Chapter 112: The New Location of the War Club

To prepare for potential threats, various nations united and spent three years rushing the construction of a deep-space vessel, aiming to intercept and destroy the satellite to eliminate the looming danger. However, the mission failed upon launch; the spacecraft exploded in mid-air, killing all the astronauts on board. Building a second vessel would take at least two years, as the ship relied on cutting-edge, highly complex nuclear propulsion technology.

Eight years later, the second spacecraft reached Uranus after a four-year voyage, but it was too late. The final signal it transmitted revealed the presence of an alien fleet. Zhu Lan was still unsure if he could film the third installment, so he only outlined a rough plot. Regarding the first installment, Zhu Lan was confident that the promise of a sequel would entice the military to approve his production plan.

A joint filming effort between the Chinese and U.S. navies offered a rare opportunity for the Chinese military to observe the capabilities of U.S. naval hardware up close, not just on the surface but also in underwater tactical drills. This would be a massive boost to China's understanding of the U.S. Navy; no one with any sense would turn down such an offer. Of course, the battleships in the second film would be quite real; the shipyard was set to build model warships next year, and Zhu Lan intended to use this project as a cover to construct two genuine battleships. As movie props, he believed no one would stop him from building these vessels, which would prove immensely helpful for his space program.

Zhu Lan handed the plots for the first and second installments to Red, asking her to refine them.

"Are the military personnel all settled in?" Zhu Lan asked, looking up at Song Tingxian.

Song Tingxian nodded. "Everything is arranged. Identification cards have been issued, and they are currently familiarizing themselves with the equipment."

The military had moved quickly. Within just two days, the first batch of 143 researchers had arrived at Fantasy Technology. Led by a veteran professor from the Chinese Academy of Sciences—a physicist dedicated to anti-gravity research—it was clear the military prioritized the anti-gravity project, as seventy of the researchers were physicists. Communications experts were the fewest, numbering only nine, while the rest were assigned to virtual reality and robotics research. Zhu Lan did not understand why the military had left their own robots behind without a word, only to send him robotics experts now. Though baffled, he didn't refuse; he simply turned them over to Red. Having experts improve his robots was an opportunity he wouldn't let go to waste. Most of his robotic technology originated from the design of the Terminator's Skynet, which could be lacking in human nuance; he wouldn't squander the military's "goodwill."

"I leave the security of the Azure Zone to you," Zhu Lan said, turning to Qin Shi. Qin Shi had changed a great deal since his return. Zhu Lan had investigated him and decided that as long as he remained loyal, he was fine.

The Azure Zone was a new area designated by Zhu Lan, located between the warehouse district and his own residence. A building originally intended for robotics research was nearing completion and had been incorporated into the zone. The Azure Zone was the most secure area within Fantasy Technology, strictly off-limits to anyone without special clearance. To this end, Zhu Lan appointed Qin Shi to oversee its defense, transferring fifty-six guards from the security department, while the HR department filled the vacancies left in Yu Dongming’s team. Xiao He had already made it clear that Fantasy Technology could appropriately increase its security strength.

With the military's consent, Zhu Lan accepted a group of retired soldiers to bolster Yu Dongming’s department, bringing the total security force to five hundred. Their equipment had evolved beyond standard guard gear; while not explicitly stated, Zhu Lan provided them with non-lethal weapons like stun guns and blinding devices, while some elite units were equipped with combat apparatuses and pulse rifles. Xiao He said nothing about this, and Zhu Lan understood that the military had officially recognized him. Naturally, Zhu Lan did not cross the line; he would not provide actual lethal weaponry, as he knew the military had its boundaries.

"Boss, the company's transport vehicles are no longer sufficient."

"If they aren't enough, add more. Get another hundred. Don't ask me about such trivial things again!"

Lan Tianyuan nodded helplessly.

"Anything else?"

"Boss, Huang Shang and the others have arrived!"

"Good, I'll go meet them shortly. Anything else?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Alright, meeting adjourned!"

"Welcome, welcome!" Zhu Lan greeted them, embracing Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei.

"Zhu Lan, you really have opened my eyes!" Once news of the War Club was confirmed, Huang Shang had immediately dragged Gu Xiaobei from Yanjing to see it. He had wanted to bring others, but they lacked the time, so he and Gu Xiaobei had come to scout it out first.

Zhu Lan smiled, offering no denial. He summoned a car. "Let's go! I'll take you to see the future War Club."

Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei nodded and climbed in. Zhu Lan’s Hongqi was exceptionally spacious, the rear designed like a small lounge, rivaling the world's most luxurious vehicles. As they drove, Zhu Lan poured two glasses of wine for his guests.

"Zhu Lan, I’m truly envious of this car!" Huang Shang marveled at the interior design, and Gu Xiaobei was equally impressed.

While Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei were well-connected, owning a state leader's car was impossible. Each was custom-built only upon direct order from the highest levels; there was no such thing as an inventory. Even for the top three leaders, cars were built in pairs—one for daily use and one as a backup. Anyone else trying to commission such a vehicle? Without superior orders, no one dared. There were only nine such cars in all of China: six for the top three leaders, two for the military commission, and this one, the only one authorized for someone outside the top brass. It was impossible not to feel envious. Because they were so rare, Zhu Lan’s Hongqi was the object of much desire, but since it was a gift from the state, no one dared to covet it unless they were tired of living.

Zhu Lan just smiled. "Anyway, ready to see the site I’ve chosen?"

Zhu Lan snapped his fingers, and a virtual map appeared before them. Though not their first time seeing this technology, Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei were still stunned.

"Here?" Huang Shang frowned.

The War Club was not located in S City or the provincial capital, but in SR City—a small city that had only been elevated from a county level four years ago. It didn't even qualify as a third-tier city, with a population of only 650,000.

A third-tier city standard was one to three million, second-tier was three to five million, and first-tier was five to eight million. International metropolises were those over eight million. With only 650,000 people, SR City was barely a "pseudo-third-tier" city.

Why had Zhu Lan chosen this place? Because it was very close to Wangyue Bay, the nearest city to the coastline. More importantly, the area was mountainous and featured a vast, open space by the sea, ideal for building an entire city. Furthermore, a large river flowed into a lake just kilometers away, fed by rivers from across the province. This eight-kilometer-long river was forty-five meters wide—wide enough for a warship to sail through. The lake was also substantial, stretching seven to eight kilometers wide.

This was a natural harbor. While not suitable for real-world naval operations, it was perfect for a model-scale site; hundreds of warships could fit there. The water depth ranged from three to 148 meters. Though it was a famous scenic area, it had remained undeveloped due to poor road access. Zhu Lan had originally considered S City, but during Red’s survey of the Wangyue base, she had discovered this location. After sending robots to scout it, she confirmed it was a natural harbor surrounded by mountains, with only a few small villages nearby. It was the perfect place to set up a sea, land, and air battlefield while keeping the risk to the public at a minimum.

Zhu Lan explained his reasoning to Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei, displaying satellite imagery of the site. "Look, in all of China, there is no better place. It’s a natural harbor. Imagine it—wouldn't a naval battle be more exciting than anything else?"

Huang Shang and Gu Xiaobei exchanged glances and nodded. The location was indeed perfect for the War Club’s requirements.

"But Zhu Lan," Gu Xiaobei noted, "it’s too remote!" He acknowledged the site’s suitability, but the nearest airport was over 160 kilometers away. To others, it was so isolated that they might be deterred from visiting, no matter how geographically perfect it was.