Chapter 130.1: Ota Company’s Assets
Before acquiring Moon Silk Star weaponry, [Ota Company] had always maintained an aloof, high-and-mighty attitude.
Of course, that was merely how it appeared from the outside.
Since [Ota Company] had dealt with the mutated giant python, no one had questioned them over it.
After all, it was perfectly reasonable for a major power that had been dormant for more than a hundred years to focus on getting its own internal affairs in order after awakening.
Besides, among the Moon Silk Star people’s stereotypical impression of [Companies] was the idea that ‘as long as it wasn’t something major, they tended to handle things rather slowly.’
In reality, the residents of Blue Sea were so busy they were practically flying. Under the arrangements made for them, they were building houses and factory districts, with everyone working as construction workers.
Then there were the Research Department and Replication Department. If they hadn’t been forcibly required to sleep, everyone there would practically have wanted to evolve away the need for sleep altogether.
One had to remember that Blue Sea had obtained quite a few wrecks of unknown civilizations’ spacecraft back when it was in the greater universe.
Now that they had also acquired all kinds of high-tech weapons, some of them naturally had to be sent to the Research Department and Replication Department, while others would, of course, be distributed for the residents to use.
——Ever since the Green Billow Star native, Yuan Moshu, joined Blue Sea, he had always thought that his daily life was already shocking enough.
After smoothly becoming a believer of the Great Blue Sea Creator God, he had been living in the inner city ever since.
Blue Sea had skyscrapers and elevated roads. As long as one was willing to work, there was always enough food. There were also TV shows to watch, and every now and then, he could even bring himself to spend some points and go to the cinema to watch a movie.
After nearly half a year in Blue Sea, Yuan Moshu had become thoroughly familiar with every work procedure. He had also accumulated plenty of experience hauling bricks and, just like all the residents who had joined Blue Sea later, had fallen in love with the life of hauling bricks in the apocalypse.
Honestly, living in Blue Sea every day had nearly made Yuan Moshu forget that the outside world was an apocalyptic wasteland.
He felt that Blue Sea’s wonderful life had already reached the absolute ceiling of what he could imagine.
And yet Blue Sea could not only break through that ceiling—it could shoot straight above the clouds.
——Yuan Moshu received a text message that the Central AI had sent simultaneously to all residents of the inner city.
[You have automatically been assigned a reservation for Training Ground No. 1567. Please keep track of your queue number and scheduled time. The system will automatically send you a reminder one day in advance.]
When the text message arrived, Yuan Moshu had just conscientiously finished a full day’s work hauling bricks. He found a bench to sit on and planned to browse the Blue Sea Forum for a while.
After becoming a believer, he was no longer subject to the language barrier, but he still had to learn Blue Sea’s written language. After nearly half a year of studying, he had more or less mastered the basics. These days, his favorite thing to do was browse the forum.
What people discussed on the Blue Sea Forum wasn’t important. What mattered was that there were hundreds of millions of people on it.
Sometimes, Yuan Moshu would open the forum without participating in any discussions. He would simply watch people talking about ‘what to eat’, publicly challenging each other to duels, or asking for ‘interior decorating advice’. Every time, a feeling of security would rise inside him like a spring that just wouldn’t stop flowing.
It was an instinctive longing to be surrounded by one’s fellow human beings, something shared by those who had lived in an apocalyptic environment for a long time.
Having so many residents gathered online had another advantage. Whenever Yuan Moshu was confused about something, he could open the forum and be practically guaranteed to find that someone had already made a post about it, with a whole crowd enthusiastically discussing the matter.
This time was no different.
The moment he received the text message, several new posts popped up after he refreshed the page, with titles like:
[Did you guys get the Training Ground reservation text? What number did you get?]
Yuan Moshu clicked on one of them and only then learned that Blue Sea had obtained a large number of high-tech weapons from Moon Silk Star and had specifically opened training grounds so that residents could learn how to use this type of weaponry.
In fact, similar tutorials had already existed before.
The difference was that the previous ones had been video breakdowns and instructional guides. Now, residents would actually get to handle the weapons themselves.
One could imagine what an enormous amount of work an undertaking like this required. But by doing this, Blue Sea could ensure that residents venturing outside knew how to avoid these weapons—and, if they obtained such weapons themselves, how to put them to use.
They were doing everything they could to increase the residents’ chances of surviving on Moon Silk Star.
Yuan Moshu’s heart surged with emotion. It was difficult to put into words exactly what he was feeling at that moment.
