I built an armada.

Regarding the core components purchased by the Indian tribe, has your tribe fulfilled its corresponding payment obligations? Our tribe's production costs and cash flow are under immense pressure.

"Payment? Oh, God!"

Williams' voice rose instantly, filled with undisguised annoyance and resentment.

"We've paid far more than that! Just the bounty on that Longxia woman, Qin Mingzhu, to get them to break through the pirates' control, cost us a fortune! And those damned Indians!"
They were like a bunch of rats that had crawled into a tower of gold coins!

Their 'EMP' weapon development is severely behind schedule, and they cannot produce any progress reports that can pass acceptance tests!
They actually... they actually dared to ask for another 10 billion US dollars in 'additional research and development funding'! Under the guise of 'ensuring the project isn't completely overwhelmed by the Dragon Star Project'! Utterly shameless!

The complaints on the other end of the phone were like icicles, piercing through the last shred of hope that Noda Taro had left.

"Another 10 billion?"

His throat tightened, and his voice was almost squeezed out through his teeth.

"But our core components..."

"God bless you, Dalang! I hope you can successfully recoup those orders worth hundreds of billions of dollars! We only care if we hear a 'spark' from the money we've invested. As for your messy debts with Ah San?"

Williams let out a short, snickering laugh.

That's your internal matter. Good luck!

The call was abruptly ended, leaving only a monotonous busy tone.

Noda Taro gripped the microphone, his palms cold and sticky. The Eagle Tribe hadn't paid for the parts, and the Indians had extorted 10 billion US dollars in additional investment! And on his side, the Indians didn't even want to pay the basic cost of the goods!
A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight to my head.

He immediately picked up the phone again and dialed the dedicated line to New Delhi, this time targeting the Indian King himself. After a long wait, the Indian King's voice, thickly accented yet deliberately gentle and kind, rang out.

"Oh! It's you, young master! My dear neighbor! How can I help you?"

"Your Majesty the King of India!"

Noda Taro suppressed his surging anger and anxiety.

"The core components you commissioned have all been delivered months ago! They are worth over ten billion US dollars! But to this day, we haven't received a single penny of payment! Our tribe's factory is operating at full capacity, and the budgets of several departments are nearing depletion! We earnestly request your..."

"Ah! My dear friend! Dalang!"

The Indian king's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, filled with sincere apology.

"Misunderstanding! Huge misunderstanding! We have absolutely no intention of defaulting! It's just... alas, our great empire is currently in a critical investment period! All our working capital has been devoted to the great cause of 'protecting the skies of South Asia'—the final research and development and mass production of EMP weapons!"
This is a strategic expenditure concerning the security of the entire region! Please understand, it's temporary! It's just a temporary difficulty!

Noda Taro's blood rushed to his head.

"But……"

Don't worry! My best friend!

The Indian king interrupted him, his tone becoming impassioned and carrying an unquestionable promise.

"Once our powerful EMP weapon successfully enters the market, the cash flow will be as abundant as the Ganges! Your payment will be made immediately! Not only will we pay you back with interest, but as compensation and proof of our sincere friendship, we will also do it for free!"

He emphasized the word "free".

"Deploy the most advanced EMP protection system for the entire Eastern Wilderness tribe free of charge! Let our neighbors also enjoy top-notch defense capabilities!"

Free protection? Noda Taro's heart sank to the bottom.

The promise sounded incredibly appealing, but compared to the additional 10 billion US dollars from the Eagle Tribe and the Indian king's obvious evasive attitude, it seemed so cheap and superficial.

He sensed the threat emanating from the bare chest.

If you dare to push me, I'll expose all the electronic equipment in the entire Eastern Wilderness to my EMP weapons that could go out of control at any moment!
at this point.

The huge shipment of core components was already stored in the Indian warehouse, with payment nowhere in sight. It had even become a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment and be pointed at Donghuang itself. Noda Taro felt a deep sense of powerlessness, and a bitter taste filled his mouth.

"Your Majesty... I only hope that your side... can remember this promise."

His voice was dry, each word sounding like sandpaper grinding against his throat.

"Of course! I swear in the name of Shiva! The friendship and trust of the Indian Empire are as solid and enduring as the Taj Mahal!"

The Indian king's voice was resolute and full of "sincerity".

