Chapter 37 The entire nation mobilized for a high-stakes gamble!
When Zhou Jue's request was urgently relayed to Chief Zhang and No. 1 through Cheng Gan, even these two leaders, who were used to seeing all sorts of things, were genuinely taken aback.
An emergency meeting was convened again.
The location was the highest-level conference room in "Hongmengli".
The attendees included several leaders and several key project leaders who had just been forcibly pulled out of their fervent research.
Zhou Jue sat on one side of the conference table, feeling immense pressure.
Across from her stood a row of national treasure-level bigwigs, each one with X-ray vision, trying to see right through her inside and out.
"Comrade Xiaojue, say it again, what does your system... need to replenish its energy?" An academician in charge of nuclear energy projects adjusted his reading glasses, his tone filled with disbelief.
“Cough…” Zhou Jue cleared his throat and repeated with a forced smile, “It requires high-energy substances, such as… plutonium, or enriched uranium or something like that.”
The meeting room was deathly silent.
Everyone was looking at her like she was an alien.
This girl...didn't she just hand over a piece of pollution-free super energy stone? How come she's suddenly asking the government for nuclear materials?
This operation is really a bit hard to understand.
"Brother Tongzi, are you sure you're not mistaken?" Zhou Jue mentally complained, "Why do I have a feeling they want to dissect me and study me?"
[Host, rest assured, this system's identification of energy is absolutely authoritative!]
System 001 confidently assured: "While these are low-level energy sources, their abundance is a major advantage! It's like when you're broke, picking up a few coins on the street can scrape together enough for a meal! Let's solve this immediate problem first!"
This analogy... though it's lame, seems to make some sense.
"Little Jue" Chief Zhang broke the silence first, his expression very serious: "Could you be more specific about how much you need? And, after your system absorbs these substances, will there be any...uncontrollable consequences? For example, radiation leakage, or explosion?"
That's the crux of the problem.
Nuclear raw materials are not like cabbages; the destination of every gram is subject to the strictest supervision.
What's more, handing it over to a... system of unknown origin.
"The system didn't specify the exact amount, only that the more the better," Zhou Jue answered honestly.
"As for safety, the system guarantees that the absorption process is absolutely safe. It will directly convert matter into pure energy without any residue or radiation."
She paused, then added, "We can start with a small amount for an experiment."
The bigwigs exchanged glances and began to discuss in hushed tones.
"The risk is too high! This is completely beyond our comprehension!"
"I believe in Comrade Xiaojue, and I believe in the country. But from a scientific point of view, I need to see experimental data."
"But if we don't replenish our energy, the next time we travel will just be another ordinary time travel! All our research will become like water without a source! It has its limits!"
"Yes, although this requires more energy, it can build a stable two-way channel with the 'post-apocalyptic wasteland' world. Is this... what I understand it to mean?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at Zhou Jue.
After confirming with the system, Zhou Jue affirmed, "Yes, a two-way stable channel means that we can freely travel between the two worlds in the future."
After he finished speaking, the meeting room was quiet for a moment, and then it erupted into chaos.
"So you're saying we can have the resources of an entire world as reserves?"
"We can even learn the technology of the wasteland?"
"Can we still establish diplomatic relations with the official authorities of that world?"
Everyone was stunned; the surprise was too sudden.
Ultimately, Number 1 made the decision.
"Conduct the experiment!" he said decisively. "Immediately prepare a laboratory with the highest level of protection and mobilize 10 grams of weapons-grade plutonium-239. The entire process will be monitored by the nuclear energy expert group and Comrade Cheng Gan's team."
Once the order was given, the entire base sprang into action.
Half an hour later.
Zhou Jue, wearing heavy protective clothing, stood in the center of a fully lead-shielded laboratory.
In front of her, a small, sealed metal box delivered by a robotic arm was slowly opened.
Inside, a small piece of silvery-white metal lay quietly.
"This is... plutonium?" Zhou Jue looked at it curiously.
[Ding! High-energy substance detected. Absorb immediately?]
"Absorb!" Zhou Jue commanded in his mind.
Buzz—
An invisible suction force emanated from her body.
The piece of plutonium in the sealed box rapidly dimmed and turned gray before the naked eye, and finally, under the watchful eyes of all the monitoring instruments and experts, it completely turned into a pinch of fine white powder.
The whole process took less than three seconds.
"Report! All radiation monitoring instrument readings are normal!"
"Report! The energy detector captured a momentary high-energy reaction, but it has quickly dropped to zero!"
