CHAPTER 340: CHAPTER 155: FLAW

The reason Chen Jian wanted the Ring Chamber of Commerce to find rocket fuel instead of doing it himself was really because the task was too thankless.

In fact, rocket fuel is not as simple as imagined.

Although in his era, there were often videos of some genius elementary school students handcrafting candies going viral on a certain short video platform, that thing compared to real solid fuel was about the difference between scraping herbs from the walls of a latrine and hexogen.

If it weren’t for considering preparation speed, a liquid-fuel rocket far surpasses a solid-fuel rocket in stability and storability by an unknown number of times.

The fact that he found a solid-fuel rocket himself made Chen Jian suspect that it might also be due to some reservation in the Rocket Army’s decision-making process.

After all, when facing the situation at that time, no one was omniscient.

As decision-makers of a strategic force, the paramount consideration in making any decision is the question of "Where is the enemy?"

Although the catastrophe happened strangely and completely inexplicably, who could guarantee that it wasn’t a premeditated attack?

The decision-making time was only 5 hours, under such circumstances, even if something bizarre happened globally, decision-makers would still treat it as a super high-intensity surprise war.

Choosing a solid rocket was probably for this reason.

They didn’t know how long it would be before the sealed things would be opened, and if the time were short, solid rockets were the best choice.

If it were long, in reality, strategic missiles would hardly be usable at all.

Weighing the two, storing solid rockets was the more conservative move.

---- Of course, it cannot be denied that there might be other liquid rockets stored at other bases likewise, but without finding them, Chen Jian would not make such assumptions.

It’s better to assign the task to the Ring Chamber of Commerce.

If they find it, they find it, if not...

Let Fu Xi mobilize all the equipment and handcraft it if needed.

So, the next day, after sending off the merchants from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, Chen Jian immediately "summoned" Wang Lizhi, who happened to be active in Jinling.

The latter rushed all the way to base 011, and it was already past two in the afternoon when he arrived.

At this time, Chen Jian was discussing with Fu Xi the design and construction methods of the first-layer defensive fortress, while Wang Lizhi stood at a distance waiting, his previous defiant attitude completely absent in his expression.

When Chen Jian finalized the plan and walked towards him, he then greeted Chen Jian, respectfully saying:

"Mr. Chen, I’m here."

"I can see that."

Chen Jian invited Wang Lizhi to sit down at a small table placed outside the main passage; the ant swarm robots came over to pour tea for both of them. Chen Jian took a sip and casually asked:

"How has it been lately? Where are you making your money?"

"Making money...."

Wang Lizhi awkwardly laughed, responding:

"Recently, some matters in Huadu did indeed bring us a small fortune, but all these funds have been invested into the next phase of the plan."

"We are excavating the ruins of Chang’an, trying to uncover clues related to the Beast Tide."

"Oh?"

Chen Jian asked with surprise:

"Why are you concerned about the Beast Tide? Aren’t you looking for your Ring?

"I thought you would continue to pursue the clues over in Lu Zhou."

"There’s no need."

Wang Lizhi sighed and said:

"The leader told us that the mystery about the Fu Xi project has likely already been solved by you."

"You just either think it’s inappropriate or unnecessary to share the information with us."

"So we don’t need to continue pursuing it either."

"We are allies, and although our ultimate goals differ, we should help each other no matter what."

"And now, finding clues related to the Beast Tide is a way of helping you."

What?

Since when did the Ring Chamber of Commerce become so understanding?

Chen Jian looked at the Wang Lizhi in front of him inexplicably, as if he were meeting this person for the first time.

The latter met his gaze without any hesitation, his eyes full of honesty.

"Don’t think I’m lying, in reality, this is just a choice to maximize benefits."

"Understood."

Chen Jian nodded, then immediately asked:

"Have you found any leads?"

"No significant information for now, but we have indeed found some clues."

"We found some skeletal remains of monsters in Chang’an, bones belonging to monsters that only appear in the south."

"Traveling thousands of kilometers to rush to Chang’an... this proves that they must have been controlled by some force."

"We already knew that."

Chen Jian pondered slightly, then continued:

"We will provide you with some equipment related to the clues, so you can continue to investigate further along this line."

"However, before that, I need you to do something else for me."

"Please tell."

Wang Lizhi unhesitatingly spoke:

"We will try our best."

"I need you to help me find some rocket fuel."

"You know what a rocket is, right?"

"I do."

Wang Lizhi nodded, then replied:

"We’ve dismantled some rockets before; some parts and fuel are also preserved as level-one controlled materials."

"But due to poor preservation, none of those things can be used—the fuel can’t even be ignited."

"But if you need it, we will try our best to find it."

"But the hope of finding it is slim...."

"That’s okay, I will provide you with exact locations."

Chen Jian waved his hand and said:

"Search in those places, your odds of finding will be much higher."

Chen Jian wasn’t worried that giving the specific locations of Rocket Army bases would lead to any uncontrollable outcomes.

Of course, the Rocket Army bases simply had rockets; even if they found nuclear warheads, they wouldn’t have the capability to use them.

It’s perfectly appropriate to have them handle this task.

Upon hearing his words, Wang Lizhi also decisively agreed.

The mission was successfully outsourced, then Chen Jian asked Fu Xi to bring out the spinal cord-connected Brain Machine that Shen Yue had found on the monster.

When the item was placed in front of Wang Lizhi, his puzzled expression clearly indicated that this was the first time he had seen it.

"Do you recognize it?"

To be on the safe side, Chen Jian asked.

"I don’t."

Wang Lizhi shook his head.

"Is this the device controlling those monsters? Was it discovered inside a monster?"

"Yes."

After Chen Jian’s words fell, Wang Lizhi suddenly furrowed his brows.

"This is unreasonable."

"Humans hunted so many monsters before, but never discovered such a thing."

"It can only have appeared in the recent decade or even very recently."

"Or in other words, this kind of thing only appears on the eve of a Beast Tide."

"Then who is deploying this equipment..."

"That’s also what we want to find out."

Chen Jian exhaled softly, then said:

"In this world, there might be an unimaginably powerful force that none of you know of."

"...That’s possible. But there is another question."

Wang Lizhi pondered for a moment, then said:

"The Beast Tide occurred in the same manner 150 years ago."

"That would mean those monsters should have been controlled similarly."

"But why... in Chang’an City, within the monster corpses, did we not find any similar equipment?"

"Not even one."

"Surely someone took them away or destroyed them."

"But the person who destroyed them, we’ve never encountered."

"So, is it because we cannot see them..."

"Or, are they already among us?"