This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 646 We Can Establish a Special Zone in the Wandering Swamp

Chapter 646: Chapter 646 We Can Establish a Special Zone in the Wandering Swamp

Dawn City.

The main thoroughfare leading to the Alliance Building.

Before noon, the place was bustling with activity.

The widened roads occasionally saw a car or two drive past, but mostly it was pedestrians walking or cycling.

Looking at the crowded throngs of people on either side of the road, Yang Kai, standing at the edge of the crowd, furrowed his brows slightly and subconsciously stopped walking.

Yang Kai, who spent most of his time in labs or on research ships, did not enjoy crowded places.

On one hand, crowds meant noise and chaos; on the other, the air was full of aerosols mixed with droplets.

Jiang Xuezhou, who was following him, saw her mentor stop and quietly introduced the area to him.

"This is Dawn City Central Avenue, next to the bustling North Street. It is said that a long time ago, the Alliance soldiers fought against the Chewing Bone Tribe’s Looters here, and dug many trenches... Later, as refugees moved in and trading posts developed, those trenches were gradually expanded into sewers, covered with bricks and made into houses."

These facts had been relayed to her by Night Ten.

However, her mentor apparently wasn’t much interested in the past of this settlement and merely stretched his face, saying indifferently,

"There are too many people."

Knowing her mentor disliked crowds, Jiang Xuezhou whispered an explanation.

"After all, this settlement houses over a hundred thousand people."

Yang Kai chuckled dismissively.

"A settlement of a hundred thousand people planned so densely."

In contrast, the settlements under the jurisdiction of the Science Commission were much more scientifically arranged.

People worked methodically, followed scientific management, and even settlements with several hundred thousand people would not be this chaotic and disorganized.

Moreover, what was key was that they eliminated the waste of resources.

People efficiently obtained what they needed without wasting time picking and choosing, allowing them to spend more of their time on more meaningful activities.

Jiang Xuezhou actually quite liked the liveliness of the place and couldn’t help but whisper,

"Maybe it’s because the celebration is about to take place... Usually, there aren’t so many people on the streets."

"Celebration?"

"Commemorating the end of the Tide; the Alliance plans to make this day an official holiday... The preparations for the celebration are underway now, with fireworks displays and festivities scheduled for the third day after the end of the Tide, which is the day after tomorrow."

Jiang Xuezhou whispered.

Yang Kai frowned briefly, then relaxed and pondered for a long while before offering a fair opinion,

"Hmm... it is indeed worth celebrating."

To be honest, he didn’t expect that those Waste Land Wanderers, with their hodgepodge of equipment, would actually be able to defeat the Lair that not even the Post-War Reconstruction Committee had managed to defeat.

Having observed the whole process, he could barely believe his own eyes.

The events that took place here could only be described as a miracle.

But whether it was a miracle or not, for the Academy invested in the Wasteland, it was certainly a tremendous surprise.

There were numerous undeveloped relics within Qingquan City, all previously blocked by the Mucosal Entity.

These included not only pre-war research units but also various production facilities and military and space force equipment from the Human Alliance Era.

Now that the Alliance had taken the Lair in the city center, the resources once occupied by the slime fungus would finally see the light of day again!

The Academy was not only interested in the Alliance’s trump card in defeating the Lair in the city center, but also had a keen interest in developing Qingquan City.

Of course, the Academy wouldn’t just take the Alliance’s advantages for nothing.

Yang Kai had discussed over the phone with his superiors, and they proposed to use a "Cooperation Research and Development Agreement" as a bargaining chip.

The Academy would share some data with the Alliance, supporting them in developing technology-intensive industries and upgrading the hardware for various laboratories.

According to the assessment of the External Affairs Department, the technological support the Academy can offer is more attractive at this stage than the financial support that companies could provide.

If necessary, transferring a few Level D, or even C-Class, technologies was also possible.

As long as the Alliance promises not to resell these technologies to potential competitors of the Academy, like Ideal City or Triumph City.

Apart from cooperation in relic development, the Academy’s higher-ups also hoped to establish an office in the Alliance — that is, an embassy.

Much like the embassies set up by corporations within the Alliance, it would facilitate timely communication between the two parties on southern affairs and research on "Mutated slime fungus."

In principle, diplomacy was the work of the External Affairs Department, and someone from the Research Department like him shouldn’t be responsible for such matters.