Even though he had been a Blue Sea resident for nearly half a year, he still couldn’t help getting worked up. There was only one sentence repeatedly drifting through his mind:
——Dangkong!! I’m so grateful you mentioned me back then!!
If Yao Dangkong hadn’t told Blue Sea about the existence of the Inkshadow and him back then,
Yuan Moshu would probably still be drifting around on Green Billow Star.
He might be drifting around alive, or he might be drifting around dead. Either way, he certainly wouldn’t be enjoying the wonderful life he had now, where the “government” practically put food right into his mouth.
Thank you, my god!
Thank you, Dangkong!
Thank you to all the Blue Sea people who came looking for him back then!
Yuan Moshu felt almost as if he were standing on an awards podium. He sincerely went through a whole round of gratitude in his heart, then, taking advantage of his break, opened the ‘Moon Silk Star Weapon Usage Video Tutorial’ he had received earlier and began reviewing it carefully.
All the residents of Blue Sea’s Inner City would have to undergo hands-on training, so naturally, he wanted to prepare in advance. He wanted to waste as little time as possible during his own practical training, so that the person after him wouldn’t have to wait too long.
To be honest, when Yuan Moshu had first entered the city, he had planned to stay inside for the rest of his life, earning enough living points through work to get by.
After all, he had handed over the super-fast engine device from his original ship to the Equipment Department and received a large sum of points in return, so he could live quite comfortably in Blue Sea.
But now, after living in Blue Sea for nearly half a year, Yuan Moshu’s thinking had gradually begun to change.
No matter how secure things were inside Blue Sea Safe City, the outside world was still an apocalypse.
Every mouthful of food he ate inside the Safe City came from Blue Sea’s stored supplies.
He was young and strong, with perfectly good arms and legs. He wasn’t lacking in combat experience, either. So why should he stay inside and consume the city’s reserves?
If everyone were like him, how could Blue Sea continue to prosper?
“Above me is my god. Blue Sea shall endure forever.”
Yuan Moshu murmured the words to himself, and his heart grew increasingly peaceful and resolute.
As he carefully reviewed the weapon tutorials in the video, Yuan Moshu also began making plans. He had heard that before long, applications would open for “Ota Company employee positions.” Those who were accepted would be able to interact and communicate with the natives of the Broken River Wasteland as company employees.
Once he passed the practical combat training, he would sign up.
Sure, it would be dangerous, but at least whenever he encountered danger, as long as he didn’t die, he could use it to improve his combat strength.
Thinking about it, Yuan Moshu couldn’t help smiling, and he began itching to get into action. He paused the video and first sent a text to his friend Jinfan Gang.
[Want to go have some fun at the dueling arena after work tonight?]
After sending the message, he felt content and happily resumed watching the video and studying.
…
Cheng Qisheng had merely been making her usual rounds of the various construction sites, checking on the progress of the work. But when her mental power swept over Yuan Moshu’s head, the faith chain transmitted the new believer’s overflowing desire for battle.
The Great Blue Sea Creator God had to admit that one’s environment really could influence a person.
Based on her observations, most of the believers who had joined Blue Sea later, regardless of which civilization they came from, would gradually fall in love with fighting after spending enough time around the Old Eighths.
Naturally, there were also people whose physical condition or age made them unsuited for combat.
But in Blue Sea, they had their own paths to follow.
…
——Inside a small factory in the inner city, the Velvet Star native Zhang Luying was working diligently.
She was fairly old, the sort of age at which other Safe Cities absolutely wouldn’t accept a resident. Because of that, Zhang Luying cherished her life in Blue Sea all the more.
Although her life consisted of going back and forth between the same three places, and her “salary” was barely enough to cover her living expenses, she was already extremely satisfied.
This was the apocalypse, after all.
In an apocalypse, an elderly person being able to support herself by working in a factory was proof enough of just how good the environment in Blue Sea was.
Zhang Luying was in the middle of working when the group leader suddenly hurried over. Her face was filled with pure delight.
“Old Zhang! I’ve got some good news! Back when you were on Velvet Star, you were a code-breaking expert, right?!”
Zhang Luying stopped what she was doing. She had a vague idea of what this might be, and her heart couldn’t help but begin pounding faster.
“Yes. I’m a PhD in cryptography, specializing in handling complex algorithms.”
“That’s fantastic!”
The group leader was a young Blue Sea resident who was always bustling about. At this moment, she grabbed Zhang Luying by the arm, looking absolutely thrilled on her behalf.
“They’re desperately short of experts in this field right now! The government sent someone over, Old Zhang! You’re getting a new job!”
