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Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Space-Time Gate
Although the ancient city is very large and has many houses, there’s one obvious shortcoming: its buildings are mainly single-story. After all, they are of ancient architecture, not like modern buildings that rise several stories high, enabling them to accommodate several times more people. Thus, facing a rapidly growing population, the Space-Time Base started to experience a housing shortage.
Han Yi hummed softly and asked, "Has the survey report for that residential area I had people inspect last time been submitted?"
"It’s in my hands, and the results on the report look good... The community covers an area of 120,000 square meters, with a total building area of 160,000 square meters, mainly consisting of multistory apartment buildings..."
The residential area the two were talking about is a high-end housing complex located to the southeast of the ancient city, named "Qilin Manor." Because of its proximity to the ancient city and picturesque views, its selling price was very high, but before many units could be sold, the apocalyptic world arrived.
What’s most important is that Qilin Manor has its own heating boiler room; if people could move in, it would at least solve the housing problem for five thousand people.
The reason this complex was only being considered now is due to its remoteness. The survey data showed a straight-line distance of 1,200 meters, with a green belt in between.
The ancient city is protected architecture, and construction of buildings isn’t allowed within one kilometer of its perimeter. n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
Qilin Manor is located just a bit more than one kilometer away. Don’t underestimate this one kilometer; just for this one kilometer, the number of patrol personnel had to be more than tripled. After all, it wasn’t inside the ancient city, which is protected by tall city walls that make both surveillance and management very convenient.
Han Yi was listening to Lu Changyuan report on the progress of the project and heard the sound of soft footsteps approaching. He lowered his eyes and saw Han Jiaojiao, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket and walking over with sleepy eyes.
Holding her with one arm, Han Yi placed her on his lap and continued speaking on the phone, "...Yeah, right, there are already two ice bridges, and my plan is to extend the base perimeter by two kilometers."
Han Jiaojiao obediently sat on Han Yi’s lap, her small head wrapped in the blanket leaning against his chest, listening silently.
"...No, we won’t build ice bridges this time. We’ll build a new city wall on the perimeter... Yes, still using ice. Ask the architects to draft a design."
"As soon as possible, so we can start construction before the next blizzard hits."
After Han Yi ended the call with Lu Changyuan, Han Jiaojiao had fully awakened, her eyes clear as she yawned slowly and leisurely in Han Yi’s arms.
Han Yi picked her up and strode back to the bedroom, stuffing her back under the down comforter, "The blizzard’s just stopped, and the temperature is still very low. Are you still going to the hospital? Want to call Zhou Yan and ask for a day off?"
Han Jiaojiao worked four hours every day at the hospital. Currently, a large portion of the patients in the hospital suffered from severe frostbite. The principle behind frostbite is that blood vessels spasm due to low temperatures, reducing blood flow and causing cell damage, and Han Jiaojiao’s Ability was particularly effective in treating such injuries.
Han Jiaojiao slowly got dressed under the covers, speaking as she did, "...The heating in the hospital is sufficient, I’ll be fine. I can’t fall behind Chi Xu who, at just seven years old, works nine to five every day, when I only work four hours..."
Chi Xu was the young boy they had brought back from the Library Building last time. Although he was young, he had already become Lu Changyuan’s Special Assistant now, for he was one of the rarest among the Enhancement Type—enhanced in mental capacity.
Specifically, extremely intelligent! He could quickly learn anything, and his memory was exceptional, never forgetting what he read. Zhou Yan took him home for a couple of months, and the child learned how to perform cranial surgery on rabbits. Moreover, after the sutures, the rabbits were still hopping around lively. Afterwards, he even reflected on his own work, commenting that his hands weren’t steady enough and that he needed more practice...
Luckily, although the child’s intelligence surpassed that of ordinary people, he still maintained the innocence of a child, and his emotional intelligence was also at a normal level. Otherwise, it would indeed be quite terrifying.
By the time Han Jiaojiao finished dressing, the phone outside rang again. There are less than three people who could make an internal call to this place within the entire base.
Han Yi answered the call. Whatever was said on the other side, his expression noticeably paused, as if slightly surprised.
After he hung up the phone, Han Jiaojiao immediately asked with curiosity, "What happened?" Only something significant could cause a change in Han Yi’s expression.
"The alien device that I had Professor Luo and Xiaozhu work on, they’ve found a way to activate it."
Han Jiaojiao’s eyes widened in astonishment, "I always thought they were researching chemistry, how can they also study alien instruments?"
Han Yi explained, "Professor Luo used to research micro-condensate molecular thermal materials."
"Oh..." Although she uttered an "Oh," she actually did not understand a single word.
The perimeter of the research institute had been cleared, guarded by platoons of soldiers. When they saw Han Yi and Han Jiaojiao approaching, they saluted in succession.
Han Jiaojiao quite admired these people for being able to recognize her and her brother at a glance. After all, it was thirty degrees below zero, and both she and her brother were wearing heavy cold-weather gear, as well as face masks and hats, with only their eyes visible...
What she didn’t know was that their duo was quite easy to recognize; people simply had to check if a certain mascot was following the two of them to know. Even without the mascot, the commanding aura of Han Yi as he led her to stand somewhere was distinctly different from ordinary people.
When the two entered, Lu Changyuan, Yan Xiao, Xiao Jian, Bai Kairui, Zhu Changfu, and several other core members of the base were present.
Zhu Chengzhi had an excited expression on his face, half-squatting on the ground with Professor Luo, adjusting the instrument.
"Alright, we can start now!" He announced excitedly, his voice trembling.
A silver-white semicircular instrument was placed flat on the ground, and then Zhu Chengzhi walked to a spot about ten meters away and raised his arm.
Han Jiaojiao then noticed that Zhu Chengzhi was wearing a semicircular bracelet on his wrist, which looked almost identical to the instrument on the ground, only smaller in size.
Zhu Chengzhi’s face showed a smug expression as he pressed a button on the bracelet under the watchful eyes of everyone—
Whoosh!—
In front of Zhu Chengzhi, the scene twisted strangely, and then a person-high gap was ripped open in the air!
Everyone looked on in shock, except for Professor Luo, who was smiling radiantly as if he knew what was going to happen next.
Zhu Chengzhi stepped forward like a valiant warrior with head held high, stepping into the spatial rift and disappeared!!!
As everyone was still in astonishment, Zhu Chengzhi’s voice suddenly came from another direction—
"Haha! I’m right here!"
Zhu Changfu touched his chest and swore, "You little rascal, you almost scared your old man to death..."
Zhu Chengzhi stood next to the semicircular instrument, smiling. In front of this instrument, the phenomenon of spatial distortion also occurred.
"Is it connected on both sides?" Lu Changyuan asked.
Professor Luo explained, "This is a Space-Time Wormhole device. It was previously unusable because the environment was different from the original planet, affecting the mass balance. Xiaozhu and I spent a long time adjusting the internal settings and finally managed to activate the device successfully."
Han Jiaojiao was very excited, "Does that mean it’s like a magic door that can take you anywhere you want to go?"
Professor Luo laughed and replied, "Pretty much, but the freedom is not so high. It’s like a cordless phone with handsets, no matter which handset you call from, it will connect to the base station. Wherever the base station is located, the Wormhole will connect there."
