Chapter 647: We Can Set Up a Special Zone in the Swamp of Hesitation

Chapter 647: We Can Establish a Special Zone in the Wandering Swamp

Dawn City.

The main road leading to the Alliance Building.

Before noon, it was already bustling with activity.

An occasional car or two drove along the widened road, but most passersby walked or rode bicycles.

Standing at the edge of the crowd, Yang Kai frowned slightly as he watched the surging masses on both sides of the street, instinctively halting his steps.

Accustomed to spending his days in laboratories or research vessels, he disliked crowded places.

On one hand, crowds meant noise and clamor; on the other, the air was thick with aerosols mingled with droplets.

Jiang Xuezhou, following beside him, noticed her mentor’s hesitation and whispered an explanation.

“This is Dawn City’s Central Avenue, right next to the bustling North Street. I’ve heard that long ago, Alliance soldiers fought battles here against the Gnaw-Bone Tribe’s raiders, digging many trenches... Later, as refugees moved in and the trading post grew, those trenches were gradually widened into sewers, paved with bricks, and houses were built over them.”

She had learned all this from Ye Shi.

But her mentor clearly had little interest in the settlement’s past. He merely replied coldly, with a tight face.

“Too many people.”

Knowing her mentor disliked crowds, Jiang Xuezhou explained softly.

“After all, over a hundred thousand people live in this settlement.”

Yang Kai let out a dismissive chuckle.

“A settlement of a hundred thousand, yet so chaotically crowded.”

In contrast, the settlements under the Committee of Science were far more orderly.

People worked methodically, managed scientifically—even settlements of hundreds of thousands were never this disorderly.

Most importantly, they eliminated resource waste.

People efficiently obtained what they needed, wasting no time on picky choices, and thus could devote more time to more meaningful pursuits.

Jiang Xuezhou, however, rather enjoyed the liveliness here and couldn’t help murmuring.

“Maybe it’s because the celebration is about to start... Usually, the streets aren’t this crowded.”

“Celebration?”

“To mark the end of the Tide. The Alliance plans to make this day a legal holiday... Right now, it’s the preparation phase. The fireworks show and festivities will be on the third day after the Tide ends—the day after tomorrow.”

Jiang Xuezhou spoke softly.

Yang Kai frowned, then relaxed after a long pause, offering a measured opinion.

“Hmm... That’s indeed worth celebrating.”

Honestly, he hadn’t expected that a group of wastelanders, armed with cobbled-together equipment, could single-handedly defeat a Hive Nest that even the Post-War Reconstruction Committee couldn’t overcome.

Having watched the entire process from the sidelines, he could hardly believe his eyes.

Everything that happened here could only be described as a miracle.

But whether miracle or not, for the Academy, which cared deeply about the wasteland, this was an immense stroke of luck.

Qingshui City held vast undeveloped ruins, previously sealed off by slime mold fruiting bodies.

Among them were not only pre-war research units but also various production facilities and the land army and space force equipment from the Human Alliance era.

Now that the Alliance had taken down the central Hive Nest, those resources once occupied by slime could finally see the light of day!

The Academy was not only intensely curious about the Alliance’s trump card for defeating the central Hive Nest but also deeply interested in developing Qingshui City.

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

Yang Kai had communicated with his superiors over the phone, and their idea was to offer a “cooperative research and development agreement” as a bargaining chip.

The Academy would open some data to the Alliance, support the development of technology-intensive industries, and upgrade various laboratory hardware.

According to the Foreign Affairs Department’s assessment, for the Alliance at its current stage, the technical support the Academy could provide was more attractive than the economic support offered by corporations.

If necessary, they could even transfer a few D-level or even C-level technologies.

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

Beyond the cooperative development of ruins, the Academy’s leadership also hoped to establish an office in the Alliance—essentially an embassy.

Just like the embassies corporations had set up in the Alliance, it would facilitate timely exchanges on southern affairs and slime mold research.

In principle, diplomatic work fell under the Foreign Affairs Department, and such matters shouldn’t be handled by someone from the Research Department.

