Chapter 341: Breakthroughs and Dilemmas

The three were deep in conversation when the laboratory door swung open and Director Chen Guangnan, flanked by four or five of his satisfied subordinates, hurried out. As if unnoticed, they dashed off in a flash.

“Hey, Director Chen Guangnan really has his head held high—leaving without so much as a greeting.”

“Director Huo Mingchuan, please come in,” called a robot assistant by the door.

“Alright, coming,” replied Director Huo Mingchuan as he urged his own team into the lab.

The door closed once more.

Director Hao patted his bald head and remarked, “Looks like the boss plans to tackle the basic physics problems first, then sort out the energy issues, and finally address my warship designs.”

“If the boss can lock himself away for 18 days and produce three technologies, he truly is an unprecedented genius!”

Among the many directors at Dream Technology, Director Hao was one of the youngest. Once a designer of space warship models, he became the first player to attain the top-tier warship designer rank in the game Dream World.

He was specially recruited by Dream Technology, and the Warship Design Institute had been established less than two months ago.

Who would have thought that a space warship—originally allotted ample time for detailed design and selection—would be rushed into production due to the impending alien invasion.

Previously, every member of Director Hao’s team had worked tirelessly to complete an escort ship design based on a transport ship. Before they could catch a breath, they received a notice from Du Qiu.

Needless to say, his admiration for Du Qiu was boundless.

Ning Shuangshuang frowned and said, “Eighteen days to come up with three technologies? That sounds exaggerated. I believe these are just feasible ideas—actual execution will depend on your hard work.”

“Minister Ning, judging by Director Chen Guangnan’s expression earlier, it isn’t merely about ideas. It seems he’s already finalized concrete methods.”

Director Hao gazed hopefully at the lab door, wondering what kind of space warship the boss might unveil.

To be honest, after establishing the Warship Design Institute, his team had produced as many as six warship concepts in just two months.

Yet every design was dismissed at the concept stage by the boss, who could single out fatal flaws in each one.

After six design meetings and countless critiques, Director Hao knew that the boss was the true master of warship design.

Besides, the Megalith Transport Ship and the Swan-class Planetary Bus were undoubtedly his handiwork.

Even though he joined later, he was aware that the original designers had completed the detailed designs under the boss’s guidance.

After taking charge as director, his team managed to produce the Eagle Nest-class Space Aircraft Carrier, marking a preliminary accumulation of design expertise.

Ning Shuangshuang paced by the lab door; if Du Qiu truly had three technologies, it would mean a brand-new space warship and a solid chance against that alien civilization.

But the news she needed to deliver required Du Qiu to make some new decisive moves.

According to Song Yuanting’s report, the alien civilization’s technology clearly surpassed that of Dream Technology, though the exact strength of their fleet remained uncertain.

Yet without prompt action, if they were crushed, the Blue Star Civilization would face annihilation.

Recently, Ning Shuangshuang had been reading several science fiction novels, looking for strategies to counter the aliens.

She recalled the nightmare scenario in ‘The Three-Body Problem’—a fleet sent out with all the confidence in the world only to be decimated by a single alien probe—a fate she refused to endure.

After roughly an hour, the door finally opened.

Director Huo Mingchuan, his brows furrowed, strode out. Just as Director Chen Guangnan had, he walked past Director Hao and Ning Shuangshuang with an air of superiority, heading straight out.

It was clear his mind was still engrossed in some deep thought.

“Minister Ning, after you,” Director Hao said to Ning Shuangshuang.

He had sensed that Minister Ning had urgent business with the boss, so he decided to wait a little longer.

After a moment’s thought, Ning Shuangshuang replied, “Alright, I won’t be long.”

She stepped into the lab and was greeted by the robot assistant, who was clearly there to see off Director Hao’s group.

“Madam, you’re here,” the robot assistant bowed and greeted her.

“Yes, I have urgent matters to discuss with him.”

“Please, go right in. I’ll have Director Hao and the others wait a bit longer.”

Ning Shuangshuang nodded and proceeded further inside.

The inner lab was a vast space covering about a thousand square meters, filled with various experimental instruments, precision machines, and even an automated production line of unknown purpose.

At the far end of the lab was another door leading to a room of over 200 square meters.

Du Qiu was busy fiddling with a holographic projection of a space warship.

Hearing footsteps, Du Qiu looked up in surprise and saw Ning Shuangshuang. “How did you know I was out?”

“I wasn’t aware, but I had urgent business to discuss with you. I didn’t expect you to be out. Judging by your expression, have you made a breakthrough?”

Du Qiu laughed, “Yes, I’ve had a streak of good luck—I’ve discovered a potential shortcut in weapons technology. If we can develop this weapon, we might just blow up the warships of a Level Five civilization.”

His tone brimmed with confidence, clearly pleased with the weapon’s potential.

“Really? How long will it take to build?”

“Well, if Director Chen Guangnan and his team push a bit harder and the tests go smoothly, we could start manufacturing within three months,” Du Qiu replied.

Ning Shuangshuang continued, “Du Qiu, I’m here to report that the meteor was indeed an alien warship. It took down two Wyvern Fighters before being destroyed by them.”

Song Yuanting reported that its speed, measured at 4,000 kilometers per second during its escape, indicated their civilization’s technological edge over us.

Thus, I felt it necessary to update you on the latest developments.

After a moment’s contemplation, Du Qiu said, “This civilization’s tech level is likely at Level Four—if not higher, it’s no less than the peak of a Level Three civilization. In other words, they probably possess some Level Four technologies.”

Ning Shuangshuang pressed on, “Are we still in time to brace for battle? Oh, Director Hao’s team has already produced an escort ship design that’s gone into production. They’re building 30 units with a 30-day construction cycle each.”

After today’s battle, Song Yuanting suggested that we stop producing manned Wyvern Fighters since they’re too prone to combat losses.

“Since everyone agreed on ramping up escort ship production, it appears that Director Hao’s designs are solid enough for us to limit Wyvern Fighters to unmanned versions.”

Du Qiu agreed with Song Yuanting’s idea.

Yet, contemplating the enemy’s civilization level left him uneasy. Using the formidable simulation power from Dreamland, he had achieved breakthroughs in three technologies—but now, time seemed to be slipping away.

If the invading alien civilization has reached Level Four, they would undoubtedly possess basic faster-than-light capabilities, making even a distance of three light years far from unreachable.

Moreover, the Heaven Realm Space City probably wouldn’t be able to escape, since conventional spacecraft simply couldn’t outpace foes with faster-than-light travel.

If their technology remained at the peak of a Level Three civilization without faster-than-light, the Heaven Realm Space City could start fleeing the Solar System and might just evade pursuit.

Even if their main warships could hit 5,000 kilometers per second, once the Heaven Realm Space City entered a safe escape zone, they would be untraceable in the dark void.

But if they do have faster-than-light travel—even at just ten times the speed of light—it would take merely three months to cover the three-light-year distance to the Solar System, making it all too easy for them to catch up.

“What’s the matter?” Ning Shuangshuang noticed Du Qiu’s inner turmoil and asked.

Du Qiu sighed and said, “If they’ve already reached Level Four, then our escape plan is doomed, because our ships simply can’t outrun those with faster-than-light travel.”