Wasteland Development Diary.

Chapter 715 Star Sea Radio Station
Welcome to Xinghai Radio. This is Ajin.

I am Gintoki.

In the studio, Ah Jin, dressed in a formal suit, began his work.

Seated beside him was a semi-transparent figure, composed of silicon crystal gemstones, with a silver face and a body mainly in blue and white, as if wearing a gorgeous and shiny dress, with black accents featuring a pattern resembling a wide tie.

This is his partner, A-Yin.

The studio, shaped like a small circular theater, transmits information from here into the universe through strings, first through the entire string network, and then along the energy tides to go further afield.

Akin said to Mai.

To start today, let's have the karaoke king bring us his daily selection of songs.

【"One Night In Shanghai"】

A burst of loud music filled the studio.

Musical pauses.

A-Jin turned off his microphone, picked up his coffee and took a sip, then asked his partner, "How many listeners are online?"

Ah Yin pointed to her face.

Its face displays [1017].

The number of people has decreased by 11 compared to yesterday.

However, short-term fluctuations are normal, because there will always be listeners joining the channel, and some people will close or leave; people coming and going is the norm.

Since the radio station started three months ago, the number of listeners has gradually increased and has stabilized at 800 listeners every day.

Looking at data every day has become a professional habit for A-Jin.

"However, there are four new audience members today who have not appeared before."

Ah Yin said in his characteristic upbeat tone, "The number of new cases is quite stable."

"Ah."

The first piece of music ended as the two were chatting.

Akin speaks out.

[We are now accepting remote connections.]

moment.

[May I ask your name, listener?]

My name is... Zhou.

【Mr. Zhou, is there anything you'd like to share with us or ask us?】

[Zhou: I want to ask, why did you create this radio station? I only recently discovered your existence. Initially, I thought you were a hunting civilization searching for other life forms, but after my special screening and judgment, it seems you are not like that. So, why are you consuming such a huge amount of energy and consciousness to start a cosmic broadcast?]

Ajin raised an eyebrow.

[This is a question many listeners have asked in episodes one through five. Since you've asked, we'll answer it again.]

[Starry Sea Radio is a cosmic radio station established by our wasteland development company. Its purpose is to use string technology to help travelers from all directions pass the time and relax, as well as provide services such as finding relatives and friends.]

Our functions are twofold: first, to provide a platform for everyone to chat and make friends; second, to promote our company. We welcome and sincerely invite talented individuals to join us and become our colleagues. This is also our first time hosting a radio show, so please forgive any shortcomings.

[Zhou: I understand.]

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

[Zhou: I found remnants of a civilization within some meteorites erupting from a higher dimension. After reading them, they vanished. They contained my name and deeds, including the civilization I'm currently helping to build. Yet, I and my civilization are still thriving… I'm very uneasy; I don't know what's going on. Is it a higher-dimensional civilization locking onto my future?]

Please don't worry. This is a fragment from a different dimension of time. Sometimes, beings from other timelines bring out material from other timelines, where there is a point in time where you and your civilization will meet in the future. Everything will eventually perish, just as these billions of planets were once magnificent beings. Don't fear the distant future; just live in the present.

[Zhou: I can't help but be afraid...]

Then let's go and change the future.

[Zhou: Can the future be rewritten?]

[Yes, it's possible. Once you achieve dimensional breakthrough, you can enter the time dimension, access different timelines, and continuously return to the past to correct mistakes and extend your own timeline. We've confirmed this using the Golden Tree, but the exact extension duration still needs verification.]

[Zhou: I see. Thank you.]

The second person to connect was one of their own.

[I'm a Celestial employee of the company, currently working as a planetary engineer. My name is Yu Shi. I'd like to ask if the String Civilization can hear this channel? I heard it can...]

[Ah Jin: Sure. This is something the chairman specifically instructed us to do. String Civilization committed a massacre and is currently under imprisonment and rehabilitation. However, we've given it a listening channel, but it can only receive, not send.]

Please request a song for it called "You've Got Your Turn Today," the one by Jolin Tsai.

[Ah Jin: Okay.]

Music playing.

The String Civilization imprisoned in the sun can indeed hear songs, but at the moment it's being brutally beaten by the Golden Tree—after finally turning the tables, the Golden Tree strikes back with a heavy blow. It's unclear whether it's even in the mood to listen to music, but having something to listen to is better than having nothing at all.

The third listener, however, came prepared.

【My name is Painter, and I am part of a collective civilization. I would like to ask if it is permissible to post a missing person notice on Xinghai Radio?】

[Ah Jin: Of course. Please speak.]

Many years ago, when I was still very weak, I encountered a special life form. It was a traverser named Fusiye Nitokeldetlan Bikchujufan Yuni... If possible, please help me find it.

[Ah Jin: We can't guarantee it, but we'll try our best.]

The words just finished.

Suddenly, Ah Yin next to him gave a thumbs-up.

Does this mean...it was found?

Ajin looked bewildered and asked a question.

Ah Yin nodded.

The information was transmitted into Akin's brain through the string.

Huh?
It turns out that this long-named traveler... is actually the chairman's shadow secretary, Mr. Xiaofu's real name!
Indeed, the universe is vast enough that even such low-probability events can occur.

[Akin: Mr. Painter, we seem to have found the one you're looking for. We'd like to try connecting it one-on-one with you, is that alright?]

