Chapter 607: Chapter 138: Fortress of the Heart

Even in Cybertron, starships of the ’Great Curved Saber’ caliber wouldn’t exceed a handful.

The reason is simple: a Tier 3 Starship requires the industrial system support of a Level 3 Civilization. Cybertron Technology, though powerful, hasn’t reached the scale of a civilization.

Later in the plot, the ’Noah’s Ark,’ its design originated from Cybertron’s warships.

And now, Gao Gong has such a starship.

When Gao Gong piloted this giant beast over the skies of the Du Gao Technology Base, for the first time, Director Du ignored the little wolf dog, instead staring at the super spaceship with sparkling eyes.

"Beautiful, truly beautiful! Such masterful industrial design, such a gorgeous ship body..."

Gao Gong hadn’t forgotten that, when he originally transformed Director Du into ’Industrial AI,’ its prototype was an Ancient Empire Spaceship.

Similar types attract, which is probably why Director Du is so thrilled.

And indeed, this starship is extremely beautiful, with designs filled with industrial aesthetics—the circular hull, with engine nozzles large as city gates on the outermost layer, totaling hundreds. Further inside are three rings of engine propulsion rings; the bronze-colored ring bodies resemble the arms of a giant, and at the center of the deck is the most crucial Subspace Engine.

Starships are a grade above ordinary spaceships.

Ordinary spaceships at most break through the third cosmic speed, escaping the planet, wandering within a Level 2 Celestial System, or planet system (similar to the Solar System).

Whereas starships equipped with Subspace Engines can achieve sub-light speed, they can roam freely within a Star Zone (similar to the Orion Arm of the Galaxy).

The former can only take part in Planet Defense Wars.

The latter can participate in Interstellar Wars.

Gao Gong followed Director Du, watching her excitedly wander around, the bridge tower, propulsion platform, shipborne reactor, storage room...

Just like ordinary women love shopping, Du Zhaodi loves exploring ships.

The only slightly disappointing aspect is the hull of the ’Great Curved Saber’ being ’smeared’ with a faint layer of paint, adding a bit of plastic feel to the industrial aesthetics.

"Have you thought of a strategy against Cybertron?" Director Du suddenly asked.

Gao Gong nodded: "Once the Corporate War begins, all participating companies will be protected. Even the Mother City won’t be able to bother us during the war, and after the Corporate War ends, it will have even less chance."

The current situation is those few young Cybertrons secretly driving the family luxury car out like rich second-generation offspring, only to have it unknowingly hijacked by a seasoned driver who once behind the wheel, has no intention of getting off.

Du Zhaodi is also known for being daring, not shy to touch even the Mother City’s tiger whiskers. More importantly, upon stepping aboard the ’Great Curved Saber,’ she felt a soul-quivering sensation that immersed her, making her unable to extricate herself.

"I want to become one with this ship!"

Looking at the enormous space engine before her, Director Du said.

"No problem," Gao Gong replied with a smile.

Considerable resources were spent to acquire this starship, and a significant part of the reason was for Director Du.

Du Zhaodi’s core as an Industrial AI is essentially the Ancient Empire Spaceship core.

Once the ’Great Curved Saber’ is absorbed, Director Du’s Industrial Intelligence will undoubtedly advance further, most likely breaking the 60-level limit.

At that time, Gao Gong will truly be able to attack when needed and defend when required.

...

Meanwhile, an enormous debate is erupting on the distant mechanical satellite named Cybertron above a faraway planet.

The core of the dispute is, of course, the mysterious disappearance of the ’Great Curved Saber.’

Just a few days ago, several young Decepticons faction secretly piloted the starship out of the spaceport, only to vanish and never return.

More troubling, the starship’s entire positioning signal also disappeared a day earlier.

The last known location of disappearance was over the sea in Area 2.

"It must be the Carbon-Based scum on this planet behind it. We must find the real culprit, and once found, eliminate all related personnel!" an elder from the Power Faction angrily declared, with electric currents surging from his metallic mustache.

"According to investigations, a human monitoring satellite has shielded the ’Great Curved Saber’ signal. We’re investigating which company’s satellite it is."

"Given the humans’ tech on this planet, they are far from being able to capture a spaceship. Perhaps the other two factions are involved," an elder from the Split Faction speculated.

"I suspect it’s the Fortress. That old thing is always dangerous; there’s a high chance it’s behind this."

"So, are we talking about hacker invasion?"

"No matter who it is, they will pay for this!"

"We should remain calm, at least until the truth is confirmed, not to escalate the conflict," Lord Celestis continued to try and appease others during the meeting, but to no avail. According to most mechanical people’s consensus, once the ’thief’ is confirmed, a big confrontation is inevitable.

The meeting concluded, and Lord Celestis, rubbing his forehead, prepared to return to his territory, only to unexpectedly be stopped by an old acquaintance.

"Venus, what’s the matter?" Lord Celestis asked in surprise.

"Afraid there really is an issue," Venus replied through gritted teeth.

Previously, she intended to use a lure tactic to catch Gao Gong off-guard, ideally eliminating him outright.

However, the situation clearly exceeded her expectations, with her calculation system indicating an 86% probability that Gao Gong is involved in the ’Great Curved Saber’ disappearance.

...

Among the three major Mother Cities, Cybertron is a mechanical satellite, the Deep Net straddles virtual and reality, while the Fortress appears as a mundane city.

Qin Chunzi, the representative of Du Gao Technology, was cautiously navigating through this city.

As the newly appointed Cyber Space manager, the registration for the 17th Corporate War was here.

The crowds grew increasingly dense, shoulders rubbing, occasionally bumping into Qin Chunzi, whose face briefly flickered with pain, but she dared not pause.

She had known the rules here well before coming.

Do not look back, do not stop, do not hesitate.

In this place, exhibiting any such behavior means even immortals can’t save you.

Ahead of her was another corporate manager here for registration, and after being repeatedly collided with, he finally lost his temper, gripped the shoulder of a passerby, and said harshly:

"If your eyeballs aren’t working, you might as well install our company’s newly invented laser Electronic Eye!"

Yet the passerby merely regarded him with cold indifference, then slowly cracked a silent grin, and to the manager’s bewilderment, the same smile appeared on his own face.

By the time he came to his senses, the crowd had pushed him forward, forcing him to go on and seemingly bumping into someone.

That someone was Qin Chunzi.

She witnessed firsthand as this competitor was brainwashed into being a part of the crowd; even high-level Electronic Defense Walls seemed useless in this strange environment.

This reminded her of the nickname for this Mother City—the Wall of the Heart.