Gu Qingshan knew that the Goddess of Justice had connected to the Light Brain, so he bowed and said, "I request material and technical support from the Goddess of Justice to assist me in building a Mobile Armor."
"Citizen Gu Qingshan has been confirmed to possess a certain level of Mobile Armor construction ability."
"Citizen Gu Qingshan's Personal Merit Points have been confirmed to meet the requirements."
"Request approved."
The Goddess of Justice said, "I must remind Citizen Gu Qingshan that the intelligent Light Brain of Changning Steel Armor Technology Company is capable of handling 87.159257% of Mobile Armor research and manufacturing in today's world. Given this, do you still wish to spend additional Merit Points for my personal assistance?"
Gu Qingshan said, "Yes."
The Goddess of Justice said, "Starting my personal assistance with Mobile Armor construction requires payment of 2,000 Merit Points. I will now calculate Citizen Gu Qingshan's Merit Points."
For Federation citizens, every Merit Point was precious, because the Goddess of Justice relied on them as her primary basis for determining ordinary people's promotions, benefits, and treatment.
Gu Qingshan had always worked desperately to accumulate Merit Points. On the one hand, he wanted to attend a good university; on the other, he hoped to exchange his Merit Points for a Mobile Armor while at university.
Ordinary people had no access to Mobile Armor, and the nobility would never contribute one out of the goodness of their hearts—unless you signed a contract selling yourself into servitude.
Only through the Goddess of Justice could one exchange precious Merit Points for a Mobile Armor.
Of course, one had to have a clean record and meet a whole series of conditions set by the Goddess of Justice.
Soon, a light screen appeared before Gu Qingshan.
All the Merit Points he had accumulated since birth were listed one by one.
"Submitted an overload-limit testing model for the Micro Power Core, Merit Points +30;"
"Added Gu Qingshan's grilled beef short rib ingredient ratios to the food archive, Merit Points +2;"
"Published paper: The Theory of Mobile Armor Simulating Human Behavior, Merit Points +10;"
"Voluntarily assisted with evacuation at the scene of a fire in Changning Prefecture's Eastern District, Merit Points +9;"
"Represented Changning Prefecture in the Federation Interstellar Fleet Command Tactics Competition and won an Excellence Award, Merit Points +5;"
"Attempted to rescue a woman who had jumped into a river to end her life. Due to his poor physical condition, the rescue failed, but his spirit was commendable, Merit Points +0.5;"
"First proposed the theory of virtual human behavior in Mobile Armor, advancing Mobile Armor research, Merit Points +80;"
"Citizen Gu Qingshan, your total Personal Merit Points are 2,002.41. Will you pay 2,000 points to initiate my assistance with your Mobile Armor construction?"
"Yes." Gu Qingshan answered without hesitation.
That would use up nearly all his Merit Points.
"Payment complete. Beginning preparations."
The Goddess of Justice paused briefly, then continued, "The Temple Star Fortress will pass over Changning Prefecture in one hour and twenty-five minutes. Please prepare to board the fortress."
As the Goddess of Justice spoke, a three-meter-tall powered Mobile Armor walked out through the opened wall.
The powered Mobile Armor stopped beside Gu Qingshan. All the electronic conduits inserted into it retracted, and its cockpit slowly opened.
Gu Qingshan glanced at it and said, "I have one more request."
"Please state it."
"Please keep my actions this time confidential."
"Under the spirit of Article 5 of the Federation Constitution, citizens conducting original scientific research are entitled to privacy, to ensure their personal safety and intellectual property are protected. Your request has been approved. From this moment on, the Goddess of Justice will keep your activities confidential."
Gu Qingshan said, "Apart from you, please don't let anyone access my research. Mm, I'd like to enjoy some peace and quiet for a while."
"The Goddess of Justice will keep your research confidential in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. However, the Goddess of Justice reserves the right to apply to use the research results of Federation citizens. Citizen Gu Qingshan, do you agree?"
"I agree."
Everything was ready. Gu Qingshan smiled faintly.
Although technology in this era lagged far behind what it would be in ten years, with the Goddess of Justice personally assisting him, he could probably bring some of his ideas to life.
This would be Su Xue'er's birthday present, and the greatest kindness he could offer to a world on the verge of destruction.
Time passed quickly.
Gu Qingshan boarded the Mobile Armor, guided it into a light leap, and flew out through the opened dome, heading ever higher into the sky.
A medium-sized warship was already waiting high above.
Not a soul was aboard. The Goddess of Justice controlled it entirely.
The warship picked up the Mobile Armor piloted by Gu Qingshan and immediately headed for outer space.
An hour later.
In the dark, silent universe.
Inside a gigantic interstellar fortress glittering with countless lights.
Gu Qingshan stood alone in a completely enclosed space.
The space was as large as four soccer fields. The vast, empty grounds held nothing but a virtual projection device hovering silently before him.
"Begin Mobile Armor construction," he said.
The Goddess of Justice's voice rang out from all directions. "Mobile Armor construction systems ready. Please describe your design intent."
Su Xue'er's peerless face appeared in Gu Qingshan's mind. He stared into space for a while before saying, "I want this combat Mobile Armor to give its pilot hope of surviving, even in the harshest and most desperate conditions."
The Goddess of Justice said, "That description is too abstract. Please use Mobile Armor construction terminology."
Gu Qingshan fell silent for a moment, then said, "Initiate the Life Construction Algorithm."
The Goddess of Justice immediately objected. "Unable to initiate. The Life Construction Algorithm is only a theoretical conjecture. Based on current cutting-edge Mobile Armor technology, two of its laws fail, seven of its equations are invalid, and twenty-nine technical challenges remain unsolved."
Gu Qingshan scratched his head.
So much time had passed that he no longer knew which technologies remained unresolved in this era.
Gu Qingshan said, "Please list them one by one."
Several rows of light screens appeared before him. Each displayed a problem with the algorithm.
Gu Qingshan walked up to the first screen and began to study it.
"So it's the standardization problem for measuring multiple neural transmission rates. I remember this wasn't solved until just before the apocalypse."
"Then let's get started."
He rolled up his sleeves and began calculating in front of the screen.
The problem was difficult. Gu Qingshan spent more than half an hour solving it.
"Please verify the equation," Gu Qingshan said.
"Verification commencing," the Goddess of Justice replied.
The light screen slowly sank into the floor and disappeared.
Ten seconds later, the Goddess of Justice spoke again.
"The equation is correct. The measurement standard has been established."
Excellent. With the standard established, the rest would be easier to resolve. Gu Qingshan nodded with satisfaction and walked toward the next screen.
He carefully read through the derivation problem on the screen, then said, "Mm, please bring up a model for this problem. I'll match it to the equation."
As time passed, Gu Qingshan continued solving technical problems, gradually refining the Life Construction Algorithm.
Deep inside the fortress, a gigantic light screen furiously verified the equations, laws, and design concepts Gu Qingshan proposed.
When Gu Qingshan's research was halfway complete, a special alert suddenly appeared on the enormous screen.
"Target confirmed to meet the criteria of Article 5 of the Federation Constitution. Immediately initiate the corresponding contingency plan and begin requesting authorization."
"Contact Army General Martial Saint Zhang Zongyang."
"Contact Navy Commander Sea Emperor Li Dongyuan."
"Contact Supreme Commander of the Starry Sky Fleet, President Song Tianwu."
Three invisible waves of light shot out from the Temple Star Fortress, each heading in a different direction.
"General, a highest-security call request."
"Hmm? Is it the President?"
"No. It's the Goddess of Justice."
Before you continue