ATDIWR Chapter 124

Chapter 124: The Artificial Planet, Foreign Residents Explode

Ed, Na Boyu, Zhou Fanxiu, Bai Na, and other new and old researchers stared at Ji An in disbelief. Their widened eyes seemed almost ready to pop out of their sockets if they strained just a little more.

It was better for the older researchers like Na Boyu; although they were still occasionally shocked by Ji An’s sudden ideas, they had grown accustomed to it. For the new researchers, led by Ed and other foreign nationals, no matter what treatment they had received after the apocalypse, before the apocalypse, they were top scientists, perhaps even holding the most advanced technology leading the international front, technology that was not available in China before the apocalypse. Because of all this, they still held a certain arrogance regarding scientific technology in their hearts.

“Director Ji, I must say, sometimes there’s a difference between technology and wild fantasy,” Ed, who was once a leading figure in his field, had to step forward and break some of Ji An’s unrealistic fantasies.

“Then before the AI was invented by me, did you ever consider it a wild fantasy?” Ji An retorted.

“That’s different. In fact, before the apocalypse, our country had already started researching AI technology. It wasn’t just baseless fantasy; there was already some initial theoretical and technical support. So, the appearance of the AI didn’t surprise me. I can only say that the AI was an inevitable development for humanity,” Ed shrugged in disagreement, explaining his viewpoint.

“Commander Gu, what is your opinion?”

Gu Jinsheng looked at Ji An. He never avoided showing favor in public. His gaze towards Ji An held blatant favoritism. It seemed that in the entire laboratory, his eyes only saw him, his ears only heard him speak, and his world was only him.

“I believe him,” Gu Jinsheng said as always, concise and sparing with words.

Ed had just arrived at the laboratory and didn’t understand Gu Jinsheng’s character. He couldn’t quite believe that for such an important matter, Gu Jinsheng, the person in charge of Jing Shi Base, would express an opinion so casually. Even someone as crazy as Charles would at least pretend to hold a high-level meeting before making a decision.

Wu Zhenyang, as Ji An’s loyal and unquestioning fan, couldn’t stand Ed questioning Ji An. He said discontentedly, “Researcher Ed, allow me to remind you, you are now a citizen of China.”

Ed thought about his current nationality and couldn’t help but feel ashamed of the words he had blurted out subconsciously. He was very grateful to Jing Shi Base for saving him and his daughter, and he had sworn in his heart that as long as Jing Shi Base didn’t harm his daughter, he would dedicate his life to Jing Shi Base.

But precisely because he held such sincere gratitude, he felt he should approach all scientific research projects with a rigorous attitude. Therefore, he had to stop this absurd wild fantasy no matter what.

What was most lacking in the apocalypse was time. There was no time for them to waste on detours.

Ed looked towards Na Boyu, the only person he still somewhat recognized in the room. The two had had a brief meeting at an international scientific research conference once.

Ed tried to seek help from Na Boyu. In his impression, Na Boyu was a highly skilled and reliable senior researcher.

However, Na Boyu just walked over gently and patted Ed’s shoulder reassuringly. “Although we old-timers also feel that Director Ji’s idea is too unrealistic, we have to add one thing. All the impossible fantasies that Director Ji initially proposed, which seemed unrealistic and unconventional, were ultimately realized, and perfectly realized at that. So, what we need to do now is cooperate with all our might.”

Kong Zhongcheng laughed and patted Ed’s shoulder, “Anyway, this world is already this bad, it can’t get any worse. Why not put in all our effort and strive for an impossible future? If successful, humanity will have a new, completely beautiful future. If we fail, it’s nothing; the final demise is merely the predetermined outcome arranged for humanity by Earth. Humanity ultimately cannot break free from predetermined fate.”

Wan Xueying smiled and said, “I believe in Mr. Ji. He can always create miracles.”

Ed was somewhat confused. “This is too crazy. I don’t know why you are all blindly biased towards Director Ji. Okay, I admit he is very powerful and has created many amazing inventions. But artificially creating a planet suitable for human survival? This is too absurd.”

