Lin Zhichen nodded. If he had already reached Expert-level as a draftsman and could draw up Battleship blueprints, he would be able to produce Particle Light Spear blueprints in batches.
That would be when he could make the greatest impact.
"We'll keep training him. With my talent, it won't be long before he can be useful." Lin Zhichen thought back to the draftsman working under Dr. Will, whom he had checked on just a few days ago. After all this time and effort, he had recently reached Expert-level.
Strategic professions like that were also difficult to level up. If they were talking about the first batch of Army NPCs, they would have had more than one or two Grandmaster-level tactical skills by now.
"The central control room on the fifth level of the base used to be where the pirate leadership lived. It has the most complete ecological recycling system, a Hydroponic Farm with enough supplies for fifty thousand people, and the base's most important energy core," Wu Tianyi said.
"My suggestion is that we keep this level for now and use it as living quarters for the regiment's leadership."
Lin Zhichen nodded. "The Hydroponic Farm needs some upgrades, too. Let's see if we can train full-time Spirit Planters. That'll help us prepare to cultivate Psionicists on a large scale."
Refining Essence into Qi consumed a lot of Psionic Plants. They needed to prepare in advance.
"Big bro, isn't that a waste?" Wei Peng complained. "We're talking about Psionicists! Don't give me a few? Our ground forces need talent like that!"
"Get real. We've already got Transformers, and you still want Psionicists?" Link rolled his eyes.
"Psionic Warships can only reach their full potential with Psionicists aboard. We've got plenty of Psionic Warships in the regiment—we're just short on people who can pilot them. Get it?"
"Exactly. We got thirty-two NPC Psionicists this time, but there really aren't any to spare." Lin Zhichen nodded.
"A Hydroponic Farm that can supply Psionic Plants for over a thousand people needs at least ten Psionic Apprentices tending to it full-time. I plan to set up one for now.
"The rest will be trained as captains, so we can prepare personnel for future Psionic Warships."
"Damn, that's a big investment." Wei Peng muttered, but said nothing more.
Compared to the already well-hidden underground base, strengthening the fleet was the better choice.
"Fine. Since we've already made the plan, let's carry it out step by step." Lin Zhichen smiled. Wu Tianyi's proposal had laid out everything they needed to do in the coming period.
It had to be said: when running a major power, having a deputy who was skilled at domestic affairs saved him a lot of trouble.
In the Solar System, deep in the darkness of space, a Micro Fleet was heading toward the Kuiper Belt.
One massive vessel, over eighteen kilometers long, drew the most attention. By comparison, the Escort Ships and Destroyers accompanying it seemed as inconsequential as hyenas beside an elephant.
Suddenly, a ripple spread through the nearby space, and the "Tengshe" emerged from the depths of space.
Half an hour later, the Escort Fleet, which had dispersed across the surrounding starfield, witnessed another remarkable sight. The tiny "Tengshe" and the eighteen-kilometer-long "Giant Whale" sank together, slowly vanishing into space.
Light-years away, near Dakan I, the "Tengshe" and the "Giant Whale" appeared at the same time. In a matter of moments, they had completed a space voyage that would normally have taken months.
That was the value of Space Jump. It was equally useful for travel and combat.
After several round trips, they had moved the Meteor Mercenary Group's fleet to the Dakan System. The "Giant Whale," now stationed in orbit around Dakan I, had already begun its work.
Inside its enormous hull, a vast industrial complex sprang into operation. All kinds of alloys were cast, and finished components were placed together, then loaded onto Transport Ships and sent to the underground base.
At the same time, in orbit around Dakan I, a Particle Light Spear that had just been manufactured was being integrated with a Transformer.
The original starship form rapidly disassembled into an octopus-like Mechanical Monster, which coiled around the Particle Light Spear.
Wherever it passed, the Transformer's body covered the external ports on the Particle Light Spear. Once everything was complete, an iron fortress shaped like a disc floated in space.
"It's not just the Particle Light Spear. There are also three small '007' Electromagnetic Cannons. They must be the original weapons from the Frigate," Link quickly realized.
"Not only that. According to the AllSpark, it can fully activate a Frigate—even an upgraded Frigate." Wei Peng pointed at one of the Transformers.
"Look at that one. It was the first Transformer to appear. It can now mount five small turrets, two more than the original model!"
"Silicon-based lifeforms really can grow on their own." Wu Tianyi marveled. "I think the growth limit for these Transformers is probably the fifth-generation Frigate!"
What did a fifth-generation Frigate mean?
It had forty-eight turrets alone. Though they were all small, with Grandmaster-level skills boosting them, their power nearly matched that of large turrets. In terms of firepower, even a standard Battleship couldn't compare!
"Bzzzt~"
Energy surged, and an invisible Gravity Field formed, pointing the cannon's muzzle at the star. A searing beam shot out from the star and entered the muzzle.
Only an energy-based main cannon fitted with Blazing Star Radiance could draw Stellar Energy from a star using a Gravity Field.
In just one minute, the Particle Light Spear had finished charging. But instead of firing, it channeled the energy it had gathered through the Gravity Field and converted it into Energy Coins—in effect, solid blocks of energy.
"One Energy Coin per hour, or twenty-four a day." Wu Tianyi smiled.