However, in the Academy where rank was everything, the principle of the right person for the job was merely a guideline, and Yang Kai certainly wouldn’t let such an easy credit slip through his curriculum vitae.

Moreover, he had ample reasons to persuade his superiors.

Firstly, he was nearby Qingquan City, and secondly, he was on a support mission related to the Alliance.

Thus, with some maneuvering, a task that should have belonged to the External Affairs Department was intercepted by the Research Department.

Yang Kai was confident about this meeting; he couldn’t think of any reason why the Alliance would possibly refuse...

The two continued along the Central Avenue and soon, after entering the North suburb of Qingquan City, caught sight of the lofty and grand building.

The building was not tall, only a few stories high, but it covered a large area and was quite spacious.

It was said that most of the time the Alliance’s Manager worked in shelters dealing with affairs, and only ministers of various levels and mid-to-senior level staff of various departments were stationed here for work.

It was evident from the bicycles and mini-electric scooters filling the parking lot that, as the size of the Alliance grew, the organizational structure to match was also being steadily improved.

Yang Kai looked up at the sky; several Hummingbird drones were patrolling above the buildings, covering the entire area under Alliance surveillance.

This is probably the most tightly secured location within the entire Alliance, and its importance to the Alliance goes without saying.

Chu Guang’s lips couldn’t help but curl up with a little pride.

It seemed that, just as he had anticipated, the Alliance’s Manager was taking this meeting very seriously, and a smug look of vanity floated to his face.

Noticing Yang Kai and Jiang Xuezhou standing at the entrance, the guard stationed beside the security booth came forward and gave a military salute, asking,

"Hello, may I ask who you are?"

"Academy B-level researcher, Yang Kai."

Yang Kai stretched out his index finger and lightly traced in the air, pushing the unfolded holographic window in front of the guard, and continued,

"This is the invitation from your Manager."

The guard was stunned by the holographic display before him, but upon hearing his name, he reacted and smiled,

"It’s Mr. Yang, the Manager has already informed us about you. Please follow me!"

Yang Kai nodded in good spirits and then looked towards Jiang Xuezhou.

"Just drop me off here, find some place to kill time, and I’ll call you when I need you."

This was an opportunity with no risks and a chance to show off his skills; having this minion around was simply too undignified.

So he wouldn’t have anyone undermining him by suggesting that he had passed the work onto his student and hidden himself away.

Looking at his confident master, Jiang Xuezhou still felt a bit uneasy and couldn’t help but ask quietly,

"Do you really not need me to follow you?"

"No need, no need," Yang Kai waved his hand, "I’ve met Chu Guang quite a few times already, I can handle it myself."

Having said this, he then turned to the guard,

"Lead the way."

The guard courteously said,

"Please follow me!"

Following the guard’s footsteps, Yang Kai entered the Alliance Building and after progressing along the spacious corridor, entered a broad meeting room.

After opening the door to the meeting room and inviting him in, the guard continued,

"Our Manager is currently meeting with representatives from the corporations. Please wait a moment."

"Representatives from the corporations?" Yang Kai was slightly taken aback and frowned, instinctively checking the time.

It was one forty.

There were still twenty minutes left before their scheduled meeting, indeed it wasn’t yet the agreed time.

But what he hadn’t expected was that the person in question wasn’t waiting in the meeting room for him, and there was another meeting scheduled before his.

And it was with the enterprises, which were known to be at odds with the Academy.

The guard nodded, conveying the Manager’s instructions truthfully to him,

"Yes, a lot has happened recently in the region of Qingquan City, which you must have heard about. Including the enterprises, the Grand Canyon, and many Survivor Forces still plagued by "Mutated slime fungus" today, they are all very interested in our achievements."

An experienced diplomat might not take such a boastful remark to heart, but Yang Kai, lacking such diplomatic experience, suddenly felt the near-certain credit slipping away and panicked,

"What are they discussing?"

The guard looked surprised, as if he didn’t expect this guest to ask such a blunt question and didn’t know how to answer for a moment.

Yang Kai also realized his involuntary gaffe and coughed lightly, covering up his faux pas,

"Nevermind... pretend I didn’t ask."

Asking a public official about the content of high-level discussions with a third party was undoubtedly impolite and presumptuous.

Yang Kai cursed himself internally—this impetuousness should not have manifested.

