Chapter 413.2: Horrifying Construction Capabilities

Feeling his warm and sturdy shoulder, Dori's heart felt nothing but endless joy. She bit her lips and said no more.

Silently, the two disappeared under the streetlights of the square.

Leaving behind a group of envious single dogs, staring at where they had once stood..

Having thrown his gear to Gale, Night Ten covered his eyes, his body writhing like a worm. “Ah ah ah! Damn Ample Time! My eyes!"

Although Gale didn’t make any exaggerated movements, his eyelids were twitching violently. "It's all good, but seeing the shy look on this guy's face... It’s so damn awkward! I nearly dug out a four bedroom flat with my toes!”

It wasn’t exactly an eyesore.

Just a moment ago, that guy was coolly analyzing tactics and discussing team coordination and equipment use. The next second, he turned into a bashful newlywed.

The contrast was a bit too much for him to handle.

Standing nearby, Old White laughed and patted his brothers on the shoulders. "Come on, it's normal for a new couple to be all lovey-dovey, isn’t it? If you can't stand it, just close your eyes, you'll get used to it in a couple of days."

Night Ten still had a look of annoyance on his face and sighed, "Ah, damn... The game designers really lost out big time by not charging that asshole a fee...”

Old White chuckled. "Are you envious? Then go learn some Federation Language, or find a partner in real life. Didn’t you say many girls were chasing you? Let's go, we need to wash up in the shelter too. Damn, that iron lump sprayed himself all over me. It stinks!"

Night Ten quickly dodged Old White’s arm. "Fuck! Don't get it on me!"

"Ha ha ha!"

Not far away.

Mosquito enviously jabbed at the VM screen's upper left corner button, nearly breaking his finger.

"Damn... Why doesn’t it work?! Why can’t I report that fool?!"

Passing by with a roasted mantis leg in hand, Irene sneered, "The player's manual only says to comply with the New Alliance’s laws and prohibits harassment of NPCs. It doesn’t say anything about your envy for other people having a girlfriend. Shouting for Light is useless.”

"I don’t care! Unless you get me one too, I won’t stop!"

Irene immediately held out another skewer. "Can’t help you there... But here, have one of mine."

Mosquito immediately became alert and stared at Irene. "What’s this?"

Irena smiled apologetically. "Mantis leg. I caught it today and just got it grilled. Speaking of which, that guy’s head was still purple. It's really big. I never seen one like it before, I wonder if it can add a buff..."

"BLERGGGHHH"

Before Irene could finish, Mosquito had already darted to a large tree to vomit.

...

The following morning.

In the north of Dawn City.

After a night of rest, the Enterprise’s aid to the New Alliance officially began.

Two pieces of engineering equipment from the Ideal Corporation were the first to be assembled, showcasing the East Coast's technological prowess.

Standing beside the half-completed road, the New Alliance's chief architect, Sword Execution, was gaping in astonishment at the two pieces of engineering equipment, cursing in disbelief.

"What the hell is this?!"

The four-tracked mobile crushing station looked like a walking fortress, occupying an area of about 50 to 60 square meters.

Its front was fitted with a huge bucket, the edges lined with teeth like the jaws of the abyss, crushing and swallowing the concrete debris in front of it.

The silver tank on its back continuously rotated, emitting a deafening roar, and through a series of processes, reconstituted the hydrated concrete debris into a reusable cement slurry.

Behind the behemoth followed a uniquely designed road roller, with large and small wheels arranged at the front and back, spanning six meters wide, supporting a squared platform.

As the four-tracked and two-wheeled engineering giants moved forward in tandem.

The front was responsible for ‘eating’.

The back handled pulling and compressing.

As the two engineering giants passed, a straight and smooth road formed like their footprint, imprinted on the weathered roadbed.

While the quality of the construction remained to be evaluated, as an emergency supply line, it was far better than any rotten ground on the wasteland!

What the New Alliance needed was not a road that could last 50 years without breaking, but one that could be used immediately.

Standing among the onlookers, Sword Execution's eyes were wide open.

The brutally simple construction method completely overturned his understanding.

No...

It wasn't even about the method.

Just the technology that could reconstitute dehydrated concrete back into reusable cement was basically magic!

If such convenient technology existed, the concrete debris from demolished buildings wouldn't need to be disposed. They could be instantly recycled!

While the civil engineers were amazed, Li Changkong stood not far away. He held a tablet and adjusted the operating parameters of the equipment.

After finishing his task, he turned to Chu Guang who was standing nearby. "The road from Clearspring City to Lucky Valley Municipality spans 169 kilometers, and we've chosen to restore Provincial Road 1704. The quality of the work will certainly not meet pre-war standards, but it will be more reliable than the current cement roads you use."

"More equipment will be delivered here later, including asphalt for the roads... The expected completion time is from mid to late August."

