192: Dawn on the Wasteland

Ashen Earth Star, Central Plaza.

The massive iron frame once used to hang the Mine Slaves' number plaques was torn down, replaced by a brand new holographic projector. The light beam shot straight into the sky, casting Chen Feng's figure onto the dim firmament like a miracle.

“I am Chen Feng.”

The voice echoed through the broadcast system, resonating in every mine pit and every tunnel.

In the Central Plaza, the dense crowd was utterly silent. Tens of thousands of eyes stared intently at the light projection—the master of their fate.

“Starting today, Ashen Earth Star will no longer have numbers.” Chen Feng's voice was soft, yet every word was as firm as iron. “Mine Slave No. 734 is dead. Every single one of you will have your own name and an official file as a 'citizen'.”

A commotion arose among the crowd, born of disbelief that had been suppressed for too long.

“Look! That's water!”

Someone shouted. On both sides of the Central Plaza, a dozen heavy transport vehicles slowly drove in. Their cargo compartments opened, revealing neat, transparent containers inside—drinking water that was crystal clear and purified multiple times.

“And clothes! New clothes without patches!”

Old Knife led his caravan members, tossing packages of supplies toward the crowd as if handing out candy.

“Uncle Zhang! This is yours!” Old Knife shoved a thick, cold-weather suit into the hands of an old miner.

The old man, known as Uncle Zhang, trembled as he stroked the soft fabric he had never felt before. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but suddenly knelt down, buried his face in the clothes, and let out a heart-wrenching wail.

“Long live! Long live Hanhai!”

Cheers erupted like a tsunami. People rushed toward the supply vehicles, toward Chen Feng's holographic projection, waving their arms frantically. In this moment, they were no longer parts waiting to be scrapped, but living, breathing human beings.

Chen Feng stood on the high platform, watching the surging sea of people below. The fingers that habitually tapped the armrest stopped.

“This feeling... it's heavy,” he murmured to himself.

“That is the weight of responsibility, Boss.” Su Li stood behind him, holding the new citizen archive forms. “You saved their lives; now you are responsible for their future.”

Chen Feng remained silent for a moment, then turned and stepped off the platform. “I'm going to check on Eve.”

Inside the secret workshop, the light was dim.

Eve was curled up alone in a chair in the corner. The screen in front of her constantly displayed the battle reports of the “trojan” virus. Every red dot represented a machine that had exploded due to overload, a factory that had been paralyzed by her code.

She hugged her knees, her silver hair obscuring her face, like a child who had done something wrong.

Footsteps stopped behind her.

“Counting the red dots?” Chen Feng's voice came through.

Eve froze, not turning around. “Three thousand four hundred and twenty-one units. If anyone had been nearby at the time... even if only one-tenth of the operators were on duty...”

“That was war, Eve.” Chen Feng walked over to her, not using his usual cold tone, but pulling up a chair and sitting down. “Hoffman wanted us dead. If those machines hadn't exploded, the people cheering in the Central Plaza would be the ones dead.”

“But... I am a creator.” Eve looked up, tears glistening in her eyes. “My technology is meant for repair, for connection... not for turning into bombs.”

“Technology has no good or evil, only allegiance.” Chen Feng stood up and extended his hand to her. “Come, let me show you something.”

The workshop's terrace was located at the highest point of the base.

Chen Feng led Eve to the railing and pointed toward the residential area below.

Night fell. The slum, which had been silent and dark, was now lit up with scattered pinpricks of light. These were lamps modified from recycled, discarded energy blocks. Though the light was weak, it was warm and continuous.

“Look at those lights.” Chen Feng pointed into the distance. “Lao Mo used the energy distribution algorithm you designed to divert the energy that was originally only meant to power the mining machines to every household. Without your modification of the underlying logic of the energy block, this system wouldn't be running at all.”

Eve was stunned. She looked at the lights, a sight she had never witnessed before—not a cold data stream, but life filled with human warmth.

“Your trojan destroyed the enemy's machines, but your technology lit up their homes.” Chen Feng turned and looked into her eyes. “A sword can kill, but it can also protect. It depends on who holds the sword. I trust you, Eve.”

Eve's lips trembled slightly. After a long while, the confusion in her eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a new determination.

“I want to... optimize the civilian heating protocol,” she whispered. “The current efficiency can be increased by another 12%.”

Chen Feng smiled. “Approved.”

The Orbital Spaceport was bustling with activity.

The former junkyard was now filled with various types of merchant ships. Reno, dressed in a brand new combat uniform, was pointing at a row of modified patrol ships.

“Boss!” Seeing Chen Feng approach, Reno excitedly gave a clumsy military salute. “Look at this lineup! We fixed those captured Giant Star Mining Guards. Although the cannon barrels are a bit crooked, they're enough to scare those pirates! Now, in this star sector, who doesn't tremble when they hear the name 'Hanhai'?”

“Don't get too cocky.” Chen Feng patted the rough weld seams of the warship. “These are patched-up junk. If we run into a regular army...”

“Regular army?” Reno burst out laughing, thumping his chest. “Wasn't Giant Star Mining the regular army? And didn't we take them down? Don't worry, Boss, with me here, not even a fly will get in!”

Chen Feng looked at Reno's confident face and the relaxed chatting of the soldiers around him. The subtle worry in his heart was slightly diluted by the prosperity before his eyes.

“Let's hope so.”

Hanhai Trade Building, Office.

Su Li handed the last document to Chen Feng. “The reconstruction budget has been approved. Also, the guest list for tomorrow night's celebration banquet has been confirmed. Representatives from six surrounding star systems' trade associations will attend. This is our best opportunity to show our strength.”

“What about security?” Chen Feng signed his name.

“To facilitate guest entry, the outer defense level has been lowered to Yellow.” Su Li looked at the newly developing city outside the window, a rare hint of ease on her lips. “After all, no one would dare cross us at a time like this, right?”

Chen Feng put down his pen, looked at the prosperous scene outside the window, and felt an unprecedented sense of control rise in his heart.

“That's right.” He picked up the wine glass on the desk and gently swirled it. “The era belonging to Hanhai has just begun.”

At that moment, neither Chen Feng nor Su Li noticed that the brightest star in the sky was flashing with a strange red light.