Chapter 298
Chapter 298
Zhang Bei had noticed Li Yang’s mood too, but said nothing more.
After dinner, once the employees had left, he took out his phone again.
“Arthur, what did Heizi put on the satellite?”
He had known Heizi for so many years. Could he really not tell when the man was lying?
Fool him with those acting skills?
That was about as likely as Boss Zhang discovering his conscience. In his dreams!
Arthur’s voice soon came through the phone.
“Four disposable combat mecha, programmed to self-destruct after twelve hours of energy consumption, and twelve Miniature Nuclear Missiles.”
Zhang Bei nearly crushed the phone in his hand.
He didn’t oppose military deterrence, but circumstances mattered.
The Island’s current defenses could guarantee that no armed force in the world could break through.
Display powerful offensive capabilities, however, and purchases of certain advanced materials would inevitably face restrictions.
With Huaxia shielding them, they could develop peacefully even after the emergence of Nuclear Fusion.
As long as enough resources supported the Island’s move into space, the System’s space-mining technology would let them truly fear nothing.
But if critical materials were cut off, reaching space would become empty talk.
“Arthur, take control of the satellite’s miniature nuclear weapons from now on. No one may operate them without my orders.”
“Yes!”
With the mess from Heizi’s impulsiveness dealt with, Zhang Bei breathed a little easier.
Heizi was more than capable in every other respect. He would even bear some responsibility for future space exploration.
It was that constant urge to blow things up that gave Zhang Bei a headache.
“Arthur, how far along are the Island’s projects?”
“Construction of the undersea factory is nearly complete. Lightweight spacesuits are seventy percent complete.”
“And the space base design?”
“Fifty-five percent. Production of the basic materials has already begun.”
Zhang Bei rubbed his chin. They worked fast!
Both major projects were already well advanced.
Given a little more time, most of the Island’s research projects would probably be finished.
What he hadn’t considered was that this efficiency came from more than a hundred scientists working day and night.
Guan Guo himself slept only four or five hours a day, all to see space sooner.
With the technology and the ability, who wouldn’t want to witness the vast universe?
While Zhang Bei considered his next plans, countless people in the Island’s underground laboratory were close to tears.
“Fuck this. Is Old Guan trying to work us to death?”
“Keep it down. Don’t let him hear!”
“Let him fucking hear! Finish an undersea base in a month? Is that humanly possible?”
“In theory, sixteen-hour days would do it.”
“I fucking…”
“Enough. Don’t you know why we came here?”
At a colleague’s words, the scientist fell silent.
Hadn’t they all come to see that vast sea of stars?
“Damn it. Back to work. We’ve only got a month!”
The same scene played out across the Island’s more than thirty research teams.
After grumbling for a while, they threw themselves cheerfully back into their work.
Sitting in his car, Zhang Bei considered the matter carefully.
If the Island’s research was progressing so fast, a few more assignments shouldn’t be a problem, should they?
As it happened, Cosmic Communications and the Spaceport were now available to purchase.
New technology, followed by commercialization, would ensure Meng Chuan had no time to come looking for him soon.
Heizi would also have to strengthen security on the Island, leaving him no time to cause trouble.
Yes. A win-win.
Meaning, of course, that Zhang Bei won twice!
The next day arrived quickly. With no traffic on the road, Zhang Bei reached the Amusement Park more than ten minutes early.
The employees hadn’t arrived yet. Only the early-rising Chef Team was busy.
“Well, Boss, you’re early today!”
Zhang Bei yawned and casually took the turtle from its tank to handle it.
“How are the Amusement Park meal packages selling?”
“Still can’t meet demand. Around thirty percent of customers miss out.”
“Do you need more staff?”
“Not for now. Without any new projects, we can still manage.”
The turtle cautiously poked its head out.
After looking at its increasingly smooth shell, it simply lay flat on the table.
Life was hard. The turtle gave up trying.
As the employees arrived one after another, Zhang Bei narrowed his eyes at Li Yang, who came in last.
“Come with me.”
Every hair on Li Yang’s body stood on end. He was instantly on high alert.
“What are you going to do?”
“Ask you something. Don’t be scared!”
Li Yang hurriedly backed away two steps. “Shooting you with a tranquilizer gun was Qingqing’s idea! I wasn’t involved!”
Zhang Bei froze. He had only wanted to discuss Gu Yue.
Instead, he had uncovered a shocking new scheme.
“We’ll discuss Qingqing later. Come with me first.”
Before breakfast began, Zhang Bei took Li Yang into the Monitoring Room.
He locked the door behind them and sat down.
“Tell me. What’s really going on between you and Gu Yue?”
Li Yang fell silent.
After a long while, he spoke, his voice trembling slightly.
“Boss, what do you think about couples needing matching family backgrounds?”
Yes. Matching backgrounds.
If Gu Yue had also been a girl from the countryside, perhaps an apology and a little time would have let them become a couple.
But she wasn’t. She was the daughter of a criminal investigation bureau director, and the apple of an old Red Army veteran’s eye.
Zhang Bei tapped the turtle’s shell. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
Li Yang gave a bitter laugh and lowered his head.
He had been thinking about it ever since their cold war began.
“You think co-captain of the First Space Fleet isn’t a distinguished enough position?”
“What?”
Li Yang’s head buzzed. Of that long string of words, he had only caught “fleet.”
“You know the situation on the Island. In the future, more planets will definitely become part of our territory.”
Zhang Bei paused. “I intend to establish several fleets to build planet-wide amusement parks on suitable worlds.”
A fire slowly kindled in Li Yang’s blank eyes.
Holy shit!
An entire planet as an amusement park?
“Wouldn’t a Roller Coaster ride take a whole month?”
Zhang Bei looked at him admiringly. The kid’s thinking was becoming more mature by the day!
He hadn’t even thought of that brilliant idea!
“Enough. Why worry about this nonsense? Get back to work. I’ll discuss setting up the fleets with the higher-ups.”
“Thank you, Boss!”
Li Yang’s fear vanished. What the hell was there to worry about now?
Matching family backgrounds?
Bullshit!
See that fleet beyond Earth?
What father-in-law could resist a man’s ultimate dream?
As Li Yang lifted his head and squared his shoulders, a cold gleam flashed in Zhang Bei’s eyes.
Qingqing, was it?
Tranquilizers, was it?
Causing trouble again, was it?
Zhang Bei took a deep breath and called Qingqing.