Project Launch

With things on track, Su Ming began setting up the project team. He first appointed Newman as the project manager for the tunnel project.

"Shouldn't you be in charge?" Newman, somewhat puzzled.

"I've never done engineering before," Su Ming said. "And this is a large-scale project. Would I be stupid enough not to use your title of engineering master?"

Even on Earth, digging such a tunnel would require a huge amount of manpower and resources. At the suggestion of the Dodder Group, Su Ming set up an execution department based on a project model.

His personal energy is limited, so he must focus on those irreplaceable tasks.

Newman for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright, then I'll handle the personnel organization and construction plan."

"The technology and machinery section belongs to me and Scholar Bay Owl; we'll define it as the Technology Department," Su Ming continued, making arrangements.

"Okay," Zijin replied.

"Younier." Su Ming turned to the young clerk who was diligently taking meeting minutes.

Younier looked up at the sound.

"You will be responsible for establishing the general administration department, and will be in charge of project data organization and material allocation."

"Okay!" Younier replied crisply.

"Benedict, your team is classified as the Exploration Department," Su Ming continued, assigning tasks. "I won't go into detail about this role. Additionally, you'll be responsible for the prefabrication of concrete pipes."

"Yes, Your Excellency Su Ming!" replied the leader of the technical support team arranged by Dafulin.

"Qiluo," Su Ming said.

The unicorn pricked up its ears in surprise. "Huh? I have a mission too?"

"You'll be in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture," Su Ming assigned.

"Oh, oh, growing vegetables for everyone to eat!" Qiluo exclaimed suddenly, "You just had to tell me, it's a gardener's job. I can even brew wine for you!"

Su Ming didn't explain much; he wanted to grow small mushrooms. The ethylene oxide needed for the Cloud Arrow 1000 bunker-buster thermobaric bomb would have to come from the Unicorn.

"Hansite, logistics department, your specific tasks include providing food, clothing, and lodging," Su Ming continued. "Of course, you'll still be in charge of those bear-men."

Since acquiring a guitar and death metal, this old bard has been completely reborn, bringing these bear-men under his thumb.

Su Ming even regretted agreeing to Dafulin's request so easily, and handing the bear-man over to her afterwards.

"Yes, Mr. Su," Hansite replied.

"Healer Jielusi, Medical Department"

"Yes, Your Excellency Su Ming."

"Rupert, Bowers," Su Ming continued, making the arrangements.

As an instructor, Rupert had already established his authority within the necromancer group. After several interactive scenes, Bowers naturally became the group's "representative."

"You are responsible for the First Construction Regiment. You will also allocate human resources as needed by other departments."

"Okay!" they both replied at the same time.

****

The main carriage was divided into office areas for various departments, and each team moved in and began preliminary preparations. Everyone started arranging materials, stationery, and tools.

A large printer was placed in the public area, printing drawings and other documents non-stop.

Although the alien natives can't type, the photocopying function is easy to use. This is very popular; documents only need to be handwritten or drawn once to be distributed infinitely.

Everyone read the project documents, discussed the detailed plans, and created various icons and task sheets.

As a seasoned project leader, Newman arranged everything in an orderly manner, so Su Ming didn't need to worry about it.

Su Ming collected some data and then switched his focus to Earth.

A tunnel excavation project team was also established here, but it works in a digital virtual model. Experienced tunnel engineers collaborate with modeling programmers to create construction technical plans in real time based on the progress of the virtual world, and provide comprehensive reference and consultation.

The Dodder Group is responsible for coordinating the provision of general technical information and civilian equipment.

Su Ming briefly aligned the progress on both sides and handed over the data.

"The tunnel's inner diameter is confirmed to be 1.8 meters," Su Ming explained. "This is a standard requirement for one-way carriage passage in that other world."

As for two-way traffic, Su Ming wouldn't worry about it. Princess Dafulin could implement time-based management, and she could even dig out passing points at intervals.

Su Ming then submitted some geological exploration results, "These were collected by the survey team during the previous Green Bridge Hanging River project. They will conduct further detailed exploration and verification."