"I heard the Federation has special solar-collecting films, spread across hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. They only produce a few dozen or maybe a hundred Energy Coins a month. That's still less efficient than our main cannon!"
"It's not the same. Solar films collect sunlight, and their efficiency is limited. Blazing Star Radiance directly devours stellar matter, so it's much more powerful than solar films." Lin Zhichen smiled.
"Otherwise, why would technology be called the primary productive force? This one main cannon alone generates enough Energy Coins every month to supply one and a half Frigates!"
"Beep beep~"
As they spoke, his Holographic Projection bracelet rang. He glanced down and saw a familiar name calling.
"It's a rare pleasure to have a beauty thinking of me. I'm overjoyed." Lin Zhichen opened the call and teased her.
"You're certainly taking your time." Conilia's half-body projection rolled her eyes cutely. "I've got bad news. Someone's investigating the source of NZT-50."
"Sounds like the problem's on your end?" Lin Zhichen's voice was mild, betraying no emotion.
Conilia sighed. "It is my fault. She's my business rival. We were evenly matched, but then NZT-50 appeared, giving me the upper hand in the competition.
"She couldn't sit still after that and started investigating the source everywhere. I took precautions early and temporarily diverted her attention to the Anlan Tribe. But at this point, I doubt she'll be satisfied until she finds you."
"Heh. Maybe it's a good thing if she finds me. One more channel means one more friend." Lin Zhichen's expression was hard to read.
"You're really shameless. You got what you wanted, and now you're acting like you don't know me." Conilia pouted. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Her family's power is mainly in the military. They're not as easy to deal with as I am."
"How much longer can you keep her busy?" Lin Zhichen asked. He liked her, and had no plans to find another partner in the near future.
"Three months. Maybe not even that long." Conilia shook her head.
"That should be enough. But I need some help," Lin Zhichen said. "A large amount of mineral Raw Material, along with some advanced metallurgical equipment.
"Most importantly, I need military fortress blueprints, from military Starports to Interstellar Fortresses. A Space Fortress would be ideal!"
"Dream on! Military fortress blueprints are strictly controlled by the military. Forget a Level 3 Space Fortress—even Level 2 Interstellar Fortresses are out of reach!" Conilia grumbled.
"The Anlan Tribe's military and the Human Federation military have signed an agreement. Sensitive equipment, whether completed or just blueprints, can only be bought or sold under a formal contract.
"If we're caught trading privately, we'll both be in trouble!
"Mineral Raw Material and metallurgical equipment are no problem, though. Send me an address, and I'll deliver them wherever you are."
"Then what do you suggest? My Secret Base is already built, but its defenses are lacking. If a powerful enemy attacks, all our efforts could go to waste." Lin Zhichen spread his hands, tossing the problem back to her.
"If that's the case, I can give you a contact for the Federation black market." Conilia thought it over before answering.
"You know how it is: where there's profit, there's competition. Everyone looks respectable in public, but who knows what goes on behind the scenes?
"Some people need restricted goods but have no legitimate way to get them. If they're willing to pay a high price, there's always a market. That's how the underground black market came about."
"Got it. Send it over." Lin Zhichen replied.
The call ended, and a website arrived shortly afterward, along with a complicated access code.
"Big bro, does that mean we only have two months? 0.1" Wu Tianyi and the others, who had overheard the conversation, grew serious. If this news got out, a storm would follow.
"Two months is actually enough." Lin Zhichen entered the verification code as he spoke casually.
"We had no need to do this before, but if we can't find anything suitable on the black market, we can search this system. We'll hit a few more Rebel Army bases. I refuse to believe we can't find a military port blueprint."
The black market in the Interstellar Era was different from the old kind. It existed as a darknet. Getting access required not only complex security checks but also a reliable recommender.
With the referral Conilia had provided, Lin Zhichen quickly registered a new identity and opened the mysterious network.
The countless listings displayed in the Holographic Projection immediately dazzled them.
"NPC Psionicists on clearance! Apprentice-level, 5,000 Energy Coins each; Warrior-level, 100,000 each!"
"Tachyon Crystal on sale! Thirty Energy Coins per unit, unlimited supply. Cash on delivery, honest prices!"
"Anlan Tribe beauties, graceful and skilled in bed. Only 1,000 Energy Coins—don't miss out!"
"Bsd-1099 Superalloy formula, with industrial production-line blueprints. 200,000 Energy Coins for the set. Serious buyers only. Bargain hunters, get lost!"
The group stared at the listings filling the screen, stunned.
So this was the fabled, mysterious darknet?
It looked more like a bustling street market!
"Search for military ports or fortresses!" Lin Zhichen searched, and several virtual shops soon appeared among the results.
He opened one shop at random and saw a dense array of blueprints. The sight made everyone's hearts skip a beat.
"Holy crap, they even have Titan blueprints?!" Link wiped away drool that wasn't really there, his voice full of the tenderness one might reserve for a goddess.
Heaven knew he had never shown such tenderness toward any woman.
"Big bro, look at this!" Wei Peng looked alarmed, as if something had shocked him.
Lin Zhichen turned to look, and his gaze sharpened.
"Sky Pillar Fortress Blueprint
Specifications: 95 kilometers
Construction Requirements: Upgrade from Interstellar Fortress
Before you continue