Chapter 108: The Military's Sincerity

Zhu Lan did not lead the others any further, and Xu Dezheng said nothing in response.

Zhu Lan took Xu Dezheng and Luo Guoqiang to a lounge within the Azure Base, while the others were told by Xu Dezheng to look around freely. Zhu Lan did not object and instructed the Queen to grant access permissions, though these were limited—certain information remained off-limits. Xu Dezheng accepted this without protest.

“Zhu Lan, you truly surprise me. I thought there was nothing you could do to astonish me, especially since Little Luo assured me repeatedly!”

Zhu Lan was taken aback. Little Luo? Could he be referring to Luo Guoqiang?

Turning to look, he saw Luo Guoqiang offering a wry smile.

“Little Luo, you really had no idea?”

Luo Guoqiang shook his head helplessly. “Commander, I honestly knew nothing. Zhu Lan built this base without me being aware of a thing!”

Xu Dezheng nodded, still trusting his protégé.

“Zhu Lan, can you explain now?”

Zhu Lan sighed in resignation. “At first, it was nothing much. When the matter of the genetic serum came up, I just wanted to place it somewhere discreet. Later, the development of model robots made me think of the underground research facility’s existence. Coupled with the three mountains the state granted me, I considered building an underground lab.”

“What about the earth?”

Zhu Lan gestured around. “It was all used for construction. There was so much soil, and with the reinforcements, the place just kept expanding.”

“Later, I purchased enough materials from abroad to successfully upgrade the original intelligent assistance system into an intelligent computer. With its help, the research center became a base. Even I wasn’t aware of that at the time. I wasn’t involved internally, and I only instructed the Queen to build a suitable research center. I never expected she would actually build a full base.”

“Queen? Queen? Zhu Lan, could it be...?”

Zhu Lan nodded wearily. “Influenced by Resident Evil, the Queen actually has a certain degree of learning capability. The Azure Base is somewhat like a hive!”

“No way?” Xu Dezheng frowned deeply. He understood what a hive implied.

Zhu Lan nodded again.

“Wait, Zhu Lan. What kind of energy source does your base use?” Luo Guoqiang suddenly wondered. If fantasy technology showed no anomalies, how was the energy problem solved?

Xu Dezheng became interested as well. If fantasy technology’s electricity were disappearing in large quantities without explanation, it would surely have been noticed. The base they toured was vast and consumed a large amount of power, so it couldn't have gone unnoticed. The only possibility was that the base used its own energy system rather than an external power grid.

Zhu Lan shook his head helplessly. “The energy comes from the latest energy system, but it’s unstable. I placed it deep within the base. It’s basically a ticking bomb, and it gives me quite a headache.”

“What kind of energy?” Luo Guoqiang pressed.

Zhu Lan looked at him. “It’s not unfamiliar. You might know it—the arc reactor technology.”

“Arc reactor?”

Luo Guoqiang frowned, then recalled something. “Like in those American movies? Impossible—that’s fictional technology, it can’t exist!”

Xu Dezheng didn’t oppose but appeared thoughtful.

Zhu Lan shook his head. “No, Commander Luo, you’re wrong. Many fictional technologies do exist; it’s just that we haven’t been able to develop them yet. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Through my research, I successfully transformed palladium to form a kind of arc reactor like in the movies. But due to technical issues, it’s extremely unstable. I had to build walls over ten meters thick to isolate the reactor.”

“Arc reactor?” Luo Guoqiang remained skeptical.

“I’ll show you!” Zhu Lan naturally knew that without seeing it, no one would believe.

“Queen, come out and open the video of the energy center!”

The Queen’s virtual avatar appeared, nodding to Zhu Lan. A holographic interface projected before Xu Dezheng and Luo Guoqiang.

When they saw the footage, both were captivated.

A reactor the size of a room shimmered with blue light, looking incredibly beautiful.

“This is the arc reactor?”

Zhu Lan nodded.

“Is it possible to miniaturize it like in the movies?”

Zhu Lan shook his head helplessly. “Theoretically yes, but practically there are huge technical challenges. This is like nuclear power—a large nuclear facility is feasible for many countries, but miniaturization? Even the U.S. likely can’t achieve that yet.”

Luo Guoqiang sighed helplessly; nuclear miniaturization had long been a problem troubling many. It might take a century or two to realize.

The main obstacles lay in materials and radiation.

“Zhu Lan, tell me, how much would it cost to build such an arc reactor?”