When Noda Taro wearily put down the phone and turned to face the high-ranking officials of the tribal finance and industry departments who were waiting for his news, he saw in their eyes a darker gloom and an undisguised anger than when he was pressing for payment.

"President!"

The CFO clenched his fists, his voice trembling as he suppressed his anger.

"The deficit in the military industry sector can no longer be filled, severely squeezing the budgets for all key projects in the civilian products division for the second half of the year! Chip R&D, expansion of new materials production lines... all have been forced to a halt!"

"People in the manufacturing department are already complaining about the risk of production stoppages!"

The industry supervisor's face turned ashen.

"In order to rush the Indian order, several other high-margin civilian orders were severely delayed, resulting in a flood of customer complaints! Who will bear the penalty for breach of contract?"

"What about the board of directors..."

The secretary added in a low, weak voice, "Several elders have already jointly submitted... a formal letter of inquiry regarding your decision-making."

The questioning was like a cold whip, lashing down on him. Noda Taro felt the veins in his forehead throbbing, and the air in the office seemed to solidify into a heavy lead weight, making it hard for him to breathe.

His unauthorized decision to devote all his efforts to producing core components for India not only resulted in an indefinite delay in payment, but more terrifyingly, it also eroded the foundation of the tribe. The chain reaction has already collapsed like dominoes, dragging him and the entire Eastern Wilderness into an even deeper and more unfathomable vortex of trouble.

Praying for that so-called "credit" and "free protection"? At this moment, it sounds more like a bitter self-mockery.

He seemed to see the final calm before the storm, a calm so oppressive it was suffocating.

Just as the Eastern Wilderness Tribe was shrouded in the shadow of debt, to the east of the Dragon Summer Tribe, within the West River Research Institute, an atmosphere of near-boiling excitement prevailed. The heavy, radiation-proof concrete doors shut out the outside clamor, while the central experimental hall inside shone brightly, filled with an invisible, tense, and expectant energy.

Five days! From learning that Qin Mingzhu was in danger to the rescue fleet cutting through the waves and heading straight to the center of the Cross Strait, crushing the pirate resistance with overwhelming force, to returning with the victorious and recovered Qin Mingzhu, and finally arriving back at the Xijiang Research Institute unharmed, it only took an astonishing five days!
The massive, silvery-white core component of the vacuum chamber stands securely on a precision heavy-duty support, radiating a cold and restrained metallic luster.

Every inch of its precision stems from the groundbreaking "3D printing + atomic-level grinding" composite technology in Su Dingping's mind. At this moment, it becomes the protagonist of the entire hall, silently proclaiming the return of its master and the solid foundation of the Dragon Star Project.

Despite being travel-worn, Su Dingping's eyes remained bright and sharp as he practically skimmed past the welcoming crowd at the research institute.

He didn't use any polite formalities or bureaucratic jargon, and went straight to Old He, the base manager who came to greet him.

"Engineer He, has that batch of obsolete German equipment been received and put into storage? Immediately adjust the temperature and humidity control system at the storage site to the optimal parameters! Also, prepare precision assembly rooms No. 3 and No. 7, clear all passageways and stand by, I need them immediately!"

"Yes, sir! I guarantee it will be done!"

A glint flashed in Lao He's eyes, and without hesitation, he turned around to make the arrangements.

Su Dingping's undeniable sharpness and efficiency had long since infected and assimilated the entire research institute.

Professor Xu Bingxian, another elder of the institute and a leading figure in materials science, couldn't help but frown as he watched Su Dingping eagerly rush into another battle after just leaving one.

He strode after him, stopping Su Dingping, who was hurrying towards the materials laboratory area, with a hint of displeasure.

“Dingping! You just got back and haven’t even had a sip of water? I’ve also looked into those German machines. They’re involved in the purification of precision chemical raw materials and the separation of heavy elements. The technology is very advanced, and they’re already a whole generation behind! Although there’s some overlap with our main research area, the differences are huge, and the risks are too high! You can’t take too big a step right away!”

Su Dingping didn't stop walking. He turned to Xu Bingxian and gave him a smile that was a mixture of confidence and a little cunning. His eyes were surprisingly bright.

"Don't worry, Mr. Xu! I'm just taking a look to understand their past working methods and find some inspiration. I already have some new ideas in mind, and maybe I can find a way to 'turn waste into treasure' in these scrap metals?"

He spoke of it casually, as if he were talking about taking apart a building block toy.