Ed’s opinion was ultimately not adopted. Ji An organized personnel with clear divisions of labor and prepared for the initial theoretical construction. No matter how impossible Ed felt Ji An’s proposal was, he still approached the work assigned to him with twelve thousand percent seriousness and diligently completed it.

Ji An was very satisfied with this. He didn’t require everyone to believe in him, as long as they were attentive to the tasks he assigned.

The rescue efforts were ongoing, and more and more outstanding talents were being rescued to Jing Shi Base. With the increasing number of top scientists from various fields joining, the idea that initially seemed like a wild fantasy to everyone began to mature at an incredible speed.

And that artificial planet, which was deemed impossible to create, was being created day by day. When it was finally completed, the entire Earth was shaken.

This was not because Ji An and others were showing off, but because the planet was adjacent to Earth, and to facilitate construction, there was a sky ladder between it and Earth.

Researchers could climb from the surface of Earth to the artificial planet via the sky ladder. Now that this artificial planet, almost identical to Earth, had been created, its massive size was bound to have a considerable impact on Earth. The most direct manifestation was that Earth now had two moons.

At first, various parties didn’t take it seriously. It was the apocalypse; nothing strange was surprising. But as this new ‘moon’ took shape bit by bit, various parties finally realized something was wrong. They dispatched various advanced technologies to investigate, but they were blocked by Jing Shi Base one by one. Now that the new planet was born, no one could hide this secret anymore.

The discussions about this matter on the AI remained at the top of the trending topics. Opening the AI, there were overwhelming discussions about this matter.

“Have you heard the news? Ji An seems to have created an artificial planet suitable for human survival?”

“Really? Fake? Our base has been discussing this recently.”

“Of course it’s true. There are two moons in the sky now. How could this be fake?”

“I have a relative at Jing Shi Base. He has inside information. It’s said that this artificial satellite created by Ji An cost an unimaginable figure. That planet is completely constructed to imitate Earth before the apocalypse. The soil and water on it were purified by Earth-type and Water-type Power Users using their abilities before being put on the artificial planet. It is a brand new, clean artificial planet suitable for human habitation, free from any contamination from zombies or other viruses.”

“What the poster above said is true. My daughter currently lives in Jing Shi Base, and she is trying to figure out a way for me to join her. She also told me some things that only internal personnel know. To speed up the completion of this planet, Gu Jinsheng didn’t allow those Power Users to rest, ordering them to use their abilities to purify water, soil, etc., day and night, exhausting many Power Users to death.”

“Poster above, I think your daughter is not at Jing Shi Base, but at M Base. Clearly, they are trying to smear Jing Shi Base. Nowadays, if there is any place where human rights exist, it must be Jing Shi Base. Although Gu Jinsheng is a cold-faced Yama, he respects human life, okay? He wouldn’t use human lives to fill a void.”

“Ah, that’s hard to say. After all, that’s a new planet that can completely distance itself from the zombie virus. Even a god would be hard-pressed not to be tempted.”

“I don’t care whether that planet was built with human lives or not. I just want to know, when people with Chinese nationality all escape to live on that planet, what will happen to us foreign nationals?”

This fierce discussion about the artificial planet eventually turned into foreign residents’ worries about their personal safety. Individuals with ulterior motives mixed in and stirred up trouble.

“Why can people with Chinese nationality immigrate to the artificial satellite, while we foreign nationals cannot? What do Chinese nationals have more than us?”

“Exactly. We are all human lives. Now that disaster is upon us, they are still dividing by nationality. Jing Shi Base’s intentions are punishable! Shouldn’t everyone be united to overcome this great crisis for humanity?”

“Who said Jing Shi Base and Gu Jinsheng have human rights? If they truly had human rights, they should not differentiate based on nationality, and everyone should be able to immigrate to the new planet. Everyone is a spark of human civilization. Back before the apocalypse, wasn’t China the most pretentious, engaging in endangered animal protection? Now humanity is an endangered animal, why not protect them? They are discriminating!”