Zhu Lan looked at Xu Dezheng and shook his head. “General Xu, I know what you’re implying, but I don’t support building it. The cost is astronomical, and it’s extremely dangerous. Without stabilizing it first, what we’d build is essentially a large bomb.”

Xu Dezheng said nothing but stared at the arc reactor on the screen, lost in thought.

After the video ended, Xu Dezheng remained contemplative.

“Zhu Lan, it seems you’ve already got us in check, haven’t you?” Luo Guoqiang mused, shaking his head helplessly.

Zhu Lan looked puzzled.

“The War Club matter—there was no approval from above. You lied to me, but now it seems you had us all figured out!”

Xu Dezheng was surprised; Luo Guoqiang had never mentioned this.

Turning to Zhu Lan, he smiled wryly and shook his head.

“Commander Luo, don’t say that. There’s no absolute certainty in this world; it’s just that the stakes weren’t high enough.”

“Zhu Lan, that’s well said. You must have figured it all out!”

“General Xu, you flatter me.”

“Enough. I’ll make the call on this. The War Club can proceed, but...”

Zhu Lan’s face lit up. “General Xu, please, speak your mind!”

Xu Dezheng smiled. “Your research projects require military participation. You understand, these studies are important to us as well.”

Zhu Lan was momentarily stunned—not by the military’s involvement, but by their goodwill. He had prepared for the government to seize the technology; now, they proposed joint research.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

Zhu Lan shook his head, “Just a bit surprised.”

Xu Dezheng understood immediately.

“Do you think of us as schemers? Our military isn’t as devious as the government officials. Rest assured.”

“General Xu, you’re right—I was overthinking.”

The general said nothing more. He was aware of the situation with fantasy technology and understood Zhu Lan’s concerns.

“If that’s the case, no problem at all. General Xu, you’re helping me! Why would I refuse?”

Xu Dezheng chuckled, pointing at Zhu Lan. “Any grudges now?”

“Grudges? Me? Never!” Zhu Lan protested with an innocent look.

Zhu Lan’s act was so transparent that Luo Guoqiang couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“Alright, just rest easy. I’ll shield you from the higher-ups.”

“Thank you, General Xu, for your trust. I’m truly grateful.”

“You’re just a monkey!” Xu Dezheng joked.

“Just focus on your work. The past is behind us.”

Xu Dezheng’s words were a shot of encouragement to Zhu Lan.

It was a clear sign—the military was genuinely protecting fantasy technology now. It wouldn’t be like before, when government interference left the military indifferent.

Zhu Lan and Xu Dezheng talked for a long while. After Zhu Lan’s repeated assurances that the quantum communication satellite would be successfully developed within six months, Xu Dezheng left fantasy technology with several generals and Luo Guoqiang.

As Xu Dezheng’s convoy departed, Zhu Lan collapsed in exhaustion.

Kong Yan caught him just in time.

Blue Tianxin and the others nearby were no better off; sweat drenched their backs, which was unusual given it was already winter, though this was the peak of the South China Sea.

“Rest for today—it’s been quite a day,” Zhu Lan said, looking at Blue Tianxin and the others without further comment. This reception had been very successful. Although Azure Base was exposed, it gained full military recognition. Such incidents wouldn’t happen again, a boon for both Zhu Lan and fantasy technology.

Blue Tianxin and the others nodded. “Thank you, boss!”

“All right, you’ve worked hard. Inform everyone not to leak today’s events. You know the company’s confidentiality agreement.”

Blue Tianxin and Yu Dongming nodded.

Zhu Lan nodded. “Take me back!” Having been tense all along, Zhu Lan relaxed completely after Xu Dezheng’s departure, too weak to walk.

Though Zhu Lan collapsed, Blue Tianxin and the others did not mock him. A general was a far-off figure—if not for professional resolve, they might not fare any better.

Kong Yan nodded, helped Zhu Lan up, and led him to the nearby vehicle, returning him to his small villa.

“Queen, do you think this move of mine was right or wrong?”

Despite the exposure, Zhu Lan was quite satisfied. The War Club could be established, fantasy technology had gained full military recognition, and military researchers would aid in accelerating their progress. From this perspective, exposing Azure Base was a very fruitful outcome.

Though General Xu said nothing, Zhu Lan understood there were still doubts about him. The base had been constructed underground in such a short time without questions from either Xu Dezheng or Luo Guoqiang, and Zhu Lan had offered no explanations.

(To be continued.)