Chapter 504: Schrödinger's Bomb

"Hello, audience friends, I'm a reporter for City News Gazette, currently at xx Street, outside the xx Nursing Vocational College."

"According to informed sources, at 11:09 a. m. an explosion occurred at a construction site on campus, caused by workers accidentally uncovering a severely corroded bomb."

"Several injured have been taken to the hospital for emergency treatment, and the two more seriously wounded have already been out of life‑threatening danger."

"We can now see that the school's teachers and students have been urgently evacuated to a safe area, and police and the Bomb Disposal Team's vehicles have all arrived."

"Based on the on‑site situation, bomb disposal work remains intense, and the bomb's exact model and disposal plan have not yet been disclosed."

"That is the preliminary situation on site; I, reporter Fang Fang, will continue reporting from the scene......"

"A security cordon has been set up around the school."

"Many news reporters have arrived one after another and are reporting."

"Students and teachers have all been placed inside the gymnasium at the far north of the school."

"But compared with the bomb disposal personnel's nervousness, the students appear remarkably calm."

"Some even hummed a children's song during evacuation: 'The sun shines high, I want to bomb the school.'"

"The Bomb Disposal Team dispatched a large number of personnel, using professional equipment to conduct a more comprehensive sweep of every inch of the campus, preventing any missed threats."

"Meanwhile, the chief Bomb Disposal Specialist of the Bomb Disposal Team, wearing heavy blast‑resistant gear, crouched in the pit, carefully studying the rust‑covered Heavy Aviation Bomb before him."

"The team leader asked anxiously from the side, 'How's it looking, can it be defused?'"

"The Bomb Disposal Specialist removed his protective gear, shook his head, and said, 'Technical disassembly has less than a ten percent success rate.'"

"The leader widened his eyes in shock: 'Even you aren't confident; you're our team's top chief Bomb Disposal Specialist.'"

"'Leader, the bombs I've dealt with before were mortar shells, Landmines, and other small explosives; moreover, most of them aren't very old.'"

"The Bomb Disposal Specialist looked at the half‑buried object, its exposed length exceeding a meter, and helplessly said, 'I've never dealt with this thing at all, and I know nothing about its internal structure.'"

"'Also, I've heard the older generation say that the Japanese later developed some bombs with a small mechanism added at manufacture to prevent disassembly.'"

"'Back then, our slogan was, "No guns, no artillery; the enemy makes them for us." The enemy specifically designs such situations; when a dud bomb that won't explode appears, even if our soldiers pick it up, it can't be used at all.'"

"The leader spat harshly, 'So there's no way?'"

"Bomb Disposal Specialist: 'My proposal is to excavate it and transport it to an open area on the outskirts, detonating it together with the Landmines; but that carries huge risk—if it jolts during transport or gets knocked…'"

"The leader swallowed hard; outside the school is a two‑way bike lane, and there are old residential blocks nearby."

"Whether going left or right, one must pass through a residential area."

"If an accidental explosion occurs during transport, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Bomb Disposal Specialist: 'The Explosive Disposal Expert from the Municipal Bureau has already inspected it; shall we discuss with them first?'"

"'Alright.'"

"A classroom on the first floor of the teaching building nearby became a temporary bomb‑defusal command post."

"Inside the classroom, a man in a leather jacket was sketching on a floor plan and working out formulas."

"A large group gathered around, and Lu Yang was among them, hoping to see if he could help and to learn a bit."

"Seeing the two members of the Bomb Disposal Team enter, Lu Yang casually tossed a bottle of water to the sweating Bomb Disposal Specialist."

"'Thanks.'"

"'You're welcome.'"

"'You're heading back to the site again; can it be defused, and how confident are you?'"

"The question came from Deputy Director Zhao of the Municipal Bureau, who oversees hazardous materials and bomb disposal."