[Found it? Great, great! It's good that it wasn't destroyed! Thank you all, you are truly amazing!]

After a short interval.

Akin finally connected the Shadow Secretary to the radio station.

[Xiaofu: Painter? I've never heard of that name, but what you're saying is indeed my name. The Flowers collect the names of all destroyed civilizations and their carriers as a record... Do you really know me?] There was a moment of silence on the other end.

[Painter: I am Jin Pan, but I've changed my name.]

[Xiaofu: Jinpan? So it's you... Looks like you've already passed the difficult early accumulation phase and started interstellar exploration?]

[The Painter: I have made initial progress in reviving the Golden Scale Civilization, but I'm still far from it. I'm very sorry for what happened before; to put it nicely, I left without saying goodbye, but in reality, it was betrayal...]

[Suneo: Let's not dwell on the past. Everyone should look forward.]

[The Painter: How are you doing now?]

[Xiaofu: It's great. I'm working under the chairman at the company now, and I really like my current situation.]

[Painter: Are you with a wasteland development company?]

[Xiaofu: Yes.]

[The Painter: Your skill, as always, shines brightly... Alas, we are struggling here, facing many difficulties: energy shortages, radiation pollution, and the appearance of some strange higher-dimensional creatures.]

[Xiaofu: If you're having difficulties, I can help you apply for the company's civilization grant. If you pass the evaluation and approval, you'll become one of our civilization partners, and we'll remotely assist your development, but in return, there will be an equal exchange.]

[The Painter: It's truly shameful; as a defector, I have absolutely no right to do so...]

[Xiao Fu: I'm just following the rules. Any civilization can apply, but it needs a rigorous review by headquarters, and the chairman makes the final decision. I know a bit about you; providing basic information can shorten the timeframe.]

[The Painter: Thank you so much! Thank you! You truly are a highly advanced civilization! I am very willing to accept your guidance and follow in your footsteps!]

[Suneo: Then I'll make the application now and send over your current situation...]

[Colorist: Okay!]

……

time up.

Akin began to wrap things up.

Thank you for listening. Please tune in to Xinghai Radio again tomorrow at the same time.

The radio started playing the closing background music, "Time Traveler".

The 3-hour program finally came to an end.

Ajin stretched.

He looked at his partner beside him and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

A minimalist smile appeared on Ah Yin's face: "Off work, off work."

Leaving the studio.

Ah Jin went to the back room, opened the refrigerator, took out two cans of chilled beer, and gave the one marked "Special Offer for Celestials" to his partner.

He pulled the tab, gulped down a big mouthful, and showed a satisfied expression.

"Having a drink after finishing work is the most comfortable thing."

Ah Yin then inserted the metal can into her face and inhaled its contents: "Whoosh! That feels good!"

Akin turned his head and asked, "What's in your special beer? There's no ingredient list on the outside, and only you can drink it. I've always been curious."

"this one?"

A colleague pulled out a beer can: "Inside are the Closed Strings captured by the company. They're quite special; they were all obtained by the Cave People from entering the 12th-dimensional space. But it depends on luck. Some Closed Strings contain good stuff that tastes great, while others are just average. It's like opening a blind box."

"what?"

Ah Jin angrily retorted, "You guys are drinking so well! Damn it! That's not fair! We only have regular beer!"

The celestial being shrugged: "This is all the benefits we have. I envy you humans, who have both material and conscious aspects, can reproduce, and have offspring. We can't possibly understand these subtle and complex interactions of life."

"Having a baby is very troublesome."

Ah Jin chuckled: "I don't have that plan right now. I really enjoy my current life and work."

He walked to the jeweled floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, the land was frozen solid, with supersonic ice crystal hurricanes roaring. The sky was steel blue under the refraction of methane clouds, and intermittent rain of diamonds formed from carbon atoms fell. The ground was a churning ocean of liquid diamonds.

Only the cyborg's body remained unaffected on this ice giant at the outermost edge of the solar system.

Neptune is where the Starry Sea Radio Station is located.

This is a lonely and dangerous planet.

But this is also the bridgehead for the company to communicate with the outside world.

The violent natural disasters outside the window could not break through the solid barrier of the silicon crystal gemstone.

Ajin took a sip of wine.

Looking at his reflection in the gemstone mirror, he couldn't help but think back to twelve years ago.

Back then, he was a young scavenger who ran towards an unfamiliar campfire in the darkness and danger. It was by the fire that he first met the chairman.

The barbecue the chairman treated him to that time was something that no other food could compare to since.

He used to risk his life just to collect a little more manure and firewood.

Now, however, he is working with the former world ruler, Amanto, on a radio broadcast.

This is a direction I never even dared to dream of...

The world is changing too fast.

Ah Jin thought to himself.

He then pulled out the gem controller and began to examine the latest high-level data from the radio station.

"Ah Jin, we need to get ready to go back to the company."

Ah Yin puts the beer can into the special gem trash can next to him.

"Why go back?" Ajin asked without looking up.

"According to the timeline, tonight is the company's annual meeting. The chairman said that all departments are required to attend, have you forgotten?"

Ajin suddenly remembered.

I've been thinking about radio station data every day lately... How could I have forgotten about this!

"Then I need to change my clothes properly. Has the notification come down? Where do I go to do it?"

"Around the Sun Wall".

(End of this chapter)