Chapter 208: A Thriving LA Corporation —Why Not Build More Marvels?
Chapter 208: A Thriving LA Corporation —Why Not Build More Marvels?
Nevertheless, when selecting talent from Pacific Rim Earth, the various departments of the LA Corporation must continue channeling more personnel and labor into the operation.
After all, under the devastation wrought by the Precursors, Earth's human population had plummeted from over 6 billion to less than 200 million.
Faced with a scarred and battered Earth, the cleanup left for the corporation was monumental. Resources, people, and massive mineral extractions were transported from Ideal City and Universe 001 Netherworld Earth to aid in Earth's reconstruction.
At this time, the importance of the Material Decompressor became strikingly evident.
"Leave the post-war reconstruction to you all. I only care about results," Li Ang instructed his subordinates.
"Yes, sir!" they replied.
After more than a decade of meticulous development, Ideal City had become the universe-spanning corporation's largest manufacturing hub, teeming with management and operational talent.
Meanwhile, Netherworld Earth 001 served as a reservoir of soldiers and officers.
Survivors from this world had spent nearly a decade confronting the terrifying Netherworld soldiers, hardening their resolve to levels far beyond that of the average person. Among these survivors, squads like Corey's had become leading representatives.
As for the soldiers whose nervous systems had been stripped away and were forcibly placed in a quantum state, a small number had been retained for experimental research.
Although the process of creating Netherworld soldiers was gruesome and inhumane, it had undeniably become a technological cornerstone for the corporation.
When necessary, the corporation could mass-produce invisible and intangible Netherworld armies using clones or replicants, providing enemies with a chilling shock.
Of course, this technology would never become standard weaponry. The cost of creating and maintaining Netherworld soldiers was exorbitant, and their containment required constant vigilance to prevent escapes.
Against advanced civilizations, particularly those with microcosmic technological prowess, even a vast Netherworld army could collapse in an instant.
As such, Li Ang chose to focus quantum technology development on production and weaponry advancements, such as quantum computing and research into antimatter and plasma bombs.
Particularly in the field of plasma weapons, the corporation's research department had made remarkable strides. They could now independently manufacture plasma-based firearms and bombs, showcasing the benefits of leveraging "free" technological advancements.
---
The Temptation of Pacific Rim Earth's Mechs
Speaking of free technological gains, Li Ang 's attention returned to the holographic screen. On Pacific Rim Earth, the most compelling technological advancement was undoubtedly the Jaegers.
At Li Ang 's request, the front-line base promptly sent confidential data on every generation of Jaegers developed by the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps to the corporate headquarters.
Upon reviewing the sixth-generation Jaeger development plans, Li Ang became intrigued, meticulously examining the specifications and details.
According to the document, the new Jaeger model aimed to combine the strengths of its predecessors, refining every detail to create the ultimate design.
The Jaeger would be powered by an electric turbine system and a nuclear reactor.
"We could enhance it with our polymer fusion reactors," Li Ang mused.
The humans of Pacific Rim Earth lacked stable nuclear fusion technology, so their most advanced power source remained nuclear fission reactors. Replacing this with a more stable and efficient fusion reactor would significantly boost the Jaeger's performance.
The sixth-generation Jaeger was also designed to utilize a three-pilot system, inspired by the Striker Eureka model, with additional rear armor to counter Kaiju ambushes. It would feature a new plasma pulse cannon, enhancing its long-range offensive capabilities.
Overall, this model promised to be more durable, powerful, agile, and deadly.
"No wonder there are moles in high-ranking human circles opposing further Jaeger development. This machine is a legitimate headache for the Precursors," Li Ang thought.
The situation mirrored the tale of Yue Fei: valiant efforts on the front lines sabotaged by betrayal at home.
But now that Li Ang had acquired these Jaeger blueprints, it was yet another "free" technological boon for the corporation.
---
From Concept to Reality
Li Ang had previously considered developing colossal mechs but shelved the idea due to the high cost and limited practicality, especially on interstellar battlefields.
Unless the mech could fly, fire lasers, excel in close combat, and self-repair like an Ultraman from the Land of Light, it would simply be an expensive and inefficient target.
However, with the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps' existing designs in hand, Li Ang could now order the engineering department to construct two prototype Jaegers for backup purposes.
These Jaegers wouldn't serve as combat units but as corporate symbols, akin to the Crimson Phantom Beast. Their sheer presence could intimidate lower-level alien civilizations effectively.
---
Mission Accomplished
As Li Ang organized the files, a familiar notification suddenly echoed in his mind.
> Multiverse Mission: Conquer Pacific Rim Earth
Status: Completed
Rewards: 10 spins of the Level-8 Wheel, vast corporate credits (enough to upgrade one megastructure or multiverse item level)
> Bonus Mission: Conquer the Precursor Alien Civilization
Status: Completed
Rewards: Max-Level Technology Upgrade Point
"The system rewards are in!"
The unexpected prompt surprised Li Ang , as he had anticipated needing more time on Pacific Rim Earth.
"The swift reward distribution must be due to our meticulous strategy and the complete eradication of the Precursor civilization," Li Ang surmised.
In contrast, it had taken considerably longer to wipe out the Netherworld entities on Netherworld Earth, as some had hidden in heat-dense areas or remote caves.
This time, with comprehensive plans, including the deployment of Scorpios Virus and saturation attacks, the Precursors were utterly annihilated within days.
"Efficiency is key," Li Ang chuckled.
The corporate credits earned from this mission were sufficient to unlock the Material Decompressor megastructure and even upgrade another.
Li Ang 's focus now shifted entirely to the newly unlocked Material Decompressor, as its interface appeared on his system display:
> Phase 1: Ideal City — Unlocked
Phase 2: Science Nexus — Unlocked
Phase 3: Material Decompressor — Unlocked
The corporation was entering its golden age.