But for the Academy, where rank was everything, the principle of “professionals handling professional matters” was merely a guideline. Yang Kai certainly wouldn’t let such a golden opportunity slip from his résumé.

Moreover, he had ample reasons to convince his superiors.

First, he happened to be near Qingshui City. Second, he was already executing support missions related to the Alliance.

Thus, through some maneuvering, the Research Department snatched the job that should have belonged to the Foreign Affairs Department.

Yang Kai was brimming with confidence about this meeting. After all, logically speaking, he couldn’t think of any reason the Alliance would refuse...

The two walked along Central Avenue for a while, and after entering the northern outskirts of Qingshui City, they soon spotted the square building.

It wasn’t tall—only a few stories—but it occupied a large area, built quite spaciously.

Rumor had it that most of the time, the Alliance’s administrators handled affairs in the shelter, while those permanently stationed here were mostly department heads and mid-to-high-level staff.

From the bicycles and electric scooters crammed into the parking lot, it was easy to see that as the Alliance expanded, its organizational structure was gradually maturing.

Yang Kai looked up at the sky, where several hummingbird drones were cruising above the building. The entire area was under the Alliance’s surveillance.

This was probably the most tightly secured place in the entire Alliance, and its importance to the Alliance was self-evident.

A hint of smugness crept into Yang Kai’s smile.

It seemed, as he had predicted, the Alliance’s administrators placed great importance on this meeting. A look of self-satisfaction floated across his face.

Noticing Yang Kai and Jiang Xuezhou standing at the entrance, the guard on duty by the sentry booth stepped forward and saluted.

“Hello, may I ask who you are?”

“Yang Kai, B-level researcher of the Academy.”

Yang Kai raised his index finger and traced a line in the air, pushing the expanded holographic window in front of the guard.

“This is the invitation from your administrator.”

The guard blinked at the holographic window, then recognized the name and smiled.

“Ah, Mr. Yang! The administrator mentioned your visit. Please, follow me!”

Yang Kai nodded in good spirits, then turned to Jiang Xuezhou.

“This is far enough. Find somewhere to pass the time. I’ll call you if needed.”

Bringing this apprentice along for a risk-free, high-profile opportunity would only cheapen the occasion.

He didn’t want someone later accusing him of delegating all the work to his students while he kept his distance.

Watching her confident mentor, Jiang Xuezhou still felt uneasy and couldn’t help whispering.

“But...”

"Are you sure you don't need me to come along?"

"No, no," Yang Kai waved his hand. "I've met that Chu Guang quite a few times; I can handle it on my own."

With that, he turned to the guard.

"Lead the way."

The guard said politely.

"Please follow me!"

Following the guard's steps, Yang Kai entered the Alliance Building, walked along a spacious corridor for a while, and then stepped into a large meeting room.

After opening the meeting room door for him and ushering him inside, the guard continued.

"Our administrator is currently meeting with a representative from the Corporation. Please wait a moment."

"A representative from the Corporation?" Yang Kai was slightly taken aback, furrowed his brow, and instinctively glanced at the time.

It was now 1:40.

There were still twenty minutes until their scheduled meeting; indeed, it was not yet the appointed time.

But what he hadn't expected was that the man wasn't waiting for him in the meeting room, and that there was another meeting before his.

And with the Corporation, which had always been at odds with the Academy.

The guard nodded and, as instructed by the administrator, truthfully informed him of the matter.

"Yes, many things have happened around Qingquan City recently, as you've likely heard. The Corporation, the Great Rift, and many survivor factions still plagued by mutant slime are all very interested in our achievements."

An experienced diplomat might not have taken this blustering remark to heart, but Yang Kai, lacking such diplomatic experience, suddenly felt that his seemingly assured credit was no longer so certain, and a pang of panic struck him.

"What are they discussing?"

The guard was momentarily stunned, apparently not expecting such a blunt question from the guest, and for a moment didn't know how to respond.

Yang Kai gradually realized his inadvertent slip, coughed lightly, and tried to cover up his lapse.

"Nothing... forget I said that."

Asking a public official of a nation about the content of high-level talks with a third party was undoubtedly rude and presumptuous.

