In the Tiangong City industrial zone, the endless stream of industrial-manufactured products shuttled back and forth on a dedicated conveyor belt.
This was the heart of the Pan-Asian Cooperation’s Mars colony and the stomach of the entire Pan-Asian Cooperation. From the chopsticks on the dining table of Pan-Asian citizens to the gun barrels of the First Fleet, all of the consumables that people could think of were produced here.
Because the three-dimensional conveyor belts and pipelines almost filled up the entire space, the factories and production workshops were closely arranged like cells, making this place the most intricate terrain in the entire Tiangong City.
Because of this layout that maximized efficiency, many tourists ridiculed it as a super factory portrayed in a dystopian world.
It was as if every piece of dust sent here would be processed into what people wanted.
In this densely arranged factory matrix, the most eye-catching area was undoubtedly the production park of East Asia Heavy Industries.
The entire park was located in the center of the industrial zone. Almost 80% of the traffic connections and arterial roads in the entire industrial zone were directly or indirectly related to it.
As a result, there had been rumors circulating in the industry that although East Asia Heavy Industries did not produce most goods, if East Asia Heavy Industries did not exist, people in Tiangong City wouldn’t have any goods.
As the general manager of the entire East Asia Heavy Industries park, Zhao Ruicheng was undoubtedly a man standing at the top of the entire Mars industrial chain. The people he came into contact with every day were either celebrities or the dignitaries of this generation.
It was basically impossible for ordinary people to see him without a referral, and he did not bother to meet small businessmen in person.
For example, Mr. Gladstone, the manager of the Alpha Centauri Colonial Exploration Foundation, undoubtedly fitted the classification of “small businessman”.
Almost five years had passed since he was sent from the headquarters to the Mars colony. Over these five years, he had never heard of a North Sea Alliance merchant named Gladstone.
Even though the colonial foundation was indeed gaining momentum recently, it didn’t change Zhao Ruicheng’s opinion.
After all, as the leader in managing the core production base of East Asia Heavy Industries, no one knew better than him of how far away the warp drive was from civilian use…
“Warp drive?”
Looking at the man with a large nose, who was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, in front of him, Zhao Ruicheng frowned and said in a rather impatient tone, “Sorry, the specific design blueprint of the warp drive is still with Academician Lu. We have only obtained a preliminary design plan and some requirements for the transformation of the production line. Before fully digesting this technology, we have no plans to bring it to market, nor has Academician Lu instructed us to do so.”
After hearing the news, Gladstone was slightly stunned. With an unexpected expression on his face, he said in a tone of disbelief, “What you have… Are you sure it’s just the design plan?”
“Yes… Why are you asking about this?” Zhao Ruicheng’s eyes suddenly became alert. He looked at the guy from top to bottom, and his eyes narrowed slightly. “Here’s the situation, we can’t make a warp drive. You either go to Academician Lu or go home.”
Gladstone showed an embarrassed smile on his face as he made an apologetic gesture with his hands.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you, I just heard rumors in this regard.”
“Rumors?” Zhao Ruicheng smiled coldly. He raised his chin slightly and said, “I’ve heard more rumors. For example, a certain company sold 100,000 fake tickets based on ‘rumors’, trying to use the name of Academician Lu to deceive the public.”
“You can look down on my dreams, but you can’t insult my morals, Manager Zhao. I will use my actions to prove that the tickets to Alpha Centauri are not fake.”
Zhao Ruicheng glanced at him blankly and gently smirked.
“Then I wish you good luck.”
After leaving Zhao Ruicheng’s office, Gladstone, accompanied by his secretary and security, left the industrial park of East Asia Heavy Industries.
When he looked back at the closed door, his eyebrows gradually furrowed.
“The blueprint hasn’t been sent to the factory? How can this be…”
After muttering a few words to himself, Gladstone reached out his index finger and tapped lightly on his left wrist. A video interface that could only be seen with his AR glasses appeared. He opened the address book and dialed a number.
Soon, the phone call connected.
The man who appeared in the video window was none other than Xiao Hong, the mayor of Tiangong City.
Looking at the camera, Mayor Xiao said in a pleasant tone, “How is it? Did you meet Zhao Ruicheng?”
“There was a problem with the intel; the blueprint was not sent here at all.”
After hearing these words, Mayor Xiao paused for a second. He frowned and asked, “Did Zhao Ruicheng say is it not here, or is it actually not here?”
“He didn’t look like he was lying, but to be on the safe side, I will send someone to confirm.”
“This would be best. I will also arrange for someone to visit Academician Lu.” Mayor Xiao nodded. After pondering for a while, he said, “If he has the designs, if necessary, we can consider another solution.”