Dodder provided Su Ming with a standardized form. "This is the geological data we need. You can use this if it's convenient."

"Okay, I'll coordinate." Su Ming summoned the form to the other world and quickly browsed the requirements.

"Don't you want to take a break?" Dodder asked. "I've seen you've been busy for quite a while."

"No, attending meetings and assigning tasks isn't tiring at all!" Su Ming replied. "It feels great to pass the buck and not have to do everything myself!"

****

Bubing City, the Governor's Residence.

A letter sealed with magic was respectfully presented to Princess Dafulin by a servant. She broke the seal, unfolded the letter, and revealed a look of utter astonishment.

The letter was jointly signed by Katharine and Su Ming, requesting her to send a letter to the headquarters of the Temple of Light in the name of the Cold Mountain Kingdom, informing them that the Plundering Clock was about to attack the Divine Might Prison.

Dafulin pondered for a moment, unable to understand the two men's purpose, so she summoned Emilio, the defense chief of the Bubing Province.

Emilio read the letter and also looked puzzled. "Intentionally alerting the enemy and making the prison break more difficult?"

Dafulin murmured, "How could these two foxes not know the consequences of doing this?"

Emilio pondered for a moment, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Your Highness, the consequence we feared is exactly what they expected."

"Then their ambitions..." Dafulin rubbed her forehead, "Are much bigger than I imagined!"

"This move is also in our favor," Emilio analyzed. "It will further weaken the Temple of Light's ability to interfere in the affairs of the Sacred Mountain afterward."

This reason was irrefutable, and Dafulin made her decision. "As they demand, immediately send a letter to the Temple of Light headquarters."

The two quickly drafted a lengthy and meticulously worded communication, outlining the evidence of the "Plundering Clock" activities discovered in the Northern Lands and emphasizing that they had intercepted intelligence that the organization intended to attack the Divine Might Prison.

****

The Radiant Holy City Milan, home to the Milan Cathedral and the headquarters of the Temple of Light.

When this urgent dispatch was presented to Pope Augustus, the leader of the most powerful church in the other world frowned deeply.

More than a dozen cardinals and the speaker were immediately summoned to the council chamber to discuss the matter.

"Our immediate priority is to intercept the Bone King and Bay Owl's group as they leave the Northern Lands," a cardinal in a scarlet robe spoke first. "The Divine Might Prison and the Sea of Divine Grace are heavily guarded; how could a mere small cult possibly breach them? Have the Tribunal send more men to continue the pursuit."

However, dissenting opinions immediately arose. "We must not underestimate them! Since the Plundering Clock can nurture Saint Rank being like Yexiya, it is very likely that it is hiding other powerful individuals of the same level."

"So what if the attackers are Saint Rank?" the previous bishop scoffed. "The Divine Might Prison's defenses have withstood the test of time and have never been breached!"

Cardinal Bulameike raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. "The first question we need to ask is why the Northern Lands Branch didn't report such an important matter?"

The priest in charge of the communication array quickly contacted the Northern Lands Branch and sent an inquiry letter.

Shortly after, the cardinal in charge of the Northern Lands Branch responded, reporting that the branch had not engaged the Plundering Clock.

However, the Northern Lands Tribunal squad, under Katharine's intervention, did indeed dispatch an elite team. It was learned that they were all injured and were currently en route back to Bubing City.

"It's Katharine!" the cardinal murmured.

However, he didn't say much. Although Katharine had overstepped her authority to interfere in the affairs of the Northern Lands, her fight with the Plundering Clock couldn't be considered a fundamental mistake.

This was likely a decision she made on the spot after discovering relevant intelligence.

"Katharine is now the Empress of the Stars; we don't need to criticize her for this," commented a cardinal.

"This matter is indeed insignificant, since the ones who suffer the losses are from Northern Stream," another cardinal said. "Using them to weaken the cult will not do us any harm."

Later, after receiving the news, Katharine also submitted a detailed report, explaining the whole story: Originally, she sent out a team only to track down the buyer of the missing girl case in the Northern Lands, but unexpectedly discovered that the Plundering Clock was behind it, and unfortunately a battle ensued.