“Why should we die! Just because we are not of Chinese nationality? Are people who are not Chinese meant to die!!!”

“I don’t care anymore. This time, I will protest and demonstrate no matter what. Jing Shi Base and Gu Jinsheng must give us a satisfactory answer. That artificial planet should not belong exclusively to China. It should belong to every living being on Earth. Including my dog and my cat!”

At the same time, Jing Shi Base was jubilant and celebrating the completion of the artificial planet. Everyone, including Ji An, drank alcohol on this day.

Ed’s face was flushed red from drinking. He raised his wine glass and came up to Ji An to propose a toast. “Director Ji, please forgive my ignorance when I first arrived. I apologize for the foolish things I said and feel deeply ashamed. I truly don’t know how I had the courage to call your ideas wild fantasies. I was the one who was ignorant. If it weren’t for your bold hypothesis, I dare not imagine when humanity would have dared to propose the bold hypothesis of an artificial planet.”

Wu Zhenyang appeared from somewhere. He was dizzy from drinking but did not forget to boast, “I told you long ago, our Director Ji has a magical ability. There is no research he wants to do that he cannot succeed in. Even if those things seem to span eras and surpass the technology currently available to you.”

Ed didn’t feel offended, and even deeply agreed. “Indeed, a good researcher should be like Director Ji, not confined by imagination, but carefully verifying hypotheses. There is still much I need to learn from Director Ji.”

Wu Zhenyang felt completely refreshed as if he himself had been praised. “That’s right. Although you are not bad, there is still a lot you need to learn from Director Ji.”

Ji An just smiled and did not participate in this praise-filled gathering centered around him.

“Thanks to everyone’s tireless efforts over these past two years, we were able to succeed so quickly. Everyone has worked hard. I once again thank everyone on behalf of all life on Earth,” Ji An stood in the middle of the crowd and bowed deeply.

Almost simultaneously, everyone returned the bow in unison. No one dared to accept Ji An’s bow.

“Director Ji, you mustn’t do this. This would be too much for us. Without you, this artificial satellite would never have been completed. When it comes to hard work, who has worked harder than you? Moreover, this is not your personal matter; it concerns the lives of all of us. We absolutely dare not accept such a great present from you,” Na Boyu now completely admired Ji An and no longer had his previous arrogance.

Ji An did not decline. This respect was what he deserved.

“We all worked hard. The bonuses I promised everyone have been sent to everyone’s AI accounts. You can check them when you go back. If there are any discrepancies in the amounts, please communicate with the finance department in time. I wish everyone a pleasant holiday.”

As a main force, Ed received a bonus he dared not imagine. With this money, he took his daughter to play freely in Jing Shi Base and bought her the toys she had been yearning for for a long time.

By the end of the shopping trip, the little girl even started to feel uneasy, thinking her father was too extravagant and wasteful. “Daddy, you are a careless daddy. You are too luxurious. We spent so much money today. Will we still have enough to live on in the future?”

Looking at his daughter’s innocent and lovely face, Ed patiently explained, “Baby, Daddy completed a very remarkable scientific research achievement and received a large bonus. From now on, you don’t have to worry about money and can just be a carefree and happy little princess.”

The little girl frowned. “But it’s not peaceful outside. I went online. The outside world is all jealous of our Jing Shi Base. Will they unite and attack us one day? If Jing Shi Base falls, won’t the money in your AI account be useless, just a pile of numbers again?”

Looking at his daughter’s face, which should have been innocent and carefree, displaying a maturity that didn’t match her age, Ed felt a pang of heartache.

“Don’t be afraid, Daddy has more good news for you. Maybe not long from now, we can move to a new planet to live. It’s as beautiful as before the apocalypse and doesn’t have terrifying zombie viruses.”

“Really?” the little girl asked in surprise.

“Really,” Ed leaned his face against his daughter’s, and tears of relief actually flowed from his eyes. “Daddy is truly lucky to have come to Jing Shi Base and joined the Chinese nationality.”