“So you’re saying…”
Mayor Xiao did not speak but answered the question with his eyes.
A smile appeared on Gladstone’s face as he said softly, “I understand.”
…
After coming out of the Security Bureau stronghold, Wang Peng tried to contact Lu Zhou. However, no matter how many times he called, the only voice that echoed in his ear was “caller not in service area”.
Feeling that something might be wrong, Wang Peng immediately rushed to the Star Sky Hotel where Lu Zhou was staying.
Just as he was walking to the elevator door, he suddenly saw a familiar face, so he quickly grabbed the man and asked, “Hello, do you know where Academician Lu is?”
Looking at the stranger, Wu Qinglai’s face was filled with a dazed expression.
“You… are looking for Academician Lu?”
“Yes.” Wang Peng nodded, seemingly worried that this guy would not take him seriously, so he immediately opened the holographic screen and took out his electronic security ID, placed it in front of Professor Wu Qinglai, and then said seriously, “It’s very important. I hope you can cooperate with my work.”
Although he didn’t know what the ID of a security agent would look like, the security code on the certificate of a public official couldn’t be falsified.
When Wu Qinglai realized that an agent of the Security Bureau was asking him questions, he suddenly gulped nervously and continued, “I ate lunch with him. I remember he went back to the room after eating. Oh, yes, he sent me a message before, saying that if someone in the afternoon meeting asks me where he went, I should just tell them that he is not feeling well.”
Wang Peng: “Are you sure he didn’t come out of the room?”
“How can I be sure of this?” Professor Wu Qinglai said with an anxious look on his face. He gave a bitter smile as he continued, “Would you like to ask the front desk? You are from the… You should be able to get the security tapes, right?”
The elevator arrived at this moment.
Wang Peng no longer cared about this guy. He left Wu Qinglai behind him and quickly walked into the elevator before pressing a floor number.
When the elevator door was about to close, Wu Qinglai wanted to get inside, but seeing this guy who seemed to be “annoyed and angry”, he hesitated and didn’t end up going into the elevator.
Instead, he quietly turned on the holographic screen of his personal terminal and sent a short message to Lu Zhou.
Regardless of whether he is a real Security Bureau agent or not, this situation doesn’t seem right.
The elevator went all the way up and quickly reached the destination.
Wang Peng walked to the door of Lu Zhou’s room and reached out to press the doorbell.
The doorbell rang for a long time, but there was no response behind the door.
Frowning slightly, Wang Peng took out a card from his pocket and swiped it gently on the door.
“Urgent situation, sorry, brother.”
If he saw something that he shouldn’t, he would sincerely apologize to Lu Zhou. Compared to those insignificant things, he cared more about Lu Zhou’s safety.
After a beep, the door opened quickly, but the room was empty.
Obviously, Academician Lu was not here.
Did he go outside?
Wang Peng was about to close the door and look elsewhere, but a strange feeling suddenly rose from his heart.
Wait, no…
He locked his gaze on the upside-down suitcase.
He then placed his hand near his weapon and looked around vigilantly.
“This place was searched…”
Someone came here before me!
They searched Academician Lu’s room!
Realizing this, Wang Peng’s face was filled with confusion as he clenched his right fist.
“These bastards can go to hell…”
There is evidence that someone has kidnapped Lu Zhou!
But who could it be?
People from the foundation?
Wang Peng suddenly remembered what the intelligence worker lurking in Tiangong City said to him.
“Flight N-177 may be related to Martian authorities…”
Wang Peng thought about this sentence repeatedly, and he gradually began to connect the dots.
He was flabbergasted!
“Mayor Xiao is a member of the foundation! How could this be… No, it seems that there is only one explanation.”
If this was the case, then all the clues he had could be connected.
The plane crash a year ago was not a terrorist attack but a carefully planned murder!
Mayor Xiao is probably like Song Yangwei, who was bought out by someone from The Spirit of The Universe Foundation, or he is a foundation member himself. Because of some unspeakable secret, they’re trying to kill Lu Zhou at all costs, even though a century has passed…
Wang Peng didn’t know what all of this was for. He didn’t know what kind of obsession made the foundation members so committed even after a century. Nor did he know why they targeted Lu Zhou.
At this moment, there was only one thing he was looking for.
“If they want to hurt him…”
A cruel smile gradually appeared on the corner of his mouth as his dark pupils flashed with rage.
“Then they’ll have to do it over my dead body!”
This was neither his job nor an obligation as a Security Agency agent.
This was his life mission from 100 years ago…