"Look? You think you can just look at them and turn them into usable devices? And you want to surpass the originals?"

Xiao Li, a young researcher who had been following Xu Bingxian and had developed an immense admiration for Su Dingping, couldn't help but blurt it out, then lowered his head in embarrassment.

Several senior researchers who gathered around at the sound of the commotion shook their heads, their faces clearly showing that the young man was arrogant and ignorant. Xu Bingxian's expression became even more serious, obviously taking these words as a sign that Su Dingping had become "overconfident."

"Dingping, science requires accumulation, but even more so, it requires a down-to-earth approach!"

Xu Bingxian emphasized his words, his tone carrying the sternness of an elder admonishing a younger person.

"How long have you been working at the research institute? Less than a month at most! Materials extraction is an extremely complex and precise field that relies heavily on experience!"

We've gathered the best talent in Longxia and spent five years exploring! Five years! And we've only barely scratched the surface! Modification? Or is it upgrading and modifying a completely unfamiliar, already obsolete, foreign system, and surpassing its original design? This sounds…”

He carefully considered his words, and finally sighed.

"Too optimistic, even a bit... frivolous."

Don't touch it! Focusing all our efforts on the mass production and verification of new materials is the right path!

Before he could finish speaking, Su Dingping had already pushed open the door to the special materials laboratory.

He offered no further explanation, but walked straight to the huge design and drafting table in the corner and skillfully pressed a few switches. The specially designed wide electronic screen immediately lit up, emitting a soft, cool white light.

"Mr. Xu and the other teachers, words are not enough to prove anything."

The curve of his lips deepened, carrying the sharpness unique to young people, as if it could pierce through all constraints.

“Since you’ve said it was ‘inspiration,’ why don’t you take a look at what I’ve just come up with… this rough draft?”

Su Dingping's long, strong fingers moved quickly, steadily, and precisely across the electronic drawing screen.

Without a moment's hesitation, without pause! It was as if a sophisticated projector already existed in his mind, meticulously and precisely imprinting the already perfect blueprint. The lines extended, intersected, and combined with fluidity and precision.

It was not a typical planar structure or section of a design drawing, but rather a dazzling three-dimensional spatial structure, complex force field and energy flow path simulations, and unprecedented combinations and nesting of materials!
Xu Bingxian approached the drawing table with the last bit of persuasion and to verify the "boasting of young people," his eyes fixed on the huge screen.

As the three-dimensional and intricate blueprint gradually became clear in the center of the screen, and as his eyes caught those unprecedented structural details that instantly allowed him to understand their exquisite and revolutionary potential—Xu Bingxian's serious expression crumbled like an avalanche of snow, and was immediately swept away by an extreme, as if witnessing a miracle!
His mouth opened wider and wider unconsciously, his breath seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, and his chest heaved violently a few times.

His hand, which was resting on the edge of the drawing table, began to tremble uncontrollably. His thin fingers bent, and his nails almost dug into the cold alloy surface.

"This...this is impossible!"

A hoarse, low scream, filled with countless waves of shock and disbelief, burst out of Xu Bingxian's throat like a broken gong!
His eyes were fixed on the design drawing, as if his very soul had been drawn into its strange form. A startling brightness, like a dying man's final burst of light, erupted from his cloudy gaze, as if a scholar who had devoted his life to research had finally found the ultimate answer he had sought all his life!

Five years! Five whole years of tireless exploration, experimentation, failure, and further research... like a blind man searching through a wall!
All the detours we've taken, the bottlenecks we've encountered, and the structural diagrams we envisioned but couldn't realize due to the limitations of technology and theory—all of these are now presented on this drawing in a clear, beautiful, and powerful way, with an almost overwhelming and even aesthetically perfect ultimate solution!

Surpassing? This is more than just surpassing!
The centrifugal extraction system depicted on this drawing shines with a brilliant insight into the future of materials science in every detail!
The energy guiding method, the anti-gravity gradient setting, the supramolecular resonant membrane, and the core driving force—a simple yet incredibly powerful magnetic vortex acceleration module—completely transcend the framework that any existing centrifugal extraction technology can comprehend!

This is a completely new revolution, a revolutionary one that is like a game-changer!
Xu Bingxian shuddered violently, then abruptly raised his head. His bloodshot eyes, filled with utter shock and utter absurdity, were fixed on Su Dingping's excessively young face, a face etched with self-righteousness. (End of Chapter)