Chapter 74: Energy Can't Keep Up with Consumption

In the command center of the Space Base, this magnificent real-time image is played continuously, 24 hours a day.

The initial shock and excitement have gradually become routine.

A dedicated team monitors the entire construction process throughout, ensuring every link is flawless.

Everything is on track.

This morning, Qin Hao sought out Luo Lao.

At this moment, Luo Lao and Zhang Yunfeng were browsing a briefing on the international situation.

"The small moves made by the US side have recently subsided considerably; I guess they were dazed by our friendly observation, and they dare not make any big moves in the short term."

Zhang Yunfeng put down the report, a smile on his face, "This has given us a rare period of stable development."

Luo Lao nodded, turned his gaze to Qin Hao, and smiled gently.

"Xiao Qin, you should be resting well lately; why did you suddenly come see us today? Do you have some good news?"

"Thank you for your concern, Luo Lao; I'm feeling fine."

Qin Hao smiled, but his smile carried a hint of worry.

He glanced at Cheng Haitang beside him; she gave him a knowing look.

Qin Hao collected himself and said, "Luo Lao, Zhang Lao, the Lunar Mine construction is proceeding smoothly; this fills me with excitement."

"But at the same time, this has exposed a problem I've been worried about."

"Oh?"

Luo Lao looked at him with interest, "Go on."

"We're too poor."

Qin Hao organized his language and, using the most straightforward metaphor, said, "What I mean is, the Energy Points can't keep up with the consumption speed."

He then explained specifically:

"Constructing the Lunar Mine this time consumed nearly four billion Energy Points in one go; I now have only a little over three billion left in my account, less than a fraction."

"If another project of similar scale arises, just accumulating the Energy Points would take a long time."

"Moreover, this is only the beginning; once the system is upgraded, we can replicate those high-tech from movies, and the energy consumption will become astronomical."

Cheng Haitang also added at this point:

"I made a simple estimate for Xiao Qin; to mass-produce those high-tech, each charge would need at least several months, even under the most ideal conditions."

The atmosphere in the office gradually grew solemn with these words.

Zhang Yunfeng's brows furrowed slightly; he immediately grasped the seriousness of the problem.

"Six months, sounds not long."

"But for the ever-changing Yanhuang Guo, six months is enough for too many changes to occur."

"They cannot let the nation's strategic development stall for six months just to wait for Qin Hao to recharge."

Qin Hao looked at the expressions of the two envoys and continued:

"I've also thought before that even if we gave me the entire day's electricity generation from the Liu Xia Hydropower Station and converted it to Energy Points, for our future needs it would probably be just a drop in the bucket."

"We can't possibly let half the country go without power just to charge me, can we?"

"A half-joking remark, yet it underscores the gravity of the problem beyond doubt."

"The Liu Xia Hydropower Station, a national heavyweight, its daily output still can't satisfy the nation's future 'big appetite'."

"This is no longer merely a technical issue; it has become a strategic bottleneck."

"The system's power has, for the first time, been constrained by the most basic physical law of 'energy'."

"\"Xiao Qin's concern is correct. \""

Cheng Haitang took over the conversation, her expression grave, "The conventional charging method has already hit its efficiency ceiling."

"If we cannot solve this problem, future development will fall into an awkward cycle where charging a few people brings only a momentary thrill."

"His words struck a chord with both of them."

"They know better than anyone what Yanhuang Guo needs most right now."

They know better than anyone what Yanhuang Guo needs most now.

"It is to use the shortest time to transform technological advantage into an unshakeable national strength advantage."

"The office fell into silence for a moment."

"After a while,"

"Qin Hao hesitated for a moment, then finally revealed his true purpose for coming today."

"\"Luo Lao, I've been thinking…… should we consider activating that plan? \""

"He didn't say it outright, but everyone present instantly understood what he meant."

"That——the 'Ultimate Charging Plan' that had once stunned all the top experts in the Science Institute meeting room——"

"Enter the tokamak device, embrace the artificial sun of hundreds of millions of degrees!"

"The air in the office froze at that moment."

"Luo Lao and Zhang Yunfeng said nothing, just silently pondering."

"Initially, they had defined this plan as the ultimate trump card that decides the nation's fate, to be used only when the country's survival is at stake."

"But now, Qin Hao has proactively brought it up."

But now, Qin Hao voluntarily brought it up.

"Almost instinctively, Zhang Yunfeng spoke first, his tone carrying undeniable firmness."

"He looked worriedly at Qin Hao,"

"\"The risk is too great; we cannot gamble with your safety. \""

The risk is too great; we cannot gamble with your safety.

Luo Lao didn't speak, but he also didn't agree with Zhang Yunfeng's view.

Qin Hao seemed to have anticipated this reaction, and he said calmly:

"Zhang Lao, I know you mean well, but we've already discussed the safety issue."

"In theory, the system can completely isolate harm; to me, a three-thousand-degree furnace and a hundred-million-degree plasma are essentially the same—just energy."

"We can't give up an opportunity that could propel us forward just because we fear the unknown."

"That's just theory!"

Zhang Yunfeng's tone remained firm: "What if? Could the system's operation have limits? Could it produce unpredictable fluctuations in a high-energy-density environment?"

"These are all unknowns; without absolute certainty, I will never agree!"

The office fell silent again.

This silence was heavier than the previous one in the Science Academy's conference room.

That time, it was shock and disbelief.

This time, it was weighing and choosing.

One side was the nation's future, the other Qin Hao's safety.

After a long while, the ever-silent Luo Lao suddenly spoke with a smile:

"I think we shouldn't be so grim! It's not a matter of national life and death now, so there's no need to be so pessimistic."

His words lightened the atmosphere considerably. Then Luo Lao continued:

"Moreover, our nation's comprehensive strength is now on par with the Eagle Sauce, even surpassing them in some areas; I think President Wil isn't a fugitive and wouldn't dare launch a full-scale war against us now,

so we have plenty of time to develop; there's no need to rush."

"As for that charging plan, let's discuss it later—what do you think?"

The three of them found it reasonable and thus didn't discuss the matter further.