The meeting room instantly erupted in discussion.
"Completed?!"
"So soon?"
"Wonderful! Our technological capabilities are about to take another huge leap!"
The smile on Qian Zhenhua's face grew broader. Beaming, he raised a hand to quiet everyone's cheers.
"This was planned long ago."
"This time, we're choosing the high-strength heat-resistant alloy formula, self-replicating robot technology, and the Robot Algorithm Training Library."
Zheng Jinren paused, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Elder Qian, why aren't we choosing the warp drive space-folding preliminary theory?"
"Our spaceships currently travel at six percent of the speed of light, while the Kona Civilization's travel at ten percent. That gap means we won't be able to catch up to them for a very long time."
"Even if we catch up and reach ten percent, we'll have to wait until we become a level-three civilization before we have any chance of reaching higher speeds. After all, accelerating a spaceship to those speeds requires a terrifying amount of energy, along with comprehensive improvements to spaceship technology."
"And isn't the warp drive a ready-made shortcut? Why not take it?"
Qian Zhenhua smiled and shook his head.
"That's not how you should look at it. You've only seen the shortcut, not the cost."
"First, this is only theory, not an actual device. We'd still have to research it ourselves after getting it, and that would take a very long time."
"Second, with the Demon Clan eyeing us hungrily, improving our strength must take priority in everything. However good the warp drive may be, it won't amount to anything for years."
He paused and adjusted his glasses.
"Third, and most importantly."
"With our current technological foundation, we simply can't make headway on warp drive research. Forcing the project through would only waste resources."
"Why not let the Kona Civilization research it themselves? Besides,