Chapter 427: Chapter 202: The Secret of Loki Heavy Industry (7th update, asking for support and subscriptions)
(Seven updates completed, seeking subscriptions and monthly tickets for everything.)
Far from the Purple Jade Star, within a distant asteroid belt, lies a small asteroid, with a maximum diameter of 1500 meters, which we’ll call a gigantic meteorite.
This gigantic meteorite is now covered with the traces of steel and has been transformed into what resembles a space station. Atop it, there’s a base gleaming with silver light, surrounded at its outer edge by a space port, where two starships, one large and one small, are docked.
Inside the base, countless people wearing breathing masks are moving around, and in the very center of the base, a subterranean space has been constructed tens of meters down into the meteorite, covering tens of thousands of square meters.
Two people dressed in white lab coats are standing on a mechanical bridge, and below them stands a dark blue mecha, silent and still.
Through their transparent glass helmets, one can see that both individuals have rather aged faces, with easily noticeable gray and disheveled hair.
“Dr. Aubrey, thank you for everything you’ve done for Loki Heavy Industry during this time,” said the slightly taller figure on the left, with an authoritative tone that was nevertheless full of gratitude.
“Mr. Wang Ji, you are too kind. Being able to participate fully in the Extreme Special Soldier program and watching mechas that are like my own children appear before me, that emotional impact is something others cannot understand. They are my children now.”
It turns out that this steel-clad meteorite is the secret research base of Loki Heavy Industry!
Buli Laboratory, that ephemeral jewel, which had quietly vanished from public knowledge in previous years, was now hidden within the base of Loki Heavy Industry.
“The progress in unlocking Ruins Technology has now reached 70%. The contribution of this to the technological accumulation of Loki Heavy Industry is immeasurable,” said Wang Ji, as he watched workers busy below him, assembling armor on the Extreme Special Soldier, Ge-R.
“The technology from beyond our world is something encountered by chance but not sought after. Mr. Wang Ji, with the engine technology from this extraterrestrial source, your company has immediately caught up to those leading enterprises that have been accumulating technology for over two decades. In the field of the Supergravity Engine, there is, to our knowledge within the Federation, no second enterprise that possesses it,” Dr. Aubrey said as he rapidly manipulated holographic screens, with the data of the Extreme Special Soldier, Ge-R, continuously refreshing.
“Hahaha, yes, right next to the secret base of Loki Heavy Industry is a hidden ancient relic. Who could imagine such a secret?” exclaimed Wang Ji, moved by the thought.
“The Extreme Special Soldier, Ge-R, has now completed three rounds of adjustments; your company’s Mechanical Masters can start to get familiar with it.” Finally seeing all the data as normal, Dr. Aubrey spoke with a tone of relief.
“Thank you, Doctor. I will arrange for the transportation of Ge-R, preparing to send it to the Polar Training Ground for Rodrick to undergo the fourth comprehensive test.”
Hearing Wang Ji’s reply, Aubrey nodded, but he spoke with a nostalgic tone, “Actually, the prototype Extreme Special Soldier, Ge-Z, is my most beloved masterpiece. That mecha is the real core of the improvements, and in my eyes, its potential exceeds that of Ge-R by a coefficient.”
Wang Ji, who was about to leave, laughed upon hearing Aubrey’s words, “The prototype of Extreme Special Soldier No. 1, Nuonuo gave it as a gift to her good friend, who is also a good friend to our Loki Heavy Industry.”
Aubrey’s laugh sounded from within the helmet, “Is it a young man? Are you giving it to your future grandson-in-law?”
“Hahaha, enough talk, old friend. I’m going to arrange the transport,” said Wang Ji.
“Go ahead, I’ve got to study the breakthrough point at 70%,” Aubrey waved his hand and looked down at the dark blue mecha body beneath him, muttering to himself in words only he could hear.
“I always feel that this Supergravity Engine… hasn’t reached its limit yet, that it lacks a formal unlocking opportunity. However, a strong intuition warns me not to continue… Yet, the ceaseless advancement of technology is precisely what us researchers strive for our whole lives… So, I’ll continue the research, and delve into those few abnormal yet non-critical numbers.”
After finishing his words, Aubrey stood on the mechanical bridge and picked up the communicator beside him: “This is Aubrey, I’ll need the personnel from engine installation team number three to come to my lab later.”
The spirited yet elderly Wang Ji walked along the path leading to the space port.
This secret meteorite base was his, Wang Ji’s, greatest trump card.
All the staff were cultivated from a young age by the Wang Clan Family, their loyalty beyond question.
As for Dr. Aubrey of Buli Laboratory, it was Wang Ji who had extended a helping hand when Aubrey was most downtrodden. One could say that Buli Laboratory was built up step by step under Wang Ji’s manipulation.
This meteorite base was the ultimate secret of Loki Heavy Industry!
“As for the Chief Mechanical Master Rodrick, who held 0.5% of the company’s shares, he could only ever follow Wang Ji’s arrangements and go to the Polar Training Ground to carry out the handover of the Mecha Body.
No one knew where the most secret location of Loki Heavy Industry truly lay!
…
Its official name was Cold Land Star, a planet located 5.6 light-years from Blue Capital Star. The temperatures in the low-latitude areas of the planet were perennially below 20 degrees, with most of the surface temperature being below freezing.
However, due to the planet’s unusually high mineral reserves, many corporations chose to set up bases there.
Loki Heavy Industry was one of these corporations.
Within Wang Ji’s secondary defensive layout, this was considered the secret location by the core personnel of Loki Heavy Industry.
In reality, it was just a smokescreen set by Wang Ji.
People like Rodrick, who held 0.5% of the shares, the spokesperson for Loki Heavy Industry’s Mecha division, the final tester of all products.
He seemed to be in touch with the firsthand secrets of the Grand Chief Mechanical Master of Loki Heavy Industry, yet he didn’t know the real secret location.
At this moment, next to the Cold Land Test Field, a maintenance worker dressed in work overalls watched as his colleagues had all gone to the canteen for a meal. He set aside his two oil-smudged gloves, then walked straight into the nearby Mechanical Masters’ rest room.
That was a room of the same level as the training ground’s manager, containing comfortable, warm, and bright living conditions, and even those broad-leafed green plants one would only see in the tropics.
Earning a handful of Star Coins until your hand cramps, having a cozy and warm house to live in even in a bitterly cold region—isn’t that an enviable life?
The maintenance worker displayed a hint of a sarcastic smile on his face as he knocked on the door marked ‘Chief Mechanical Master.’
Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
A gentle voice sounded, and the metallic isolation door opened automatically.
The maintenance worker didn’t seem to care about the thick snow and mud on his boots at all, stepping directly onto the soft and beautiful fur carpet.
A middle-aged man was absorbed in looking at a holographic image of a Mecha at his workbench, his hands constantly recording some numbers and symbols.
His head had not turned yet; he simply said, “Wait a moment, please.”
At Loki Heavy Industry, when he was deeply invested in a piece of work, no one was allowed to disturb him, not even Wang Ji.
Ordinarily, Rodrick had little interaction with others but always treated everyone warmly. His status and position also meant that others dared not harbor any complaints against him.
However, today, his routine was destined to be broken by this unexpected visitor.
“Ah, Master Rodrick, you seem to be in quite the mood, tsk tsk~ You appear to be very insightful in your research on the Extreme Special Soldier’s Mecha, aren’t you?”
The maintenance worker didn’t pay any heed to the Grand Chief Mechanical Master’s words but instead looked around at the oil paintings, chuckling merrily.
In front of the workbench, the fingers manipulating the holographic image suddenly stopped…
“