After a brief welcome, self-introduction, and small talk, Nangong Ruiyang immediately demonstrated his professional competency, cutting straight to the point with no unnecessary words, efficiently presenting the officially announced technical information of the advanced fighter jet "Canglong" to Dongying Self-Defense Force official Kobayashi Zeiichi and Desert Peninsula royal family member Ahmed Bahman Ibrasin.
After a few inquiries, Kobayashi Zeiichi also did not beat around the bush and plainly said, "Nangong-san, while His Highness Ahmed and I have no doubts about your master's research and development capabilities, we do hope that your side can arrange a test flight, preferably a tactical demonstration."
Richies are not fools, they are the kind who won't release the eagle without seeing the rabbit.
The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet was still in the process of development and far from being finalized. Negotiating with clients at this time was clearly an attempt to attract investment and share the pressure of research and development costs. The key was that any investment made at this moment would essentially be an interest-free sponsorship, with no share in the profits of "Canglong." At most, it meant shelling out a large sum of money in exchange for priority in procurement.
If "Canglong" performed excellently and met expectations, then the money spent would be worth it, and having the priority for mass production might not be a bad thing.
The fear was that despite excellent design and theoretical parameters, the reality would be much less impressive.
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Everyone's money didn't come easy, and without satisfying the royalty of Dongying and the Desert Peninsula, naturally, no one was willing to be the big sucker.
While saying this, the Self-Defense Force official glanced at the "Canglong" concept aircraft within the exhibit area.
"Precisely, that's exactly what I mean."
Because he had already discussed the matter privately with Kobayashi Zeiichi in advance, Desert Peninsula royal family member Ahmed concurred with him, displaying a matching attitude.
"However, we currently only have this display model."
Nangong Ruiyang frowned as he looked at the shell of an aircraft.
If the test aircraft hadn't crashed, he would have been able to agree immediately.
But now, it would be at least three months before the next prototype would be available, and by then, who knows what other variables might emerge.
The rich clients' thinking wasn't hard to guess—they desired to pay and take delivery instantaneously if they took a liking to it.
But in reality, how could the delivery capacity of aerospace products be so exaggerated? Pre-sales without stock are almost an industry norm, and in case of contract breach, the accumulated costs could bankrupt any manufacturer on the spot.
Seeing Nangong Ruiyang's hesitation, Ahmed Bahman Ibrasin asked, "This display aircraft can't fly?"
He might have thought that the Northern Weapons Industry Group was being finicky and was really just looking to increase the price.
"Sorry, it actually is..."
"Excuse me, please make way."
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Nangong Ruiyang had not yet finished speaking when he saw someone lift the barrier tape and squeeze into the booth.
On closer inspection, it turned out to be a man with the surname Chen, popping up at this critical moment. Was this kid deliberately creating trouble for him?
"Eh? Eh? Chen Fei, what are you doing?"
The Nangong Young Master lost his composure. He had prepared for a long time and had barely managed to secure this opportunity when, all of a sudden... Chen, we are sworn enemies!
Nangong Ruiyang nearly harbored thoughts of slaughtering Chen Xiao'er on the spot.
"Sorry, sorry, it's an urgent matter of Jianghu. I need to borrow 'Canglong'!"
Chen Fei, who had received a message from Boss Hana, acted immediately.
His plan had been executed perfectly. Success!
At this moment, the Hanuman Airborne Group probably hadn't even realized what was happening.
"Borrow 'Canglong'? How? It's just a shell! Stop it!"
Poor Nangong Ruiyang was still in the dark.
The Northern Weapons Industry Group had previously granted Jiu Defense Company access to spare parts for the L-22 advanced trainer aircraft and would not refuse to lend out the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet's concept aircraft shell again,
A mere empty shell, want it?
Take it!
Not even a deposit required.
The moment Chen Fei accessed the "Canglong" concept aircraft, his Metal Elemental Psychic Power activated.
The aircraft's surface suddenly brightened, and the Magic Array was instantly loaded into place.
The "Canglong" advanced fighter jet had a total of 81 Magic Array Inscription units.
+ "Repulsion Shield (45)" ×1
+ "Wind Magic Shield (12)" ×1
+ "Fluid Vortex (2)" ×4
+ "Gravity (1)" ×4
+ "Blazing Flame Bullet (1)" ×4
+ "Air Burst (2)" ×2
+ "Wind Cone (2)" ×1
+ "Ignition (1)" ×2
=81/81
Perfect!
