Chapter 291: Return to Shanghai

“Terrifying tsunamis are striking! Dream Technology has once again predicted a disaster!”

“The eastern coast of Asia is in urgent distress! South Korea and Papua New Guinea’s shorelines are in crisis!”

“Is the apocalypse upon us? One catastrophic event after another on Earth!”

“Major countries announce emergency mobilizations; coastal populations are being evacuated!”

“The government of Japan once again urges that in these final moments before land submergence, all nations extend their hands in aid to save the people of Japan from extinction.”

…

On September 25, 2122, Dream Technology, as always, posted tsunami warnings on their official website.

Prior to this, Du Qiu was sent back to the country by Liu Yaofeng to report the range and severe consequences of the tsunami.

It was also mentioned that Dream Technology was developing a device that might mitigate the tsunami’s impact, but since it had never been tested, its effectiveness could not be guaranteed.

This naturally meant that immediate action was needed to begin evacuating people.

Faced with such a massive disaster, domestic geologists confirmed Dream Technology’s prediction after modeling the land submersion scenario in the Japanese Archipelago.

On the second day after Dream Technology’s warning, the people in the eastern coastal regions began an organized mass evacuation.

Soon after, South Korea also announced the evacuation of its coastal population, despite the severe pandemic situation there; it would have been unstoppable if not for Dream Technology’s sale of an improved proprietary medicine.

As early autumn embraces Shanghai, the weather is clear and refreshing.

Upon hearing the tsunami warning from Dream Technology, people initially panicked but calmed down once evacuation orders were issued.

Having previously experienced a pandemic two years earlier, the public had full trust in the government’s actions and organizational capabilities; they also began orderly evacuations under community organization.

Days passed, and this place soon became a ghost town.

However, some people would stay until the very last moment.

At night, Tang Wenhai had just returned from the office to his house when a car’s headlights suddenly illuminated him.

Shielding his eyes from the dazzling light, Tang squinted at the car and saw a tall figure emerging from it.

The figure stepped out of the darkness into the light of the car’s headlights and Tang couldn’t help but chuckle and scold, “You rascal, finally decided to come back.”

Du Qiu smiled broadly and moved forward to give Tang a hug, saying, “Uncle Tang, you’re still in great shape.”

“Come in and have a drink with me at home. Your Aunt Zhao must be busy with the final evacuations—look, even the house lights are off.”

“Sure, I’ve been dreaming of your braised pork.”

“Ha, smooth talker.”

Minutes later, on Tang Wenhai’s dining table there was braised pork, stir-fried garlic shoots with sausages, a dish of peanuts fried in hot oil, and two plates of vegetables.

Tang opened a bottle of Wuliangye and filled their glasses, raising his cup and saying, “Little Qiu, seeing your business grow so well, truly makes me proud for your master. To this, cheers.”

Seeing Tang drain his glass, Du quickly followed suit and then refilled their glasses.

“Uncle Tang, don’t just gulp it down—we have all night to talk, let’s not end up drunk before we’ve said a word.”

“Go on, as if one bottle could make me drunk.”

“It’s not about you getting drunk, it’s about me, okay?”

Tang laughed heartily and said, “Your drinking capacity, compared to those boys I have at home and with that fish, is quite lacking.”

Hearing Tang bring up his two childhood friends brought back memories, and Du Qiu chatted with him for a while.

“Did you come back here for something?” Tang asked.

Du nodded, “Yes, I came to personally oversee an important experiment.”

He paused and then added, “I want to save Shanghai!”

Tang looked at Du in surprise. “This unprecedented tsunami—can you really safeguard this place? Don’t risk your life needlessly.”

Du replied, “My life is too valuable to be thrown away carelessly. This city was built up painstakingly over the decades. I was born here, grew up here; every blade of grass and tree is unforgettable to me.

If I can save this place, I’m willing to try.”

“You’re not certain, are you?” Tang noted.

Du nodded. “Yes, this method was a wild guess by someone. I just happened to find the key component that could make it work, but I am unsure if it will function as expected.”

Tang snapped, “You’ve done your best, why fret? Developing that component is no small feat. Best case scenario, it’s useful; worst case, don’t overthink it.

Look, we had no money decades ago, yet we built this place into something beautiful. Now we’re much stronger than we were back then.

If the tsunami flattens this city, we can build an even better one!”

Hearing Tang’s words, Du downed his drink and said, “Uncle Tang, you’re right. I was overthinking it.

If I can build cities in space, I can surely rebuild here if it’s destroyed!”

“Right, that’s the Du Qiu who dares face off against Old America!”

Tang also drank another glass and as Du refilled it, he asked with a grin, “When are you going to invite this old man for a tour in Heaven Realm?

Wow, to think you’ve named it ‘Heaven Realm’—you don’t half dream big. Others would simply establish a new country, and you’re setting up a whole new realm!”

Du’s face flushed, “Uncle Tang, I just thought it up on a whim, after all, the space cities are up in the heavens anyways.

I not only want to invite you to tour Heaven Realm, but I also want you to serve as the Chief of Police there. Would you do me the honor?”

Tang looked slightly puzzled and said, “Me, this old body was just planning to retire and enjoy peace at home, and you still want me to work?

Moreover, your company, even if it has hundreds of thousands of employees and families, where’s the need for a police department?”

Du sighed, “Uncle Tang, it’s not just a few hundred thousand employees and their families; I now have over a million employees alone, and including their families, we’re almost touching seven to eight million people.”

“What? That many?” Tang was so surprised he nearly jumped.

“Yes, with so many people, complications arise. Heaven Realm is not only a city but a whole new society; it’s small, but has all the necessary organs. Don’t you think we need a police department?”

Tang didn’t agree immediately but raised his glass again and drained it.

Du hurriedly refilled it and said, “I know, the department parachuted a new chief last year much younger than you. You filed your semi-retirement report in the first half of this year, and it’s probably going to be approved by the end of the year.”

“What, you’ve got all my details, huh? What if I just don’t go?”

Du sighed again, “If you can’t leave Aunt Zhao, then forget I said anything.”

“We’re an old married couple; what’s there to not leave?”

“Are you worried that going to Dream Technology’s Heaven Realm might affect your son, Yu Fei’s career in the military?”

Tang gave Du a look and said, “The boy might get a chance to advance his rank this year. Give it to me straight—what exactly is the relationship between Dream Technology and the state?”

Tang had his reasons for concern. From his perspective, the relationship between Dream Technology and the national administration wasn’t clear, but Dream Technology seemed to be wielding a mighty power that could potentially affect his son’s future.

Du chuckled and said, “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. To put it in common terms, it’s a win-win.”

“Bullshit. With Dream Technology’s advanced tech and a bunch of brothers to help, why do you need the state?”’