Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

This is also why I approach this 'Foundation Building Pill' with such caution. I believe there must be a reason behind it. Of course, I need your help now, and I retrieved this knowledge with your help. The Akashic Records are only accessible to humans, and I'm only helping you input the information. Therefore, the results of the search are yours alone, and I won't share them with anyone else.

"What if I give the Foundation Establishment Pill I refined to someone else?"

[Think carefully, Foundation Establishment Pills are not like boiled eggs. Judging from the recipe, Foundation Establishment Pills are not difficult to refine. I suggest you also treat the Foundation Establishment Pills you refine with caution—of course, if you want to give them to others, that's fine; that's your decision.]

"I won't give it to anyone else."

Although he hadn't checked it yet, Shangluo was pretty sure it was true. He just wanted to get some insurance.

The Acropolis was not far from the watch shop, and he planned to walk the entire distance.

What if, after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill, he escaped Earth's gravity and flew? Then, this heavy walk would probably be the last time. He wanted to experience it more.

It was a sunny early summer day, and today was fine too. San Francisco looked much the same as usual, with layers of signs and banners draped over the shops along the street—Jiangning Bank, Yong'an Tang Pharmacy, Lanxin Cinema, and the ubiquitous Liubiju pickles.

Although it was an outer city, San Francisco was far more developed than the wild. Streets spread out in circles along the Acropolis, extending beyond the outer city, into the endless wheat fields, and finally disappearing on the horizon.

San Francisco is a classic example of a solid fortress. Ancient wars of great righteousness left behind numerous fortresses like San Francisco around the world, each a fortress nestled amidst waves of wheat.

There were also things you wouldn't see elsewhere, like escort agencies. Pennants were stacked overhead, like banners, used as signage. At the agency entrances, armed escorts stood, as usual, wearing black coats large enough to conceal submachine guns, and often sporting vigilante badges. But the weather was so warm that even the escorts leaned against the roadside, their weapons clutched.

Seeing escorts means you're not far from the Acropolis gates. They'll pick up jobs at the gates, escorting supplies to other locations. Many escort agencies have signs pointing directly to "Las Vegas."

Las Vegas is located just east of San Francisco, in the desert. It's a deserted land, a neutral zone where neither the Ming Dynasty nor Rome ruled. And that's where Las Vegas was built.

"By the way, speaking of Las Vegas, it's a great place to make money. If you're short on cash, just go to Vegas like those stupid Brits did. Of all the things, money, friends, Dharma, and place, money is the most important."

"Wait, they took you to Las Vegas?"

Come on, you don't think those English guys would do nothing with their divine reading machine, do you? Of course they went to Las Vegas to make a killing first. That energy-saving closed-loop tarot deck was developed around that time. I was so annoyed, I built it for them. They use the tarot cards to read their divinations, and the Akashic Records give them a symbolic answer. Even if they're wrong, they blame their own incomplete interpretation, not me. As for what happened before, don't ask; that's private.

“So that’s how it is”

Shangluo was still wondering where this group of people had come from. While San Francisco's security wasn't great, not even close to that of Kinei, he'd never heard of any terrorists kidnapping civilians in the city. After all, this was the seat of the Yangzhou Governor's Office. Airships and battleships were moored in Kinmen Harbor, and tanks and armored vehicles were parked in the Acropolis.

Those who came here to cause trouble must be tired of living. Those who were plundered last night were a case in point. Heavy weapons could reach their doorsteps in less than half a day.

"So their activities are funded entirely by winnings?"

"Of course. How else do you think they got the money to furnish the 'cave'? And how did they manage to hire all those real Englishmen from back home in Britain? It's a shame they've all been plundered now. That was a lot of money. I remember a huge pile of Roman banknotes."

“If I also go to Las Vegas to make a killing, does that count as after-sales service?”

[Yes, but I don't recommend it because I don't guarantee a win. They generally win because they have large capital, and your small capital can easily be wiped out by small fluctuations. Also, cheating is bad behavior. I can't say if cheating in gambling counts as fighting fire with fire, but cheating will accumulate karma. You don't want to be hunted down, do you?]

"Okay. Anyway, if there really is a Foundation Establishment Pill, I wouldn't care too much about the money in Las Vegas."

[You want to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill and sell it? ]

"If the medicine I eat is useful, I can refine some and sell it. If I become an alchemist or pharmacist, I can use the refined medicine to exchange for other resources I need more, or magic weapons or something."

"My goodness, I can't even imagine what would happen if a Roman senator got hold of the Foundation Establishment Pill. He'd probably be hunted down and killed by the others. Your thinking is truly different from Rome's."

