Chapter 184: Huge Unidentified Object
It was another Friday afternoon, and “Star Sea” finally updated to version 0.4a.
【This update has kept our good employees waiting! The Emerald Star exclusive server has successfully passed the server stress test and is now fully open. Tens of thousands of monsters with different models and attack modules, as well as a large-scale dungeon covering over 10 square kilometers, are waiting for you!
Remember, on this extremely dangerous planet, everything wants to eat you. Please be mentally prepared before going.】
【The art team’s work efficiency has doubled! Currently, the entire surface of Li Star has been opened. Players can freely explore areas beyond the Desert. Who knows what is hidden beneath the thick, glass-like substance?】
【Space exploration is fully open. After Pilot players reach level 7, they can apply for the use of space fighters. They can pilot them to explore star systems and prospect for asteroid minerals for Cangyuan.】
【Other players can also enter space to complete various missions after obtaining private spacecraft.】
【Added selectable race: Emerald Star Mutant】
【Updated a large number of new missions】
【Fixed a small number of bugs】
The internal test players, who had been distracted by the announcement, waited patiently until after work. As soon as they got home, they immediately went online without even stopping to eat, eager to check the changes in the game.
Subsequently, a large number of discussion posts appeared in the player community, with the heat rising in waves.
“Big news, have you seen the new missions? The two that are ‘choose one’?”
“What do you mean?”
“Two main quest lines, one called 【Legacy of Emerald Star】 and the other called 【Star Alliance Pilgrimage】. They seem to conflict with each other.”
【Navigator】: “Players, the 【Star Alliance Pilgrimage】 series of missions requires taking a warp-speed spaceship deep into Star Alliance space and ultimately reaching the New Hope space station. Since the game does not yet have teleportation functionality, once you embark on this journey, you must remain on the ship the entire time and cannot back out midway. This is no small test of personal perseverance, so please consider carefully before applying.”
【Wo Yao Chi Dan Ta】: “Oh, do I need to apply first? Is there a selection process?”
【Bei Hai Xian Yu】: “Yes, there is. I’ve already inquired in advance. One day from now, the Executive Officer himself will screen the mission applicants. 【Star Alliance Pilgrimage】 favors intelligent, calm, and diplomatic talents. It’s limited to 15 people, and they will go to New Hope with Lao Yu’s team of 8.”
“What about 【Legacy of Emerald Star】?”
【Navigator】: “【Legacy of Emerald Star】 missions do not require selection; everyone can do them. However, the monsters on Emerald Star are quite strong, so it is recommended that players level up to at least 5 before playing.”
Lu Yuan originally thought that 【Star Alliance Pilgrimage】 would be overlooked.
After all, the journey to New Hope alone would take eleven or twelve days, and that’s assuming no accidents.
However, the result was beyond his expectation. For a mission that only needed 15 people, there were as many as 163 applicants. Everyone seemed very interested in the space city at the end of the journey, and even curious about the process along the way, saying they wanted to experience it in detail.
Thinking about it, there are still many people in reality who are obsessed with sailing out to sea, let alone a fully immersive cosmic voyage.
Many people had long regarded “Star Sea” as their second life and were willing to temporarily give up grinding and monster hunting for a unique experience.
Lu Yuan looked at the list and had a general idea of the candidates.
He first selected a female player named “A Touch of Ultramarine.”
This player was only level 2 and had just started playing a week ago. She became aware of “Star Sea” after it broke out of its niche due to the nuclear strike incident, and was then deeply attracted by its complete and realistic economic system.
Ultramarine, in reality, is 34 years old and a full-time financial broadcaster with a large number of followers. Her economics popular science videos are very well-received.
Her expertise in finance was the main reason Lu Yuan chose her.
This trip to New Hope, in addition to observing the strength and governing philosophies of the various Star Alliance factions and gathering various rumors, also required establishing trade relations with the merchant fleet as soon as possible.
Among the accompanying personnel, there must be an expert in economics and foreign exchange. Low level and skills don’t matter; the key is not to be fooled like an idiot.
Emerald Star, Cangyuan temporary camp.
