Chapter 200

The "New Era" was like a steel swan facing a towering tidal wave, frantically reinforcing its nest in the final countdown. The skeleton of the breakwater extended outward amid the roar of the Lingxiao platform and countless engineering vessels, with emergency buffer and diversion structures hastily installed. The entire city-state entered a state of wartime-like tension and efficiency.

Qin Feng presided over the Command Center like an anchor stabilizing the sea, coordinating the entire operation. His 35-point Spiritual Attribute allowed him to process massive volumes of information and issue precise orders. Yet even he, facing the violent force surging from deep within the crust, felt no absolute certainty.

Just as the frantic disaster-preparedness efforts reached their most critical moment, an external communication request connected to Qin Feng's private line. The caller ID showed: Highest Academy of Sciences of Dragon Country.

Qin Feng frowned slightly. At this sensitive moment, why had a domestic official institution suddenly contacted him? Was it gloating? Or…?

He answered the call.

The face appearing on the screen was not the expected official, but an aged, familiar visage tinged with complex emotion—Academician Qian Fuli.

The Old Academician he had once "invited" out of the Science Council meeting.

"Old Qian?" Qin Feng was surprised, his tone calm. "Why contact me now?"

Academician Qian Fuli gazed at the screen, at Qin Feng—surrounded by the bustling Command Center yet utterly composed—and his eyes flickered with complex emotion before finally settling into a nearly inaudible sigh.

"Qin Feng… no, Mr. Qin." The Old Academician's voice was hoarse, no longer heated as before. "I… have come to repay a debt."

"Repay a debt?" Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. What debt existed between him and Qian Fuli?

"Earlier… though your methods were harsh and you 'invited' me out," Qian's face twisted into a bitter smile, "you never used public opinion to slander me, never obstructed my students' research projects, and even… through a third party, funded several obscure fundamental research initiatives I favored but couldn't secure funding for."

Qin Feng's eyes flickered with surprise. He had indeed never retaliated personally against Qian Fuli; those funds were merely routine operations of the Wind Rises Future Fund, aligned with its mandate to support basic science—he hadn't even paid special attention. He hadn't realized this old-school scholar viewed it as a personal debt.

"Old Qian, you overstate it. It was merely official business." Qin Feng spoke coolly.

"To you, perhaps, it was official business. To me, it was a debt of gratitude." Qian Fuli shook his head, his expression turning grave. "My life has always been clear on grudges and kindness. I'm contacting you now because our monitoring systems detected abnormal crustal activity in your South Pacific region—energy accumulation is staggering. A super-massive undersea volcanic eruption is highly likely to occur soon."

Qin Feng's heart stirred. So even the domestic monitoring systems had noticed. He remained expressionless. "And?"

"So I used some old connections to persuade the relevant departments." Qian Fuli took a deep breath and uttered words that surprised even Qin Feng. "We have a fleet currently conducting scientific research nearby—two large comprehensive supply ships and one icebreaker with powerful propulsion and towing capacity. They can reach the perimeter of your 'New Era' city-state within twenty-four hours."

"My advice is… immediately evacuate your core personnel and technical data via our vessels! This is the fastest, most effective evacuation plan!" Qian's voice grew urgent. "As for the city-state… as long as the green mountains remain, there will always be wood to burn!"

Qin Feng fell silent.

He hadn't expected that, at this life-or-death moment, the one extending a helping hand would be this old adversary he had publicly "invited" out.

This was not gloating. Not opportunism. It was genuine… relief in the snow.

Given "New Era"'s current location and the threat it faced, large-scale evacuation was immensely difficult. This sudden fleet was undeniably a lifeline in despair.

If he nodded, he could at least preserve the core personnel and technology—leaving behind seeds for a future resurgence.

In the Command Center, Sun Zhe, Gao Yuan, and others held their breath, watching Qin Feng.

Accept this unexpected "favor," preserve their strength? Or stick to the original plan, stand and die with "New Era," risking everything?

Every heart in the room rose to their throats.

Qin Feng stared at the screen, at Qian Fuli's worried, sincere gaze, then out the window of the Command Center—at the city-state racing against time to complete its final reinforcements, and beyond, the silent, hovering "Lingxiao" platform, like a guardian deity.

His gaze shifted from initial surprise, gradually deepening, finally settling into calm resolve.

He spoke slowly, his voice clear through the microphone, echoing back to Dragon Country and throughout the Command Center:

"Old Qian."

"I, Qin Feng, accept this debt."

Qian Fuli's face had just begun to soften with relief when Qin Feng continued:

"But I reject your evacuation suggestion."

"What?!" Qian Fuli froze. Others in the Command Center stared in disbelief.

"Mr. Qin! This is no time for stubbornness!" Qian cried. "That's a VEI-6 or higher eruption! The tsunami it triggers will destroy everything! Your city-state cannot withstand it!"

"How can you know it won't, unless you try?" Qin Feng's lips curled into a nearly defiant smile. "This city is called 'New Era.' It represents not merely wealth and technology, but a will… to challenge the old rules and the might of nature!"

"If it cannot withstand even a tsunami, then it doesn't deserve to be called 'New Era'!"

His voice rose sharply, resolute and unyielding:

"I, Qin Feng, chose to build this city here—I will not abandon it to flee from disaster!"

"Either I stand with it here. Or I sink with it… into the deep sea!"

"As for your fleet…" Qin Feng looked at Qian Fuli, his tone sincere with gratitude, "if possible, have them remain on standby at a safe distance. If we truly… fail, then please help us recover the wreckage—see if you can salvage any survivors."

With that, Qin Feng bowed slightly toward the screen.

"Thank you, Old Qian."

Then he severed the connection.

The Command Center fell silent.

Everyone was stunned into speechlessness by the unyielding resolve and grandeur in Qin Feng's words.

Sun Zhe's eyes gleamed with excitement. Gao Yuan clenched his fists, his battle spirit soaring. Su Wenqian gazed at Qin Feng's tall, pine-like back, her eyes filled with boundless admiration—and a hint of sorrow.

Far away in Dragon Country, Qian Fuli stood frozen before the suddenly blackened screen. Long moments passed before he slowly exhaled, his face a complex mix of regret and admiration.

"Madman… truly a madman… but perhaps… only such a madman can forge a true… 'New Era'…"

He shook his head, turned, and picked up another encrypted phone.

"Order the fleet to proceed as planned toward the target sea area. But… without my command, do not approach. Only remain… on standby at a safe distance."

…

"New Era" Command Center.

Qin Feng turned, his gaze sweeping over them all.

"You all heard that?"

"We heard!" came the unified reply, filled with the resolve to burn the boats!

"Then stop standing around!" Qin Feng waved his hand, his voice like a drawn sword. "Less than sixty hours remain! Let's show that damn volcano…"

"What it means to conquer heaven!"

Revenge? Gratitude?

At this moment, neither mattered anymore.

What matters is defending this land beneath their feet, proving the value of their existence!

The entire "New Era," under Qin Feng's declaration to live and die with the city-state, erupted with unprecedented cohesion and power!

The speed of the breakwater's construction surged once again!