Chapter 269: Contentment Is the Key

Sir Phileas pondered for a while before asking, “When you acquire the Paradise of the Gods, do you plan to dismantle it for research?”

“Exactly. For us, there is no need to ensure its integrity. If we cannot open it normally, we’ll resort to forcible entry,” came the response.

Sir Phileas nodded and said, “Well then, I can agree to exchange this Paradise of the Gods with you for the survival base on Mars. However, I have a condition.”

“What is it?”

Sir Phileas slowly laid out his terms, “I need you to transfer all the related technologies of the Mars survival base to us. I don’t wish for us to be helpless should any malfunction occur when we are living inside.”

Du Qiu smiled slightly and assured, “I fully understand Sir Phileas’s concerns, but rest easy. The technology needed to maintain the base will be taught to the suitable personnel you arrange. Plus, until your own tech maintenance staff are trained, Dream Technology will send a service team to ensure the normal operation of the base.”

Sir Phileas tentatively inquired, “Is it possible for us to acquire some of the equipment manufacturing technologies in the base?”

Du Qiu shook his head lightly and clarified, “I obtain a finished Paradise of the Gods from you and in return, I give you a completed base. Maintenance techniques can be transferred, but the manufacturing technologies for certain equipment at the base cannot.”

Feeling anxious, Sir Phileas pressed, “Doctor Du, we may have over a hundred thousand people now, but as time goes by, the population will increase. If the base gets overcrowded and we’re unable to expand, wouldn’t that be a major problem?”

Rest assured, Du Qiu reassured, “Mars is vast, and Dream Technology will naturally build bases too. As a commercial company, we will continue to provide products and services for our clients like you. When the time comes for you to expand, you can continue to purchase new equipment from Dream Technology to establish new bases.”

Still uneasy, Sir Phileas noted that on Earth, payments could be made with dollars or gold. But on Mars, who knew what goods could persuade Dream Technology to sell a new base? Considering their tech prowess, space mining was trivial. What value would a pure consumption survival base hold for them?

“Doctor Du, when the time comes, we might not have anything valuable to exchange for your equipment.”

“Don’t worry,” Du Qiu comforted, “with so many people over time, you will create products of value to Dream Technology. If nothing else, you could manufacture some products for us, which could then be traded for our base equipment.”

Considering Du Qiu’s words, Sir Phileas grasped the implication, and proposed, “If that’s the case, then the Mars base you exchange with us should accommodate 500,000 people.”

Du Qiu instantly knew Sir Phileas might add some special talents. It was tough to recruit certain skills for Dream Technology, with other countries imposing various restrictions. But Sir Phileas’s established family probably had special channels in the U.S., tipping them off about available talent.

If Phileas brought these individuals to Mars, they could eventually work for Dream Technology. But, the base couldn’t be too big or too advanced; it should inspire those living in it to long for the bases of Dream Technology and the Heaven Realm Space City.

Considering this, Du Qiu stated, “Sir Phileas, the Paradise of the Gods is too small for even 10,000 people. The Mars base I’m offering is already more than ten times bigger. Remember, we must be content…”

Cutting him off mid-sentence, Sir Phileas interjected, “I can offer 20 top scientists to Dream Technology. You know that scientists of this caliber are tightly controlled by governments. I’m certain it’s tough for Dream Technology to recruit them.”

Du Qiu looked at Sir Phileas’s video feed and asked, “Do these twenty include at least five Nobel laureates?”

“Ah, that’s too difficult. Three, perhaps…”

“In that case, I’ll give you a Mars base that can accommodate 300,000. Understand, the larger the base, the longer the construction – you’ll be waiting longer on Earth.”

“Okay, deal,” Sir Phileas agreed.

The following day after finalizing with Sir Phileas, Gold, president of Natural Force, arrived at the camp to sign the paperwork with Du Qiu. Then, Gold took his people and left the camp to Dream Technology.

During this period, Wu Xinghuo had the engineering robots clear the surroundings of the Paradise of the Gods and reinforced the entire underground space. When Du Qiu arrived, the lights around the Paradise of the Gods were bright.

“Boss, this device can block the scanning of the ultra-magnetic imager. Still, I managed to scan its shell and determined it consists of 1,000 small rectangular containers. We can cut it at the corresponding positions, which might minimize damage…” Wu Xinghuo shared his plan.

“No need to cut,” Du Qiu said, “I have the key.”

Wu Xinghuo stood startled, “Ah? You have a key…”

Du Qiu ignored his surprise and walked forward, inspecting the Paradise of the Gods. His eyes caught the writing on the entrance, matching the alien civilization script from his dreams and the Maintainers’ database records.

It confirmed his dreams of an alien civilization visiting Earth. The reason for their departure was still unknown, but perhaps opening this gate would reveal the answer.

Du Qiu signaled a synthetic robotic assistant to place the crystal cube he’d brought into the gate’s corresponding slot. The cube was instantly enveloped by a soft glow, and after a mere three flashes, the marked entrance receded aside.

A corridor bathed in white light appeared.

Wu Xinghuo, astonished, remarked, “I never thought you actually had the key, and it opened the Paradise of the Gods. But before you step inside…”

Du Qiu chuckled at Wu Xinghuo’s enthusiasm, “Who said I was going in? Of course, we’ll send robots to check first. Considering the aliens installed such an environmental system here, their living conditions might not be suitable for us Earthlings.”

Realizing his mistake, Wu Xinghuo awkwardly let go, “Oh, you’re not going in? That’s good, that’s good. Boss, you’re our cornerstone; we can’t afford any risks.”

Patting Wu Xinghuo on the shoulder, Du Qiu reassured, “It’s alright. Robots are already inside. We’ll soon have updates. Let’s watch together.”

Three robotic assistants were sent in, transmitting everything they observed. Moreover, they released a swarm of ‘Prowlers II’ for rapid internal scanning of Paradise of the Gods. Some ‘Prowlers II’ specifically sought the control interface to enable Star Ocean to connect.

“The Pioneers, have you returned?”