Chapter 18 Xisha Aviation City

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Zhang Yuan hurried to the train station.

The phone displayed a message, "[Dahua Transport] Dear passenger Zhang Yuan, your ticket was successfully paid at 10:03. Train G888, second class seat, Donghua (10:30) - Xisha (11:45), ticket number 781234..."

The time was almost up. Zhang Yuan boarded the train and found his seat.

A gentle electronic voice sounded in the carriage, "This train is bound for Xisha and will take one hour and fifteen minutes..."

The gray-black sea-crossing bridge lay across the sea like a giant dragon. Modern carbon nanotube materials, capable of constructing a 36,000-kilometer space elevator, could certainly handle a small sea-crossing bridge.

These bridges could easily withstand a Category 16 typhoon.

Traditional transportation tools, airplanes, were instead becoming obsolete. Fuel was not much of an issue since hydrogen could replace traditional fossil fuels, but the payload and operational costs of planes couldn't compete with maglev trains.

Moreover, with the speed of maglev trains approaching that of airplanes, cheaper tickets, and comfort without the ear problems caused by pressure, airplanes gradually lost their competitiveness, edging toward obsolescence.

An hour later, a few vague shadows finally appeared on the blue horizon, fusion power plants.

The nuclear fusion power plants were three hundred meters tall. Due to the massive heat dissipation, all the white mist around them was steam. This distilled water would be collected and supplied to the cities.

Xisha Aviation City was located in Xia Country's southernmost sea. Hundreds of years ago, it had territorial disputes with neighboring small countries. Incidents of detaining fishing boats and skirmishing often occurred.

But as time went on and society progressed, with Xia Country's rise, these trivial disputes became insignificant.

"Controlled nuclear fusion is really a good thing. Three cents per kilowatt-hour, how much cost does that cut for industrial production? What are other countries even playing at?"

The nuclear fusion power plant had an unappealing characteristic: the larger the nuclear generating set, the more stable its operation and the lower its power generation cost. Plus, due to human technological limitations, there was no way to miniaturize nuclear fusion devices, so each nuclear fusion power plant was like a small mountain.

Fusion and space economy made Xia Country the first country to brave the unknown, earning a fortune, so much so that it didn't mind giving some to its neighboring little brothers. Territorial disputes had long ceased to exist. Those who follow the path receive more help, those who walk alone receive less aid. Interests are the closest bond between countries.

The train sped past the nuclear power plant.

"Look, look! It's the space elevator!"

"Where, where?"

"Right there... that one as fine as a hair."

Squinting eyes could barely make out a slender column towering into the clouds, resembling a kite string.

Under the sunlight, it had a dazzling, unreal quality.

High.

Too high...

Many seeing the space elevator for the first time couldn't help but press against the glass windows and take photos.

The legendary "Babylon Tower," a miracle in history; there were a total of seventeen of these structures on this planet. Over the next thirty years, they were expected to increase to over thirty.

Xisha Aviation City housed humanity's first space elevator, "Tengyun." Its geographical location was roughly three hundred kilometers from the Equator, slightly slanting, maximizing Earth's rotational force to provide greater payload capacity for the elevator.

After nearly a hundred years of development, Xisha had become an international metropolis.

"Wouldn't it collapse?"

"Impossible, the principle is different. The space elevator mainly relies on tension, not pressure. Do you understand the tension of a rope?"

"Would terrorists attack this tower?" Some curious onlookers let their imagination run wild.

"Well, attacking a space elevator is akin to launching a nuclear war and would receive equivalent retaliation. Xisha City's security is strict, with military troops stationed nearby, and no airplanes are allowed to pass..."

"Bro, are you already in Xisha City? I just saw your social media update~~~"

At this moment, Zhang Yuan's cousin Ye Qingqing called, "Are you going to space? I really want to go on a space tour once, but my parents want me to work-study and earn money. At 30,000 yuan for a trip, when am I ever going to make that much money..."

She was practically dying of envy.

"Space tourism, it's not that marvelous actually, I'm serious," Zhang Yuan said with a smile. "Slowly earn through work-study. Under eighteen, you can't even get a tourist visa."

Getting a visa was one thing, getting a tourist spot was another.

The freight of the space elevator was limited each day, so not many tourist spots were available. Besides spending money, connections might also be needed. Social connections won't get completely eliminated in any era.

In the course of this conversation, the train gradually stopped.

"Dear passengers, the terminal, Xisha, has arrived; please bring your belongings and prepare to disembark..."

As the train arrived, tourists excitedly observed the distant space elevator; wherever they were, raising their heads, they could always see that robust pillar of the sky.

This power derived from technology and industry could entirely arouse the national pride of Xia Country people. Almost all space elevators worldwide involved Xia Country's technology and investments.

Having been exposed to this often, Zhang Yuan didn't feel much about it, and simply rented a self-driving motorboat.

"Whoosh!"

The motorboat sped through Xisha City, splashing water all over.

Xisha City enjoyed summer-like weather year-round, yet June temperatures were under twenty-eight degrees, definitely more comfortable than Donghua City.

The city was mostly artificial islands, with bridges connecting island to island, and numerous waterways underneath where occasional tropical fish could be spotted.

There was once a leader who, on a whim, wanted to fill these waterways for land transport to enhance traffic efficiency but faced unanimous opposition from the masses because... they found boats more enjoyable, attracting tourism.

As facts proved, the people were right for once. The omnipotent aerial tracks solved the traffic issues while water transport indeed bolstered tourism.

"Beep... This service fee: 16 Yuan."

Zhang Yuan stepped off the motorboat and arrived at his destination.

"I am an astronaut for the Earth Era. May I check-in now?"

Deep Space Planning Bureau staff scanned his ID, smiled slightly, and said, "Mr. Zhang Yuan, your vacation has 19 days remaining. You are too early. Your launch batch has not been reached yet."

"No... I just want to ask, is there any place to stay?"

The staff laughed and said, "Unfortunately, if you were 3 days earlier, we could arrange accommodation for you. But now, it seems there's no such arrangement."

"You might want to ask the adjacent university to see if there are any vacant student dormitories. I'll issue you an astronaut proof."

Zhang Yuan frowned, coming too early and being rejected. This was normal as the staff merely followed regulations.

"Alright, thank you."

"You're welcome!"

Numerous aviation universities were stationed here, some being international institutions enrolling global students. However, due to the summer vacation, most students were away, leaving the university somewhat deserted.

Soon, Zhang Yuan saw the four gilded characters "Xisha University." Because he looked somewhat student-like, he entered the school without issues.

After questioning several people in a row, he reached a building's base, Deep Space Foundation (Xisha University Branch).

"Hello, I wish to meet Wang Zhong, Professor."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"...No appointment."

"Sorry, without an appointment, Professor Wang is very busy."

Having no choice, Zhang Yuan had to use his ace card, an astronaut proof, and his father's ID.

Though it was somewhat embarrassing to rely on his father.

"I'm Zhang Qiming's son, may I… make a visit to Professor Wang Zhong?"

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"Hahaha, suddenly found out this underdog's contract is signed, quickly made a radiant cover to calm the nerves."

"And who said I can only sign a contract with a hundred thousand words?! (dog head emoji) (dog head emoji)"

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