It was early July at the moment.

If they prepared for mid-August, that would be 45 days.

3.75 kilometers of road per day for 45 days?!

Chu Guang did some quick calculations and was immediately shocked by the astonishing speed.

Even with maximum output from the steel mills and mobilizing thousands of prisoners of war, the New Alliance's railway construction speed could barely reach 3 kilometers per day.

Their construction was faster than laying railways!

What a revelation!

Seeing Chu Guang speechless, Li Changkong paused and then continued, "Although we can source concrete waste locally, there will still be a shortfall of 17% to 30% in materials. We’ll need your help in collecting and transporting it."

"Of course, to shorten the construction period, we'll provide you with some convenient tools, like the Miner series exoskeletons, and so on."

Coming back to his senses, Chu Guang coughed lightly and nodded seriously. "Rest assured, if there's one thing Clearspring City isn't short of, it's concrete debris. We'll handle the material shortfall! By the way... Can you send a couple more of these big machines over?"

Li Changkong was slightly taken aback. "Aren't two enough?"

"To be precise, one road isn't enough," Chu Guang continued without embarrassment. "Our industrial area is around Bluestone County and West Continent Municipality, which is to the north of the New Alliance, where your space base is also located."

"However, there is only one railway line from there to Dawn City, which needs to accommodate both military and civilian supplies. Although we are also building cement roads, we have only just reached Remote Creek Town, and the supply efficiency is very problematic!"

Listening to Chu Guang, Li Changkong tapped his finger on the screen, switching to the map of West Continent Municipality.

After studying the map for a while, he stroked his chin and said, "That indeed poses a problem. The capacity of a bucket depends on its shortest stave. We'll find a way to help you... Is that area mountainous?"

Chu Guang nodded. "Yes, that region is mostly hilly. Can you manage?"

Li Changkong pondered for a moment and said, "... Construction might be difficult. These two sets of equipment are only suitable for use on flat ground."

Before the administrator could show a troubled expression, Li Changkong's face brightened with a faint smile. "However, we do have engineering equipment in our inventory that can operate in hilly areas... Once the plane is recharged, I'll have headquarters send a batch over."

"Additionally, your railway's transport efficiency is too low. I'll see if I can help improve that a bit."

Hearing this, Chu Guang's face immediately lit up with a pleased smile. "Really? I will have to trouble you then."

Li Changkong waved his hand and smiled. "Don't mention it, we're allies on the same front."

Even if not for the sake of New Alliance, he would secure the ‘deal’ for his corporation.

With the passing of Resolution 1001, the Enterprise allocated a budget of 300 million CR for military aid to the Alliance.

This 300 million CR in military aid wasn't just for purchasing weapons but could also be used to buy infrastructure and pay for engineering work.

At 100,000 CR per kilometer, 169 kilometers would cost 16.9 million CR

Since the materials were locally sourced and the New Alliance was responsible for supplementing the electricity used by the engineering equipment, ignoring the depreciation of these stock equipment, that 16.9 million was almost pure profit!

Since the implementation of the Ideal City plan, the engineering equipment used for major construction efforts had mostly been left to gather dust in storage, only occasionally being used when clients from the Among Cloud Province had needs.

Such a large order had not been seen in a long time.

Gazing at the barren landscape nearby, Li Changkong couldn't help but feel a surge of aspiration.

It was said that in the early days of the Wasteland Era, their ancestors, under the leadership of the Post-War Reconstruction Committee, had built one shelter after another on this wasteland, becoming saviors in the eyes of the locals.

And Ideal City's standing for 200 years as a holy land in the hearts of countless wanderers was also because of the engineering miracles they had left behind.

Once the war was over, surely his name would also make its mark on this barren land, becoming a story of legends...

Thinking about it, a pleased smile couldn't help but appear on his face.

Li Changkong could already envision the grateful looks in people's eyes and them worshiping him as a savior, or even a deity.

He would return home full of honor!

Suddenly realizing his smile was a bit unprofessional, he quickly coughed twice and regained a serious expression.

Unaware of the expression changes of the middle-aged man beside him, Chu Guang's attention was entirely on the two slowly advancing heavy machines.

The show of force by the Enterprise had indeed dazzled him.

Honestly, the impact of these two ‘little guys’ was no less shocking than the Pioneer which passed through the year before.

Including their achievement of extending the maximum range of transport from 500 kilometers to 3,000 kilometers in less than a month.

Not to mention the time spent reaching a consensus.

Although he was prepared, the display of technological strength and industrial capability by the Enterprise still exceeded his expectations.

Watching the road visibly growing, Chu Guang felt an indescribable sense of awe.

Indeed.

Science and technology are the primary productive forces.

He had to find a way to get a few of these giants from these tycoons!