"Materials...materials..."

Lu Yongchang frowned and muttered to himself.

Then, he sighed deeply.

Since humanity reached Type II civilization, carbyne has become the primary material for manufacturing the hull of starships.

Research into new materials has never ceased.

However, even now, carbyne remains the strongest substance that humans can create.

As elements in the same group, silicon and carbon have many similarities.

However, carbon-carbon bonds are shorter than silicon-silicon bonds.

This means that even if there is so-called silylene, the material strength cannot exceed that of cardyne.

Of course, there are other substances in the universe with even greater intensity.

Materials formed by strong interaction forces.

For example, neutron stars.

Under the influence of strong gravity, even atoms are completely crushed, and electrons outside the atomic nucleus are forced into the nucleus and combine with protons to form neutrons.

Therefore, there are no atoms and molecules on neutron stars.

Neutron star matter, composed of neutrons, reaches its peak density and intensity.

Did you think that was the end of it?

Of course not.

To date, quark stars remain in the theoretical stage and have not yet been actually discovered.

The stronger gravity even crushed the neutrons, releasing the quarks within them.

Macroscopic matter directly constructed from quarks far surpasses neutron star matter in strength and density.

Of course, with current human technology, we can only look on in awe at this material that seems like something out of a myth.

Leaving aside how to extract neutron star matter intact and preserve it in its original state, even getting close to a neutron star is something that current human civilization cannot do.

Lu Yongchang shook his head helplessly, pulling his wandering thoughts back.

"Professor, Academician Fang Xu has sent a communication request."

Zero's synthesized electronic voice suddenly rang out in the quiet office: "Connect now?"

Lü Yongchang roughly understood Fang Xu's purpose in coming.

He pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and waved it in the air, "throwing" the layers of holographic images above his desk aside.

Then, he straightened up and said in a deep voice, "Connect it."

The next moment, a brand-new holographic image slowly unfolded above the desk, and the robot next to it conveniently "handed over" a camera.

"Yongchang, what's the starship design plan like?"

Sure enough, the moment the communication was connected, words that caused Lü Yongchang great distress came through the speaker.

At the same time, Fang Xu's large face appeared in the holographic projection.

Seemingly noticing the bitter expression on Lü Yongchang's face, Fang Xu frowned slightly: "Haven't you made up your mind yet?"

Lü Yongchang nodded silently.

Seeing this, Fang Xu frowned even more deeply.

"Why?"

"Even if we can't build a flagship that's 10,000 meters tall, a small planetary-level ship like the Earth, which is about 6,000 meters tall, would be a good alternative, wouldn't you say?"

silence.

After a long silence, Lü Yongchang sighed softly, shook his head, and said, "Do you still remember the scale of the Comet-class [Earth]?"

Fang Xu hesitated for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "Five thousand meters?"

“Yes.” Lu Yongchang raised his hand and rubbed his face vigorously. “If we follow this blueprint, what we will build will only be an enhanced version of the comet-class flagship.”

"You've seen the flagship of the Lator civilization too."

"Although it was later learned that it was a starship from a Type IV civilization."

"But don't forget!"

“That’s not the flagship of a Level 4 civilization!” Lu Yongchang said in a heavy tone. “Once we compromise on the highest level of combat power, human civilization will suffer in interstellar wars sooner or later.”

“But…” Fang Xu tried to persuade him again, “Yongchang, you also know that in zero-scale simulation calculations, materials are an unavoidable hurdle.”

"We have no choice but to settle for second best."

"As for starships with a length of 10,000 meters... it's not too late to make plans after there are breakthroughs in materials technology."

Lu Yongchang didn't speak, but frowned as he looked at the holographic blueprint that had been "thrown" aside.

"Wait a little longer."

After a moment of silence, Lü Yongchang said softly, "Let's look again."

"Since even ordinary starships of a Level 4 civilization can reach this scale, it means that this material is not scarce."

"We just went astray, or rather, we lacked a bit of luck."

Lu Yongchang's eyes flickered slightly, and he murmured to himself, "Perhaps we should set our sights on something further away..."

"What?"

Fang Xu clearly didn't hear Lü Yongchang's soft murmur. He raised his voice slightly and asked somewhat impatiently, "What other misunderstandings could there be?"

"The lab has conducted countless experiments, but no matter how they adjust it, the manufactured materials still don't meet the requirements."

Ignoring Fang Xu's complaints, Lü Yongchang suddenly stood up from his chair, stared seriously at the camera handed to him by the robot, and said, word by word, "Wait a little longer!"

"I feel like I'm almost there!"

"Halt all starship construction projects. No small planetary starships shall be built until I give the order!"

The images within the holographic projection seemed to have been paused.

Fang Xu stared blankly at Lü Yongchang, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

"What did you say?!"

"【Golden Crow】, 【Gluttonous Beast】...Are these starship manufacturing projects, whose plans have already been finalized, also going to be halted?!"

“Yes! Stop!” Lu Yongchang’s eyes gleamed with confidence. “Believe me, give me a little more time, and I will find a way out!”

Fang Xu took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

He nodded with difficulty: "Okay."

"That's what happens when you're the chief scientist."

"I will make the arrangements for the laboratory and the factory."

Lü Yongchang smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, I have a very strong feeling about it."

"After a century, materials science is about to make a breakthrough!"

Fang Xu shrugged: "I hope so."

...

After the communication was cut off, Lü Yongchang quickly issued orders.

"Zero, close the door."

"No one may enter without permission!"

"receive."

Upon hearing Zero's response, Lü Yongchang hurriedly closed his eyes.

He skillfully mobilized his consciousness and once again entered the technology tree space deep within his mind.

Recently, he has entered the tech tree space countless times and tried to analyze a technology located in the main trunk area of ​​the middle section of the tech tree.

[Materials Technology: Carbylene Composite Materials]

The words in the cursor are very clear: the materials technology that a Level 3 civilization should master is composite materials constructed using carbide.

It was this dim cursor that solidified Lü Yongchang's determination to create a flagship 10,000-meter-class aircraft carrier.