Even though she had already suspected as much, actually hearing those words from the group leader still left Zhang Luying trembling slightly from head to toe.
The apocalypse had rendered many professions useless. After all, when people could barely secure enough food and basic necessities, and most of the post-apocalyptic world lay in ruins, a cryptography expert like her naturally had little opportunity to put her expertise to use.
She had never imagined that she would have the chance to return to her profession again.
Zhang Luying spent the entire time in a daze. Fortunately, the group leader was extremely enthusiastic. She helped Zhang Luying pack up her belongings, then led her to the factory manager’s office.
Sure enough, a group of people was waiting there. At the same time, more than a dozen elderly experts from various civilizations and fields gradually arrived as well.
Ever since the destruction of the Dark Star, Blue Sea had spent a long time concentrating its resources and talent on one priority: “storing as much food as possible.”
But the government had actually kept records of talented people whose expertise couldn’t be put to much use under those circumstances. Even during the most difficult times, it had arranged suitable jobs for them.
That allowed these experts who made their living through their intellect to wait until this very day.
Within Blue Sea Safe City, experts in theoretical physics, mathematics, materials science, energy systems, electronics, and other fields relevant to researching weapons and extraterrestrial spacecraft… regardless of whether they lived in the Inner or Outer City, had all been gathered together.
Every day, they buried themselves in research.
Their efforts had not only produced new weapons, but had also given humanity far greater strength on Moon Silk Star.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that if Blue Sea could master this weapon technology, it would be equivalent to the entire Blue Sea civilization advancing an entire tier up its technological tree.
Now that Blue Sea Safe City had obtained three-fifths of the Broken River Wasteland along with a large number of weapons, whatever it did from this point onward would be a case of “anything gained is pure profit.”
Even if Blue Sea were to leave this world immediately, it would still be walking away with an enormous haul.
Of course, just as the Old Eighths of the prehistoric era wouldn’t stop after taking down a moose, but would also go after the black bear next door…
The Old Eighths of today weren’t going to be satisfied with this alone, either.
“It’s not enough to gather experts from among our own residents. If there are talented people on Moon Silk Star, we should bring back as many as we can. After all, this is their native technology. With Moon Silk Star experts assisting us, even if their specialties don’t exactly match the fields we’re working on, our progress will definitely be much faster than it is now.”
At the meeting, the director of the Science and Technology Security Bureau was practically glowing with satisfaction.
A huge number of experts were now at the Security Bureau’s disposal, and the entire Blue Sea’s energy resources had been made available to the Bureau.
She had never fought such a well-funded battle in her life!
President Qin Zhi, who was sitting at the same conference table, immediately gave her support.
“No problem. I’ll issue an order instructing our residents to bring back as many Moon Silk Star experts as possible whenever they’re operating outside.”
“Additionally, we need large quantities of local mineral resources from Moon Silk Star.”
The Minister of Natural Resources nodded. “That’s doable. Have your people draw up a list, and we’ll immediately arrange for people to start mining.”
Marshal Alice of the military also spoke up:
“I’ll personally lead a team out. We’ll clear out most of the threats posed by mutated beasts and mutated plants across the Broken River Wasteland as quickly as possible, so that all the departments can carry out their work smoothly.”
The moment she said this, all the Blue Sea high-ranking officials present—including President Qin Zhi—cast Marshal Alice an envious look.
It was great working in the military.
If you wanted to fight, you could personally take to the battlefield whenever you wanted.
Unlike them, who could only stretch their muscles a little in the dueling arena or the holographic training grounds.
Although they were envious of the military, the high-ranking officials present weren’t discouraged.
They knew that what they were doing was equally important in making Blue Sea better and strengthening Blue Sea as a whole.
Look, the blessings of their god were bestowed upon everyone present.
And indeed, after watching the Blue Sea’s senior officials rack their brains over their plans, Cheng Qisheng had given them all a little head pat.
The group of high-ranking officials who had just been seriously planning Blue Sea’s future with their most dignified “adult” expressions immediately became like children receiving a kiss from their mother after receiving the blessing. Even the faith chain couldn’t help but ripple with happiness.
“Our God! We are so grateful to you!”
After expressing their gratitude for their god’s blessing, the high-ranking officials felt completely satisfied. It was as though they had been recharged, and they enthusiastically continued discussing the finer details for another two hours.
Only after all the plans had been finalized did Qin Zhi stand up and look around at everyone.
“Well, since no one has any objections…”
“I hereby announce that the Reconquest of Broken River mission officially begins.”