The magic arrays that Chen Fei had mastered were mostly highly suitable for aircraft; with the addition and subtraction done just right, he managed to use up all the magic array inscription units of "Canglong."
The cockpit canopy automatically lifted, and Chen Fei flipped into it.
While mid-air, numerous small geometric figures surged over the surface of his body, combining and evolving into a single soldier tactical armor, which finished evolving just as he landed inside the cockpit.
He pulled out a crystalline block and jammed it straight into the conversion device.
The surface of the "Canglong" advanced fighter jet immediately displayed intricate patterns and runes, as though tattooed, and the magic array inscribed on the surface by the metal elemental psychic power was activated.
"Chen Fei, you get down here!"
Nangong Ruiyang shouted, abandoning any personal decorum as he chased after the exhibition area, extremely upset.
Behind him, Kobayashi Zeiichi, a high-ranking official of the Dongying Sovereignty Self-Defense Forces, and a member of the Desert Peninsula royal family, Ahmed Bahman Ibrasin, exchanged glances, unable to hide the shock on their faces.
The magic array that had just lit up on the surface of the "Canglong" was definitely not mistaken by either of the two men.
Not all aircraft are inscribed with magic arrays; this has nothing to do with cost, but rather with suitability.
Magic arrays cannot be inscribed carelessly; adaptability is what matters most.
In response to Nangong Ruiyang, however, came an unexpected howling sound.
"Wooo..."
The sound originated from the "Canglong" concept machine at the exhibition area, which was clearly just a shell.
"How, how could this be?"
Nangong Ruiyang staggered back in fright.
The "Canglong" concept machine, as if having lost its weight, slowly lifted off the ground.
The whining of the turbines grew louder, as the nose of the craft turned direction, the "Fluid Vortex (2)" and "Air Burst (2)" simultaneously released their magic effects, and the aircraft, maintaining a delicate balance with gravity, was swiftly propelled away.
"Ah! Ah! My 'Canglong'! It—it's still just a shell!"
Nangong Ruiyang wailed as he watched the "Canglong" concept machine fly away at low altitude.
"Um..."
Kobayashi Zeiichi wanted to offer his condolences to Young Master Nangong, but felt it wasn't quite the right word, and he hesitated momentarily before saying, "Nangong-san, let's talk about the support details of the 'Canglong' project."
As a high-ranking officer of the Self-Defense Forces, his eyesight and judgment were naturally beyond question.
From the lighting up of the magic arrays to the ascent and departure, it was definitely the effect of magic arrays.
Although it was known that "Canglong" would make limited use of some magic arrays, it was previously thought that adaptability issues would continuously plague the R&D team and that significant breakthroughs would be hard to achieve in a short time.
But now, it seemed that the Canglong project team of the Northern Weapons Industry Group had solved this problem and had actually applied the magic arrays to the "Canglong."
The national treasure artifacts, the crystal jets, were the perfect masterpieces of magic array application; to be able to see magic arrays on a support type fighter jet, Emmm... It would be a lie to say one wasn't tempted.
Kobayashi Zeiichi did not hesitate to extend a gesture of goodwill immediately.
His Highness Ahmed waved his hand boldly and said, "Don't talk nonsense about it being just a shell; you name the price, cash or fuel, we can do it!"
Twenty years ago, Blue Star Civilization had ceased the extraction of fossil fuels, and instead, a crop known as Oil Aloe Vera had taken its place, mainly characterized by Golden Aloe Vera for light fuel oil extraction and Moonlight Aloe for heavy fuel oil extraction.
Today, the once fossil fuel and natural gas-rich Desert Peninsula was almost entirely planted with these two types of oil-producing aloes, and swathes of aloe forests covered the vast sands, looking like towering trees. These high-yield oil-producing plants didn't demand much for cultivation, not only tolerating salinity, heat, and intense cold but even able to thrive with straightforward seawater irrigation—all they needed was sufficient sunlight.
The thick aloe leaves could be pressed for a high oil content juice, and the extraction process wasn't very complex and required little technical expertise. The remaining dry leaves, like soybean meal, served as excellent fodder for livestock and fertilizer, and both the original leaves and fruits were directly edible, rich in multiple nutrients, and had a distinctive flavor after being cooked.
The Desert Peninsula, which once made its fortune on energy exports, was still handling the energy export business, only now the export was fuel oil.
It appeared that halting the extraction of fossil crude oil hadn't caused much impact on the overall economy—the richies were still richies, never short on cash!
"Um..."
Nangong Ruiyang, whose plans had been disrupted by Chen Fei, was a bit dumbfounded.
What was he supposed to make of this situation?