"It's definitely different. We trust each other more here. But since everyone is so nice to me, I don't really want to cause any trouble for others. After all, trust between people is very precious... Well, the Acropolis of San Francisco is just up ahead, just around the corner."

Chapter 11 Acropolis

"We're here." Shangluo stopped in front of the city gate.

The shadow of the high wall covered the street, and the gate tower blocked the sunlight. The world inside the gate was far more lively than outside, but there were several roadblocks blocking the city gate.

A plaque with the Chinese characters "Acropolis" hangs on the gate tower, and a flagpole behind it hangs a red flag with a yellow sun. This isn't the national flag, but a "duty flag," signifying that this gate is open. This is a very classic practice, but not everywhere.

The city walls are covered with a layer of white cement. The centuries-old bricks are encased in cement, and the gatehouses have been replaced with reinforced concrete instead of wood, though the eaves remain as a symbolic decoration.

There were barricades at either end of the doorway, and the barriers had been lowered. A guard wearing a hard-topped helmet stood at the entrance. The character "勇" (Yong) etched in the center of his helmet signaled his status as a guard. He was a member of the royal army.

"Ah, it's Mr. Shang. But please show me your ID." The guard didn't remove his rifle to stop him because he knew him well. It was he who invited Shang Luo in to "cast a spell" yesterday. He was just doing a routine check to see if the visitor was qualified to enter the city.

"Wait a moment." Shangluo pulled a red certificate from his waist pouch. Each page was bound with rice paper. The front cover was printed with the four characters "Nanjing Hubu" in gold-stamped Jiudiezhuan.

Shangluo had no intention of taking out the token Captain Lu had given him yesterday. The Jinyiwei token was a bit too conspicuous, and he could use his own ID to get in. He would use the token when he entered the library.

The guard took the ID card, turned to the page with identity information, and compared the portrait with Shangluo's appearance.

After handing back the ID, the guard picked up the phone hanging on the wall and shouted something into the room.

The gate slowly opened, and he hung up the phone. "Alright, no problem, go in. But I have to go in with you."

Two people stood at the door and watched as the gate was slowly lifted up.

"By the way, isn't it time for you, the guards, to go back yet?"

"No, we in the Zhendong Guard are still waiting for Henghai Zuowei to come and relieve us. It seems something happened on the east coast, and they're temporarily installing some equipment just in case—that's what the rumor says. It's been really turbulent lately, you know? Don't tell anyone, someone was kidnapped yesterday!"

"Oh my, I heard about it. It was terrifying. How is that person?"

"Tsk, it's like they've lost their soul. But the kidnappers were wiped out by the Jinyiwei last night. They really don't know how to spell the word death. This happened just after the Jinyiwei arrived. The Governor was so angry that he smashed the ashtray."

"By the way, what are the Jinyiwei here for?" Shangluo didn't intend to continue discussing with him the matter of his soul being scared out of his wits.

"Who knows? I heard they're here to investigate a case. It's broad daylight, and apart from a few clueless thieves, what else could they possibly be investigating? I suspect the Governor has been impeached, so the Imperial Guards are here to arrest him. Tsk, with all this commotion, our service will have to be extended."

"Ah, this." Shangluo suddenly felt a little guilty. Although this wasn't his fault, it was still his fault. He did feel a little sorry for keeping the other person out for so long.

"Oh, it's nothing." The guard shook his head. "I'm not in a rush anyway. Overtime counts as service time. Working a little longer can give me a few more years of rest. Okay, the gate is fine, let's go in."

The San Francisco Citadel, a square area of just four square kilometers, housed 4% of the city's population. Three concrete walls separated the inner and outer worlds. Within the walls, Ming Dynasty laws were enforced, while those outside were disregarded. The seaward side, devoid of walls, served as the anchorage for the Yangzhou Navy.

Far from the mainland, the San Francisco Fortress was a garrison built on the land, with 80% of the permanent residents being military households and artisans. The 41-story Golden Gate Building stood at the north gate of the Acropolis. Built by the Fourth Bureau of the Ministry of Works, its facade was constructed from red brick, glass curtain walls, and blue glazed tiles. The 4-story podium below housed the Golden Gate Hotel, while the 14-story tower above was leased to the Yangzhou Governor's Office.

"By the way, what are we having for lunch today?" As soon as he entered the building, the full view of the Golden Gate Hotel appeared before him. Shangluo felt a little hungry the moment he saw the building, but then he remembered that he always ate radishes when he went there, and he didn't feel so hungry anymore.

