Orb Union
As night fell, the streets of Orleans were still bustling with people. The summer evening's heat had yet to dissipate, and tiny insects danced in the halos of the streetlights. Nangong Wentian stood by the window of his apartment, holding a thick stack of documents, checking them page by page in the light from outside.
It was the registration paperwork for the Colossus Group.
The company's articles of association, business plan, capital verification certificate, office lease agreement, Kijima Takashi's identification documents... He had checked each one repeatedly, every page numbered and versioned. Yet, he still wasn't at ease. On the eve of the registration day, he had taken them out to review once more.
Tomorrow, Kijima Takashi would walk into the Corporate Registration Bureau in Orb's capital and submit these materials. Tomorrow, the "Colossus Group" would officially be born.
He flipped to the articles of association, his gaze settling on Article Seven. It was a special "Intellectual Property Ownership Clause," written in obscure legal jargon, but its core meaning was singular—all core technology patents belonged to the "Anonymous Technical Consultant," not the corporate entity.
This clause had been drafted by a professional lawyer he had paid a hefty sum to hire. It wasn't a matter of distrusting Kijima Takashi, but rather about building a firewall within the legal framework. Even if someone investigated the Colossus Group in the future, even if Kijima Takashi were interrogated, this clause would ensure the core technologies would not be exposed.
He then turned to the business plan. The public business sections were written in detail and professionally: new energy technology development, aerospace infrastructure construction, solar power station optimization... Each item had thorough market analysis and financial projections. This plan was enough to excite any investor.
But the secret R&D portion was not written down at all.
Those contents concerning E-Carbon Armor, Gundanium Alloy, and GN Drives existed only within the encrypted folders of the "Star Core" and within his own mind. They would never appear on any official document.
A burst of laughter came from the street outside. He looked down to see several children chasing and playing under a streetlight, holding ice cream cones, their faces full of innocent smiles.
He thought of the children at the orphanage. He remembered Xiao Guang's concentration as he lay beside him looking at circuit diagrams, Sayuri's sweetness as she sang while holding a doll, and Xiao Wu's curiosity when he pointed at the night sky and asked, "Are there people on the stars?"
"Wait for me," he whispered. "When I succeed, I'll come back for you."
He withdrew his gaze and continued checking the documents.
The capital verification certificate was the most troublesome part. According to Orb's corporate law, the registered capital required at least 5 million Orb Yuan. He had the money—the 8 million from selling the alloy formula, after financial management and appreciation, now amounted to over 12 million. But the problem was, he was only 14 years old and had no legal identity to hold these funds.
The solution was an offshore account. Through three layers of anonymous accounts, he transferred 5 million Orb Yuan into an account opened under Kijima Takashi's name. Legally, this money was "Kijima Takashi's investment," but in reality, Kijima Takashi was merely holding it on his behalf.
This was the riskiest part. If Kijima Takashi betrayed him, the 5 million would be gone for good. But Nangong Wentian trusted his judgment—a man who refused to give up for his daughter, a man who turned down military contracts, would not sell his conscience for money.
He flipped to the last page and saw Kijima Takashi's signature. It was neat, each stroke written carefully, as if afraid others might not read it clearly. Next to the signature was a personal seal.
He recalled the expression on Kijima Takashi's face when he signed his name. There was nervousness, anticipation, and a determination to burn all bridges. This man had completely entrusted his future to him.
"I won't let you down," Nangong Wentian whispered.
He closed the documents and stacked them neatly on the table. Outside the window, moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the pile of papers and the words "Colossus Group."
He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn't come.
Images flashed through his mind—the stormy night of his transmigration, the lights of the orphanage, the joy when the first alloy was successfully smelted, the first meeting with Kijima Takashi at the café...
Ten years of lying low, over a thousand days and nights of preparation, countless failures and restarts. Tomorrow, all of this would reach a new starting point.