Yang Kai silently cursed himself; such reckless behavior should not have come from him.

The guard noticed his embarrassment and smiled to help him out.

"It's all right, but your question... I really can't answer it, nor do I know. If you're interested, I suggest you ask our administrator."

Yang Kai awkwardly touched his nose.

"I will."

Perhaps taking this task from the External Affairs Department hadn't been a good idea; he suddenly realized he wasn't just bad at handling such situations.

He even had a mild case of social anxiety.

Face-to-face conversation was entirely different from communicating via holographic projection; you couldn't just press pause, sip coffee while thinking of the next line, and you had to deal with all sorts of potential awkwardness and surprises.

Yang Kai suddenly regretted having confidently left his apprentice outside.

If he really messed up, he wouldn't even have anyone to blame...

Unaware of Yang Kai's inner thoughts, the guard then nodded to a nearby attendant, signaling him to pour a cup of tea for the researcher, and then withdrew from the room.

Yang Kai found a seat at random and waited in anxious trepidation for a full twenty minutes.

The administrator was nowhere to be seen, and just as he began to grow restless, footsteps finally echoed from the corridor outside the meeting room.

Almost precisely at two o'clock, the meeting room door opened, and a man in azure power armor walked in from outside.

Almost by reflex, Yang Kai sprang up from his seat with a clatter, but in his haste he knocked over the chair.

The embarrassment didn't end there.

His face flushed red as he struggled for words, only to blurt out "Welcome," leaving Chu Guang, who had been about to welcome him, utterly baffled.

"Ahem, it's I who should be saying welcome..." Seeing the face growing redder, Chu Guang coughed lightly and said in a teasing tone, "Welcome to the Alliance. Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Also, relax a bit. Though this is probably our first face-to-face meeting, we've seen each other many times before, haven't we?"

Were all Academy researchers this eccentric?

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

This guy's rash demeanor completely overturned the inscrutable impression he had left before.

Or perhaps...

He was just not good at "offline" communication?

The attendant nearby wanted to laugh but dared not, so he kept a straight face, stepped forward, and quietly righted the chair for the researcher.

Yang Kai nodded stiffly, forcing a smile onto his face as he looked at Chu Guang.

"Indeed..."

Walking to the conference table, Chu Guang pulled out his designated seat and sat down, then continued looking at the researcher representing the Academy.

"Well, since this isn't our first time dealing with each other, let's not waste time on formalities and get straight to the point."

Yang Kai nodded, and as if he were a different person from the one in the holographic projections, he spoke sparingly.

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

With that, he extended his index finger and lightly swiped in the air, opening a holographic screen, then took a projection pen from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Qingquan City belongs to the Human Federation, and its heritage should belong to all descendants of the Human Federation. Our side hopes to dispatch a research team of between fifty and a hundred personnel to be stationed long-term in Qingquan City to conduct observational surveys of the local ruins. Those ruins and any findings within them will belong to you, and we will copy the digital data we obtain to you..."

Having said all this in one breath, Yang Kai paused to ensure nothing was omitted, then took a deep breath and continued.

"Additionally, we will send a research team to your location to provide some technical assistance and help you acquire specialized research equipment... All of this is in the scientific cooperation agreement before you."

As Yang Kai gave a brief introduction to the agreement, Chu Guang browsed the document on the holographic screen while observing the expression on his face through it.

To be honest, this guy was really amateur at diplomacy.

But considering he was the head of the Research Department, and diplomacy wasn't really his domain, a bit of amateurism was understandable.

Normally, people would start with an exorbitant demand and then negotiate by making concessions. But he did the opposite, as if afraid of being rejected, first laying out grand principles and then putting all his cards on the table.

To be honest, the chips he laid out were indeed very attractive; Chu Guang admitted that he was already tempted halfway through his speech.

But his behavior was like throwing a bulging wallet onto the counter and telling the shopkeeper, "Name your price."

Having read the agreement to the end, Chu Guang suppressed the urge to smile knowingly, coughed lightly, and spoke.

"...Our side greatly values the relationship with your side, and we are very interested in the scientific cooperation agreement you mentioned."

