Chapter 251: Old Acquaintances

In the Tanga Federation’s Dar es Salaam city, this place has become the largest port city in East Africa, bustling with a colossal throughflow of goods daily. Raw materials pour in abundance, and finished products stream out ceaselessly. With Dream Technology’s presence for two and a half years, Dar es Salaam has undergone transformative changes.

A saying from China resonates here, “Change is seen in a year; a great change in three years.” Dar es Salaam hasn’t even reached three years and is already unrecognizable to its locals.

Besides the preserved ancient architecture of the old quarter, soaring high-rises dominate the skyline, crisscrossed by streets and grandiose overpasses. Particularly astonishing to the locals is the sight of crops growing within those towering buildings!

In the city’s west and south, endlessly constructed skyscrapers reaching over fifty floors number in the hundreds. The construction sites here alone employ nearly a hundred thousand local builders.

Tata Construction Group, initially established by investment from Du Qiu, hires up to a million construction workers across the Tanga Federation. The group began with a plethora of construction robots, promising the fastest building speeds.

However, it was soon realized that excessive reliance on robots deprived local people of job opportunities, failing to improve the local economy. Thus, with the guidance of simulating robots, a formidable construction force has been fostered within the Tanga Federation. The locals, particularly adept at such physical labor, albeit initially relaxed in mindset, developed a sense of responsibility under strict robotic supervision.

Du Qiu’s various enterprises have gained complete control over the entire economic life of the Tanga Federation, whose revitalization and Dar es Salaam’s prosperity attract hordes coming to seek their fortune, with as many as five million immigrants, predominately from China.

Walkerson and Leader Wolf wander around the streets of Dar es Salaam, struck by the city’s affluence, hardly believing they’re in Africa.

“Human civilization is changing Africa, the last sanctuary,” Walkerson remarks. Having been in Dar es Salaam for several days, he’s yet to discover a way to contact Dream Technology’s executives. Each day, he visits the towering headquarters of Dream Technology in Africa, only to encounter long lines of people hoping to meet the corporation’s president, a scene that bemuses him as Dream Technology’s victory over the U.S. Military shouldn’t warrant such fawning interest from the masses.

“Captain, it seems difficult to meet Dream Technology’s executives this way,” the Leader Wolf observes.

“I just found out that apart from here, we could go directly to the industrial park, which is more than fifty kilometers away; I’ve heard it houses their largest factory in Africa,” Walkerson muses thoughtfully.

“But isn’t a factory typically void of high-level executives?”

“Not necessarily, maybe the opposite. The U.S. Military’s nuclear strike target last week was there, so high-level executives might be stationed as a precaution.”

“Well then, I’ll call for a ride,” Leader Wolf instantaneously uses his smart glasses to summon a ride-sharing car.

Two minutes later, a silver sedan pulls up, with a local black driver poking his head out, “Did you call for a ride?”

Once Leader Wolf confirms it’s their car through the smart glasses, he opens the rear door for Walkerson and takes the passenger seat.

“Where to?” the driver asks in the local language, effortlessly translated by Leader Wolf’s smart earpiece, which – like numerous tech giants’ products – is most efficiently crafted by Dream Technology itself.

“To the Dream Technology industrial park, please.”

“Are you also looking to meet with Dream Technology executives? Many foreigners arriving lately are here for that reason.”

Undoubtedly, the driver wears a smart earpiece as well, which is indispensable for rideshare drivers in the cosmopolitan Dar es Salaam, teeming with international visitors.

Walkerson inquires, “Are you local? Have you ever met any of Dream Technology’s executives?”

“Let me tell you, I once saw one of their executives named Mr. Li, but then I heard he died in a missile attack by the Americans in South Sudan. Such a pity,” the driver chatters.

“What about the other executives?” Leader Wolf asks.

“They are certainly in the Dream Technology tower. As for the industrial park, I haven’t heard of executives being there. Many have already tried their luck and turned back disappointed.”

Despite revealing this, the driver seems unconcerned that his passengers might choose not to head to the industrial park after all.

Walkerson pondered aloud, “Dream Technology hasn’t been here for many years, right? How could the construction happen so quickly?”

“Ha! Haven’t you heard about Dream Technology’s construction robots? Those guys work incredibly fast,” replied the driver, pointing towards a 60-story building, “See that skyscraper over there? I witnessed it being erected in just five days.”

The route from the city center to the industrial park is lined with newly built skyscrapers, showcasing Dar es Salaam’s ultramodern district. Over the past couple of years, the city has expanded tenfold in area and quadrupled in population, reaching 16 million.

As Walkerson watched the high-rise buildings pass by the car window and listened to the driver enthusiastically discuss the city’s construction marvels, a somber mood settled upon him.

Upon arrival at the industrial park’s gates, they are met with a line of people waiting in queue, mirroring the city center’s scene.

After disembarking, the Leader Wolf inquires with a security guard and hurriedly reports back, “We’ve got to line up to get registered first before we’re allowed inside to Dream Technology’s reception hall. There, depending on the department you request during registration, an appropriate officer will meet with you.”

“Alright, let’s join the queue,” Walkerson concedes.

After an hour in line, it’s their turn to register with an intelligent machine, which requires their fingerprints and iris scans before presenting a list of departments to choose from. Walkerson browses through the extensive list and selects the Security Department. Nearby guards look on, bemused; visitors typically opt for departments like Sales, Procurement, or Public Relations, looking for enterprise collaboration or national representation. Choosing the Security Department is unprecedented.

The two are then guided to an autonomous electric vehicle that transports them through a sizable industrial park dotted with ancillary enterprises and other occupants. After a 20-minute journey, they arrive at a chic 10-story building, conspicuously lacking the Dream Technology insignia.

As they disembark, security officers approach. “You’re here to meet someone from the security department?”

Walkerson nods affirmatively.

One security officer invites, “Follow me, please.”

They’re escorted into the building, bypassing a hall of transparent cubicles where visitors are conversing and are led into an elevator. “Fifth floor,” the security officer instructs, and soon they arrive.

Exiting the elevator, they pass six sealed doors before reaching the seventh. A knock elicits a “Come in,” and the officer ushers them into the room.

Inside is a suite; the inner door is wide open, and an office with minimal furnishings and a large desk at its heart greets them. Behind the desk sits a woman.

Upon seeing her, Walkerson muses, “What a small world!”

“Hello, Imanka. Didn’t expect to meet you here.”

Imanka rises from her seat and greets them with a smile, “Nor did I expect to see Mr. Walkerson and Leader Wolf here. In any case, we’re old acquaintances. Please, have a seat and let’s chat.”