Translator: CinderTL
Tiger Soul Research Institute.
Training Room.
After hanging up the phone, a helpless expression crossed Feng Qi's face.
This was already his twenty-seventh call of the day.
Some time ago, he had returned to Star City Academy and entrusted Bai Fusheng with a mission: to promote Dawn across all the academies in Star City.
In recent weeks, Bai Fusheng had been continuously inviting the academies' administrative staff to experience Dawn.
The feedback from the academies' administrators after trying Dawn had been overwhelmingly positive, causing Feng Qi's external phone to nearly explode with calls.
Principals from various academies were calling daily to order super virtual game pods, even offering to pay 20% above market price for bulk purchases.
Feng Qi had no interest in money.
Selling the virtual game pods at a price point that barely covered costs wasn't about profit.
All the revenue was used to procure resources and subsidize the employees of the Virtual Superfactory, who were working day and night.
He had never intended to profit from super virtual games.
For those on the battlefield, the purpose of life was to fight to the death. Money was merely an external possession; no matter how much one accumulated, it couldn't be taken beyond the grave.
Ideals trumped gold—this was no mere platitude for Feng Qi.
To the fervent requests of the academy administrators, he could only express his regret.
Recently, he had already begun planning the expansion of the Virtual Superfactory.
The Virtual Superfactory, left behind by the Scarlet Research Institute before their retreat into seclusion, was still in its early stages. Even its daily production of virtual game pods couldn't meet the demand within Star City itself.
To transform Dawn into a training ground for soldiers, production capacity was the most critical factor.
To achieve this goal, the military department had been contributing significantly.
In addition to assisting with recruiting workers for the Virtual Superfactory, the military department had also deployed some of its soldiers to the super factory's production lines to accelerate the deployment of the Dawn game.
Feng Qi had a detailed plan for allocating the upcoming virtual game pods.
He intended to first satisfy 30% of each academy's quota requests.
The remaining allocations would be determined through competition.
A monthly ranked match would be held, with academies competing as units in hundred-person team battles. There would be no limit to the number of teams each academy could enter. The final allocation of virtual game pods would be based on the academies' overall rankings.
This approach would tie the allocation of virtual game pods to the honor of each academy.
He believed that competition would drive more efficient progress.
As he pondered these plans, his phone rang.
Answering the call, he discovered it was Dean Qi of Tiger Soul Academy.
"Dean Qi, what can I do for you?"
"Feng Qi, the expansion of the Virtual Superfactory is already underway. Recently, its energy consumption has surged, exceeding the capacity of the original power lines. We need to connect a new energy line to support its ongoing operations. I'm too busy to go myself, but as the highest-ranking authority at the Tiger Soul Research Institute, you have the authority to sign the necessary documents. Please represent the institute and sign the agreement at the Energy Research Institute."
After hearing Dean Tiger Soul's explanation, Feng Qi immediately nodded.
"Understood. I'll leave right away."
Hanging up, Feng Qi stood up and headed to the private quarters in the training room.
After showering and changing into fresh clothes, he walked out of the headquarters building while dialing a number.
A few seconds later, the call connected.
"Arrange a vehicle for me. I need to go to the Energy Research Institute."
"Understood," the staff member from the Tiger Soul Research Institute's affiliated combat team responded immediately.
By the time Feng Qi stepped out of the headquarters gate, a Tiger Soul military vehicle was already waiting.
The window rolled down, and a fully armed man wearing sunglasses nodded at him before pressing a button to open the car door.
As Feng Qi climbed into the vehicle, the Tiger Soul military vehicle pulled away from the base entrance and headed toward Star City's West District.
Star City's four major districts each had its own distinct characteristics.
The West District's primary industries revolved around energy, supplying electricity, natural gas, and other resources to the other districts.
The research institutes located in the West District also focused primarily on energy research.
For example, Feng Qi's destination was the Energy Research Institute.
After a four-hour journey, the Tiger Soul military vehicle came to a halt outside the Energy Research Institute's base gate.
Feng Qi disembarked.
The air quality here was noticeably worse than in the East District. As he gazed toward the Energy Research Institute's base, he saw thick smoke billowing from several factories, and a strange odor permeated the air.
In modern society, spirit stone power plants had been developed.
However, Star City's spirit stone allocation prioritized research institutes like Scarlet and Tiger Soul, leaving only the remaining resources for the West District's energy research institutes.
This meant that the scale of pure, clean-energy spirit stone power plants could never be expanded.
Star City's electricity supply still relied primarily on nuclear and thermal power plants.
As for wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, their development was limited by geographical constraints and could not be widely adopted within Star City.
The research institutes in each district were particularly heavy energy consumers.
Spirit stone power plants alone could not meet the daily energy demands of Star City's research institutes and residents.
Arriving at the entrance of the Energy Research Institute, Feng Qi underwent a facial scan by security personnel and was granted entry.
He was then escorted by a staff member to the institute's headquarters.
As they ascended to the third floor, Feng Qi noticed many passing researchers wearing special grade experimental suit, their bodies completely sealed off.
This didn't surprise him.
The Energy Research Institute's projects weren't limited to generating electricity and other forms of energy; they also conducted research on new materials.
For example, if a new spirit material or spirit stone, not found in existing databases, was discovered within the Domain Field, it would be sent to the institute for "analysis and research."
The institute would then assign various ratings to the material, such as spirit mineral hardness, spiritual energy content, and spiritual energy quality, recording the data in the Star City Database before sharing it with the databases of the Five Great Cities.
Researching new materials was fraught with risks.
Some spirit ores, for instance, emitted intense radiation with extreme penetrating power. Ordinary protective suits offered no defense against this radiation, and proximity could damage the human body's immune system, inducing chronic radiation sickness similar to leukemia.
Approaching highly radioactive spirit minerals could cause rapid physical decay and death within a short time.
Beyond the radiation hazards associated with certain spirit minerals, research into new spirit plants also carries significant risks.
Cases of researchers being killed by spirit plants are not only documented but surprisingly common.
For example, three crimson plants were once sent to the Energy Research Institute. During analysis of their properties, the plants rapidly grew, ultimately devouring two researchers alive.
By the time security personnel arrived and dissected the plants, the swallowed researchers had been completely dissolved, leaving not even bones behind.
Pioneering explorers inevitably face numerous challenges, but many crucial lessons are learned through such bloody experiences.
The Energy Research Institute's special grade experimental suit have undergone multiple revisions, all aimed at preventing potential hazards during research into new materials.
Arriving at the Dean's Office on the third floor, the staff member departed. Feng Qi stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a gentle female voice called from within.
Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered.
(End of the Chapter)
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