138: What is this? The Empire's aircraft carrier?

Received a "Big Health Care"*1 from the big boss "Nine Fat Orange Cats", debt +1.5 chapters, currently owing 21.5 chapters.

...

In the blink of an eye, 7 days passed.

Relying on the existing resources of Tianjin Seat V89.05 and the gradually established mining network, the resources in Xi Hai's warehouse grew exponentially.

Along with this, the number of Pathfinder base, that cheap, durable, and versatile industrial base, increased rapidly—110 of them had already joined the industrial production sequence.

At this point, someone might ask—aren't these things built in about an hour each? How come only this many were built in seven days?

The Space Detection Beacon (under construction) floating at the L3 Lagrange stability point didn't speak, but it displayed resource requirements that could be described as enough to bankrupt one.

(Space Detection Beacon: A prerequisite technological structure for the stargate in Infinite Lagrange.)

Originally, this thing should cover the entire star system to find the spatial resonance point for building the stargate, but without delaying other construction plans, Xi Hai's resources only allowed him to build one.

White Shark had already led the team away, and Xi Hai had specifically equipped him with the noble "Rich Sea" (45 FG300s), 15 AC721s as transport ships, and two Kccp2.0s to serve as flagships.

He would head to the production location of the nanobots—Cetus V66.79—in the name of the Sacred Stars Group trade fleet.

His work on spiritual construction was also preliminarily completed.

At the beginning, when stitching various ideologies into it, Xi Hai was in a very hesitant state; he was hesitating whether he should lean towards democratic republic or autocracy.

After nearly working himself bald, he finally reached a conclusion from a pile of history—in fact, the people don't care if the ruler is an emperor, a marshal, or a president.

What they hate is not autocracy, but an autocratic regime that is cowardly externally and suppresses output madly internally.

In contrast, if an autocratic regime can allow every citizen (or subject) under its rule to live a fulfilling, prosperous, and dignified life, and can make all aliens bow before it, then people will not reject such a monarch—just as the French would not reject Napoleon.

Moreover, human civilization is now on the brink of collapse, and correcting wrongs requires overcorrection, and serious illnesses require strong medicine; autocracy may not be the most useful, but it is definitely the fastest-acting method.

He will save humanity in his own way, bestow dignity, freedom, and equality upon everyone under his rule, make hope once again envelope humanity, and ensure there are no more strong enemies threatening humanity's surroundings.

Moreover, even autocracy has its distinctions; just like the United Nations of Earth in Stellaris, when they combine military government + autocracy, the people's happiness index can still soar to a terrifying number.

Furthermore, he has integrated a large amount of advanced thought, using it as a foundation; even if he wants to transform after this, the resistance he faces will not be too great.

"Report, Supreme Director!" Suddenly, the office door was pushed open. Xi Hai subconsciously closed the manuscript in his hand. He detached himself from his imagination and looked toward the door; it was Julius.

"Supreme Director! Several fleets claiming to be the Imperial Navy have just landed from the Void Channel. The leader is a guy named Kelaifu; he claims to be the Minister of Military Affairs and is here to find you to fulfill the terms of the transaction."

Xi Hai lifted his head. Kelaifu? Looking at the time, it was indeed about right. He hurriedly looked at Julius and asked, "How many ships in total do we have at headquarters now, including the southern cross marshals, the eternal storm, and the new constantine the great?"

Julius thought for a moment and said, "Should be... around 400, why?"

Xi Hai hurriedly ordered, "Never mind the other Warships, hide these big ships first; absolutely do not let the Imperial side discover them."

After hearing this, Julius immediately stood at attention and said, "Yes!"

...

...

Thirty minutes later, a fully dressed Xi Hai stood in the base Starport of the 9-89th Legion, watching a battle barge dock, and then—Kelaifu walked down.

Before Xi Hai could even extend his hand, he walked over in two steps, grabbed Xi Hai's right hand directly, and shook it up and down, saying, "Grand Duke Chu Xiluo, sorry to have kept you waiting."

Xi Hai didn't rush to pull his hand away and said, "I haven't been waiting long; there's no need for such pleasantries."

Kelaifu saw that it was enough, let go of his hand, and skillfully changed the expression on his face to regret and apology, asking, "How have you been in the fief? Are you adapting well?"

"I'm really sorry, because the Taxation Department of this sector collects the taxes here every year, we really thought this place was still under the Empire's control. We didn't expect that 60% of it had already fallen."

Xi Hai looked at him speechlessly. Does he really not know, or is he pretending not to know? That Taxation Department of yours that claims to be able to collect all taxes is the culprit behind so many areas falling here, okay!

After that group of aliens was wiped out by him last time, the Taxation Department acted like a bunch of dead people in every other aspect, except for sending more tax-collection squads. Even when the 9-89th Legion recovered 18 tax-collection squads and thousands of Warships 7 days ago, they didn't come to hold them accountable.

He retorted, "The fief you gave me is truly a 'good place'. The degree to which the aliens are running rampant is frighteningly high."

Kelaifu automatically ignored the latter part of Xi Hai's sentence, made a gesture of invitation, and said, "Good, then let us go to the place for our talk and discuss it in detail."

...

Ten minutes later, in a small conference room, Xi Hai and Kelaifu sat opposite each other at a table.

"We also didn't expect the degree of alien rampaging here," after Kelaifu emphasized the nonsense he had already said in the Starport, he directly led the topic to the main point—"Then, regarding the order we discussed earlier, is there still the capacity to deliver?"

Xi Hai naturally met Kelaifu's gaze, "Of course, but it will be slower. I have to wait until I recapture the remaining 8 industrial star systems—or you reallocate equipment to build eight industrial star systems here, then the speed will return to normal."

Kelaifu thought for a moment and nodded in understanding, "Since that's the case, the matter of Warship modification and Warp Engine is not urgent. The first batch of finished engines can be delayed by one month, but—" As he spoke, Kelaifu took out a holographic projection base and said, "There is a big guy, and its priority is the highest."

After the base was activated, a strange Warship was soon displayed before his eyes—a boxy body, openings on the side, a bloated hull, "That's right, an aircraft carrier from the Third Epoch. The Empire has two of them."

Xi Hai just looked at them, taking the opportunity to complain that this thing was ugly enough, "Carrier? Priority? Specifically, how do you want it modified?"

Kelaifu stated, "You used carrier-based aircraft in battle at Ursa Major V12.22. I remember that scene; the Immortal hadn't even activated its Shield before it was whittled down to a stick. The same goes for those ships of The Consortium. The Imperial Navy's requirement is for you to equip them with a carrier-based aircraft system suitable for actual combat—specifically mentioning that you must equip them with the two types of aircraft you deployed when fighting at Ursa Major V12.22."

(Full classes tomorrow and the day after, I will try my best to find time to update.)