He turned over and took out the protective charm from under his pillow. It was a pendant Xiao Guang had made from scrap circuit boards—crude but warm. He held it in his palm, feeling its faint warmth.
"Xiao Guang," he whispered, "tomorrow, Colossus Group will be born. Wait for me, I'll come for you soon."
The protective charm grew slightly warm in his hand, as if responding to his promise.
He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. There was much to do tomorrow—he couldn't go to the registration office in person but would direct operations remotely from the café across the street; after registration, he would start searching for a location for the secret laboratory; then he would begin preliminary research on E-Carbon Armor...
No step could afford a mistake.
Outside the window, the moonlight gradually faded, and the horizon began to lighten with the first hints of dawn. A new day was about to begin.
The next morning, Nangong Wentian woke up earlier than usual.
He put on a dark gray suit, donned his disguise glasses and wig, and carefully inspected himself in the mirror. The reflection showed a man in his early twenties—much older than his actual age, yet younger than his true 26 years. It was just right.
He fixed the voice modulator to his collar and tested it. "Mr. Kijima, are you ready?" The voice, processed through the modulator, sounded steady and firm.
Once everything was confirmed, he packed the registration materials into his briefcase and headed downstairs.
Kijima Takashi was already waiting at the entrance of the alley. He was also dressed formally today—a dark blue suit, white shirt, and tie. His hair was neatly combed, making him look much more spirited. But Nangong Wentian noticed heavy dark circles under his eyes; clearly, he hadn't slept well last night either.
"Good morning, Mr. Kijima." Nangong Wentian handed him the briefcase. "Here are all the materials. Please check them again."
Kijima Takashi took the briefcase, opened it, and flipped through the pages one by one. His hands trembled slightly, but his movements were meticulous, and he examined each page carefully.
"No issues." He closed the briefcase and looked up. "Mr. Nangong, I'm a bit nervous."
"That's normal," Nangong Wentian said. "So am I."
The two exchanged a glance and smiled. It was the unspoken understanding between two people about to embark on an unknown journey, just before setting off.
"Let's go." Nangong Wentian turned and walked toward the street.
The Corporate Registration Bureau was located in the center of Orleans, about a twenty-minute drive from their apartment. Nangong Wentian chose to walk instead of taking a car—he needed time to calm himself down and also to observe Kijima Takashi's state under pressure.
The two walked side by side along the street. Orleans was still waking up in the early morning, with cafes along the roadside already open, wafting the aroma of coffee. The newsstands displayed the morning papers, with the front page featuring news about the latest round of trade negotiations between PLANT and the Earth Federation.
"Mr. Nangong," Kijima Takashi suddenly spoke up, "after registration, what's the first step?"
"Find an office," Nangong Wentian said. "And a laboratory."
"A laboratory?" Kijima Takashi lowered his voice. "In the capital?"
"No. In the suburbs," Nangong Wentian replied. "I've looked into it. There's an abandoned air-raid shelter in the outskirts of Orleans, a relic from the war. The ownership is complicated, but it can be purchased through a proxy channel. It's very secluded and spacious enough, suitable for secret research and development."
Kijima Takashi fell silent for a moment. "You planned this long ago."
"I've been planning it for three years," Nangong Wentian said. "Mr. Kijima, there are many things I haven't told you. When the time is right, I'll explain them one by one."
"No need," Kijima Takashi shook his head. "You said I only need to know what I'm doing. The rest, I don't need to know."
Nangong Wentian glanced at him. This man was more perceptive than he had imagined.
The two continued walking, passing one block after another. The building of the Corporate Registration Bureau came into view—a gray-white structure with the flag of Orb standing solemnly at its entrance.
Kijima Takashi stopped and took a deep breath.
"Mr. Nangong," he turned around, "when registering, we need to fill in the information of the company representative. Are you sure you want to use my name?"
"Absolutely."
"What about you? Will you always stay behind the scenes?"
"At least for now," Nangong Wentian said. "Mr. Kijima, I'm only 14 years old. A 14-year-old registering a company would be seen as a joke. When the time is right, I'll step forward."