Hearing Chu Guang's words, Yang Kai's heart leaped with joy, thinking his worries had been unnecessary. But before he could fully relax, Chu Guang shifted the topic and continued.

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

Hearing this vague phrasing, Yang Kai immediately tensed up.

"What objections? Tell me."

Chu Guang lightly swiped his finger in the air, moving the holographic screen aside, and looked directly into his eyes as he continued.

"Qingquan City belongs to the Human Federation, and its heritage should belong to all humanity. But its actual controller is us, and it was we who solved the problems. Isn't it a bit ungenerous for your side to demand that we share the fruits earned through the sacrifices of Qingquan City's survivors?"

Seeing the displeasure on Chu Guang’s face, especially when meeting those eyes, Yang Kai’s heart fluttered with panic, and he quickly explained.

“I’m not asking you for the ruins of Clear Spring City. I said it’s just an observational survey—the ownership of the ruins remains yours! And we understand your efforts, so we’re willing to offer some help in the field of technology recovery. This isn’t for free—”

“What I take issue with is precisely this,” Chu Guang continued, looking at him. “In the agreement, you mentioned sending at least a hundred researchers to establish a branch of the academy at Camp 101, to exchange with our researchers. But in my view, a one-way exchange isn’t true exchange.”

Yang Kai was stunned.

He hadn’t expected Chu Guang to raise an objection over this.

After all, the Free State of Brugge had begged them to send people to assist their research, and they’d refused. Now, they were voluntarily offering, and the Alliance… had objections?

“What do you mean…?”

Seeing Yang Kai’s bewildered expression, Chu Guang shamelessly pressed on.

“The scale of exchange is entirely in your hands, isn’t it? Even if you send some incompetent researchers over, we’d have no way to stop it. As for the research equipment, we don’t expect you to transfer your most advanced instruments to us, but if you try to pass off obsolete junk to make up the numbers—”

“How could we ever do something like that!” Yang Kai’s face flushed red as he interrupted Chu Guang mid-sentence.

But his voice lacked conviction.

To be honest, the people in the External Affairs Department might actually pull something like that—after all, saving costs for the Academy counted as a merit.

The Academy’s promotion system ensured that most mid-level and even high-level researchers tended to favor short-term gains when making decisions.

If the Academy could achieve its dream of ascension within a hundred years, this approach wouldn’t be a problem.

But Chu Guang had no intention of being the fool.

He was the one who always reaped the benefits—how dare they try to take advantage of him?

“I never said you would do it, but we need to ensure it doesn’t happen, don’t we?”

Seeing that Yang Kai couldn’t refute him, Chu Guang patiently continued.

“This problem is actually easy to solve. We do have some people inside who are familiar with the Academy—cough, I mean, who understand the Academy. I’d like us to refine the details of the agreement. For example, list the types, models, parameters, and most importantly, the prices of the equipment to be transferred. That way, it won’t be a case of you suddenly remembering you have a batch of equipment to clear from inventory and then dumping it on us, who don’t even need it.”

Yang Kai nodded reluctantly.

“Fine…”

This request wasn’t too excessive.

If the Alliance asked for instruments they couldn’t provide—like those related to graviton research or FTL engines—they could simply refuse explicitly in the agreement.

At least this list was negotiable!

Chu Guang smiled and nodded, pressing his advantage.

“Another issue is the one I mentioned earlier—personnel.”

“Of course, we support the freedom of academic exchange, but such exchange should be mutual, not one-sided… Besides you sending people here, we’d also like to send some of our people to your side for exchange.”

Yang Kai was taken aback and immediately said,

“That’s impossible! Only researchers can enter the Academy! Other survivors can at most move around in the settlements under the Science Committee’s jurisdiction. We can’t design a separate system for you… Don’t push it!”

The Academy operated on a K-point and G-point system, where even basic transportation and daily necessities depended on these scores.

Outsiders had no room to survive in the Academy.

Though Chu Guang didn’t think it was a big deal—in his view, they could simply adapt by adding a special “diplomatic personnel” status to the existing system.

As for the resources consumed, the Alliance would cover the costs.

