(Bonus chapter 16/50, with thanks to Son of the Round Clam, Pete Griffin for his donation.)
Li Qinwu spent two affectionate days with his family, then killed himself by sitting down in a squat and returned to the Golden Land, where he found the Iron Skull Archmagos conducting research in the mechanical laboratory.
The Iron Skull Archmagos seemed to be working on some kind of micro-engraving. He appeared to be trying to carve information into adamantium with a laser, looking rather like he was making an STC Template by hand.
Li Qinwu stood behind him and waited. It took two whole fucking hours before the bastard finally put down his work and turned to face him.
"Flesh worm, I told you, I will not work for you until the Titan Project takes its next step. So stop bothering me!"
He was incredibly arrogant and haughty, as though he were still the Industrial World's archmagos.
Li Qinwu curled his lip and said bluntly:
"That's exactly what I came to talk to you about."
He then explained his plan to build a nuclear industrial chain on Agricultural Planet 496b's moon and laid out his predicament.
"If we seek help and buy equipment from 496a Industrial World through normal trade and industrial cooperation, it'll take fifty years to build the nuclear industrial chain we need on Agricultural World 496B's moon!
I can't wait that long, and I'm sure you don't want to either, right?"
Red light flickered in the Iron Skull Archmagos's mechanical eyes as he stared at Li Qinwu.
"So, flesh worm, what do you want me to do?"
Li Qinwu rubbed his hands together.
"You were the archmagos of 496A, after all. Over all those years in office, countless riches passed through your hands.
Besides your wealth, there's your technology, your