Noticing his discomfort, the guard said with a smile to help him out of the awkward situation,

"It’s okay, but as for your question... I really can’t answer that, nor do I know. If you are interested, I suggest you ask our Manager."

Yang Kai awkwardly touched his nose,

"I will."

Perhaps taking this task from the External Affairs Department wasn’t a great idea; he suddenly realized it wasn’t just that he was bad at handling such situations.

He even had a bit of mild social anxiety.

Conversing face-to-face and through holographic images were entirely different; he couldn’t just press pause and think over his next sentence over a cup of coffee. He also had to deal with the potential embarrassment and unexpected events that could arise in any situation.

Yang Kai suddenly regretted confidently leaving his disciple outside.

If things went south, he didn’t even have anyone to blame...

Unaware of Yang Kai’s inner turmoil, the guard then turned towards a servant nearby, nodded, and signaled for the servant to pour a cup of tea for the researcher before stepping outside.

Yang Kai found a random seat and sat down, nervously waiting for a full twenty minutes.

The Manager had yet to show, and just as he was starting to feel restless, there finally came the sound of footsteps from outside the meeting room.

Precisely at two o’clock sharp, the door to the meeting room opened, and a man dressed in azure power armor walked in.

Almost reflexively, Yang Kai stood up from his seat with a "whoosh", accidentally overturning the chair with his vigor.

And the embarrassment didn’t stop there.

His face turned red as he struggled to find the right words and eventually bleated out a "welcome", leaving Chu Guang, who had intended to welcome him, at a complete loss.

"Ahem, it is I who should say welcome..." Seeing Yang Kai’s face grow redder, Chu Guang cleared his throat gently, teasingly said, "Welcome to the Alliance, I hope I didn’t make you wait long. And relax a bit, although this is probably our first face-to-face meeting, we have met many times before."

"Do researchers from the Academy always have such personalities?"

Chu Guang couldn’t help but think of Li Ke, who had been sending New Year’s greetings at the gate of Falcon City...

The guy’s careless demeanor had completely overturned the profound and inscrutable impression he had previously left in Chu Guang’s mind.

Or is it...

He’s just not good at "offline" communication?

The servant nearby wanted to laugh but didn’t dare to, kept a straight face as he stepped forward and quietly set the chair upright for the researcher.

Yang Kai nodded stiffly and squeezed a smile out at Chu Guang.

"Indeed..."

When Chu Guang reached the conference table, he pulled out his designated chair and sat down, continuing to speak to the researcher representing the Academy.

"So, since we’ve already dealt with each other before, let’s not waste time on red tape and get straight to the point."

Yang Kai nodded, completely different from his image in the holographic image, speaking sparingly.

"I have the same intention."

After speaking, he stretched out his index finger and lightly drew in the air, opening up a holographic screen, then took out a projection pen from his chest and placed it on the table.

"Qingquan City belongs to the United Human, and its heritage should rightfully belong to all the descendants of the United Human. Our side wishes to dispatch a research team of fifty to a hundred people to station in Qingquan City long-term, to observe and inspect the local ruins. The ruins and the findings within are yours, while we will share a copy of any digital data we obtain with you..."

Yang Kai said all this in one breath, paused to make sure he hadn’t missed anything, then took a deep breath and continued.

"Additionally, we will send a research team here, offering some assistance in the field of technology and providing you with some specialized research equipment... All of these are in the research collaboration agreement right before you."

While Yang Kai was simply introducing the agreement, Chu Guang browsed through the document on the holographic screen, and, through the holographic screen, observed the expressions on Yang Kai’s face.

Honestly, this guy was truly amateurish in diplomacy.

But considering that he was a leader of the Research Department, and diplomacy wasn’t his main job, his amateurishness was somewhat understandable.

Usually, both parties start by demanding the moon and then step back to negotiate terms. Yet, he did the exact opposite, seemingly afraid of being rejected, starting by making a principled case and then laying all his cards on the table.

To be honest, the chips he laid out were very attractive, and Chu Guang had to admit that his heart was moved halfway through listening.

However, this approach was akin to throwing a bulging wallet on the counter and telling the shopkeeper to help themselves to whatever they wanted.

After reading through the agreement to the end, Chu Guang suppressed the urge to smile knowingly, cleared his throat softly, and said,

"...Our side values our relationship with your side highly and is very interested in the research collaboration agreement you mentioned."

