To capture the flying rod, Zhou Yi arrived on Mars for the first time with Hei Fu.

The space hole was situated in a spacious hall, which looked like another city.

Zhou Yi's gaze pierced through the custom glass windows of the hall, seeing the volcanoes outside. The surface appeared red due to the abundance of iron oxide, and the sky was a pale pink.

The thin atmosphere was filled with dust, reducing visibility significantly.

On the distant horizon, there were several columnar tornadoes, resembling towers of wind connecting sky and earth, slowly moving in the distance.

Zhou Yi withdrew his gaze and looked nearby.

Inside the hall, Iron Soldiers from Star Axis were on guard.

Duke Destructive, the head of the Mars Affairs Department, was waiting at the side.

It still had the appearance of a youthful doll but had changed into a black formal suit, looking very official.

"Welcome, Chairman, to visit us."

Duke Destructive bowed slightly and said, "Please follow me."

Under its guidance, Zhou Yi boarded an underground elevator, beginning a slow descent. After reaching a platform, they walked a short distance, followed by another ascent.

On the way, Zhou Yi also inquired about the situation here.

"I saw the report for the first quarter this year; the net profit from harvesting Light Seed Ore has already surpassed 37 million. Does it look like we might break a billion this year?"

"Yes, Chairman."

Duke Destructive said, "The Affairs Department has completed the integration of the electric cats, including those who took refuge from the Spark Plain, and those local Mars electric cats who joined the company."

"For the core mining operations at external service positions, we have divided them into 14 mining teams, each consisting of over 700 electric cats. Within each team, there are several mining groups, with each group ensuring at least 10 electric cats to perform alternating operations, mutual support, while also ensuring holidays and rest for the electric cats."

"In addition, we have also formed survey teams to examine each dust storm and mineral area. By taking samples and conducting surveys, we confirm mineral reserves and risk levels, and make markings for information verification and synchronization with Star Axis."

"Based on the information they provide, the mining teams then enter for targeted collection. This not only enhances safety but also makes our field workers more efficient."

"Through the collaboration between survey and mining teams, our mining efficiency has significantly improved, and we've successfully avoided the high risks of dust storms. However, this cannot be achieved without the strong support from the internal service."

Zhou Yi said, "I recall the internal service position is responsible for base infrastructure?"

"Yes, Chairman."

"It's inconvenient to talk like this, why don't you stand on my shoulder?"

"That's not quite appropriate, there should be clear rank distinctions in the company."

"If I say it's fine, then it's fine."

"As you command."

During the conversation.

The elevator slowly came to a stop, and the doors opened to the sides.

The scene outside suddenly became clear.

Zhou Yi walked outside, discovering a sizable city, entirely connected by stone buildings. However, these buildings were generally not high, the tallest being only four stories, occupying a large area.

The interiors of the buildings connected with each other, forming a gigantic fortress, where people could traverse through connecting passages to different places, and public transport vehicles operated within.

Zhou Yi noticed that the base's public transport was a block-shaped elongated bus, similar to a section of a subway train.

Its exterior featured a white Light Amber Ceramic Exoskeleton, hovering forward over two black tracks on the ground, with the body approximately 20 centimeters above ground.

The nearest vehicle's body bore East Great Road Text on the left side, and West Continent Text on the right.

The most prominent on it was the company's samurai crab emblem, the number [Jade Bus - Mars Line 1], and the route display [Star Hub District → Jade District].

Zhou Yi remarked with interest, "Is this a vehicle developed by the company?"

Duke Destructive said, "Yes. It's a variant of the camp vehicle, the ferry of the Jade Bus."

Zhou Yi had experienced a camp vehicle before.

Back then, he was gaining firsthand experience on the Moon.

The camp vehicle is actually a transformation of the Wasteland Mecha.

Sitting on Zhou Yi's shoulder, Duke Destructive pointed to the bus and said, "The camp vehicle operates on the Martian surface in natural conditions, serving as a field work vehicle, primarily to withstand harsh environments and ensure endurance. The Jade Bus operates within the base and doesn't require such high specs."

"It is powered by a Stone Molt Reactor, with tracks beneath Light Soot, incorporating Tree Surrounding Technology from the Mud Tree Civilization Department. This allows the vehicle to float above the tracks, operating smoothly."

"The driver only needs to manage three simple operations: steering forward, selecting a track, and parking. It's easy to handle and safe."

"We commissioned mechanical and electrical experts to redesign the vehicle body based on core Wasteland Armor technology. The Jade Ferry has a body length of 20 meters, 30 seats, and can accommodate 150 to 240 standing passengers, with a maximum capacity for 300 people, and a load capacity of up to 10 tons."

Zhou Yi immediately thought, "Theoretically, this technology can be entirely replicated on Earth and the Moon."

"It's indeed feasible."

Duke Destructive said with some reserve, "We plan to promote it to other regions inside the company once it's more established here; it's been in operation for 3 months now."

"The Mars Base has a total of 70 vehicles across 6 lines, with 41 ferry vehicles operating simultaneously each day. We initially planned to request large-scale implementation company-wide a year later. This allows the technology to reach maturity, and helps identify any flaws needing optimization."

Zhou Yixin marveled internally.

No wonder it's Duke Destructive.

