Chapter 51 Winter is Coming <TOC> Chapter 53 We Are Not Beggars
Translator: SumTLMan
The winter response meeting was still ongoing. Zhou Yi allowed everyone to discuss freely, while he focused his attention on the screen of the remote controller.
From the Bird’s-Eye View, Red Falcon’s lens focused on Jade Emerald City.
According to Zhou Yi’s instructions, Jade Emerald City did not waste resources on rebuilding the 32nd and 33rd floors but instead only repaired the damaged parts that housed the 31st floor, officially making this level the new top floor. On the other side of the top floor, the container room had an additional layer of external walls, seamlessly integrating into the building.
At this moment, a faint green light enveloped the building’s exterior walls.
Jade Emerald City broadcasted a series of messages.
“Residential management functions have been fully restored.”
“Owner and resident registrations are now synchronized in real time.”
“Access control systems activated. Non-registered individuals will be prohibited from entering and will be expelled.”
“All residential units have water and heating connections. Drainage and water supply pipelines are fully covered, and rainwater and sewage diversion is complete.”
“The waterproof layers and fireproof isolation belts have been repaired.”
……
After Jade Emerald City’s management became standardized, the container rooms were also treated as official residential units. The maintenance property fees paid were referenced against 3101, and every employee of the company was required to complete registration.
Zhou Yi immediately led the employees to complete registration one by one.
The sandy stone exterior walls downstairs were now gleaming anew, transformed into a combination of earthen stone structures and metal fences. Each wall had an entrance and exit: one was a fan-shaped metal main door reconstructed from old building materials, and the other was a completely open fire escape at the rear.
The updated perimeter walls had significantly improved in appearance, but their actual effectiveness still needed to be tested.
Zhou Yi grabbed a Bone Fish and threw it at the wall. Midair, it was repelled by a circle of white ripples and was flung to the ground, still writhing and bouncing.
Jade Emerald City emitted a voice that only Zhou Yi could hear: “Private community. Non-owners and non-residents are prohibited from entering. Warning issued once.”
He picked up the Bone Fish and threw it repeatedly. By the third attempt, the intensity of the ripples surged, shattering the Bone Fish into fragments.
Zhou Yi was very satisfied with this.
“Very good. To ensure everyone’s residential safety, we must increase the intensity.”
Red Falcon evaluated as follows.
The destructive power of the access control system had already reached the level of a C-Class weapon.
With the new security system in place, Zhou Yi withdrew the Warrior Crabs, allowing them to roam freely in the nearshore areas.
He explained the situation of the access control system to the employees.
Registered residents (i.e., company employees) bringing people for temporary registration would allow outsiders to enter this one time, but it would be recorded.
This matter made the employees very excited.
Although the Warrior Crab army was effective, the absolute defense of the residence still provided a greater sense of security.
Especially Yuan Tong, the former pirate captain. He wandered around the exterior walls every day, observing everywhere with his remaining right eye, secretly tapping and knocking with a small hammer, trying to understand the underlying principles.
He also suggested: “Chairman, if we can replicate this access control power through Light Printing, it would become a strategic-level weapon! Whether installed on high-rise buildings, nearshore areas, or on ships, it would possess tremendous deterrent power!”
“Is there a way to expand the Light Print from within? Although I don’t know how to make Light Prints, back in the shipyards, replicating Light Prints was part of our craftsmen’s work. As long as we have the original model template, we could find a way to copy it.”
Yuan Tong was very enthusiastic about this and eager to try.
Unfortunately, there was no template.
To perform structural analysis and replication of Light Absorber species, advanced Light Print techniques and the corresponding full set of equipment were required. The Wasteland Development Company was not yet capable of conducting research and development based on Light Absorber species.
The capabilities of the building life had never been heard of being replicated before.
……
However, compared to Jade Emerald City’s new abilities, the above changes were insignificant.
Jade Emerald City’s description of this was very simple.
“After numerous attempts, I have confirmed this ability. I can now consume energy and corresponding materials to expand the body.”
When Zhou Yi first heard this, he was a bit stunned.
He was somewhat uncertain: “Expansion? Does that mean continuing to add more floors?”
“No, committee member. The height limit is fixed at 33 floors; that’s the maximum my body structure can withstand. Expansion is not vertical, but horizontal.”
Jade Emerald City explained: “Jade Emerald City originally has 12 units, including eight high-rise buildings of 33 floors, four mid-rise buildings of 11 floors, and one underground two-level garage. This is the final volume I can expand to.”
“After expansion, each unit will be a part of my body; they are the 12 external extensions of my body.”
“A Jade Emerald City with 12 unit buildings is the true complete form.”
Zhou Yi paused for a moment, then was overjoyed.
