Chapter 501.2: The Place Where Humanity Is Desecrated

“... It’s said that during the Prosperity Era, two centuries ago, the Great Desert wasn’t called that. It used to be four major industrial zones of the Human Federation.”

Chu Guang glanced at him, puzzled. “Four major industrial zones?”

“Yes.” Wu Changnian nodded, his gaze lost in memory, as if recalling some archived footage. After a pause, he continued slowly, “The Western Industrial Zone was the starting point of the entire supply chain. It produced the rawest materials and handled crude processing for logistics and space elevator shipping, synthetic chemicals, catalysts, and alloys.”

“The Northern Industrial Zone was the logistics and warehousing hub. It stored surplus goods, handled product distribution, and transferred intermediate products and waste. It had the densest traffic network of the Prosperity Era, both by rail and not. In theory, if you picked the right transport, you could travel there from anywhere on the planet. It also had the highest density of office buildings.”

“The Eastern Industrial Zone was the end of the chain, with massive, efficient, and concentrated manufacturing plants converting raw and intermediate goods into final products.”

"As for the Southern Industrial Zone, it served as the energy hub. It was like a massive charging plug, responsible for receiving power generated by orbital facilities."

"With the space elevator at the center, the four surrounding industrial zones formed a closed industrial loop."

Chu Guang raised his brows in surprise. "Building an industrial hub in the center of the continent?"

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

For someone from another world, that idea went against his basic understanding.

After all, in his homeland, most industrial zones were concentrated in the east, especially along the coast, while the inland west had fewer, more scattered batches. But things seemed completely different in the wasteland.

Wu Changnian nodded and continued, "Yes, this region had stable weather, sat far from tectonic boundaries, experienced no earthquakes or volcanic activity, and wasn’t like coastal areas prone to typhoons. There was no better place to build the foundation for the space elevator."

As he spoke, a hint of emotion crept onto his face. "What started as just an elevator, eventually grew into a dense transport network reaching low orbit. It became a tower, then a mountain, and then something even greater. Boundless resources streamed down from space, in quantities that defied imagination... The prosperity of that era is almost unimaginable today. Even Ideal City is merely a pale shadow of its former glory."

Wu Changnian had also heard that in the earliest plans, the Human Federation intended to spend another two centuries expanding city clusters outward from the space elevator across the Central Continent. With energy and alloys from space mining, they aimed to turn the entire planet into a global megacity.

That blueprint was the sum of all dreams during the Prosperity Era, an ideal, an ambition.

Imagination and determination were to expand infinitely across this endlessly flourishing planet and spread outward into the distant stars.

But unfortunately, a war that lasted just three years shattered all of it.

While Wu Changnian was lost in reminiscence, Chu Guang hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of that grand blueprint.

Even if everything he saw was real and not exaggerated? He still couldn’t wrap his head around how such a massive industrial center was built in the middle of a continent. “What about water? Where did they obtain water?”

Wu Changnian blinked, not expecting that question. Then he chuckled, “Weren’t there underground ocean current pipelines? What do you think the Great Rift Valley was for?”

Only then did Chu Guang realize.

He vaguely remembered hearing that the Great Rift Valley was originally built to store excess energy from controlled fusion reactors. The method used involved electrolyzing seawater. The byproducts, chlorine, sodium, and other metal elements extracted from seawater, were packed and shipped to industrial zones for processing.

So those underground ocean pipelines weren’t just for the Great Rift Valley, they were also used to deliver industrial water to the continent’s center.

The scale of that era’s engineering power was even more terrifying than he had imagined. Chu Guang was awestruck, and a chill ran down his spine.

Especially when he remembered all the confident boasts he had made... The grand promises he sold to Yin Fang, Hyrja, Vanus, and the other survivors... How the hell was he supposed to restore the glory of the Prosperity Era? Even 70,000,000,000 players wouldn’t be enough!

Besides, it was obvious that the Morphogenetic Field couldn't hold that many people... otherwise the First Administrator wouldn’t have made such strict rules and distributed activation codes in such a controlled manner.

Not knowing what Chu Guang was thinking, Wu Changnian let out a soft chuckle and continued, "Of course, the solid hydrogen beneath the Great Rift Valley was a strategic reserve, it wasn’t for regular use. The primary source of industrial water was still the Southern Industrial Zone. That area wasn’t just the energy hub, it also handled seawater desalination and wastewater recycling... I don’t know the deep technical details. I only glanced over it in the database. If you want to understand how the system actually worked, you need a real expert."

"In any case, the four major industrial zones accounted for over 60% of the Human Federation’s GDP. At their peak, it was said to have reached 70%."

"Which is why we have to be extremely cautious. No one knows what might be inside Shelter 0. We need to plan our team carefully."

Hearing how serious he was, Chu Guang also turned a little solemn. "I’ll assign a shelter resident with strong sensory abilities."

Wu Changnian nodded in approval. "That would be best."

He heard that the average resident of Shelter 404 were awakeners.