"As usual, stewed radish with meat and steamed radish buns, the same old radish meeting fare. And I don't recommend you eat at this time, the Imperial Guards are having their meal."

"I was just looking for them. There's a pocket watch over there that's been repaired."

"Ah, that's it." The guard smiled with him and said nothing more.

【Why is he silent? 】

"Because he thinks I might be a spy for the Imperial Guard, looking for dirt on the Governor, and he doesn't want to cause trouble. Never mind, it doesn't matter. I know this place better than he does."

So, you can eat for free here?

"Both military households and artisan households are welcome. Since we're here on official business, the imperial court provides meals. Civilian households have to pay for meals, because they come here on their own, and the imperial court doesn't provide meals. The dining hall is on the second floor of the Golden Gate Hotel. You can eat there if you show your ID. I remember when I was a kid... well, I should say when I was a kid, I often ate here. When I was a kid, I called this place the Radish Building."

It does look like one. The exterior is red, but the roof is covered with green glazed tiles, making it look like a carrot.

"I mean, they always eat radishes for meals here, because outside on the farm there are nothing but wheat fields and radish fields." He sniffed the air. "Yeah, sure enough. They eat radishes again. I can smell the braised radishes from the first floor. That's what I ate when I was a kid."

The faint smell of radish was getting closer, and the meal was ready. Downstairs in the Golden Gate Building, the people going in for dinner had not yet arrived, and the revolving door was still there.

Considering the security check at the door, Shangluo handed the small bag containing Apollonia to the guard for safekeeping, walked up to the two-story Sumeru pedestal of the foundation building, and walked in through the revolving door.

Time passed by minute by minute.

[I wonder how they are doing now, Dad. Did I do the right thing?]

Apollonia cast her eyes toward the sky—but reality soon forced her to withdraw her attention.

A strong sense of danger startled her awake. She didn't know where it came from, because there didn't seem to be any threatening targets around. Only a group of people wearing short-sleeved shirts and leggings emerged from the Golden Gate Building. They were unarmed and seemed to have just finished their meal; the taste of radish still lingered in their mouths.

The person walking in front of them was Lu Huaiyang, whom they had met yesterday. He had just come out from lunch.

These people came out of the door, walked down the two steps of the Sumeru throne, and passed by Apollonia.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Lu Huaiyang stopped.

"Eh? Master, what's going on?"

"Nothing, I ate too much stewed carrots and meat, and I'm a little bloated. Where's your pocket watch? Has Xiao Shang delivered it yet?"

Chapter 12 Repair

Apollonia's eyes were always fixed there, never moving away.

"Hey! I've been calling you for a long time, but there's no response at all?"

[Huh? What's going on?]

"I have issued the work ticket. Why are you in a daze?" Shangluo was already standing in front of him with a brown paper bag, and took Apollonia back from the guard's hand.

【Did you see a group of people wearing black clothes just now? 】

"No. There are more than a dozen elevators in there. How could I possibly meet everyone? What's wrong with that group?"

[Jinyiwei, they seem to have noticed me. Even though they're wearing casual clothes, their aura makes me feel terrified. Where should we go now?]

"Go to the workshop. With a work permit, I can borrow a workbench and use the equipment inside. I have to go early. When the craftsmen go to eat at the end of the day, I won't be able to find anyone to get the key."

He reached out and took Polonia, leading the suitcase in one hand and the brown paper bag in the other, and walked west.

He didn't need guards to follow him for the rest of the journey, as he had already obtained the work ticket required to borrow the workbench.

Without any surprise, he found the report on Pi in an old publication, directly confirming Apollonia's "authenticity." All that remained was to exchange the Foundation Establishment Pill. He walked towards the workshop area next door.

The Acropolis was much more densely populated than the outside world, with 30% of San Francisco's population concentrated here. However, nearly everyone in the Acropolis had their own work to do, and it was rare to see anyone wandering the streets outside of their breaks. With only five minutes left until the 12:5 lunch break, Shangluo quickened his pace. It was time to get off work, and no one would linger in the workshop for even a second longer.

12:00

"Huff, huff." Shangluo leaned against the doorframe, breathing heavily. He practically ran all the way from the Golden Gate Hotel. Although the distance was only a few hundred meters, it was more than he had exercised in several days. Outside, a crowd of people bustled around; it was time for lunch. As expected, no one paused for a second after the bell rang; they all headed for the Golden Gate Hotel, a few hundred meters away.