"Report! Material composition analysis... indicates a non-radioactive, non-toxic... unknown inert powder!"
A suppressed gasp erupted from the monitoring room.
It really works!
They really turned nuclear materials into harmless powder!
This is simply a miracle!
Zhou Jue immediately checked his system panel.
The energy bar in the upper right corner, which was almost empty, has now jumped up by a tiny, almost imperceptible increment.
[Energy replenishment: 0.05%]
Zhou Jue's face immediately darkened.
10 grams of weapon-grade plutonium! And that's all they added?
To fill it with 300% energy, wouldn't that mean emptying the country's entire nuclear arsenal?
She reported the situation to Chief Zhang in detail.
After listening, Chief Zhang fell into a long silence.
He picked up the red phone on the table and dialed a top-secret number.
"Activate the 'Spark' contingency plan... Yes, the highest level... I authorize it."
After hanging up the phone, he looked at Zhou Jue with an unprecedented determination in his eyes.
"Xiao Jue, the nation has decided to take a gamble!"
"From this moment forward, all available strategic resources nationwide will be directed towards you! We will not only help you replenish your energy, but also make the most comprehensive preparations for your journey into the apocalypse!"
Zhou Jue was deeply impressed by Chief Zhang's imposing presence.
This is no longer just support; it's the entire nation mobilizing its resources for an unprecedented gamble!
The stakes are the future of the nation!
Over the next six days, Zhou Jue truly witnessed just how terrifying a state apparatus could be when it was operating at full capacity.
One heavy transport plane after another, escorted by elite fighter jet formations, landed at the island base.
One after another, special metal boxes marked "Top Secret" were continuously sent into that special laboratory.
Zhou Jue's daily work consists of standing there and constantly shouting "Collect".
Her system energy bar surged upwards at an unprecedented speed.
10%……50%……100%……
200%……
When there were only 24 hours left in the countdown, the energy bar finally stopped at the "300%" mark.
[Energy replenished! World travel to begin in 24 hours!]
Zhou Jue let out a long breath, feeling that his legs had gone numb from standing.
Meanwhile, preparations for her "doomsday trip" have entered a critical stage.
A “Doomsday World Strategy Team” composed of hundreds of experts from various fields was quickly established.
Based on keywords such as "T-virus" and "powered armor" provided by Zhou Jue, they developed over a hundred contingency plans for her within seven days.
"This is our custom-made 'Obsidian' individual combat uniform, which uses the latest memory fiber and ceramic composite materials. It is bulletproof, stab-proof, fireproof, and has a built-in micro-environmental circulation system."
"This is the 'Hummingbird' unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, which is only the size of a palm and can provide you with real-time battlefield information within a radius of five kilometers."
"This is a high-energy compressed nutrient solution. One small tube can meet your energy needs for three days."
"These are all food items, including rice, noodles, oil, instant food, and ready-made dishes."
"Considering the biochemical threats you may encounter, we have prepared broad-spectrum antiviral serum and gene repair solution for you."
Sun Jiuchou held a long list of equipment and introduced it to Zhou Jue one item at a time.
Zhou Jue's Starry Secret Box was crammed full of all sorts of unheard-of black technology equipment.
Chen Jianguo even mysteriously slipped her a USB drive.
"Xiao Jue, here are several possible drive principles and structural conjectures that we deduced overnight based on your description of 'powered armor,' as well as our most advanced AI-assisted design program. Perhaps... we can use them."
Zhou Jue took the USB drive, her heart burning with excitement. Although she had the system's energy shield and could buy these things in the points mall, she was still thrilled.
But this is also her support!
This is what gives her confidence!
One hour left in the countdown.
Zhou Jue, dressed neatly, stood in the newly built, more sophisticated "time travel room" in "Hongmengli".
Chief Zhang, Chen Jianguo, Cheng Gan, Sun Jiuchou, and all the heads of the core projects came to see her off.
"Xiao Jue, remember, your safety comes first! No mission is more important than your life!" Commander Zhang solemnly instructed.
“I understand, Grandpa Zhang.” Zhou Jue nodded emphatically.
She looked at Cheng Gan, the cool and sassy captain, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.
"Be careful," Cheng Gan said, only four words.
"When you come back, I will protect 'Pangu Technology' for you."
[Countdown to World Travel: 10, 9, 8...]
The system's voice echoed in my mind.
Zhou Jue took a deep breath and gave everyone a standard military salute.
"Reporting, sir! We guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"
【…3, 2, 1! The journey begins!】
The white light once again engulfed her figure.
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