Though he personally trusted AI and machines more than unstable biological awakenings, the New Alliance had already proven during the previous war that humans, under certain circumstances, could outperform machines, and even accomplish miracles beyond what his machines could do. Bringing a couple of capable people along would be of great use.

That was also how he managed to persuade the Enterprise and the Army to let the ‘totally inexperienced in relic excavation’ Alliance secure two access slots.

After all... There was only one keycard. According to an employee named Luo Hua, the elevator they found leading to Shelter 0 wasn’t very large. Only a limited number of people could descend at once.

At that moment, the bridge doors opened.

Vanus stepped in and gave a crisp military salute. “The Enterprise’s 26th Assault Team has confirmed the coordinates of the Blackstone Mutant Human Tribe. However, they cannot confirm if any Enterprise staff are among the captured slaves.”

"If they can’t confirm, assume someone is," Chu Guang said as he turned to Vanus. “Do we have a new plan of action yet?”

Vanus nodded. "We plan to attack them and storm in their gates. We've notified the 26th Assault Team that support will arrive in 30 minutes. They plan to engage at that time and lure enemy units toward their recommended bombardment coordinates."

"Excellent. Proceed with the plan." Chu Guang nodded, paused briefly, then gave the next order. "Have all gun crews on the airship prepare for fire support. Also, keep the Burning Corps on standby below deck, ready to support our allies."

"Yes, sir!" Vanus saluted again, then turned and left the bridge.

As his figure disappeared, Wu Changnian looked toward Chu Guang with gratitude. "Thank you for prioritizing the safety of our employees."

Chu Guang gave a faint smile. "Don’t mention it. The crew of the Pioneer aren't just our friends, they're people we owe a favor to."

Without that groundbreaking machine tool they provided, later stages of industrialization wouldn’t have gone nearly as smoothly. No matter how creative the players were, they still needed actual equipment to turn ideas into reality.

While it was technically a mutually beneficial deal, Chu Guang knew they had been more than generous. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let the New Alliance fleece them so much in the first place. He had promised Captain Lu Yang he would remember the favor, and now was the time to repay it.

"... Hey wait a minute. Wasn’t that guy a Wislander?” Wu Changnian suddenly asked.

"Yes."

Seeing how nonchalant Chu Guang’s response was, Wu Changnian couldn’t help but press, “Are you sure that’s okay?”

He had just warned the young leader to be cautious with every Wislander. Seeing his concerned look, Chu Guang replied casually, “He stayed voluntarily.”

Long before heading to Sunset Province, Chu Guang had discussed the matter with Vanus. If fighting against the Army made him uncomfortable, he could remain in Dawn City. Chu Guang wouldn’t force anyone into a war they didn’t want to fight.

Objectively, Vanus had already paid his debt to the New Alliance, training officers and helping build a command system during their formative period. After the war, he could have returned to his homeland like any other prisoner exchange. No one would have known he had ever worked for the New Alliance.

Yet when offered the path, Vanus refused without hesitation. He even stood openly beside Finod and McClennan, two prisoners who were definitely being exchanged, as a show of loyalty to the New Alliance.

The reason he gave left Chu Guang silent for a long time.

“I spent a year reflecting on the purpose of this war. But aside from hatred and death, we gained nothing. My troops were wiped out pointlessly in the south. My commander and his forces were obliterated in the north. When we lost, I didn’t feel regret, only relief.”

“I don’t think the Marshal was wrong. I don’t think General Klaas was foolish. Maybe their path really would’ve led to a better future, but we simply didn’t understand it.”

“Like General Klaas always said... We are criminals of the worst kind. History will nail us to the pillar of shame, but future generations will thank us for leaving them a vast world, one where only Wislanders live, and no more Wislander blood will be spilled by our hands. The tragedies of the past... Whether two hundred years ago or farther, will not be repeated.”

“But here, I see a different possibility, something we never imagined. Maybe there is a form of unity that transcends bloodlines... Like you said, we’re all survivors. Whether from the shelters or the wasteland. It’s not one of us who should be eliminated, but the savagery running rampant across the land.”

“For me, war is a job. Sadly, it’s the only one I know. But if in your hands, it can have even a shred of meaning, then let me follow you. Let me keep moving forward with the New Alliance!”

At the same time, on the lower deck of the airship, flashing signal lights had already transmitted the battle orders.

Eager players were donning their exoskeletons, equipping their best gear, and packing plenty of ammunition.

This time, they were going to bring their old friends home.

Moreover, it was a public military operation, watched by the Army, the Enterprise, and the Academy.

Everyone was ready to put on a show in front of those old-school factions, and show the new Wislander governor-general why they had lost so badly.

“Brothers! This time, we’re up against Mutant Humans! Back on 76th Street, the East Coast crew pulled us out, now it’s our turn!”

Standing before his comrades, Old White donned his Dragon Cavalry exoframe as he swept his gaze over the fired-up team and yelled, “There’s only one rule for this mission...”

“Leave none alive!”

A deafening roar erupted by the deck, the metal flooring quaking under the weight of their burning spirits.

“AWOOOOOOOO!”

“We’ll wipe those beasts out!”