Chapter 1171 — Preparations Before the Rain
Blade of Dawn · Page 4 of 5
Hetty looked up at the Shuangmai Sect with a helpless expression: "A month ago, Project 115 suffered a meltdown accident. There were no casualties, but key materials and the test site were severely damaged. Half a month ago the same place had a second meltdown—this time not only were all the test devices destroyed, the test site itself nearly blew up. Thanks to strict and effective safety measures, the disaster did not spread further. Now Rebecca has submitted a budget application for the third phase... and the amount is several percentage points higher than last time."
Hetty shook her head helplessly. Her originally lovely face was now clouded with conflict: "I can understand the importance of Project 115, but it's far too hard to keep a calm heart when it comes time to sign."
Whenever she saw a budget list from the Magitech Department, her signing hand could not help trembling slightly. Sometimes Hetty genuinely wanted to hand these things straight to her first-rank finance officials, but unfortunately most of the budgets Rebecca submitted were tied to classified projects, and final review had to pass through her, the Grand Consul—Hetty could not help feeling a little pessimistic about the future, certain that her trembling hand would likely go on trembling for many years to come...
Seeing Hetty—who always appeared mature and composed before outsiders—reveal such helplessness so unreservedly in front of him, Gao Yang could not help wanting to laugh, but he managed to control his expression and, shaking his head slightly, said: "It seems this really is a very money-burning project..."
"You started this project," Hetty glanced at the Xuanmai Sect. "Have you forgotten?"
"Of course I haven't forgotten, and we're all clear on the necessity of Project 115," Gao Yun coughed twice, his expression turning serious. "As for the Wasteland... I'm afraid the time left to us is running short."
Seeing Gao Song's expression change, Hetty could not help straightening her back, her manner turning earnest: "Have the scouts at the South Gate Fortress found something?"
"Nothing sighted yet for the moment, but word has come from the Silver Empire—their Watchtower detected several irregular energy bursts deep in the Wasteland... and they don't look like natural phenomena."
"Energy bursts..." Hetty repeated the term softly. "In other words, those fellows hidden deep in the Wasteland aren't bothering to conceal their traces much anymore..."
"They know we outsiders can do nothing about them, and the only force deep in the Wasteland that poses any threat to them cannot leave the core region," Gao Yan nodded. "Their earlier low profile was merely to keep the countries outside from growing wary and accelerating their own development. And now they're no longer keeping such a low profile... which means their confidence is swelling."
"If that's the case... can Project 115 really be ready in time?" There was worry in Hetty's tone. "Pinning our hopes on something that may not succeed for who knows how long—or may not even be buildable at all—to guard against a threat in the Wasteland that could erupt at any moment. That's not a reassuring thing."