It appears strong and arrogant on the surface, yet its working style is very steady, never taking action without absolute certainty. It's the same on the battlefield and in business strategies.

Zhou Yi suddenly thought to himself: "But does Mars Base really need so many vehicles? Running 41 vehicles simultaneously every day... There must be at least a thousand people using them, right?"

"Chairman, we have calculated this aspect."

The Puppet Minister explained, "In our acclimatized environment, a single line operates an average of 12 hours per day, with a departure interval of 30 minutes, 24 trips daily, with a minimum of 5 passengers per trip, meaning at least 120 passengers per day. In actuality, each vehicle carries an average of 300 people daily, which is on par with the average number of passengers in many cities during the old human era."

"Are there really that many people here?" Zhou Yi was puzzled.

"Yes, Chairman."

Duke Destructive said, "Just hearing the name Mars Base might make it sound small. Actually, it has a comparable area to the Forbidden Continent, with plenty of usable space."

"The ground constructions here are gradually increasing, and there are multiple layers of shelters underground. For safety's sake, quite a few people prefer living underground."

"According to the data from this quarter's Star Axis, the number of permanent residents at Mars Base has exceeded 24,000 people, almost like a small city. Over 95% of the base's residents are workers, classified as young adults, so vehicle usage is very high."

Zhou Yi was surprised: "Mars Base has more than 20,000 people already?"

"Yes."

Duke Destructive said solemnly, "In the early days, there were very few people at Mars Base, aside from Star Axis and our company's people, it was mainly those high-asset individuals who bought Mars residency."

"The entry of the Heavenly Kingdom completely changed the situation. Through an agreement to purchase land with Star Axis, the Heavenly Kingdom Extraterrestrial Development Group brought in a massive number of Heavenly Kingdom laborers to Mars Base."

"Most employees of these extraterritorial development groups do not have Mars residencies. So, when they come here, they can only work on plots purchased by that group and cannot enjoy the rights of a Mars residency."

"Star Axis agreed to this because increasing a large number of laborers is beneficial for the entire base's construction and updates, and even for Mars development."

It explained the details carefully: "Currently, the base is mainly divided into three special administrative zones, each internally autonomous."

"The first is the [Star Hub District], occupying 1/4 of the base, self-managed by the Star Core Matrix."

"Our company affairs department's radiating [Jade District] also occupies 1/4 of the area."

"The last one is Dawn District from the Heavenly Kingdom Group, covering 1/10 of the base's area. Most of the residents there live underground, as underground space is cheaper with greater depth, offering more space than the surface at the same price."

"After extensive renovation here, with reference to the Moon Affairs Department's pupil-shaped body system, we've long completed the self-cycle of air, water, and food at the base. So accommodating tens of thousands of people is not difficult."

Zhou Yi looked around and found that several people in the shuttle were company employees, wearing uniforms and name tags, conspicuously so.

This No. 1 shuttle showed a route from the Star Hub District to the Jade District. Cross-district activity, according to Duke Destructive, requires a residency.

"Can our company's employees move across districts?"

"Yes, they can."

Duke Destructive responded, "Because the company and Star Axis have a partnership, there are privileges in this aspect."

"However, to prevent the devaluation of residency, Star Axis and the company held discussions and eventually decided that company employees would adopt a collective residency system, similar to a work visa system, with an annual approval. In other words, while working here, one has residency, and once not working here, the residency will be revoked."

"The biggest advantage of an independent Mars residency is having your independent space, where you can build whatever structure you want and connect it to Mars Base. It will be protected by the base, entry is prohibited without the owner's permission, personal information is confidential, and there's an independent private financial account."

"Moreover, direct blood relatives up to the second generation can be attached, with each independent residency having 3 attachment slots, which collective residencies do not allow."

Zhou Yi nodded.

This is normal.

After all, a Mars residency costs 200,000 Light Seeds. Without these privileges for paying users, no one would buy them.

Originally, he could have taken the Hei Fu directly to the Jade District.

However, Zhou Yi decided to try out the shuttle ride experience.

As soon as he boarded the vehicle, the broadcast sounded in the carriage.

[Welcome Partner Zhou Yi to Mars Base. Star Core Matrix offers you its sincere greetings and highest respect.]

The surrounding passengers immediately stood afar, with nervous expressions on their faces.

Company employees and other passengers alike were stealthily observing Zhou Yi, evidently recognizing his identity, and the whole shuttle fell silent.

Zhou Yi was a bit angry and asked Duke Destructive telepathically what was going on.

"It's not the company's doing; it's a reaction from Star Axis... You are equivalent to an Old King, one of the two highest authorities at the base. They're probably worried that people here might offend you, affecting Mars Base's reputation. Star Axis is also afraid of being blamed by the Old King."

Duke Destructive was also helpless.

Star Core Matrix somehow decided to engage in such formalism.

Zhou Yi simply got off midway and walked with Duke Destructive.

There were many shops and vendors around, most of which were run and operated by mechanical life forms, with few flesh and blood beings present.

At that moment, he suddenly noticed someone familiar not far away.

Huh?

Isn't that silver-haired woman arguing at a stall the Witch Hunter?

Zhou Yi was stunned.

She's even selling things herself to make extra money?