Chapter 129. The Mice Returned
Charles cast a glance at the building complex; there was still no sign of the mice. Reluctantly, he gave in to Richard's proposition. He really didn't want to keep arguing with Richard over such a trivial matter.
Soon, the mice to be sent out on the scouting mission in the circular structure were swiftly selected. Controlling Charles' body, Richard wore a smile on his face and patted the two mice on their heads.
"My two little comrades. I'll be entrusting this crucial task to you. Remember, if you see anything that has text or looks valuable, try to drag them out if you can. If they can't be dragged out, come out and let us know, and we'll go in and get them. Now, Lily, make sure you translate properly," Richard instructed.
As the two mice scurried away into the circular structure, a smug expression appeared on Richard's face.
"Indeed, humans always prefer to compromise. For example, if A said the room is too dark, and we need to make a window, everyone will surely object. But if A then proposes to remove the roof for the moonlight to enter, suddenly, the others will compromise and agree to make a window. Don't you agree?"
"Shut up," Charles snapped and wielded control over his body once more.
Everyone stayed quietly in the darkness as they awaited the return of the two groups of mice. Much to Charles' surprise, the group of mice that entered the circular facility was the first to return.
One of them was dragging a metal plate, while the other dragged a small metal box the size of a matchbox.
"Mr. Charles, Furry said that it's huge inside, but everything is so run down. There's nothing much in there apart from garbage. They only found these," Lily provided interpretation for the two mice's squeaks.
Charles looked at the far-away building complex once more, but there was still no sight of any mice. He took the metal plate from the mouse in front of him.
Nuclear Fusion Reactor Group C
Charles' scalp tingled with terror the moment he saw the text on the metal plate. With a terrified expression, he turned to see that Lily was curiously examining the small box.
Richard sensed something amiss as well. With a slight tremble in his voice, he asked, "Hey, hey, hey, this thing isn't radioactive, is it?"
The next moment, Charles swiftly grabbed the small metal box and threw it as far as he could.
"Mr. Charles, why did you throw it away? Furry worked so hard to drag it all the way here," Lily asked as she tilted her head in puzzlement.
Ignoring Lily's question, Charles lifted her up by the tail. Placing her on one palm, he carefully checked her two tiny paws with apparent nervousness. It was only after finding no signs of redness or blackening that he could finally exhale a sigh of relief.
"It should be fine. If there were really nuclear radiation, the mice wouldn't have been able to drag both items out. They would've probably died on the way."
"Isn't it all your fault? Can't you just stop stirring trouble!" Charles didn't want to communicate with Richard any longer. Placing Lily in his coat pocket, he continued to stare at the black gates in the distance.
Seconds passed. Minutes passed. Soon, two hours had passed. Not only was Charles growing restless, but Tobba, sitting next to him, was also unwilling to wait any longer.
"It's so pointless staying here. Are you going in or not? If not, I'm going in myself," Tobba said in a dejected tone and stood up.
"Wait, they'll be back soon," Charles said as he reached out to grab Tobba. He couldn't afford to let the lunatic leave just yet. Tobba knew of his plans, so it would spell trouble if anyone managed to extract information from the old man.
"Then... Then you have to tell me more stories."
"Alright. Not a problem. Once we get out of this island, I'll tell you as many stories as you want."
After successfully pacifying Tobba, Charles squatted down again and continued to look toward the building complex. Just as he was contemplating if he should send a few more mice, Richard's voice sounded in his head.
"Bro, something's not right. That circular facility is a nuclear fusion reactor, not a nuclear fission reactor. Fusion reactors use deuterium atoms as fuel. That thing isn't radioactive."
"How does it concern us whether it's radioactive or not? It's just a facility that the Foundation used for power generation. They are gone now, and the facility has also been abandoned. Keep quiet."
However, Richard didn't stop. Instead, his voice continued with a strange hint of excitement.
"No! This is very critical information!! Do you remember what we learned about nuclear power in school?
”The uranium required for a nuclear fission reactor not only emits a large amount of radiation that is detrimental to human health, but the waste produced also persists for millennia and is challenging to handle.
”On the other hand, the radiation from nuclear fusion is almost non-existent, and the fuel for fusion is virtually inexhaustible!"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Don't you get it? Nuclear fusion is an advanced technology that requires high temperatures close to a billion degrees Celsius. That is only ever possibly achieved during a nuclear explosion.
”At the point in time when we had crossed over to this world, no country has ever achieved that technology.
”If the Foundation managed to build a nuclear fusion reactor, that means their technology might have already surpassed that of the surface world!"
Charles' mind went silent. Both he and Richard didn't utter a single word as the realization sank in.
Charles suddenly recalled the information written in the experimental log of Project 1002.
I have an inkling that the wealth of knowledge in this seascape could advance human development by another dimension. This will be the second technological boom in human history.
Charles lifted his head and stared at the colossal circular structure next to him in shock. It seemed like the Foundation had indeed achieved its goal.
Their vision was a grand one. If they hadn't disappeared and brought this technology back to the surface world, then the technology of his original world would have gone through a drastic transformation.
Imagine humanity having access to inexhaustible, infinite energy. What would the world be like?
"Mr. Charles, look! Jumpy and the others are back."
Lily's cry jolted Charles out of his thoughts. He spotted the four mice running toward them, dragging something in tow.
No matter how the Foundation managed to build a nuclear fusion reactor, it was not relevant to him.
Whether he would share this astonishing news with those above the surface after he got out would be a question for another day.
Compared to advanced technology that benefited humanity, Charles urgently needed most right now was fuel to go home.
The mice returned and crowded around Charles in excitement. They squeaked incessantly to Lily as she poked her head out of Charles' pocket.
"Oh my, one by one, please. I can't hear clearly with all of you speaking at the same time." Lily said as she climbed down Charles' leg.
Charles crouched down and picked up the object the mice had brought back and carefully examined it.
It was a dark blue spherical object that was the size of a fist. It had a little hand with three fingers. The texture felt somewhat soft, like a balloon filled with jelly.
As Charles kneaded the object, the tiny hand naturally gripped his finger.
"Lily, what's the situation inside? Why did they bring this out?" Charles squatted and asked the white mouse.
"Jumpy and the others said that there's a large hole inside, larger than... three of our ships combined."
The Narwhale measures sixty-five meters. Three Narwhales lined up would be close to two hundred meters. A hole with a diameter of two hundred meters... Charles did a quick mental calculation.
"There were some black creatures with big heads and taller than two humans floating out of the hole."
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