Chapter 162 — Power Grid Upgrade
S.C. 1511 — Mid March
Hidden Island — Cliffside Base
The morning sun hit the cove with warm brightness, but inside the half-dug Hive corridor, everything was cool and shadowed. Ren walked in carrying a wooden crate with metal brackets sticking out of it.
Kiro and the three subordinates were already there, unloading yesterday's leftover beams and digging tools.
Zemo padded in behind Ren, shaking sand from his paws with unnecessary drama.
Ren set the crate down.
"Today we start the new power grid. Solar and wind both."
Kiro nodded. "You want everything running before the Hive rooms are finished?"
"Yes. Power comes first."
Ren tapped the stone wall.
"No power means no proper tools. No lights. No stable lab. The Hive needs electricity before anything else."
Kiro cracked his knuckles.
"Then let's build a power plant."
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Step 1 — Wind Turbine Base Installation
They climbed the cliffside to the flat ridge where an older, smaller turbine spun unevenly. Ren had built it months ago—functional, but nowhere near enough for the Hive Lab.
The men stared at the crate of massive metal rods.
"These are… big," one subordinate muttered.
Ren nodded.
"It will generate enough mechanical force to charge the new battery bank."
He pointed at the cliff floor.
"Dig here. Circular base. One meter depth."
They got to work.
Ren drew a perfect circle using charcoal and a string compass.
Kiro looked over his shoulder.
"You always draw circles like that?"
"It's faster than guessing."
Zemo dug beside them enthusiastically, flinging dirt everywhere.
Mostly onto Ren's shoes.
Two hours later, the circular pit was complete.
They lowered in:
Three alloy anchor rods
One rotating spindle
A reinforced plate for torque absorption
Ren hammered the foundation into place.
TOK—TOK—TOK
The metal sank perfectly into the rock.
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Step 2 — The New Turbine
They unpacked the turbine blades: six KEA-reinforced panels, lightweight but unbelievably tough.
Kiro lifted one.
"…How does something this thin look stronger than our shovels?"
Ren shrugged.
"It's balanced alloy. Hard to explain."
He attached each blade, checking the angle with his internal calculations.
Zemo lay on his back, staring at the spinning shape like it was a giant toy.
"Ready," Ren said.
The men tightened the central bolt.
Then Ren pushed the blade lightly.
WHOOMPH–WHOOMPH–WHOOMPH
The turbine spun smoothly, catching the sea breeze instantly.
The sound echoed across the ridge.
Kiro grinned.
"That's… fast."
Ren checked the rotation angle.
"Wind is strong enough for 4–6 hours of steady charge every day."
They pulled the wires inside the cliff, leading them toward the Hive corridor.
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Step 3 — Solar Array v2
Next was the solar.
Ren set out the new glass panels—he had refined these in Foosha using heat-treated sand and polished backing.
"Place them in two rows," he instructed.
Kiro and the subordinates set the frames.
Ren mounted the panels, aligning them carefully.
Angles: 29 degrees.
Facing southeast.
Maximum exposure from morning to noon.
Zemo sat in the shade, panting dramatically—he hated direct sun.
Ren connected the solar wires to a central junction box next to the wind cable.
When both wires met, Ren twisted them into the battery relay.
A faint spark popped.
The new system was live.
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Step 4 — Battery Bank v3
Inside the main corridor, the men opened the last crate.
Eight metal cylinders filled with zinc plates and carbon rods.
Kiro tapped one.
"Heavy."
"Good," Ren replied. "It means more storage."
He placed them in a row, linking the terminals with alloy wires.
Ren checked each connection, tightening the clamps.
"Now," he said quietly, "turn the switch."
Kiro flipped it.
---
Step 5 — First Light in the Hive
The Hive corridor's lantern crystals—salvaged, cleaned, wired—glowed softly.
A pale, steady yellow light spread across the rough stone walls.
Kiro froze.
The subordinates stared open-mouthed.
Ren watched the walls light up one by one.
This was the first time the underground base had real electricity.
Zemo wagged his tail furiously and barked at the glowing wall like it was alive.
---
Step 6 — Fog Network Anchors
With the lights running, Ren led them outside again.
There were thin metal pipes stacked near the cove.
"These are for the fog machines," Ren said.
Kiro raised a brow. "The ones you planned to hide the whole island?"
"Yes. The pipes go around the coastline. Today we place the anchors."
They walked along the rocky edges, hammering small but strong alloy hooks deep into the stone.
Every ten meters.
All around the island's outer ring.
The machines would attach to these later.
The fog would spread naturally, guided by these lines.
It would turn the island into a shifting blur to any outsider.
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Step 7 — Quiet Satisfaction
By sunset, Ren and the others stepped back into the Hive entrance.
Lights hummed.
Air flowed cleanly.
Wind spun the turbine far above.
The base felt different now.
Alive.
Kiro sat down, exhausted.
"How long before all six Hive rooms are done?"
Ren rubbed his wrist thoughtfully.
"We keep working every day. Slowly. Carefully. But with power, everything becomes faster."
Zemo curled beside Ren's leg.
The men nodded, satisfied.
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Nightfall — The Lab Breathes
As the sky darkened, the Hive corridor glowed steadily behind them.
And for the first time, Ren didn't need lantern oil.
He didn't need to worry about darkness.
The base was evolving.
Piece by piece.
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End of Chapter 162