You said mechs were going to fight monsters, but instead you're destroying stars with your bare

Chapter 159 The Invisible War
Li Zhe continued on to his destination.

This journey was smooth sailing, without any further incidents.

Perhaps even the "crash halo" must abide by the basic law. Faced with the absolute air superiority and saturation escort of the coalition government, the conspiracy of any villain appears pale and powerless.
Or perhaps, those who were secretly plotting finally realized that the operation to intercept the "top courier" was so unprofitable that it was a complete waste of money.

In short, Li Zhe enjoyed a normal air travel experience, which was a rare treat.

As his vertical takeoff and landing transport plane passed through thick clouds and slowly landed at the temporary airport in the Hakone area.

The view outside the porthole still deeply shocked this armor craftsman who was used to seeing grand scenes.

The Hakone before us is no longer the scenic tourist destination with its hot springs.

It has transformed into an unimaginable super construction site, brimming with the atmosphere of steel and fire.

The rolling mountains were flattened and reshaped by unimaginable forces.

Hundreds of heavy-duty construction machines of various shapes and sizes wield their massive robotic arms, reshaping mountain peaks as if kneading dough.

A huge bowl-shaped basin, more than 20 kilometers in diameter and bottomless, has taken shape.

The edge of the basin is a steep cliff reinforced with high-strength alloy, covered with a dense network of passages and platforms like a honeycomb.

At the deepest part of the basin, a vast underground space can be vaguely seen, with countless searchlight beams flashing and intertwining within it, like stars underground.

This is the prototype of the future underground city of "Third New Tokyo City".

Thousands of engineering mechs, like hardworking and tireless worker ants, shuttle back and forth inside and outside the basin.

Some of these ships hoisted tens of thousands of tons of alloy structural modules from massive transport vessels and precisely embedded them into pre-designed bases.

Others wielded high-temperature plasma cutting torches, carving out deep tunnels into the mountains.

Others hang like spiders on the cliff face, carrying out precise wiring and energy node calibration.

In the sky, transport planes roared past and patrolling fighter mech formations flew overhead.

On the ground, there was a constant stream of convoys transporting supplies and technicians rushing to and fro.

The air was thick with the acrid smell of welding, the pungent odor of engine oil, the dust from crushed rocks, and...

A kind of aura called "hope," so intense it could scald the soul.

Top engineers, technicians, and mech pilots from all over the world who have passed rigorous political vetting have gathered here.

They have different skin colors and speak different languages.

But on everyone's face was an almost fanatical passion and sense of mission.

They are using their own hands to gradually turn the blueprint of the "fortress city" that sparked global discussion online, a blueprint filled with youthful fantasies and a touch of juvenile delusion, into reality.

"Goodness, this is quite a sight..."

Li Zhe stepped off the transport plane and looked at the bustling construction boom before him, and couldn't help but click his tongue.

"This isn't building a city, it's practically installing an engine on the Earth!"

[Commander, based on my data analysis, at the current construction rate, the initial framework of the underground city is expected to be completed within three weeks. At that time, it will become the most impregnable strategic fortress on the surface of Earth.]

Zero's voice echoed in his mind, still mimicking Xing's calm tone.

"Awesome, it can be completed in three weeks." Li Zhe chuckled: "Alright, stop reminiscing, let's get down to business."

Guided by the project manager, Li Zhe headed to the core energy zone located in the center of the basin.

After undergoing rigorous security checks and identity verification, he finally met his ultimate goal.

A giant metal structure, its foundation just completed, pulsating like a heart.

That is the lifeblood of "Third New Tokyo City," the installation base for the first-generation controlled nuclear fusion reactor.

The handover process went more smoothly than expected.

When Li Zhe placed the heavy alloy box steadily on the designated handover platform, all the engineers and technicians present burst into thunderous applause and cheers.

Their eyes were filled with heartfelt admiration and gratitude as they looked at Li Zhe.

"Comrade Li Zhe! You've worked so hard!" An elderly engineer with gray hair and thick glasses excitedly grasped his hand and shook it vigorously. "With this 'sun,' our city has a true soul!"

"It's my duty," Li Zhe said with a modest smile.

After completing the handover procedures and declining the project team's invitation to "stay and attend the celebration banquet," Li Zhe prepared to leave, citing the need to "immediately return to headquarters to accept new transportation tasks."

He didn't want to get caught up in this endless sea of ​​meetings and social obligations.

Instead of wasting time like this, you might as well wander around the construction site a few more times and see if there's anything worth learning from.

Just as he was preparing to leave the core energy zone.

Zero's voice, tinged with a hint of wariness, echoed in his mind.

[Commander, abnormal memetic fluctuations have been detected in the nearby area. We suggest you pay close attention.]

"Meme fluctuations?" Li Zhe paused slightly, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. "A pseudo-Abyss being sabotage at the construction site?"

[It cannot be determined, but its fluctuation frequency is highly similar to that previously observed in the 'Mingquan Xianfeng' incident, and it is full of inflammatory and confrontational elements.]

Li Zhe nodded calmly, deciding to investigate further.

Guided by Zero, he quietly accessed the anonymous forum within the "Third New Tokyo City" builders' community.

This forum was originally set up by the joint government to facilitate the exchange of technologies and the sharing of experiences among builders.

But at this moment, the atmosphere inside was far from harmonious.

Interspersed among those heated technical discussion threads were some heated arguments, like turbulent undercurrents beneath a calm lake.

Li Zhe's gaze was quickly drawn to a pinned hot post.

The post's title was simple and direct, yet it was full of resentment.

Why are all the heavy structure hoisting operations in Area A handled by our male crane operators? Working continuously for over 12 hours, their radiation levels are practically off the charts!

Clicking on the post reveals even more complaints and grievances.

[Posted by: Passerby who wishes to remain anonymous]

"Brothers, be the judge! What kind of job is the giant keel hoisting in Sector A-3? Tens of thousands of tons of alloy structure, suspended hundreds of meters in the air, requiring extremely high concentration. The slightest tremor could cost hundreds of lives! And that thing just came off the production line, still radiating intense heat, the Geiger counter in the cockpit beeping like a death knell! We, a bunch of grown men, gritted our teeth and endured it for twelve hours straight, without even a hot meal. When we came down, we were all like we'd been pulled out of water, so exhausted we could barely walk! And what did the female pilots in Sector B do? They were just doing some delicate welding and data verification, enjoying air conditioning, drinking coffee, and having an easy time without having to work all night! Is that fucking fair?!"

(End of this chapter)