Chapter 294: An Escort Under the Night Sky
“Emerald Star has already arranged new research projects,” Nan Guo de Xue told Lu Yuan on their way to the dock area.
“We are developing better high-temperature resistant armor and anti-laser coatings. Additionally, we are attempting to create artificial bio-organs.”
“Hmm, that’s a good choice.”
Lu Yuan affirmed Nan Guo de Xue’s strategic vision as Emerald Life Science’s head of research.
In fact, as early as their initial contact with the Star Alliance, Cang Yuan had already realized that this post-disaster civilization possessed a unique skill: prosthetic modification!
This seemed to be the UEG’s general populace’s method of “ascension.” It was highly versatile, could be widely promoted, and ensured the purity of human genes.
At the time, many suggested that Cang Yuan purchase and introduce this technology. However, everyone soon began to discover the drawbacks of prosthetic modification.
For players, its growth potential was quite limited.
To constantly grow stronger, one could only continuously replace old prosthetics with the latest models, which was extremely costly.
It was far less convenient than genetic modification, where one simply lay in a hibernation pod when logging off.
Abandoning the genetic modification route would render experience points in the game useless.
Moreover, items like prosthetic eyeballs had overlapping functions with power armor helmets.
And due to their smaller size, their performance parameters were even reduced, though they were more convenient and had more use cases in daily life.
Not to mention, at the current stage, the first-tier players, who were close to level 30, already had physical abilities that significantly surpassed the Star Alliance’s latest prosthetic models, making the latter seem even more redundant.
Installing prosthetics could indeed significantly improve the work efficiency of the natives, but convincing them psychologically to undergo such surgeries, which often required amputation or even literally removing hearts and lungs, would likely take a considerable amount of time.
Now, there was finally a solution that offered the best of both worlds: bio-organs. They could leverage the advantages of a more rational and durable structure while perfectly circumventing the drawback of not inheriting the benefits of genetic modification, thus maximizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses.
“I think we can focus our research on psionic organs and expanding the functions of existing human organs,” Lu Yuan suggested to Nan Guo de Xue.
“For example, in terms of brain-computer interfaces, in the future, could Cang Yuan’s high-intelligence characters directly control drones and robot infantry?
Currently, both the Scholar and Engineer professions have relatively weak combat capabilities and are not suitable for direct combat.
Especially Scholars.
During large-scale battles, they usually stay in the deep rear to avoid affecting research progress if they die.
But in reality, with the advent of the “Avatar” system, where everyone has three lives, Engineers and Scholars should also answer the call during the most intense moments of battle, converting their immense brainpower into combat strength, forming a unique squad.
Or even a large battle group!
Only in this way can Cang Yuan truly achieve an all-citizen army when facing large factions, offsetting the disadvantage of insufficient troops.”
“Hmm, I’ve noted it all down,” Nan Guo de Xue nodded obediently. “Are there any other research projects?”
“Yes, we are also researching how to allow warp travel to break free from the limitations of a planet’s gravitational field, achieving orbital or even atmospheric warp.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Definitely. At least for small to medium-sized organisms or machines, it’s achievable in a low-speed warp state,” Nan Guo de Xue said confidently.
“Why are you so sure?”
“Because on Emerald Star, there’s a confirmed top predator called the 【Phase Beast】. They can sprint short distances without any acceleration process before sprinting, and they don’t need any additional deceleration after sprinting. Their instantaneous sprint speed reaches tens of thousands of kilometers per hour, so they can only be briefly entering a warp state during the sprint.”
“Warping in the jungle?!”
“Yes. It’s very impressive, and very dangerous.”
“Emerald Star is truly a place of outstanding people and resources—to evolve something like that! This definitely has potential.”
“It definitely has potential. Alas,” Nan Guo de Xue sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel like even when walking and chatting with the Executive Officer, I can still only report on work progress.”
“Hmm, perhaps it’s because we haven’t seen each other much in the past three months? We can only talk about what we’ve each been doing during that time.”
“Seems so.”
Nan Guo de Xue put her hands behind her back and carefully searched her memory.
“No, that’s not right! It’s not that we haven’t seen each other much.”
She looked at Lu Yuan with a slight hint of complaint.
“It’s that we haven’t seen each other even once. Not counting these past few days, the last time we met was before the Radiant Dragon raid. Remember? That’s when I handed you the modified plasma crossbow.”
Nan Guo de Xue closed one eye and playfully aimed at Lu Yuan.
The scene flashed in his mind.
“Oh, right—I remember,” Lu Yuan felt a bit strange. Was that largest-ever dungeon event already such a distant memory?
“Sorry, sorry, I misremembered.”
“No, don’t be like that, no need to apologize.”
Nan Guo de Xue quickly waved her hand, indicating that her previous displeasure was just an act, and a rare bright smile bloomed on her face.
“So, even though we haven’t met once, the Executive Officer mistakenly remembered ‘several times.’ It seems you still thought of me when your mind wandered, which I’m very pleased about.”
“No, this—”
“No? Then did you dream about me?”
“...Alright, you win. But the reason we haven’t met is because you’ve been staying in the Infinite Deep Space research institute, not because I was deliberately avoiding you.”
“Indeed. But whose command was it to remain in that deep, dark place filled with bizarre fantasies?”
“I’m sorry, you all have worked hard—”
“I said, no need to apologize.”
Nan Guo de Xue leaned her head closer.
She raised her face, watching Lu Yuan with keen interest, her deep blue eyes as calm as water, yet with a glimmer seeming to float beneath the surface.
