Chapter 123
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Chapter 123: First Team
Ji Yongxing’s research had reached a dead end.
Like countless predecessors, he aspired to achieve many things, but could accomplish only a few.
Crafting armor for Wang Xiao was straightforward, but perfecting it was a formidable challenge.
He preferred to keep this endeavor under wraps, as he intended to discreetly embed a fragment of his creation—[Skydome]—into the armor.
Ji Yongxing sought more information, particularly about this world.
Yet, after the two previous incidents, the number of people he could trust had dwindled significantly.
With his keen perception, he could sense the Hope Council’s pervasive control over every aspect of life in Hope City, and he detested the sensation of being manipulated.
But even if he desired to escape, where could he possibly go?
At present, Ji Yongxing had no concrete plans; he merely felt compelled to make some preparations, even if they seemed superfluous.
[Skydome] was a component of those preparations.
He reflected on the divine enlightenment he had experienced and the formidable technology it entailed.
He envisioned a future where his creation could observe everything with the clarity of the sun and moon suspended in the heavens.
However, energy posed a significant challenge.
Given that no team had ever returned successfully from the Exploration Plan, the higher-ups had set the initial mission duration at seven days upon the plan’s revival.
With the current battery capacity, it was inadequate to sustain Wang Xiao’s armor for seven days, not to mention supporting his surveillance system.
Additionally, the battery’s size and weight were substantial, making it cumbersome to carry.
He couldn’t expect Wang Xiao to haul a generator around, yet an armor devoid of additional power would be a rather inept design…
Ji Yongxing couldn’t bear the thought of equipping frontline personnel with weaponry based on principles unchanged for centuries in the year 52 of the New Era…
After considerable deliberation, he resolved to consult his mentor.
In Zhou Zhuo’s office, Ji Yongxing presented his plans, blending truth with half-truths. While deliberately omitting the part about integrating his creation, he articulated his focused intentions in a grandiose manner.
Such a plausible explanation left Zhou Zhuo without any doubts. Comprehending his student’s predicament, he lapsed into rare contemplation.
After a while, Zhou Zhuo looked at Ji Yongxing:
"There is someone who might solve your problem."
"Who?"
"Want to know? Then sign this first."
A triumphant smile spread across Zhou Zhuo’s face. Had Ji Yongxing not known his teacher to be a genuinely good person, he might have fled.
The Deputy Director opened the drawer before him and retrieved a confidentiality agreement already stamped with an official seal.
Ji Yongxing was no stranger to this, having used a similar document to divulge numerous secrets to Lin Qingliu in the past.
Observing his teacher swiftly complete the form, Ji Yongxing sensed he was on the verge of uncovering a significant secret.
Having come to terms with it, this formality of confidentiality no longer felt like a constraint. The young researcher adjusted his posture and signed his name on the document, prepared to listen intently to his teacher’s forthcoming words.
“How much do you know about the first team of superpowered individuals?”
After a long and exhausting day, Luke finally returned home. If sleep weren’t an essential requirement for human survival, he wouldn’t want to waste even a single second on it.
He knew well that one couldn’t remain tense all the time, but the burning flames of revenge made it hard for him to relax.
As he inserted the key into the lock, Luke suddenly noticed a corner of an envelope peeking out from the edge of the mailbox by the door.
His father’s neighborhood was considered one of the more upscale residential areas within Hope City, and in the outer city, something as mundane as a mailbox was almost unimaginable.
Just as Luke was about to reach for it, he hesitated for a moment. A faint purple orb of light materialized, swiftly enveloping the elegant envelope as it floated out of the mailbox and into his hand.
The envelope was pristine, clearly delivered by someone who had made a special trip.
Luke stepped inside, quickly changed his clothes, and opened the unsealed envelope to read its contents:
[Dear Luke:
It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. I wonder if you still remember us.
As your father’s comrades, we were deeply saddened by what happened a few days ago.
For humanity, sacrifice is inevitable, but no one wishes to see their own kind fall at the hands of others, especially when it’s your father—a man of immense inner strength.
In a couple of days, we old folks will have some free time, and we’d like to invite you to join us for a meal…]
The letter wasn’t lengthy, and its message was straightforward. At first, Luke wasn’t inclined to accept the invitation. After all, his father had many old friends, and visiting each one would likely take him until the end of the year.
But the signature at the end changed his mind. It read clearly: “From the remaining members of the first team.”
The first team?
Luke closed his eyes, and vague images of several figures began to surface in his mind…
—
“Yongxing, most people are aware of the first team’s existence, but few truly understand its members.”
“That’s no accident; it’s by design. We want people to know they’re protected by powerful superpowered individuals, but we can’t let them know too much about those individuals. You understand what I mean.”
“The first team is the foundation of Hope City. They are the most elite superpowered individuals, possessing abilities far beyond what the majority can imagine. They never leave the inner city, and they remain steadfast in their duties until their last breath.”
“Aside from Holy Shield, whom you know, the other four members are: Fortress, Disaster Core, Infinite Scroll, and Starfall.”
Ji Yongxing listened intently, feeling as though he were hearing a tale spun from a radio broadcast, while Zhou Zhuo began to elaborate on the abilities of these superpowered individuals:
“You’re already familiar with Holy Shield’s abilities. Fortress has the power to gradually alter the terrain’s structure to a certain extent. The underground spaces of the inner city were carved out through his abilities, and his range of ability is vast. The full underground city plan was proposed two years ago.
“Disaster Core can defy certain natural laws, imbuing objects with energy. He himself functions as a massive energy storage device, ensuring stable power for critical parts of the city and absorbing excess energy that surpasses the facilities’ capacity.
“As you know, this defies conventional scientific explanation, but he might just be the solution to your battery energy problem.
“Infinite Scroll possesses an extraordinary memory, never forgetting anything she sees. She can also project scenes and knowledge directly into others’ minds, making her the perfect vessel for knowledge preservation. During her early days of awakening, she managed to save a vast amount of data. Even now, we often rely on her to fill in technical gaps.”
