Chapter Ninety-Six: A Step Back on Each Side

The Minister of Science and Technology, Minister Mi, said, “Minister Xiao, we’ve been discussing this for an entire day. Isn’t it time to reach a conclusion?”

Xiao Wancai of the Aerospace Ministry replied, “Minister Mi, our ministry still believes we should decide with caution. This is no small matter. We have decided to postpone construction of the Energy.”

Minister Mi sighed. “Very well. Since your Aerospace Ministry won’t do it, then our Ministry of Science and Technology will take it on ourselves. Don’t forget that seventy percent of the scientists on this project are from our ministry.”

Hearing that, Xiao Wancai could not help but smile. “Minister Mi, don’t forget that the skilled workers involved in building the Energy are all from the Northern Group. Without trained workers, what are you going to build it with?”

At that, Minister Mi immediately turned to Nie Zihao beside him. “Mr. Nie, is your company really going to abandon this project?”

From the start of the meeting, Nie Zihao had not said a word, but now he had no choice but to speak. Looking at Minister Mi, he said, “Minister Mi, it’s not that our group doesn’t want to continue. It’s that we must know what that triangular object actually is. Right now we only have images of it, and not even the most basic information. We really dare not take such a risk.”

After hearing Nie Zihao’s words, Minister Mi nodded. “Mr. Nie, I fully understand your concern. But precisely because we do not know what it is, we must learn. Although we still lack its detailed data, everyone has already made preliminary analysis. It can absorb the energy of a star. Please note that—it can absorb the energy of a star! With the level of science and technology we have now, who could possibly do that?”

“If we can thoroughly understand it, we may very well change the entire history of humankind!”

As Minister Mi spoke, some among the assembled listeners nodded, while others shook their heads.

“Senior Tian, are the people from the Ministry of Science and Technology all this radical?”

“Shh. Keep your voice down. Don’t let them hear you.”

Tian Wenyuan was also a member of the Ministry of Science and Technology, but this time he sided with the aerospace side.

“Junior Brother, didn’t you ask me what I thought? Then I’ll tell you. I think it’s better to be conservative in this matter, especially when it’s something this important. Remember this: if you don’t have the strength, never go poking at something stronger than yourself. If things go wrong, you may end up setting yourself on fire, and the thing that burns could be the whole Earth.”

After Tian Wenyuan said that, Zhang Mingyang also felt there was truth in it. Sometimes people overestimate themselves and assume they can do anything.

Wang Bowen said, “Minister Nie, it’s not that our aerospace bureau doesn’t want to carry on. It’s just too dangerous. Our astronauts are thirty-three light-years away. If something happens, we simply cannot rescue them. Just as you said, if necessary they could approach Pollux, but what if that mysterious object also absorbs the Energy’s power? Are we supposed to let our astronauts remain thirty-three light-years away for the rest of their lives?”

“Exactly! Director Wang is right.”

The people from the aerospace bureau behind him echoed his words.

At that moment, someone beside Minister Mi asked the aerospace representatives, “Since you’ve decided to postpone construction of the Energy, why did you propose this project in the first place? And if you delay it, then who is going to rescue the Voyager, which is eleven light-years away?”

“Right! Who among you is going to rescue the Voyager?”

The people from the Ministry of Science and Technology echoed the challenge as well.

Hearing the question, Wang Bowen glanced at the time. It was three in the morning. In another three hours, they would have to report the proposed plan to the Premier’s Office.

“Old Xiao, there are still three hours left. I don’t think this can be resolved.”

The argument continued unabated.

Zhang Mingyang, sitting off to one side for several hours already, was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. His eyelids were fighting each other, on the verge of closing.

As time slowly passed, Zhang Mingyang finally could not bear it any longer. He took out his communicator and sent Wang Bowen a message.

A buzzing vibration came from Wang Bowen’s trouser pocket. He quickly pulled it out, lowered his head, and saw that it was a message from Zhang Mingyang. Looking up, he searched the room for him, and finally found him in the corner along the left wall.

When Zhang Mingyang saw that Wang Bowen had noticed him, he hurriedly raised the communicator and pointed at it, signaling for him to take a look.

Seeing the gesture, Wang Bowen nodded. He opened the message and scanned it once. In an instant, his eyes lit up.

“Brat, if you had a method like this, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

He shut the communicator and said to Minister Mi, “Minister Mi, we agree with your position. We will continue building the Energy.”

As soon as Wang Bowen said that, his own side erupted.

“Director Wang, you can’t agree to this!”

“Old Wang, what are you doing?”

Even Xiao Wancai was shocked. He had not expected Wang Bowen to suddenly agree. “Old Wang, didn’t we already settle this?”

Not only did his own side not expect it, even Minister Mi on the other side was stunned. Why had he suddenly agreed?

Under the table, Wang Bowen kicked Xiao Wancai lightly and nodded at him as well.

Feeling the reminder, Xiao Wancai immediately understood. He turned back to calm his own camp, then motioned for Wang Bowen to continue.

“Minister Mi, our aerospace bureau agrees to continue constructing the Energy, but we have one condition.”

“What condition?”

Minister Mi, seeing that they had agreed, would have accepted even a hundred conditions, let alone one.

Wang Bowen continued, “After the Energy is completed, its first mission must be to rescue the Voyager.”

“No problem!”

Minister Mi agreed without even thinking.

“Please don’t rush me; I’m not finished yet. After the Voyager is rescued, both ships must wait in place.”

“That won’t do!”

As soon as he heard that, Minister Mi hurriedly waved his hand. “We cannot agree to that.”

“Please listen to me first.”

“Rather than the two of us remaining deadlocked like this, why don’t we each step back? I agree to continue construction, and you allow a midway wait. That way we complete the mission, and in the meantime we can devote ourselves to studying it. Once we understand that object more clearly, then we can decide whether the Energy should advance or withdraw. This is already the best compromise.”

Hearing Wang Bowen’s proposal, Minister Xiao turned to discuss it with the others.

Nie Zihao, listening to Wang Bowen, also felt that this was already the best solution. “Old Wang, how did you come up with this?”

Wang Bowen glanced at Zhang Mingyang, who was slumped nearby with his head down, half asleep. “That kid did.”

Nie Zihao followed Wang Bowen’s gaze and saw that the young man had already fallen asleep. “Old Wang, who is that? He’s so young?”

Wang Bowen leaned close to his ear and whispered, “He’s that man’s son.”

“That man?”

Nie Zihao tried to recall who “that man” might be.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. He asked Wang Bowen, “You mean he’s his son?”

Wang Bowen smiled and nodded. “Never expected it, did you? So young.”

Nie Zihao stared at Zhang Mingyang in astonishment, unable to believe it.