Chapter 156: Deep Doubts

The United States space agency started collaborating with General Electric in 2019 to develop electric jet airliners, aiming to replace the current fuel-powered planes and make air travel more eco-friendly.

A German company has invented a fully electric, jet-engined, two-seater plane capable of vertical take-off and landing, intended for the home aircraft market.

Because the German two-seater is a home-use small plane, it doesn’t have high requirements for flight altitude and range, thus the difficulty of its development is naturally lower.

However, the American project for electric airliners is facing a series of difficulties.

Traditional generators, electric motors, and inverters are very heavy, and this is why the U.S. space agency has partnered with General Electric, specifically for their silicon carbide technology.

Du Qiu, after obtaining alien civilization technology, became a unique leader in the field of silicon carbide research.

Once Star Ocean got their hands on the design scheme, Du Qiu solved these problems and easily completed the development of a large electric jet capable of vertical take-off and landing.

The Eagle’s Nest can be used as an early-warning command plane and a charger, while the Transporter serves as a large transport and heavy bomber.

The reason why Du Qiu adopted the electric jet design isn’t for the sake of environmental protection but to achieve vertical take-off and landing capabilities.

If fuel-powered jets were used for vertical take-off and landing, the noise would be akin to announcing to the world that the plane is about to land.

An electric approach is different; Du Qiu has the most advanced superconducting motors that produce minimal noise.

Of course, this is just a transitional design for Du Qiu’s flying vehicles, because in his heart, the truly useful vehicles are those alien civilization planetary landing crafts or transport ships.

Du Qiu is already aware that these transport ships use anti-gravity engine technology, which allows massive structures to land freely on the planetary surface.

Although, Du Qiu is still in the process of studying this anti-gravity engine technology and will need more time to successfully develop it.

Hearing Star Ocean’s voice, Du Qiu didn’t immediately respond but instead gazed at his phone as the instant messaging app still hadn’t received a reply.

Ning Shuangshuang likely hasn’t emerged from the underground training base yet. Is she venting her emotions?

“Sir, the satellite imagery data isn’t very clear, possibly due to heavy rainfall and thick cloud cover at the location at this time.”

“The rain will always stop. In any case, in two hours the first camp should arrive in Bole.”

As Du Qiu spoke, he tried to call Ning Shuangshuang once more.

With a “beep,” the video call was unexpectedly answered this time.

Ning Shuangshuang’s image instantly appeared on the phone screen.

“Shuangshuang, you finally answered.”

“Du Qiu, why are you video-calling me?”

Ning Shuangshuang’s face was covered in sweat, and even her bangs were drenched. She must have left the underground training base and hadn’t yet had the chance to shower when she heard Du Qiu’s call.

“I wanted to see you!” Du Qiu blurted out, then laughed apologetically, “I’m sorry, I haven’t video-called you before this.”

“It’s okay, I understand.”

Watching Du Qiu in the video, Ning Shuangshuang felt he seemed to have lost some weight, and suddenly her face changed.

Ning Shuangshuang covered the phone screen, looked around to make sure there were no cameras nearby, and then uncovered it again.

Speaking again, her voice was much lower, “Du Qiu, what’s up with the big screen behind you? Are you in some kind of control center?”

Then Du Qiu remembered that he was standing with his back to the big screen in the command center, and Ning Shuangshuang must have seen it. But he wasn’t worried about her knowing.

“This is my command center. Oh, by the way, did something happen to your mother?”

…

…

After ending the video call with Du Qiu, Ning Shuangshuang felt as if she were dreaming.

Du Qiu had actually hired a security force to travel to South Sudan to save her mother.

Ning Shuangshuang wisely didn’t ask where Du Qiu was.

Today, after the video call with Du Qiu, Ning Shuangshuang also decided not to report it to her superiors, since all their previous conversations had been through voice and text.

She had considered resigning tonight after hearing her mother was in trouble. Emotionally, she wanted to rush to South Sudan to find and save her mother.

But after being repeatedly advised by her uncle, she realized that going there alone would likely result in not only failing to save anyone but also risking her own life.

That’s why she ran to the bureau’s underground training ground in the middle of the night and trained like mad to vent.

Unexpectedly, Du Qiu would call, telling her he knew about the situation and had arranged a security force to head to South Sudan.

He promised to find and rescue her mother.

At that moment, Ning Shuangshuang wept with emotion.

But now, Ning Shuangshuang furrowed her brow.

How did Du Qiu know her mother was in trouble? South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

Forget about internet access; even the roads are mostly dirt tracks that turn into swamps when it rains.

Even in the capital, Zhuba, with its thatched houses, it’s rare to find good roads.

In such a country, information doesn’t travel fast, and if it weren’t for the Tang Country peacekeeping force there, news of her mother’s troubles wouldn’t have reached her father so quickly.

So, how did Du Qiu find out?

Moreover, the peacekeeping force sent by Tang Country took several hours by armored vehicle to reach Bole, over a hundred kilometers from Zhuba, amidst a downpour.

How would Du Qiu’s security force get to the location where the incident occurred?

And how would they find the kidnapped medical team?

…

Question after question surfaced, causing Ning Shuangshuang to feel restless and full of doubt.

She picked up the phone to call her uncle, Ning Yuzhe.

“Uncle, I’ve been in contact with Du Qiu.”

At that moment, Ning Yuzhe was sitting at his desk, chain-smoking cigarettes.

Although it was already past midnight, the fact that his sister-in-law was in trouble, especially since Ning Shuangshuang was very emotional, made it difficult for him to sleep.

Shuangshuang has always been an independent character with her own way of doing things. He was worried she would actually resign to save her mother after speaking out tonight.

After Ning Shuangshuang left, he called his elder brother, Ning Ze Hao, to inform him of Ning Shuangshuang’s situation.

Ning Ze Hao was silent for a long time on the phone before saying, “I believe she will deal with this matter rationally.”

Listening to this, Ning Yuzhe couldn’t help but sigh at how alike the father and daughter were.

Now on the phone with Ning Shuangshuang, suddenly hearing about Du Qiu, Ning Yuzhe was reminded that his niece had a boyfriend.

Listening to Ning Shuangshuang’s calm voice again, Ning Yuzhe wondered if she had complained to Du Qiu and felt more at ease.

Then he felt some pity for his niece—her mother was in trouble, and her boyfriend was being chased around the world by the United States, still unable to return home.

“How is Du Qiu doing now?”

“He’s fine. He knows about mom’s situation. He has already hired a security force to head to South Sudan.”

“What?” Ning Yuzhe was a bit shocked. How could Du Qiu, who’s in such a precarious situation himself, still do this?

Suddenly, he remembered the hot-selling products of Dream Technology and realized this doctor must be wealthy, so it seemed he had hired mercenaries.

“Which security company?” Ning Yuzhe asked.

“I’m not sure. I’m just puzzled, how did he find out about my mother’s trouble?”

“What?” Ning Yuzhe was surprised again. “You didn’t tell him?”

“Yeah, given his current situation, how could I discuss mom’s issues with him? Wouldn’t that just cause him needless worry?”

“He does have the money to afford mercenaries, but bullets don’t have eyes. During a hostage rescue by mercenaries, if the armed militants…”

Ning Yuzhe trailed off, unable to continue; the scenario was too grim to predict.

“He told me not to worry. By tomorrow at the latest, he should be able to locate the medical team. As long as he finds the people, he can surely save them safely.”

Ning Yuzhe was left speechless. His niece was a smart person; why did she believe everything Du Qiu said? “Find them by tomorrow? Isn’t that too optimistic?