Hearing Chu Guang’s words, Yang Kai felt a surge of relief in his heart, thinking his worries were indeed superfluous. However, before he could fully relax, Chu Guang changed the subject and continued,

"However, regarding certain clauses in the agreement, we have objections."

Hearing this vague statement, Yang Kai immediately tensed up.

"What objections? Tell me."

Chu Guang lightly drew in the air with his index finger, shifting the holographic screen aside, and continued while looking into Yang Kai’s eyes,

"Qingquan City is under the control of the United Human and its heritage should belong to all of humanity, but the actual controllers are us; we are the ones solving the problems. For your side to ask us to share these results, earned with the sacrifice of Qingquan City’s survivors, seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?"

Seeing the displeased expression on Chu Guang’s face, especially when looking into those eyes, Yang Kai panicked,

"I didn’t ask you for the ruins of Qingquan City. As I said, it’s only for observational research; the ownership of the ruins remains yours! Furthermore, we acknowledge your sacrifices, so we are willing to provide a certain amount of assistance in the field of technology recovery. It’s not for nothing—"

"That’s exactly where my objection lies," Chu Guang continued, looking at him, "your agreement mentions that at least one hundred researchers will be sent to Camp 101 to establish a branch of the Academy and interact with our researchers. However, in my view, one-way open interaction is not true interaction."

Yang Kai was stunned.

He hadn’t anticipated that Chu Guang would raise objections to this matter.

After all, the Bugra Free State had been pleading for them to send assistance for their research and they had refused. Now, they were the ones initiating the offer and the Alliance... had objections?

"What do you mean..."

Watching the confused Yang Kai, Chu Guang, with a thick skin, continued,

"Isn’t the control over the extent of the exchange entirely in your hands? Even if you send a few researchers who are merely filling a quota, we would have no recourse. As for those research devices, we don’t expect you to transfer the most advanced instruments to us, but if you give us some outdated defective products to pad the numbers—"

"How could we possibly do such a thing!" Yang Kai blurted out, cutting off Chu Guang mid-sentence, his face flushed,

Only his voice lacked conviction.

To be honest, the External Affairs Department was indeed capable of such things; after all, saving costs for the Academy also counted as a merit.

The advancement system of the Academy ensured that most mid-level and senior researchers, when making decisions, would tilt towards short-term beneficial decision-making.

If the Academy could achieve their dreamt ascent within a hundred years, then such an approach wouldn’t be wrong.

However, Chu Guang wasn’t willing to be made a fool of.

He had always been the one harvesting others’ leeks, for it to happen to him was simply absurd.

"I never said you would do that, but we need to ensure it won’t happen, right?"

Seeing Yang Kai unable to retort, Chu Guang patiently continued,

"This issue is actually simple to resolve. We do have some individuals—cough, I mean, personnel who understand the workings of the Academy on our side. I hope we could refine the details of the agreement on our end. For example, listing the types, models, all parameters, and most critically, the pricing of the equipment being transferred. This would guarantee against you suddenly remembering you have equipment to clear out of inventory and then disposing of it to us, who certainly don’t need it."

Yang Kai sheepishly nodded.

"Okay..."

The request wasn’t too unreasonable.

If the Alliance side asked for equipment that they could not provide, like those related to graviton research or FTL engines, they would just clarify and decline in the agreement.

At least this was something negotiable!

Chu Guang smiled and nodded slightly, continuing in a more aggressive tone,

"Another issue is the one I just mentioned, regarding personnel."

"Of course, we support the freedom of academic exchange, but such exchange should be mutual, not one-sided... besides sending some of your people to us, we would also like to send some of our people to exchange with you over there."

Yang Kai was slightly taken aback, then hastily said,

"That’s impossible! Only researchers are allowed into the Academy! Other survivors can only move around at most within the habitat managed by the Science Committee! We can’t design a separate system just for you... don’t be too unreasonable!"

The Academy internally employs the K and G point system, where everything including the most basic transportation and acquisition of life necessities cannot be separated from these two scores.

Outsiders have no room for survival in the Academy.

Although Chu Guang didn’t see it as a big deal, in his opinion, they could simply make a flexible arrangement by adding a "foreign personnel" special status in the existing system.

As for the consumption of resources, the Alliance would foot the bill.

However, seeing Yang Kai’s resolutely opposed expression, Chu Guang knew that persisting would likely lead to no results whatsoever.