After getting off work, Ma Lou logged in and found other elite team members who had remained there on a platform.
“I say, is the Executive Officer really going to send the main force here?”
“Yes, to fight the BOSS, what’s wrong?”
Cao Yuan turned his head, surrounded by a circle of local field Soldiers asking for combat tips.
Ma Lou walked over and turned off the real-time translator.
“Did the boss forget about the confidential matter?”
“From a plot perspective, the Executive Officer never intended to keep the existence of Emerald Star a secret from the employees,” Ye Xing said from a lounge chair nearby.
“Moreover, I’ve already live-streamed before. Among the viewers of the live stream, a portion will definitely become internal test players in the future. How can you make them keep it a secret?”
“What if they leak the news to the Star Alliance in the future? What if those Tier 1 factions find out we have a backyard garden?”
“It’s fine, I’ve already solved this problem technologically,” Nan Guo de Xue walked over from the side.
“How did you do that?”
Nan Guo de Xue said, “In the future, when we interact with Star Alliance personnel, all of us must wear a monitoring system, similar to the body cameras police use in reality. The recorder is connected to a neck collar. Once it detects sensitive words related to the second wormhole during a conversation with an outsider, the neck collar will immediately activate a mechanical silencing function.”
“I see… But what if someone removes this equipment first and then leaks the information?”
“This is absolutely forbidden. As long as they are in Star Alliance space, Cangyuan employees must continue to wear this system until we have enough strength to protect our territory in the future.”
“If an employee attempts to remove the equipment in Star Alliance space without the Executive Officer’s permission, it means he intends to leak information to the outside. This is already a treason-level crime. The neck collar will immediately explode, and the player’s account will be permanently banned.”
“Wow—that feels a bit overbearing!”
Ma Lou spoke truthfully.
“But it’s very effective. My country is an expert in monitoring citizens. The electronic ankle monitor was our invention, so rest assured and leave it to me!” Nan Guo de Xue said seriously, giving a thumbs up.
“That doesn’t seem like something particularly worth being proud of…”
Li Star System.
Loulan had already flown into space to explore, piloting the bóláo niǎo, ahead of the other Pilots.
This star system has seven planets, with Li Star being the fourth closest to its sun. Between the fourth and fifth planets, there is a wide asteroid belt with significant mining value.
The bóláo niǎo, during peacetime, had undergone temporary modifications. The bomb bay behind the cockpit now held the Pilot’s hibernation pod.
This allowed him to use autopilot while accessing the Earth’s internet, greatly reducing the monotony of the flight.
Loulan ate snacks and watched dramas, thinking how nice it would be if flying commercial airlines in reality could be this leisurely.
Over an hour later, he arrived at the asteroid belt and activated the large scanner.
This device, “personally invented” by the Executive Officer, could detect the material composition of asteroids within 3000 kilometers in a cosmic environment.
By first using the airborne radar to determine the asteroid’s location and then flying closer to scan, prospecting could be done quickly.
Loulan quickly got to work, detecting several asteroids in a row. He found that most of them contained iron, some even over 90%, almost pure iron.
What a pity, Li Star has no shortage of iron. What Cangyuan lacks now are various rare earths.
“It doesn’t matter, there’s plenty of time.”
Loulan flew towards the next target. This asteroid had an irregular shape, with a long axis of about 1000 meters and its narrowest point only a little over 100 meters.
“Starting scan, main components… aluminum, titanium, and also carbon. Wait, this—”
He frowned, immediately realizing something was wrong.
The composition of the “asteroid” did not resemble a natural object at all; instead, it was very similar to the warships Cangyuan was currently building!
“No way—”
He decisively turned off the airborne radar to prevent radar waves from revealing his position, switching to passive observation using infrared electro-optics.
Gradually, the outline of the unknown object became clear. It looked like a giant umbrella, or perhaps a mushroom, with extremely high axial symmetry. It was undoubtedly an artificial creation.
“Is it a warship sent by Apollo Headquarters? Has it arrived already? So fast!”
Loulan dared not be negligent. He circled and patrolled nearby, while immediately contacting the Executive Officer.