himself needed to show a bit of cordiality from time to time.
Catching the State Councilor’s shifting attention, the merchant lowered his posture even further. “On behalf of everyone here, I would like to present this new scientific innovation born in these difficult times to a few gentlemen for their inspection. I wonder if I might have that precious opportunity. “
The State Councilor pondered for a moment; the smugness he had felt tonight faded slightly.
“Well, of course, that is permissible. “
Leave a Reply