Chapter 25: The First Feast of the Quantum Optical Computer

Ding Yue opened the car door for He Xingzhou in advance, something He Xingzhou was still getting used to.

As he sat inside, he discovered that the vehicle was exceptionally spacious. It was equipped with movable and foldable leather sofas, as well as an onboard computer and radar system.

"In the drawer under your seat, there are firearms, smoke grenades, and ammunition," Xu Zhilan emphasized. "There is also an emergency medical kit in the vehicle."

"Do you know how to use a gun?" she asked.

"No," He Xingzhou shook his head.

"Then I'll teach you when we have time," Xu Zhilan said. "It’s better to master some basic operations."

"Sounds good!" He Xingzhou was quite interested; military weaponry was already part of his research plan.

The jeep drove out of the secret base and headed toward the research institute on the outskirts of Beijing. When they arrived, the facility was undergoing urgent renovation and relocation. The construction was not being carried out by ordinary workers, but by an engineering unit from the military.

He Xingzhou inspected the site. The institute included both surface and underground sections, with the latter being reinforced with missile-proof layers; all confidential experiments would be conducted there.

He Xingzhou was concerned about more than just that. He asked, "Does the institute have its own independent power supply?"

A staff member replied, "Yes, the institute already has a small power station. Even if the external power is cut off, it can continue to operate for a period of time."

"Good, take me there!" He Xingzhou went to the small power station and asked the workers to turn it on, claiming he needed to calibrate some equipment. In reality, he was siphoning energy to feed the Quantum Light Brain.

As long as energy was available within a certain range, the Quantum Light Brain could silently absorb it.

"I can absorb one unit of energy per hour from this power facility," the Quantum Light Brain noted in He Xingzhou's mind.

"Excellent." He Xingzhou instructed the staff, "Keep this small power station running at all times. I need to fully test several pieces of equipment. No matter how much power it consumes, do not turn it off. If construction work requires it, let me know in advance."

"Understood!" The staff had no objections; the entire institute was built for him, so he had the final say.

With that settled, He Xingzhou asked to return to rest. The logistics department had arranged his residence in a high-end residential complex not far from his university. Most of the residents were faculty members, and the security system was quite comprehensive.

This made it convenient for He Xingzhou to travel to the institute or attend classes. Yes, He Xingzhou was still a student and still had to study!

This was a specific request from his professor, Zhang Boyan. Zhang believed that ambition alone was not enough and that one's capabilities had to keep pace. He had suggested to the organization that even if He Xingzhou participated in critical projects, he must not neglect his studies.

Zhang had emphasized over the phone: "Even if you end up saving the world from the apocalypse, you absolutely cannot skip writing your thesis!"

When He Xingzhou got back into the car, Ding Yue and Xu Zhilan had changed their clothes. To better support He Xingzhou’s work, they had adopted undercover social identities.

Ding Yue’s cover was that of He Xingzhou’s cousin, a personal fitness trainer. Xu Zhilan’s cover was that of a single young woman working in online media.

Ding Yue wore oversized jeans and a wide-cut T-shirt, making his muscles stand out and giving him an aura of intimidation. Xu Zhilan had changed into a trendy summer outfit: a pure white sleeveless top with a cartoon print, paired with light-colored straight-leg trousers that revealed a hint of her slender waist. A Chanel bag was slung across her body, and she wore crystal bracelets and earrings.

He Xingzhou noticed she had even applied makeup. Her natural face was already an eight out of ten, but with the makeup, her appearance soared to over a nine.

He Xingzhou exclaimed, "Sister Xu, with this outfit, you've transformed into a fashion goddess!"

"I always have been!" Xu Zhilan said proudly. "Back at the National University of Defense Technology, my suitors were lined up for miles!"

"That’s impressive!" He Xingzhou remarked. The National University of Defense Technology was one of the country's top institutions; it wasn't a place just anyone could get into.

"You're the impressive one," Xu Zhilan said curiously. "I heard you built a nuclear reactor while still in school? And you were the one who discovered the insectoid monsters. I’m really curious, how did you do it?"

"As the Buddha says, it cannot be spoken," He Xingzhou laughed.

"How mysterious!" Xu Zhilan didn't press further, avoiding any sensitive information that He Xingzhou might not be at liberty to disclose.

"We’re heading straight to the complex. We’ll be living in the apartments right next to yours, on standby at all times," Ding Yue said as he stepped on the gas.

"No problem." He Xingzhou had no objections.

Soon, they arrived at the complex. He Xingzhou's home was fully furnished with all necessary household appliances; there was nothing left for him to prepare. With Xu Zhilan and Ding Yue living right next door, they could provide support at a moment's notice should anything happen.

He Xingzhou took a warm shower and then lay lazily on his bed. The events of the past week had been overwhelming, and he felt exhausted. Yet, lying there, he couldn't fall asleep.

Participating in the Xuanwu Project and establishing the Whistleblower Research Institute had placed immense pressure on him.

"Since I can't sleep, I might as well think about how to carry out the next phase of the plan," he mused.

"Building a Steel Great Wall directly is not the best approach."

"The Steel Great Wall I envision is not just a defensive structure of reinforced concrete, but a comprehensive system of high-tech military facilities—laser weapons, artillery batteries, mechs—integrated with radar, surveillance, and logistics networks."

"To prepare for the construction of the Steel Great Wall, I must first research the supporting technologies."

"Quantum Light Brain!" He Xingzhou summoned the interface to check the technology tree.

"To build the Steel Great Wall, I need a complete national-scale efficient logistics system, communication networks, control systems, weapon systems, energy systems, and so on."

"Sharpening the axe won't delay the wood-cutting. I will start with the foundational work. It would be best to prove my capabilities so the authorities give me even more resources."

He Xingzhou scanned the technology tree. "I need to build energy devices, energy storage units, logistics control systems, operating systems..."

"Single-technology research is fine, but perhaps I can integrate them and use a technological creation to attract public attention, paving the way for the future construction of the Steel Great Wall."

He Xingzhou decided that the first priority should be the logistics technology.

"To build the Steel Great Wall and defend against the insectoids, we will inevitably need a logistics network that spans the entire country. Our current road, rail, water, and air transport systems are not enough."

"Once the insectoid disaster arrives, there will be a massive relocation of personnel and resources across the nation. It requires not only scale but also high efficiency."

He Xingzhou envisioned a super high-speed rail line inside the Steel Great Wall—a vacuum-tube maglev train. Theoretically, such a train could reach speeds of 20,000 kilometers per hour, sixteen times the speed of sound. This meant that if developed, personnel and supplies could be moved from the northernmost point of China to the southernmost point in under an hour.

"Unlock super high-speed rail: 100,000 units of energy required?" Seeing the unlock conditions, He Xingzhou realized it was out of reach for now.

The small power station only provided 24 units of energy per day. If he waited for that, it would take over a decade.

"Beyond the super high-speed rail, there are other logistics technologies. For instance, road transport could be reformed to serve as a stepping stone for the high-speed rail project." He Xingzhou found another technology that was more practical, required fewer energy units, and could be implemented immediately.