Chapter 286: The Simplest Way to Break the Wall_1

Jiang Yu realized that extortion was indeed the quickest way to make money, no wonder so many people liked to be robbers!

In just three months, he had raised two hundred billion. This money contained the tears of humiliation from the financial magnates, the violent threats from Ai Qi, and Tao Yue's unreasonable behavior.

No matter what, the startup funds had been obtained, and the remaining six hundred billion would be raised slowly.

Now, Tao Yue was so desperate to spend the money that the entire Solar System State was tightening its belt.

Jiang Yu also knew that this was the limit for the Solar System State, and even if he had any other ideas, they would have to be postponed.

So, during this time, Jiang Yu paid close attention to the revenue sources of the Solar System State, constantly pondering how to make money.

As Jiang Yu busied himself with making money, the human world became much more stable.

This long-missed peaceful environment lasted until December of Crisis Era 207, when reliable information revealed that Number Three The Waterdrop had arrived half a year earlier than expected.

Since it had been continuously accelerating, its trajectory could be easily observed.

A year ago, PDC and Fleet International were prepared to cancel the Snow Project, firstly because they too had been extorted by Jiang Yu and were also struggling to make ends meet.

Secondly, the project's significance had diminished, as with patience one could observe Number Three The Waterdrop's movement, so there was no need for early warning.

However, Jiang Yu issued statements multiple times insisting that the trajectory and "visit" timing of Number Three The Waterdrop must be monitored without fail.

He even insisted that the Solar System State spare no effort or resources in establishing this early warning mechanism.

Thanks to the efforts of the Solar System State, the Snow Project was actually completed ahead of schedule.

Yet, as experts had predicted, the project did not play its intended role. The trajectory of The Waterdrop after entering the Solar System was always observable, making the Snow Project redundant.

When Number Three The Waterdrop entered Saturn Orbit, the Snow Project was completely declared a failure, leaving only thousands of star-level nuclear bombs drifting between Uranus Orbit and Neptune Orbit.

Many people publicly criticized Jiang Yu for his misjudgment and for wasting manpower and resources.

Even worse, some privately called Jiang Yu a stupid pig in retribution for the time when Jiang Yu, during a conversation with Bernice, had called them stupid pigs.

Number Three The Waterdrop was heading straight for Jupiter, and the citizens of the three major fleets started to panic again.

Even residents living in the land-based colonies became anxious and fearful.

However, the citizens of the Solar System State were not as lost as they were two and a half years ago, because the Wallfacer had delivered a public speech:

"... I am the guardian of all citizens of the Solar System State; with me here, I can assure you that Number Three The Waterdrop will not harm you.

"For I am well aware that Number Three The Waterdrop is after me!

"This is because I have interfered with the Trisolarans' plans many times; they've long held a deep-seated hatred toward me and would take pleasure in my death!

"This is the most straightforward and effective way for them to breach the wall now, as the Trisolarans' hatred for me has reached a point where they no longer care about humanity's regard for me.

"Recall the initial implementation of the Wallfacer Plan; the Trisolarans were least willing to deal with Wallfacers by direct elimination.

"Because that would make human society realize what the Trisolarans feared.

"Hahaha, now the Trisolarans fear me, afraid that I'll continue to disrupt their plans, so they want to kill me!

"But I will not let the Trisolarans prevail, I will surely survive, for I still have an ace up my sleeve.

"However, to ensure everyone's safety, the spaceship I will be on is going to be near the outskirts of the Jupiter Civilization Circle.

"To confront the Trisolarans face to face, I have waited for more than two hundred years!

"From today on, I will cultivate everyone's confidence in the Solar System State, as long as I am here, the Trisolarans will not be able to threaten your safety!"

Seeing Jiang Yu joking and laughing during his speech made the citizens of the Solar System State feel very reassured.

Although they kept a close watch on the trajectory of Number Three The Waterdrop, it did not affect their lives and work.

After the speech ended, Jiang Yu boarded his own spaceship and waited for Number Three The Waterdrop on the periphery of the Jupiter Civilization Circle.

For three consecutive days, Jiang Yu waited until Number Three The Waterdrop was just four or five hours away from reaching Jupiter, then he ordered a full retreat!

Many people expressed their determination to defend the Wallfacer to the death.

But Jiang Yu sternly ordered everyone to leave, including Number Three.

Once everyone had left, Jiang Yu leisurely donned his spacesuit, though he didn't put on the helmet just yet.

He brewed a pot of tea and, while sipping it, gazed out the window in the direction from which Number Three The Waterdrop was coming!

After more than two centuries, the day had finally arrived, and Jiang Yu's hands trembled with excitement.

"This is the first time I've seen you this excited!"

Jiang Yu turned around to see that it was Number Three, "Why haven't you left?"

Number Three smiled and said, "I thought about it and decided not to leave."

Jiang Yu said, "Hurry up and leave, my situation is going to get very dangerous!"

As Number Three put on its spacesuit, it replied, "I am the Wallfacer's assistant; there's no reason for me to leave when the Wallfacer is in danger."

Jiang Yu reached out to push Number Three, "Hurry up and leave, I dare to face off against Number Three The Waterdrop alone because I have the means to do so, don't create a mess here!"

Number Three grabbed Jiang Yu's arm, "I won't feel at ease just walking away like this."

Suddenly, Jiang Yu felt that he couldn't push Number Three away, "All right, then do as I say later! Watch me fight Number Three The Waterdrop for three hundred rounds!"

Number Three laughed, "I'm quite curious!"

Jiang Yu continued to smile and look out the window, "It's almost time, it's almost time, I'm finally about to break through the soil!"

He glanced at his portable computer—why was there still no message from You Ze on Earth?

Could it be that his declaration of war against Number Three The Waterdrop wasn't rash enough? Had Teacher Luo Ji not received his signal?

...

Earth, New Life District Five.

As Luo Ji's status waned, the martial law over the district was gradually relaxed.

The masses that once worshipped Luo Ji had slowly become protesters.

People from the underground city gathered in front of the building where Luo Ji lived, heckling and cursing him and throwing rocks at his windows.

And the media was also interested in these scenes, often sending as many reporters as there were protesters.

People had completely lost hope in Wallfacer Luo Ji!

The failure of the Wallfacer Project was an undeniable fact; Wallfacer Jiang Yu had all along been using his Wallfacer status to pursue personal gain, and he may even have defected to the Trisolarans.

Wallfacer Luo Ji hadn't come up with any plan for salvation either, wasting all his energy on the ultimately futile Snow project.

Luo Ji grew increasingly irritable, driving away Heinz, You Ze, and everyone else around him.

He became deeply reclusive, only leaving his room for meetings or to smoke and drink in private.

At the moment, Luo Ji was closely monitoring the positions of the star-level hydrogen bombs on the information wall. Under his command, the bombs received their final adjustments.

Factoring in the signal delay, the final adjustment would be completed in an hour.

He pressed the already extinguished cigarette butt into the ashtray, then packed the shovel he had long since prepared into his travel bag.

The time had come! Luo Ji told himself.

He shouldered his travel bag and resolutely left the room.