Crimson Typhoon

Office.

Chuanpu flipped the table again.

"Oh, fuck, this son of a bitch!"

"Is he challenging my authority?!"

"He didn't even discuss something this important with me. Does he still see me as president?!"

"Sir, this is the report General Jonathan sent you. It details his reasons for doing this!"

The female secretary beside him handed the document to Chuanpu.

Chuanpu, who had been full of indignation, took the document. After reading it, his expression grew increasingly grave.

"Sir, should I send a telegram rebuking General Jonathan?"

"No need. Tell him I want evidence—hard facts, not speculation!"

Dalian Shatterdome Base.

After three agonizing hours, they finally arrived at their destination.

Xiao Shou swore that even if he had to do a ten-kilometer armed cross-country run, he never wanted to experience flying again.

It was too painful. Waiting itself was torturous enough, and on top of that, he could neither sit properly nor lie down, much less sleep.

Tsk. What a horrifying experience.

Staying home was definitely better.

Uh, staying at the base.

After they got off the helicopter, they were greeted by Deputy Commander Zhu Qian.

When Dr. Herman disembarked, Zhu Qian stepped forward and shook his hand.

"Hello, Dr. Herman. I'm Zhu Qian, deputy commander of Nation Z's Jaeger Combat Department—the Nation Z branch of the PPDC."

"Hello."

Although Herman was naturally withdrawn and somewhat of a germophobe, refusing to shake hands at a time like this would clearly have been rude.

Besides, this was a deputy commander. The man had personally come to receive him; out of respect alone, Herman had to shake his hand—using both hands, even!

Nation Z's Jaeger Combat Department indeed attached immense importance to Dr. Herman's arrival.

He was one of the leading pillars of current Jaeger-related technology and had overcome numerous technical bottlenecks.

Moreover, he possessed a deep understanding of the "wormhole" and had developed a system for detecting the bio-energy of massive creatures.

So far, no monster emerging from any known wormhole had been able to evade that detection system.

This had an enormous impact on human safety.

It allowed evacuation orders to be issued promptly, greatly reducing casualties.

This was the information age. If someone lost a cat or dog, the whole city would hear about it.

Not to mention the casualties caused by monster attacks.

The number of dead and injured simply could not be concealed, and it would cause severe social unrest.

Dr. Herman's research achievements had a tremendous impact on the world.

How could Nation Z not treat him with the utmost importance?

Mao Shucheng was not at the Dalian Shatterdome Base. Otherwise, he would have personally come to receive Herman as a gesture of sincerity.

"Dr. Herman, we have arranged the highest-standard accommodations for you. In a moment, I'll have two guards take you over to inspect them. If there's anything unsuitable, just let us know."

"Commander Zhu, there's no need to be so polite. I'm not here on vacation. Please gather the technical experts. Let's begin researching and discussing the specific plan for implementing laser weapons on Mount Tai."

"Alright."

It was naturally best that Herman had taken the initiative to suggest getting to work. After all, he was a visiting professor invited from headquarters, not a subordinate; it would have been inappropriate to order him around directly.

Zhu Qian did not put on any false modesty either. Soldiers did not have so many elaborate formalities.

He immediately beckoned over a soldier and had him lead Dr. Herman away first.

Only then did he turn to Xiao Shou and Xie Yushan.

"Did you get fat over there?"

Xiao Shou: "???"

You kept me here just to say that?

"You're far too weak. As a soldier and a Jaeger pilot, you were gasping like that after running just one thousand meters. No excuses—next, you'll undergo special physical training!"

??? What was this? Shouldn't you be telling me, "Oh, you've worked hard during your special training. Hurry up and get some rest"?

Why did I have to start special training again the moment I got back—and physical training at that?!

Zhu Qian then turned to Xie Yushan, his face full of warmth and kindness, utterly unlike the fierce glare he had directed at Xiao Shou moments ago.

"Yu Shan, special training must have been exhausting. Thanks for the effort. Hurry and get some rest!"

Ten thousand muddy horses stampeded through Xiao Shou's heart.

You thick-browed, big-eyed bastard, and you're playing favorites too!

After the joking ended, Xiao Shou moved closer to Zhu Qian.

"Commander Zhu, where did Commander Mao go? He wouldn't leave the Shatterdome Base easily. This is his battlefield."

"I knew you'd ask. There's no harm in telling you—he went to oversee the construction of the Hong Kong Shatterdome Base."

"The nation is giving us tremendous support now, pouring in massive funds. The Jaeger Combat Department is practically rolling in it... Ahem. In short, the Hong Kong Shatterdome Base has officially been placed on the agenda."

"Twenty thousand elite engineers and over a hundred thousand construction workers have been assigned to it. Funding is no concern at all. The Hong Kong Shatterdome Base is expected to be completed in just one or two months."

"Then, Commander, once the base is ready, what about the Jaeger...?"

Zhu Qian chuckled and took out the document tucked beneath his elbow, handing it to the two of them.

On its cover was an enormous simplified structural diagram of a Jaeger.

Its head resembled a variable-focus telescope. Its neck used multipurpose pistons and opposing components, greatly enhancing its flexibility.

Unlike Mount Tai's nuclear-powered turbine engine, its power system used turbo-piston diesel-electric propulsion.

What caught the eye was its right arm, which split into two forks, giving it three arms in total.

Its right hand split into two arms, each packed with fifty diesel engines along its muscles.

Its left arm was a massive cannon muzzle with a multi-petaled structure.

Its entire body was coated in deep crimson paint.

"Commander, this new Jaeger looks incredibly imposing. Does it have a name?"

"Of course. Its name is—"

"Crimson Typhoon!"