10: Chapter 10 System Mission: The Price of Knowledge
In his rented room, Lin Mo carefully sealed the test tube containing a trace amount of white powder. Although it was only a few grams of sample, it was the first step in his personal conversion of system knowledge into a physical object, and its significance was extraordinary.
[Mission Completed. Reward: 50 Points.]
Looking at the notification popping up on the system interface and the total points column changing to 150, Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief. These 50 points had come just in time.
However, before he could carefully study the dazzling yet expensive new options in the Point Mall, a new system notification ruthlessly refreshed the interface.
[New Mission Issued: Independently manufacture a "Miniature Ion Thruster" prototype (verification version).]
[Mission Requirements: Based on the basic schematic provided by the system, complete the manufacturing and integration of the core components "Miniature Plasma Generator" and "Electrostatic Grid," achieving propellant injection at minimum power.]
[Mission Reward: 300 Points, 1x [Basic Energy Core Theory] Knowledge Fragment.]
[Failure Penalty: None.]
[Time Limit: 30 natural days.]
"An ion thruster?!" Lin Mo's eyelid twitched slightly.
This thing wasn't like the previous formulas on paper or small-scale chemical syntheses. This was a solid spacecraft propulsion component. Even if it was just a miniature prototype for verification, the fields involved went far beyond materials science, covering multiple cutting-edge disciplines such as plasma physics, electromagnetic field control, and precision machining.
The system indeed wasn't kind enough to let him pass easily. It was forcing him not only to understand theory but also to possess interdisciplinary practical skills and the ability to solve real engineering problems.
"The cost of knowledge, huh..." Lin Mo muttered to himself, a challenging curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. This pressure, instead, stirred his competitive spirit.
He immediately clicked on the [Basic Schematic for Miniature Ion Thruster] attached to the system. Instantly, even more complex and precise blueprints and information flows flooded into his mind. Compared to the macro-scale of the Moon Base blueprints, this blueprint focused more on micro-scale implementation, with the dimensions, tolerances, material requirements, and assembly processes of every component marked in extreme detail.
The difficulties were clear at a glance.
First was the material. The thruster required special ceramics and alloys that could withstand high-temperature plasma and strong electric field environments; these weren't things he could just buy at a hardware store.
Second was the machining precision. Especially that multi-layer Electrostatic Grid, which was as thin as a cicada's wing, with spacing requirements reaching the micron level. With his current tools and skills, it was simply impossible to complete.
Finally, there was the energy. Although ion thrusters are highly efficient, starting and maintaining the plasma requires instantaneous high-voltage electrical energy. The pitiful residential power in his rented room couldn't even produce a spark.
"Points..." Lin Mo's gaze turned toward the Point Mall again. Sure enough, it provided a solution:
[High-Temperature and Radiation-Resistant Ceramic Rod (Standard Unit): 15 Points]
[High-Purity Tantalum-Tungsten Alloy Wire (Roll): 20 Points]
[Miniature Precision Lathe (Manual High-Precision Version): 80 Points]
[Portable High-Energy Capacitor Array (Small): 50 Points]
...
Lin Mo did a quick mental calculation. Just gathering the most basic materials and tools would nearly drain the 150 points he had just received and hadn't even warmed up yet, and it might not even be enough. The 300-point reward now seemed exceptionally tempting.
"It's truly all interconnected." He laughed helplessly. The system had calculated perfectly that he needed points, using a high-reward mission to lure him, while completing the mission required him to first invest points to exchange for resources.
He didn't hesitate for long. Knowledge and technology were the foundation; points were meant to be converted into strength. Blindly saving would only slow down his own progress and the country's.
"Exchange!"
With his confirmation, the point count plummeted. Several materials gleaming with metallic or ceramic lusters appeared in his inventory, along with a virtual projection of a compact miniature lathe smelling of machine oil. On the desktop in reality, the corresponding physical objects quietly appeared out of thin air without attracting any outside attention.
Looking at the nearly empty points column and the "expensive" belongings on the table, Lin Mo felt a heavy pressure, but he was also full of motivation.
He rolled up his sleeves and picked up the roll of tantalum-tungsten alloy wire that was so thin it was almost invisible, his eyes focused.
"Alright, let's see just how hard it is to build a 'little rocket' with my own hands."
The challenge was set before him; he had no way back and could only choose to face the difficulties head-on.