If the complete 12-hardened version of Jade Emerald City were laid out, it would be an offensive and defensive coastal fortress. Even if the Seventh Fleet reorganized and attacked, it could face them head-on.
He immediately asked: “What are the raw materials and energy consumption required for expansion?”
“The raw materials are no different from those used in repairs. As long as the quantity is sufficient, and some natural materials can be processed on site, expansion can proceed.”
Jade Emerald City stated: “The energy consumption for expansion is very high, using my body’s energy as a reference. Constructing a mid-rise building consumes about three times the full energy capacity, while constructing a high-rise building consumes about ten times the full energy capacity.”
Zhou Yi did the calculations.
Currently, the three Light Blockers were simultaneously charging. Under the premise of maintaining Jade Emerald City’s main body without energy consumption, they could complete 3% charging per day. Building an 11-floor mid-rise would take 100 days, while constructing a 33-floor elevator high-rise would take nearly a year.
This is assuming that the three chargers operate at full power every day and are not damaged.
Zhou Yi pondered for a moment and immediately decided: “First, expand by one mid-rise building.”
“Yes, committee member.”
After receiving authorization, Jade Emerald City commenced construction in the adjacent open area.
The ground caved in as if melted by high-temperature grease.
Steel bars were pulled from the materials area one by one, orderly entwining with each other, slowly rising like some special plants, forming a framework imbued with geometric beauty.
The surrounding sandy land seemed to be pressed and smoothed by invisible hands, gently undulating and adjusting, forming square trenches. The entire area was enveloped in a faint white light rising from the ground.
Similar to the Information Age, the construction still generated various noises and stirred up large amounts of dust.
In the past, Zhou Yi would walk around construction sites to avoid inhaling a puff of dust.
But in this Wasteland Era, the noisy construction sites gave a sense of vibrant life, bringing about slow but visible changes.
Standing on the rooftop, Zhou Yi looked down at the construction site below, and an idea came to his mind.
He needed to bring more building life.
If gathered together, maybe he could piece together a small city.
Now, more Light Blockers are needed to accelerate construction.
Let the future generations of the Wasteland Era witness the power of real estate!
Zhou Yi immediately took out his diary and wrote down the latest plan.
——Collect and recruit more building life.
He began to miss Qian Su, the weapons supplier.
It’s been a month already. Why hasn’t she come over yet? Could she have been robbed by a marauder gang?
Logically, she had a C-Class strength partner, Mission, along with a container of weapons. Moreover, as a Heavenly Kingdom citizen and honorary knight, there shouldn’t be anyone foolish enough to cause her trouble.
Zhou Yi sincerely hoped that the young businesswoman could travel safely and return here with her cargo.
This time, after her return, he must buy aggressively, take all her stock! Then make her go to restock!
……
Sand Port.
Inside a luxurious restaurant.
The young woman covered her mouth and laughed: “You really know how to joke. My body has been modified so much that I can no longer have children. Although my body looks soft, inside it’s all hard, rigid metal. After taking off my clothes, it’s really scary…”
The plump customer across the table, smoking, shook his head and held his wine glass: “Miss Qian Su, you don’t know. Nowadays, many people prefer high-strength bodies that can be changed into various models. The original fragile and delicate flesh is just too easy to break. Bodies made of prosthetics are the ones that can endure all kinds of pleasures, allowing people to freely hee-hee…”
Qian Su showed a curious expression: “So, Boss Sha has quite a few customers and orders in this area? Is there a chance for an introduction?”
“Easy to say, easy to say. Miss Qian Su, you’re so lovely, everyone must want to know you.”
Boss Sha’s eyes flashed with a hint of cunning: “However, those customers can only be met at specially regulated gatherings, Miss Qian Su. Can a noble Heavenly Kingdom citizen like you accept that?”
Qian Su cursed inwardly.
She smiled and poured a glass of wine for the other party: “Sounds like a highly confidential private place. I’m too clumsy. Sometimes my brain isn’t very sharp, and I just know how to work hard to deliver goods. Small-scale business is my destiny.”
“Sorry.”
Qian Su lowered her head and turned her face aside, covering her mouth as she sneezed.
Two in a row.
The indoor air was indeed not very good, with the mixed smells of smoke, alcohol, bad breath, sweat, various fragrances, and food. But she had long been accustomed to this environment.
Is someone talking about her?
Probably not.
After all, her own family had long since perished.
Qian Su pulled back her thoughts and resumed her gentle, spring-like smile.
“Come, Boss Sha, another glass. This Bamboo Wine from Liangshan is only appreciated by connoisseurs like you.”
“Hahaha, indeed a good wine. I’ll buy a few bottles later.”
Chapter 51 Winter is Coming <TOC> Chapter 53 We Are Not Beggars