In the communication, Katharine was vague and ambiguous about the combat strength of the Plundering Clock, and at the same time stated that she had not discovered the Plundering Clock's purpose in coming to the Northern Lands.

"Katharine!" Speaker Bulameike slammed his hand on the table. "She's practically hoping we'll be caught off guard and face a Saint Rank enemy!"

This little scheme was immediately obvious, and Pope Augustus wholeheartedly agreed, "Based on our investigations over this period, the Plundering Clock is extremely cunning. Since they dared to set their sights on the Divine Might Prison, they must have something to rely on. Katharine is deliberately concealing this, hoping to cause us both to suffer heavy losses!"

The Council of Cardinals immediately issued a task for investigation and verification. By evening, after gathering information from various sources, both overt and covert, the Council of Cardinals finally confirmed several key facts: the Plundering Clock had indeed been buying up young girls on a large scale in the Northern Lands and had clashed fiercely with the elite Northern Stream team that was trying to rescue them, resulting in serious casualties for the latter.

Jielusi, the most outstanding healer among the elite commoners of Northern Stream, has also disappeared, presumably killed in the conflict.

The atmosphere in the council chamber was somewhat somber. The temple was going through a turbulent time, and to make matters worse, the powerful enemy, the Plundering Clock, arrived with immense malice.

"We can order the Northern Lands to send out its elite forces to hunt down ' The Plundering Clock '!" said Speaker Bulameike.

As Divine Covenant Faction, their first thought is always to eliminate dissidents within the organization. Soon, they will also carry out multiple rounds of purges in the Northern Lands, annihilating these lowly commoners who dare to plunder the divine glory.

"What about the defenses on the Sea of Sea of Divine Grace side?" a cardinal asked with great concern.

As an academy with a special location, the achievements of Sacred Mountain Sea of Divine Grace are obvious to all.

The learning atmosphere among the second and third generation descendants of the gods who were forcibly sent there was completely renewed, and their progress in academics and strength was remarkably rapid compared to before.

This greatly pleased the leaders of the Divine Covenant Faction.

However, the unique geographical location of the Sacred Mountain also brought enormous logistical pressure. The thousand necromancers and various prisoners held in the Divine Might Prison greatly made up for this deficiency, providing a cheap labor force for the Sea of Divine Grace.

Whether it's to protect the second generation of the Sea of Divine Grace or to stop the kidnapping of the Divine Might Prison, they cannot stand idly by.

After discussion, the Council of Cardinals finally reached a resolution: to dispatch Hector, one of the three Saint Rank of the Church of the God of Light, the Hector the Radiant Chanter, to the Divine Might Prison immediately to strengthen its defenses!

****

Youth Civilization.

By the afternoon, the loading of 400 tons of cement and other supplies had been successfully completed. Everyone was outside conducting pre-departure checks on the train. The setting sun, with its slightly diminished halo, cast a warm glow on the exterior of the carriages.

On the train, the original kitchen has been expanded, and a second one has been built and allocated separately for the use of the First Construction Regiment.

Considering basic etiquette, Su Ming decided to arrange a sumptuous dinner for the project team members as a form of hospitality and courtesy.

There's no need to First Construction Regiment here. The current food standard is already quite good—there's plenty of staple food, plus soy milk, fresh vegetables, and meat; any extra meals would be superfluous.

Su Ming walked into the food warehouse and searched around, but didn't find anything particularly good, except for that pile of caviar, which could be considered a delicacy.

Su Ming counted them and found that there were still nine cans left.

He clearly remembered that he had bought ten cans, so there should be seven cans now. Su Ming quickly noticed that two of the cans were different. Su Ming looked them over and over, but there were no markings on them, only a handwritten "Fish 1" and "Fish 2" by the clerk Younier.

He held it in his hand and weighed it in his hand, deciding to go find Younier and ask her for clarification.

But as soon as she stepped out of the warehouse, a gust of wind swept past her, and the can in her hand vanished. In the distance, a green-haired figure stopped triumphantly, one of the cans already firmly in her hand.