"Bomb Disposal Specialist shook his head: 'Technical disassembly gives me only a ten percent chance; the Japanese later‑produced bombs have anti‑tamper devices that will detonate on the slightest mistake; therefore I propose moving it out and detonating it in an open area.'"

"The man in the leather jacket is an Explosive Disposal Expert of the Municipal Bureau Special Police Team; he immediately raised his head and rejected the suggestion: 'That approach is too risky. The reason the bomb hasn't been fully excavated is the fear of triggering the top‑impact Fuze.'"

"'If support is lost, the Fuze will release prematurely, and it will explode before we can move it.'"

"'We've consulted the data on this bomb and confirmed it is a Type 99‑25 model Heavy Aviation Bomb, weighing 211 kilograms.'"

"'If it detonates, half the campus and the street outside the wall will be flattened; therefore, it must not be moved under any circumstances!'"

"Hearing this, the school principal's vision went almost black, and he could barely keep his footing."

"'Then… is there absolutely no other way?'"

"'Yes.'"

"'What method?'"

"The principal clutched at a lifeline, staring at the leather‑jacketed bomb‑defusal expert."

"Lu Yang also cast a curious glance, eager to see what solution he would employ to resolve the crisis."

"The bomb‑defusal expert raised three fingers and said, 'I have three plans that can solve the current problem.'"

"Those words lifted everyone's spirits."

"An expert's move instantly reveals whether it works."

"True to his honored title as a bomb‑defusal ace, he indeed shows his prowess."

"Explosive Disposal Expert: 'First, use sandbags and large amounts of discarded clothing to blanket the explosive, then seal it with a waterproof coating, completely locking it underground. This ensures it returns to its most stable state.'"

"'Second, surround it with barbed‑wire fencing and warning signs on trees; there is a seventy‑to‑eighty percent chance that nothing will happen for decades.'"

"'Third, wait until bomb‑disposal technology matures further, then attempt to defuse it.'"

"Lu Yang watched silently, while behind him Kang Changyi lowered his voice and whispered."

"'Isn't that Schrödinger's bomb?'"

"'It's between exploding and not exploding, all down to luck?'"

"Lu Yang turned his head and glanced back, his eyes showing a hint of surprise."

"It's rare for this guy to state such an objective fact; no wonder he attended military school and studied."

"The principal immediately raised a doubt: 'Decades without incident—how many years exactly? Ten? Twenty? If it suddenly explodes, what then?'"

"The Bomb Disposal Specialist shook his head: 'This method solves the immediate issue but merely postpones the problem; moreover, you overlook a scenario—if an earthquake or slight tectonic movement occurs, or nearby construction digs foundations and triggers a premature explosion, what then?'"

Deputy Chief Zhao frowned: "The school is in the urban area, not a remote mountain forest; moreover, there are so many students and teachers. Such a method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause; it's really inadvisable, to put it bluntly."

The Explosive Disposal Expert also disliked the first plan, and could only consider it as a last resort.

"The second plan is to evacuate all nearby students, teachers, and residents, then use detonators to remotely detonate it."

"Then, what about the school?"

"......"

The Explosive Disposal Expert really didn't know what to say.

Forced detonation would certainly cause damage to the surrounding buildings.

The two teaching buildings closest to it are definitely unsalvageable.

The dormitory buildings a bit farther away are very likely to develop cracks from the blast shockwave, possibly even suffer foundation tilting, becoming dangerous structures.

In short, once this heavy aviation bomb of this class is detonated, most of the school's buildings will have to be scrapped, and we can only wait for local funding to select a new site and build a new campus.

Everyone present understood this clearly, but no one felt comfortable bringing it up.

Because their starting points differ, they prioritize public safety first, then property safety.

But for the principal, he has feelings for this school and simply cannot accept such a suggestion.

"Since the Republican era, this nursing school has been established, enduring a century of wind and rain without collapsing!"

"Over the years, the school has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents for the medical and nursing industry; it is a jewel of the profession!"

"I strongly oppose this plan! Isn't there any other way?"