Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Apache armed helicopter that urgently came to Stanford to transport Steven’s team to Shrimp World No. 2 was a new generation Apache-S01 armed helicopter that the US Navy and Army had just acquired in August last year.
As a follow-up model of the previous generation of the main attack AH-64 ‘Apache’, with the same amount of weapon load as the previous generation, S01 had an additional transport cabin that could load six to eight people. Not only that, its range had increased to 3,800 kilometers from its original 1,000 kilometers.
Being able to achieve such essential improvement in terms of carrying capacity and cruise control with a modification of less than 30% on the overall design, the reason stated by the official response of the US military and the helicopter manufacturer was that it was derived from the use of a new type of engine.
However, rumors stated that the Apache-S01 helicopter power transmission was entirely derived from the use of a new ‘lightweight material’. Along with the ‘S’ in the new serial number ‘S01’, the new generation of Apache used turned out to coincide with the first letter of ‘shrimp’, it easily roused suspicion from the public.
Based on this, it was suspected that the US might have already begun to reap the technological leap obtained in the collision of civilizations the exploration in the foreign world brought.
Zhang Lisheng had read about this information online, so he could not help but touch the metal wall of the cabin when he climbed into the narrow cabin of the helicopter. However, he continued to keep mumbling to himself instead.
After placing the metal box full of ’01 mixed reagents’ by his feet, he leaned against the corners of the seat in the cabin and asked, “Major Martin, are we flying straight to Shrimp World No. 2?”
“Oh yes, Sir! We’re flying straight to Shrimp B1 Island on this voyage.” Martin, who was sitting opposite the young man, looked at him and nodded.
While the Major was speaking, the Apache helicopter began to slowly take off, rising in a tilted manner as it greeted the dazzling sunlight and flew away.
“Major Martin, this is my lab assistant and ‘collaborator’, who is also my graduate student Zhang Lisheng. He’s also a talented biologist.” Noticing the curiosity in the officer’s eyes, Steven said.
“Oh, nice to meet you, Mr. Zhang Lisheng.”
“Nice to meet you too, Major. Thank you for giving me a bad answer just now. I mean, for letting me know that we’ll have to stay in this small cabin for ten hours.” Zhang Lisheng looked out at the vast ocean of clouds outside of the cabin window that was as small as a lunch box as he casually replied.
Martin could see that this young man who spoke so casually seemed to have a very special status in front of Professor Steven, so this would usually mean he had some background. For this reason, he smiled apologetically. “Sorry, Mr. Lisheng. I also want to invite you, Professor Steven and Dr. Shalin to take a first-class flight to New York in American Airlines and have a good rest before changing to a cruise to go to the island in the foreign world with the sea breeze blowing in a relaxed manner. However, the current situation is just too…”
“I thought there were five large battleships guarding the gathering place? Besides, even though Shrimp World No. 2 has an area of more than 30,000 square kilometers. Judging from the bartering of the aborigines, it should not be a narrow terrain. Instead, its species distribution was uniform. By right, even if there is an animal migration, it should not have been too obvious. What kind of special situation was there that actually made everyone panic?”
Zhang Lisheng’s question made Martin dumbstruck right away. He studied the young man before asking in reply, “Sir, it sounds as though you know Shrimp World No. 2 better than I do. Have you been there before?”
“I’ve been there once with the identity of ‘future investor’. It’s a beautiful island, and of course, it’s dangerous as well. As a biologist cum entrepreneur, a short visit of two hours was enough to leave a deep impression on me.”
“The fact that you can actually understand so much in two hours is really amazing.”
“Major, I think it’s more surprising that there were still a few hundreds of ‘new cowboys’, who went on the same cruise as I to Shrimp B1 Island. They were still willing to remain there after learning about the situation there for two hours.”
“Oh, Mr. Lisheng. They have started to feel the aftertaste and have become panicked already.” The major shrugged and cleverly answered the young man’s question. After that, he no longer said anything else.
When Zhang Lisheng saw how the officer had chosen to evade his question, he no longer asked anything and merely concealed his presence in the corner of the helicopter cabin before shutting his eyes to attain mental composure.
Not long after, the gentle voice of a lady awakened him. “Lisheng, Lisheng. It’s time to eat.”
The young man opened his eyes and saw Shalin standing in front of him with a bag of biscuits and a canned soft drink in her hands.
“Oh, thank you, Dr. Shalin.” Zhang Lisheng took the food, tore the bag, and stuffed the biscuits into his mouth. “Major Martin, do you have iced Coke on the plane?”
“Sorry Mr. Lisheng, the carrying capacity of this helicopter has reached the extent that it is ‘theoretically feasible’. We really can’t install a refrigerator for you,” Martin replied, not knowing whether to smile or to cry.