"Hehe!" Qiluo laughed, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. "Everyone gets a share!"

"Hey!" Su Ming hurriedly reminded him, "That doesn't look like caviar. I was just about to ask Younier about it."

Qiluo looked suspiciously at the can in her hand, as if to return it, but then suddenly withdrew her hand and took several steps back. "You think I'd believe that?"

"I'm not lying to you," Su Ming said. "That should be canned fish, not caviar."

"Fish would be even better!" Qiluo was even happier to hear this. "I love eating fish the most!"

She immediately reverted to her unicorn form, tossed the can into the air, caught it, and announced indistinctly, "I'll enjoy tonight's dinner early!"

She gripped the can with her forelegs, nimbly twisted it, and her sharp teeth cleanly sliced the metal can open.

"Pfft--"

With a rush of air, a whole can of grayish, murky liquid, mixed with milky-white fish pieces covered in silver membranes, was poured into the unicorn's mouth.

Even though they were quite far apart, Su Ming felt an extremely aggressive odor sweeping over him from the carriage – the pungent smell of strong ammonia, the rich aroma of rotten cheese, the fishy smell, and the stench unique to some over-fermented protein.

The scent seemed to have a physical form, instantly filling the entire space around him and penetrating into Su Ming's nasal cavity.

"Vomit--"

He couldn't resist at all and vomited immediately.

The unicorn rolled wildly on the ground, letting out heart-wrenching howls. The next moment, she smashed through the carriage wall with astonishing speed, rushed into the snow and began frantically wiping her mouth with the snow. In no time, she dug a large, messy snow pit like a startled wild boar rooting in the ground.

Su Ming staggered out of the carriage. Several priests saw him and intended to help him up, but they all stopped a few steps away and covered their noses in horror.

Younier also rushed over, looking somewhat bewildered at the scene.

"Why... why... are there... canned herring in the warehouse?!"

Su Ming covered his nose, pointed to the pool of murky, grayish liquid on the workshop floor, and questioned Younier through gritted teeth.

"It's a free gift from the boss!" Younier explained timidly. "We bought ten jars of top-grade caviar, so it's normal to ask for some freebies, right?"

"... But why choose herring!" Su Ming finally calmed down a bit.

"You're only paying for eight out of ten, and they're even throwing in two cans of herring..." Younier nervously twisted her fingers. "I think... it's already a great deal..."

Hansite also arrived upon hearing the news. Seeing the horrific scene on the ground, he surprisingly showed a regretful expression, "The entire jar, all eaten by Qiluo?"

Su Ming nodded.

Admiration immediately flashed in the eyes of everyone present. When they looked at the unicorn still howling and rolling in the snow, their gazes were filled with respect for the warrior.

Rupert walked over and saw the remaining can of food in Su Ming's hand. "Hmm, give it to me. I've thought of a use for it."

Su Ming tossed the can of food into Rupert's hand with a look of disgust.

The necromancers of the First Construction Regiment shuddered when they saw their instructor take the remaining can of food.

****

The next day, the entire carriage was still filled with a lingering, fishy stench. The smell was like a stubborn ghost, clinging tightly to clothes, hair, and everything it had touched, persistently lingering and refusing to leave.

Su Ming has abandoned this carriage—now no one wants to come within ten meters of it.

Qiluo had truly suffered this time, lying listlessly in her room, unable even to muster any interest in her favorite sausages. Hansite came in carrying a small bucket filled halfway with a warm, white liquid.

"Here, have some milk," Hansite said with concern, placing the bucket in front of her.

With her sense of smell still not fully restored, Qiluo cautiously looked at the wooden tub. She first stuck out her tongue and carefully tasted it, and only after confirming it was safe did she sip the water. This was the first time she had eaten in twenty-four hours, and as she drank, large tears began to fall down her cheeks.

Even Su Ming felt a pang of guilt upon seeing it.

Younier wanted to go over and comfort her, but he grabbed her arm. "Don't go over there! She finally managed to get eating; if she sees you again, she'll get stressed!"