The Workshop District is located northwest of the Acropolis. All workshops and factories are enclosed within this separate area, protected by its own iron fence. The Acropolis also houses two residential areas for military artisans and a trading and storage area adjacent to the docks. This zoning scheme is crude and simple, but in accordance with Zhou rituals and almost entirely replicates the layout of cities from the Western Zhou Dynasty. Acropolises like these exist throughout the world, each a military legacy left behind by the "Great Righteousness War" centuries ago. The San Francisco Acropolis is one of the most dazzling masterpieces, and around it has grown the city of San Francisco, the pearl of the New World.

As a standard model of the Acropolis, the San Francisco Acropolis shoulders the task of being a strategic fulcrum in the New World, so it has all the necessary equipment, including.

[Electric welding? You can actually use electric welding here?! Electric welding in Constantinople is only used in laboratories.]

From the simplest vise to milling machines, drill presses, lathes, grinders, and even the red arc welding station in the corner, this small workshop houses nearly every specialized equipment a craftsman needs. Given enough time and materials, any industrial product can be directly manufactured here, or, like cells, they can produce exquisitely crafted parts for larger equipment. In wartime, these cell workshops can be organically combined like assembly lines, producing everything from precision rifles to tanks. Each piece is a high-performance, precision-crafted product, and every screw is engraved with the craftsman's name.

The isolated San Francisco Acropolis has its workshops fully equipped. Even high-end equipment like soldering stations are installed in each "cell workshop."

Shangluo came here to borrow this thing.

After closing the rolling door, he hung the operation ticket on the hook near the door.

【I'm a little scared.】

"Are you still afraid?"

"Aren't you afraid of surgery? You can't get anesthesia, and the surgeon can't even hold the knife steady. And are you sure this thing is reliable?"

“Actually, I’m not sure.”

It had only been three years since the invention of electric welding, and only five since the discovery of the electric arc. Every welding station capable of emitting an arc was invaluable. However, the imperial court never shirked its investment in cutting-edge technology, deploying even experimental equipment that hadn't reached mass production directly to the front lines. And it only took ten minutes to issue a work permit before it was ready for use.

But could this thing repair the "divine machine"? Shangluo himself didn't know. He only knew that it was the most powerful method of joining metals he could currently use. This fixed welding station was far more powerful than handheld welding equipment, and could easily weld large metal components. He had also previously conducted some tests to test the condition of the divine machine itself.

Before leaving, he'd tried hammering nails and glue. But the brass heart of the "divine machine" was practically indestructible. Hammers and nails left no marks, and glue only stuck to his gloves. He'd even tried spraying water with a spray bottle—and sure enough, the shell wouldn't even leave a mark. It only looked like brass, but physically it wasn't brass at all.

"Although I'm not sure, you can rest assured. The temperature of the arc is comparable to the surface of the sun. There is no metal that cannot be melted by the arc. Now, let me confirm your request - you want to fill this hole?"

"Yes. A phlogiston leak is not a pleasant feeling. It's like, if I were to use a metaphor, someone is sucking your brain out of a small hole with a straw. Please, even if it means using tape or something, please patch that hole up."

"Tape can't fix you."

Shangluo opened the box, placed the music box containing Apollonia on the fixture of the welding table, and removed the yellow warning sign that read "High Voltage Danger." He hesitated, as the situation before him was quite tricky.

He tried quick-drying glue, tape, adhesives like AA and B, and every other adhesive, but nothing stuck. Even the superglue that would tear the skin off your hands simply slid off the magic machine like water droplets on a lotus leaf, then quickly solidified on the table.

The outer shell of the divine machine is unimaginably smooth, and it is obviously not made of any ordinary material - it can be imagined that the material used to make this endless divine machine is certainly not available everywhere.

But if the wind is strong enough, even a pig can be blown away. If enough power is applied, even tungsten, which has a melting point of 3410°C, can be welded.

"So in your situation, I can only use something bigger."

Chapter 13 Hammer

Donning goggles, he grasped the solid welding tongs with both hands. At the end of the tongs was the electrode, onto which the welding rod clamped. With a single foot-operated switch, a powerful surge of electricity was unleashed. As soon as the welding rod touched the target, the heat from the burning arc sintered the rod and the target firmly together.

If molten iron can be considered "water", then welding is actually a kind of "glue", but it is strong enough.

Now, with the flick of a switch, he can gather power comparable to that of the sun in his palm. This represents the pinnacle of human civilization! This is an engineering marvel that only emerged from the laboratory three years ago!

"Plop." The melted welding rod fell onto the workbench, like glue falling on the table.