“That’s unfortunate.” Zhang Lisheng put the last biscuit into his mouth and looked at the sky outside the window. “Major, it should be afternoon now, how many hours have we been flying?”
“We’re about halfway through the journey now…” Martin finally noticed Zhang Lisheng’s shocking eating manner. “The hell? Mr. Lisheng, y-you’re eating military food. These biscuits have a calorie of…”
“Major, other than a biologist and a businessman, I’m a martial artist on top of that. A warrior like us who uses a secret technique to train our body and temper our consciousness so we can have an outburst of power beyond ordinary people’s imagination in a time of battle has extraordinary energy consumption. If we’re trained to the depth, let alone a few military foods, we can even swallow an entire pig! By the way, do you still have more of these biscuits?”
“Biscuits? Biscuits? Yeah of course!” Martin pulled open the material reserve box connected to the seat he was sitting on and took out a few bags of biscuits before throwing them to Zhang Lisheng. “Just take as many you want.”
“Thank you. It’s enough already. I’m not yet a master who can eat a whole cow.” Zhang Lisheng tore open the bag and ate four to five bags of biscuits before continuing to shut his eyes to attain mental composure.
Time continued to pass by in a hasty manner. In just a blink of an eye, the helicopter was now hovering over the sea of New York. The evening was approaching and the Apache finally passed through the sea that had a distorted space.
Wanting to successfully command the wizard gu to cross between the two worlds, the wizard gu must be within sight of the wizard. After Zhang Lisheng crossed into the foreign world, his perception with the wyrm dragon and lizard he left in the human world was cut off. However, it was a good thing he could still cast a spell.
At this time, the young man woke up by himself and looked at the dimly lit sunset outside the window with a blank expression. “We should be arriving at Shrimp B1 Island very soon.”
“That’s right, Mr. Lisheng. You have a sharp intuition. We’ll arrive at our destination in 30 minutes at most.” Martin nodded.
Zhang Lisheng remained silent and did not say anything as he listened to the “du du du du…” sound of the helicopter, all the way until the Apache flew over the natural harbor of the foreign world’s island, leaving the five warships behind. It then landed on the bustling human gathering place.
After more than three months of development, the gathering place on the west side of Shrimp B1 Island that had been opened to the public for a long time had been expanded by at least four to five times again.
With a rough glance from the sky from above, it looked exactly the same as an old city, with a population of at least 20,000 as calculated by the US.
Commercial areas, industrial areas, residential areas, and other areas with different functions had divided the land. From the layout, it looked like a thriving scene.
However, if one looked closely at the horrified faces of pedestrians walking on the medieval-like streets, one could notice the fearful atmosphere that had shrouded the entire gathering place.
After leaving the plane and taking a breath of fresh air from the foreign world, Zhang Lisheng looked at the indigenous midgets scattered all over noisily and muttered to himself, “The development of this gathering place is indeed fast! To think that a huge chunk of the jungle has already been consumed in just slightly over three months…”
“Not only that, the construction of satellite towns around the gathering place has already been put on the agenda. If it wasn’t for this unexpected incident, the first phase of the project may have already been carried out.” Martin smiled and turned his attention to Professor Steven. “Professor, General Rowling, and the other experts are already waiting for you.”
“We’ll go right now. Please lead the way, Major…” Staring at the various strange creatures in the hands of the foreign world’s midgets, Steven suppressed the ecstasy in his heart forcefully. “Oh yeah! I have a small request! Can you please gather every sample of all of the foreign world’s creatures in this gathering place for me? If the military wants an answer, they must give us scientists enough materials. After that meeting with General Rowling, I need to go to look at the lab you have prepared for us immediately. If there’s any lack of instrument, you can ship it from my lab at Stanford. I want to start working as soon as possible.”
“Professor, I’ll immediately convey your request to my superiors as soon as possible. There should be no problem with this. As for the second request, I’ll do it right away only after you’ve seen the General. Please follow me.” Martin nodded and led the three of them along the crowded streets of the foreign world’s city and finally walked into a square concrete room that had the flag of the National Emblem of the USA, ‘the White-headed Eagle’ on the door beam.
Several non-commissioned officers were on duty in the empty room with only one desk and a computer. When they saw Martin walking in, they quickly saluted and greeted him. “Good day, sir!”
“I was ordered to bring the biologist Professor Steven and his assistants from Stanford. The general is waiting to see him now.” Martin returned the salute and took out a document from his pocket to the staff sergeant responsible for the safety of the bunker exit here.
After the tall big black officer took the order and had a good look at it, he verified it on the computer before canceling the order. Then, he recycled the paper order with a shredder in front of Martin. “Professor Steven, welcome to Shrimp B1 Island. You can go in to see the General now.” He greeted as he pressed the knob that activated the bunker entrance hidden under the office desk.