Seen up close, this person was indeed beautiful to an almost inhuman degree. No wonder she was unanimously nominated as the corporate image spokesperson. In reality, he didn't know if it was inherited from her parents or if she'd won the genetic lottery.
As Lu Yuan’s attention was divided, she spoke.
“So, after careful consideration, in order to maintain a minimum common language with the Executive Officer in the future, I’ve decided to submit an application.”
“What application? To go treasure hunting together?”
“Mm!”
Her thoughts having been guessed, she visibly brightened.
“Of course, no problem, welcome to join. However, if you’re away from the institute for an extended period, won’t it delay the research progress there?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t. The young ones there are already very experienced; many of them have already published first-tier papers in real life, ah—”
Realizing she had accidentally mentioned “out-of-game” content, Nan Guo de Xue quickly tried to salvage it.
“I mean, they are really excellent, that’s all.”
“That’s good then.”
Lu Yuan could only pretend not to notice anything unusual and continued to play his NPC role.
“Mm. Yes, that’s good then—”
She nodded, looking a little disappointed.
The two, not knowing what else to talk about, silently entered the public transport elevator, heading to the space station’s central axis, and from there took a cable car to the bustling dock area.
“Want to take the sightseeing cable car? My treat.”
Before Lu Yuan could speak, Nan Guo de Xue had already completed the payment.
Star Alliance travelers typically only took the fully transparent sightseeing cable car on their way in. On this cable car returning to the dock area, there were only the two of them.
Nan Guo de Xue walked behind Lu Yuan and suddenly struck his trapezius muscle with a sharp hand chop.
“What are you doing?”
“Just as I thought!”
“What did you think?”
“I heard the Executive Officer has recently entered full workaholic mode, practically never stopping. If this wasn’t stiff as a board, I would almost think you were a robot. You used to occasionally slack off before—”
Ha.
For some reason, Lu Yuan had been feeling a constant shortage of time lately.
“Because it’s something I enjoy, I feel motivated.”
“Even so, you need to know how to rest.”
As she spoke, Sister Xue squeezed his shoulder hard.
Although she was a Scholar, as one of the first batch of players, she was currently level 27 and had accumulated 23 strength points. Her grip was far stronger than an average person’s.
Her finger strength directly penetrated the Emerald Life Science power soft armor, which was in standby mode, reaching his muscles and nerves.
Terrifying!
“Does it hurt a lot?”
Unlike players, Lu Yuan didn’t have the system benefit of pain suppression, and his expression instantly contorted.
“A little—I think, wouldn’t it be better if the power was reduced by about 50%?”
“No, rejected. It’s supposed to hurt, which means I wasn’t wrong; this area is already in a state of deep fatigue. Bear with it, the intensity will increase by another 100%.”
“Ah?!”
“Just kidding, it’s only 97%.”
“Is there a difference?!”
The female Scholar behind him didn’t answer, silent for a moment.
“Executive Officer, actually, sometimes I feel tired too—”
“Is it because the previous research tasks were too monotonous? It’s okay, this time, just follow everyone and do something different.”
“No, research—is very interesting. I just feel tired and don’t want to wake up from the hibernation pod.”
No way...
Could she be tired of playing and thinking of quitting the game?
Lu Yuan half-turned his head.
As far as he knew, no internal beta player had quit the game yet.
On the contrary, if it weren’t for the system’s mandatory requirements, even the full-time players among them wouldn’t be willing to log off every few hours to go to the bathroom, eat, or move their bodies.
They wished they could transmigrate entirely, just like him.
“Why?”
Nan Guo de Xue was silent for an even longer time. Then, as if having made some decision, she took a deep breath and blurted out words that contained a lot of out-of-game content.
“Some things have happened in my real life that I have to deal with—so, I might not be able to log in and participate normally for a while in the future—”
Some things?
In daily life, Lu Yuan could only think of things like working overtime all night.
Working 24/7, leaving no time at all to play games.
Otherwise, in any other situation, one could still log in for at least five or six hours while sleeping.
And stepping out of the “daily” category, he feared, “I understand. So, you might be going on a vacation, right?”
“Yes—”
“That’s fine. However, this is a critical period for the company’s development, so a long vacation is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, please return as soon as possible.
Otherwise, depending on the severity of the situation, the company may forcibly recall employees.”
As an “NPC,” Lu Yuan, with his back to Nan Guo de Xue, could only “promise” to this extent.
Like playing a guessing game.
“Mm! I—I’ll try my best!”
A moment later, the two entered the bridge of the “Taibai” (Ship No. 3 of the “Qinling” class frigate), the flagship for this treasure hunt, one after the other.
This warship was named after a mountain peak.
“Oh my, oh my—”
Charlotte was here, learning how to operate various equipment. Upon seeing the two, she slowly floated over.
Her gaze briefly met Sister Xue’s, and from the latter, she sensed a small hint of a “victor’s” triumph.
Hmph...
Then, with a mischievous smile, she shifted her gaze to Lu Yuan’s face.
Although his intelligence exceeded 60, at this moment, he still found it difficult to fully decipher the meaning in her eyes.
“It seems this generation’s Executive Officer, despite being male, is still quite receptive to certain ‘outdated ideas,’ isn’t he?”
Lu Yuan: “...”
Why don’t you speak more clearly!
“Never mind, never mind—” Charlotte waved her hand and floated away gracefully. “Anyway, I’m an old relic from over 1000 years ago, I’ve long been educated to be unsurprised by anything. I’m going back to my room to rest now.”