But seeing Yang Kai’s resolute expression, Chu Guang knew pushing further would yield nothing.

So he made a small concession.

“Then let’s both compromise. Our personnel won’t enter the Academy’s interior. Instead, they’ll conduct academic exchanges with you in settlements under the Science Committee’s management… Of course, these settlements will be designated by us.”

Not all of the Academy’s talent was cultivated within its walls. A few settlements handled tasks like artifact sorting and data processing.

These settlements generally had a higher standard of living, less frugal than others. And because they had access to the Academy’s core operations, many children grew up immersed in the environment, producing a higher proportion of surveyors and researchers than other settlements.

Many mid-level Academy researchers’ families lived in these settlements, as a compromise for not being able to house them directly in the Academy.

Chu Guang had heard this from Yin Fang, and what he coveted was the potential of these settlements. If he could send Alliance personnel there to study, it would not only train a batch of skilled surveyors and even researchers but might also lure a few naive souls over.

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

As for being lured away?

Impossible.

The allure of the Swamp of Despair wouldn’t surpass that of Ideal City.

Chu Guang knew exactly what those researchers truly needed. If someone was lured away, it meant they weren’t fit for the Alliance.

Let them go.

Yang Kai pondered for a moment, then said with difficulty,

“This goes against the rules… Some settlements aren’t open to outsiders. We can’t just let you into whichever settlement you want.”

Anticipating this response, Chu Guang’s face broke into a warm smile as he said cheerfully,

“Then let’s designate the settlement together. We can establish a special zone in the Swamp of Despair.”

Hearing this term for the first time, Yang Kai blinked.

“Special zone?”

“Exactly,” Chu Guang nodded, still smiling. “Our visiting researchers will only operate within the special zone, conducting exchanges with your researchers there… Don’t think I’m joking. You shouldn’t underestimate our relic excavation techniques. We’ve recovered quite a few relics over the years. We can definitely learn from each other.”

Yang Kai scoffed inwardly, dismissing the idea of mutual learning.

The Academy had spent over two hundred years delving into relic recovery, digging through already-exhausted ruins. He didn’t believe the Alliance had anything worth learning.

But Chu Guang’s words did pique his interest.

After all, this request didn’t sound too unreasonable.

The settlements under the Science Committee weren’t the Academy’s core areas. Even if some housed researchers’ families or had research facilities directly under the Academy, those facilities only handled non-core work.

With that in mind, Yang Kai nodded.

“Fine… I don’t see a problem with that. But I’ll need to discuss it with my superiors.”

Watching Yang Kai—who had been vehemently opposing just a moment ago—do a complete 180, Chu Guang was momentarily taken aback.

Even though he’d expected the man had no reason to refuse, he hadn’t anticipated such swift and full agreement.

The matter was settled.

Yang Kai promptly rose to leave, grabbing his projection pen and hurrying out of the meeting room as if fleeing the place.

Watching Yang Kai’s retreating figure disappear through the doorway, Chu Guang fell into thought.

He hadn’t expected Academy researchers to be surprisingly easy to get along with?

Decisive and efficient, far more straightforward than the dawdling Council.

Maybe he’d misjudged them?

Just as Chu Guang was thinking this, hurried footsteps sounded outside the meeting room. Moments later, an unexpected face appeared at the door.

Seeing Old Charlie at the entrance, Chu Guang, in good spirits, pushed back his chair and stood up, walking over with a smile.

"What wind blows you here?"

Old Charlie was still serving as the president of the Merchant Guild.

Although the Merchant Guild was a direct affiliate of the Alliance, it was more service-oriented than administrative, so its office was not in the Alliance Building but in a separate building, located on the site of the former outpost base by Ling Lake.

There was a time when Chu Guang's office was still there.

“…Never mind what wind, take a look at this first.” Old Charlie, with an anxious expression, thrust a newspaper into Chu Guang's hand.

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

“Qingshi City's Hive Nest Did Not Fall! Secretly Kept by the Administrator!”

Below the headline was a subheading—

“Qingshi City Daily Reveals the Shocking Conspiracy Hidden in the Eastern District of Qingshi City!”