"Strange... The fourth phase of the cosmic megastructure still hasn't appeared. Could it be that I have to conquer another parallel world before it shows up?"
When Li Ang saw the fourth phase of the megastructure shrouded in a hazy, mosaic-like blur, he couldn't help but furrow his brows slightly. He was eager to know what the next megastructure would be.
It wasn't until he received a system prompt stating that he had to complete the construction of the Matter Decompressor before the subsequent megastructure would appear that he realized the reason.
"If that's the case, then it makes sense."
"Let's level up first!"
Without hesitation, Li Ang used the upgrade points he had obtained, capable of instantly maxing out a megastructure's level, on the Matter Decompressor.
At max level, the Matter Decompressor could extract and refine valuable minerals from black holes in astonishing quantities. With such a device, whether it was constructing new Ideal Cities, Science Nexus structures, or rebuilding Earths from Pacific Rim and Underworld, the burden of labor in mining would be greatly reduced.
Though Li Ang 's system provided weapons and military equipment, redeeming these items consumed corporate credits. At best, he could juggle these resources between different departments to earn credit points; dismantling them for basic materials was not feasible.
For a corporate empire like the Cosmic Mega-Corp, a sufficient supply of foundational resources was critical for the empire's normal operations.
However, for Li Ang , the biggest advantage of the Matter Decompressor was its potential to significantly accelerate the construction of the second Ideal City and the Science Nexus megastructure. Eliminating the time needed for material extraction meant these megastructures could be completed within just a few years.
"At the height of this corporate empire, why not build a few more megastructures!"
Li Ang chuckled as he checked the time required to build the Matter Decompressor—just a little over a year. For someone like him, whose lifespan had already reached an infinite state, it was merely a blink of an eye.
Players of Paradox Interactive games are like this—while immortal cultivators can meditate and refine spiritual energy to level up and extend their lifespans, Paradox players have a multitude of considerations: fleets, colossi, ground forces, star-like superweapons, god-tier war engines, and void engines. Without exceptional longevity or efficient resource management, how could they possibly sustain such ambitions?
"Perfect. After two months of hard work, I might as well treat this as a vacation."
Li Ang nodded. He planned to use this year to solidify the corporate empire's rear defenses and oversee the reconstruction tasks for the two Earths.
After finalizing his plan, Li Ang issued a directive to the Transcendent AI Europa to commence construction of the Matter Decompressor.
The construction required identifying a suitable black hole. Ideally, it should be as close to the solar system as possible to minimize transportation costs, and its mass should be large enough to ensure sustainable mining operations.
Fortunately, Li Ang had already scouted a suitable black hole in advance. All that was left was to install the Matter Decompressor.
"As you wish, my lord," Europa replied. The AI, responsible for managing every detail of Ideal City, immediately began mobilizing personnel to the designated black hole for construction.
After settling these critical matters, Li Ang felt an unprecedented sense of relief. Recently, he had been preoccupied with handling tasks related to the Pathfinders.
Accompanied by Morgan, Li Ang left the control center and arrived at the headquarters' observation deck. Watching the bustling activity below, Li Ang was reminded of his vacation on Pandora, with its breathtaking alien landscapes. However, now was no time for sightseeing—he had to remain in Ideal City to oversee operations.
For someone immortal like Li Ang , time flowed differently. The years passed quickly, and the traces of time barely touched him.
"I hope I can unlock some life-extension technologies later, to provide for Morgan, Song Zhaomei, Lucy, and the other executives."
Though current gene-modification and cybernetic technologies could allow them to live for an additional two centuries, this was a fleeting moment for the long-term development of the Cosmic Mega-Corp.
Even with complete mechanization and cloned organ replacement like V, the lifespan would cap at roughly ten millennia. Without better life-extension technology, Li Ang would eventually need to replace his leadership team.
"I need to speed up progress and boost the corporation's tech points."
After these musings, Li Ang decided to inspect the ongoing projects. Morgan Blackhand promptly arranged for a Thunderhawk shuttle with an escort of four gunships to ensure Li Ang 's safety.
Under the protection of Astartes warriors whose enhancements had reached "Imperial Guard" levels, Li Ang and his team boarded the shuttle. Li Ang didn't even bother with a breathing mask; his current physique rendered such precautions unnecessary, even in the toxic environment of Pacific Rim's Earth. His body, equivalent to that of a V with 19 modified organs, remained purely biological yet extraordinarily robust.
As the shuttle ascended, Li Ang engaged in a conversation with Corey, a subordinate, commending him for his excellent work in liaising with the Defense Forces in the Metal City. This connection included notable figures like Raleigh Becket and General Mako Mori, former Jaeger pilots. Li Ang admired their collaboration but lamented the passing of General Stacker Pentecost, a key figure in Pacific Rim.
Before long, the shuttle reached Earth's low orbit, where Li Ang conducted further inspections of the corporate efforts to restore the planet's environment following the devastation caused by the Precursors and Kaiju.
In the midst of these evaluations, Li Ang received a communication from Nicolò, head of the biotech division, reporting a significant discovery regarding the Precursors' hive-mind genetics, which allowed them to control Kaiju remotely. While this technology had limitations, such as range and scale, it presented potential research value for the corporation's biological experiments.
Though intrigued, Li Ang concluded that weaponizing Kaiju wasn't cost-effective compared to existing solutions like plasma bombs, which were far cheaper and more efficient.
As the shuttle descended over North America, Li Ang reflected on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Restoring Earth's ecosystems would take years, but with the corporation's advanced technologies, even this monumental task seemed achievable.
(Show your support and read more chapters on my Patreon: p@treon.com/psychopet. Thank you for your support!)