Therefore, Chu Guang also made some small concessions.

"Let’s both take a step back then, our personnel won’t enter the inner parts of the Academy, but will conduct academic exchanges with your people in the habitats managed by the Science Committee... of course, it would have to be a habitat designated by us."

Not all of the Academy’s talents were cultivated within the Academy; some habitats were also responsible for tasks like sorting cultural relics and processing data.

These habitats usually had a higher living standard and did not live as frugally as other habitats. Moreover, because they could access the central business of the Academy, many kids grew up with it and the rate of their becoming prospectors and researchers was much higher than in other habitats.

Many mid-level researchers’ families lived in these habitats as a compromise for not being able to live directly in the Academy.

This was something Chu Guang had heard from Yin Fang, and he saw potential in these habitats. If he could send people from the Alliance over to learn, it would not only help him nurture a batch of skilled prospectors and even researchers, but might also trick a few naive fools into coming over.

The more Chu Guang thought about it, the more he felt his idea was damn brilliant.

As for being tricked away?

Nonexistent.

The allure of the Wandering Swamp wouldn’t be greater than that of Ideal City.

Chu Guang was very clear about what those researchers really needed. If anyone really got tricked away, it would indicate that the individual was not suitable for the Alliance.

Leaving would just be leaving.

Yang Kai pondered for a moment before saying with difficulty,

"This is against the rules... some habitats are not open to outsiders; it’s not possible for you to just go into whichever habitat you desire."

Anticipating his response, Chu Guang’s face revealed a refreshing smile as he cheerfully said,

"Then let’s jointly designate this habitat, shall we? We can establish a special zone within the Wandering Swamp."

Hearing this term for the first time, Yang Kai was startled,

"Special zone?"

"That’s right," Chu Guang nodded, smiling as he continued, "The research personnel we send for exchanges will only move within the special zone and conduct exchanges with your researchers within that zone... and don’t think I’m joking; you’d better not underestimate our relic excavation technology. We’ve recovered quite a number of relics over the years, and there’s a lot we can learn from each other."

Yang Kai inwardly rolled his eyes, not taking that ’learn from each other’ seriously at all.

The Academy had been researching relic recovery for over two hundred years, digging over and over in the same worn-out relics. He didn’t think the Alliance had anything they could learn from them.

However, Chu Guang’s words had piqued his interest.

After all, this request did not seem excessive.

The habitats under the Science Committee were not the core areas of the Academy, and even if some housed researchers’ families and research facilities directly related to the Academy, those facilities were engaged in non-core areas.

With this in mind, Yang Kai nodded,

"Fine... I don’t see a problem with that, but I’ll have to discuss it with my superiors."

Watching Yang Kai, who had been vigorously opposing one second and then took a complete 180-degree turn the next, Chu Guang couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.

Even though he had no reason to believe the guy would refuse, Chu Guang had not expected him to agree so readily.

The matter was settled.

Yang Kai got up crisply, bidding farewell, and rushed out of the meeting room with his projection pen as if he were fleeing the place.

Watching Yang Kai’s retreating figure disappearing at the door, Chu Guang couldn’t help but fall into thought.

Hadn’t expected the Academy’s researchers to be quite easy to get along with?

Decisive and more forthright than the dilly-dallying council—much more refreshing.

Had he misunderstood them?

While Chu Guang was thinking this, urgent footsteps came from outside the meeting room. Shortly after, an unexpected face appeared at the doorway.

Seeing Old Charlie appear at the door, Chu Guang, in good spirits, pushed back his chair to stand up, walking over with a smile,

"What wind has blown you here?"

Old Charlie was still the president of the Merchant Guild.

Although the Merchant Guild was a direct institution of the Alliance, it tended towards service rather than administration, so its office was not in the Alliance Building but had a separate structure, located at the old site of the Outpost Base by Rhombus Lake.

For some time, Chu Guang’s office had also been there.

"... Never mind about the wind. You better look at this first." Old Charlie, looking anxious, thrust a newspaper into Chu Guang’s hands.

Chu Guang took the newspaper and glanced at it, raising his eyebrows involuntarily when he saw the bold and enlarged headline.

"The Lair in Qingquan City has not fallen! Secretly nurtured by the Manager!"

Below the headline was a subtitle—

[Qingquan City Evening News unveils the astonishing conspiracy hidden in the East District of Qingquan City!]