One month later.
Wang Man anxiously watched the red warning indicator in the Holographic Projection.
Although Zero had adjusted the allocation of computing power, devoting as much as possible to mining and smelting, the fleet was still consuming Base Metals faster than it could replenish them.
Even with the Starship Factory and megastructure engineering slowed as much as possible, the fleet's reserves of Base Metals continued to slide toward the lowest warning threshold.
"Beep!"
A crisp notification sounded from the speakers, breaking the silence in the office.
"Academician Wang Man, a message has arrived from the starship factory."
"Special order manufacturing progress: the Planet-Busting Starship [Vermilion Bird] has been fully assembled and is undergoing final factory inspections."
"Good!" At the news, the gloom on Wang Man's face vanished, replaced by a hopeful smile of relief.
He released his Electromagnetic Adhesion Device, stood up, and paced around the office a few times.
Then he opened a document in the Holographic Projection and carefully checked it again.
After confirming that nothing had been overlooked, he said in a deep voice:
"Zero, contact Professor Lü for me. The [Vermilion Bird] is nearly complete. The fleet can prepare to begin mining!"
"Understood!"
After the electronic synthesized voice sounded, Wang Man excitedly opened the specifications for the Planet-Busting Starship [Vermilion Bird].
As he gazed at its magnificent, fiery-red contours, a hint of fascination appeared in his eyes.
With Base Metals in critically short supply, most of the materials used to build the [Vermilion Bird] had come from melting down old starships, so as not to disrupt other projects.
But this had done nothing to diminish the [Vermilion Bird]'s imposing, aggressive appearance, nor had it compromised its structural strength.
True to its name, the Planet-Busting Starship [Vermilion Bird] resembled a great bird spreading its wings in