Kijima Takashi was silent for a moment. "Aren't you afraid I might quit one day? The company is in my name, but the technology is yours. If I quit, you'll have nothing."
Nangong Wentian looked at him and smiled.
"You won't," he said. "A man who refuses to give up for his daughter won't betray his partner. Mr. Kijima, I trust you."
Kijima Takashi stared into his eyes for a long time. Behind the disguise glasses, their true color was unclear, but the light within them was real. It was something he hadn't seen in a long time—pure, unadulterated trust.
"Mr. Nangong," he took a deep breath, "I won't let you down."
"I know."
The two walked into the building. The lobby was already filled with people queuing up, all there to handle various business registration procedures. Kijima Takashi held his number ticket and sat in the waiting area, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees.
Nangong Wentian sat beside him but remained silent. His gaze swept across everyone in the lobby—the businessmen in suits, the middle-aged men clutching documents, the young people who looked like first-time entrepreneurs… None of them knew that the young man sitting among them was about to register a company that would change the world.
"Number 27, please proceed to window 3," the announcement echoed through the hall.
Kijima Takashi stood up, carrying his briefcase as he walked toward the window. Nangong Wentian didn't follow, merely watching him from his seat.
The clerk behind the window was a middle-aged woman with glasses and a stern expression. She took the documents Kijima handed over, flipping through them page by page.
"Colossus Group?" she looked up, "Business scope: new energy and aerospace infrastructure?"
"Yes," Kijima's voice was steady, betraying no nervousness.
"Registered capital of 5 million Orb Yuan?"
"Yes."
The clerk continued flipping through the materials, occasionally asking a few questions. Kijima answered each one calmly and confidently.
Nangong Wentian sat in the waiting area, watching from a distance. His palms were sweaty, but his face showed no expression. Ten years of lying low—success or failure hinged on this moment.
The clerk reached the final page, picked up a stamp, and pressed it firmly onto the document.
A crisp, decisive click echoed.
"Colossus Group, registration complete," the clerk pushed a document forward. "This is your business license. Please keep it safe."
Kijima took the document, his hand trembling slightly. He turned and looked toward the waiting area. Nangong Wentian was sitting there, giving him a slight nod.
Kijima took a deep breath, carefully placed the document into his briefcase, and walked back quickly.
"Mr. Nangong," he lowered his voice, his eyes reddening, "We succeeded."
Nangong Wentian stood up, took the briefcase, opened it, and glanced at the business license. The paper bore the national emblem of the Orb government, with several lines printed below:
Company Name: Colossus Group
Legal Representative: Kijima Takashi
Registered Capital: 5 Million Orb Yuan
Date of Establishment: July 15, CE.64
His fingers gently traced the paper, feeling the raised imprints. Ten years of lying low had finally brought them to this starting point.
"Mr. Kijima," he carefully stored the business license and looked up, "From today onward, Colossus Group is ours."
The two walked out of the building and stood on the steps. Sunlight bathed them in warmth. In the distance, the Morgenroete building shimmered with a golden glow under the sun, like a silent fortress.
Nangong Wentian looked up at the sky. It was blue, the clouds were white, and a few birds flew freely overhead. He recalled the stormy night of his transmigration, the surge of technical data flooding his mind, and that green light resonating with the Star Core.
"Mr. Nangong," Kijima Takashi's voice interrupted his thoughts, "what do we do next?"
Nangong Wentian withdrew his gaze and looked into the distance. "Find a laboratory. Then, start building the MS."
He turned and walked toward the street. Kijima Takashi followed behind, his steps noticeably lighter than before.
The two walked side by side through the streets of Orleans, their shadows stretching long under the sunlight. At that moment, no one knew these two men were about to change the world.
But in the not-too-distant future, the light of the Star Core would illuminate the entire universe.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!
PS: There's a 30% Discount now if you avail the advance chapters .