Crack! Chirp!
Unilaterally deciding to end his entanglement with Wang Jingyi prematurely, Tian Xiao boarded the H3 mining aircraft, numbered 3377.
The Yunzhong Group's mining aircraft is specially developed for collecting metal ores from rock formations. It can comfortably fly into low-Earth orbit and easily access various deep mining areas. Its onboard chip boasts impressive analytical capabilities and the ability to detect various metal ores. It also features obstacle avoidance, signal processing, self-diagnosis, and collection and excavation functions.
A normal person could become accustomed to its operation in a few days and easily carry out prospecting and mining tasks. Only a woman like Wang Jingyi, with her overly ambitious ambitions and her single-minded pursuit of a wealthy husband, could manage to stay on track for half a month.
Hmph!
A true flower vase.
People like that wouldn't survive more than three episodes when the star beasts and Zerg attack.
Woo...
Buzz!
The cockpit lights up.
The interior was incredibly tight. Aside from the driver's seat, there was just enough space for a rest.
As soon as I sat down, the front screen lit up.
Lines of data popped up:
Pilot No. 3377: Tian Xiao (in good condition).
Age: 24;
Muscle Strength 9.7;
Muscle Stress Flexibility 9.3;
Bioenergy 100 units;
Equipped with H2 Chip: Qinglong;
Currently fully loaded, remaining available energy consumption 1000 units.
After uploading the pilot's self-test, Tian Xiao gave the command without hesitation: "Aircraft, self-test."
"Yes."
A standard report echoed from the cabin:
"Unit 3377 fully charged, 1000 units of energy consumed, 100% enclosure integrity; excellent circuit efficiency; good signal reception; normal computing speed; 93% integrity of the multi-function boring machine, ready to continue operations; self-test completed, good condition, ready to ignite."
During his rookie years, Tian Xiao meticulously maintained the mining aircraft, knowing it was every miner's bread and butter.
Miners working outdoors were unarmed, so the most important factors were energy consumption, which affected the aircraft's energy storage and operation, and the multi-function boring machine, which determined whether mining operations could be carried out in the rock formation.
"Ignite."
Tian Xiao gave the command.
The tempered floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room slowly opened;
Cold air streamed into the living room.
The temperature in the living room dropped rapidly!
The aircraft hovered steadily and silently glided out of the living room, the process incredibly smooth.
Liftoff.
Two white swirls of air pierced the air behind the aircraft's wings.
Outside, it was already morning.
The miners at the base operated on their own schedules. The aircraft effortlessly glided out of the base, following the flight path Tian Xiao had arranged, heading towards Area G46.
Inside the base, prosperity reigned.
Outside, devastation lay in ruins.
A hundred meters above the ground, Tian Xiao peered out the cockpit window at the pits of varying sizes and depths below, making the entire planet look like a riddled sieve.
Tian Xiao frowned slightly, his heart heavy.
These pits, with their extremely loose and unstable structures, claimed the lives of countless miners every year.
According to Earth Alliance statistics, over a million people go missing each year.
Unfortunately, the Earth Alliance's "Outer Planet Protection Law" has yet to be finalized, and the obligation to reclaim and repair planets has yet to be established. All conglomerates are expanding with extreme brutality, engaging in violent and predatory resource exploitation without any regard for the well-being of a planet or the lives of its miners.
This is because, with the rapid increase in colonized planets, resource exploitation has become even more frenzied. With the emergence of various technological and genetic products, and the upgrading of chips, the average lifespan has long since expanded from around a hundred years to over three hundred years. The human population is now...
Tian Xiao paused for a moment, then casually asked, "Qinglong, what is the current total population of the Earth Alliance?"
Qinglong quickly replied, "Approximately 370 billion."
Wow.
This is just the population registered within the Earth Alliance system.
Many have traveled to outer space, lost contact with the Earth Alliance, and even attempted to form nations. Many have become interstellar bandits.
All these people combined...
The population has long since surpassed 100 billion.
"Number 3377."
Just as Tian Xiao continued to understand some current inquiries, an unfamiliar voice came through the intercom: "This is the base control tower. You have entered area G46."
"Area G46 is currently marked by the group as a medium-risk operating area. There is a risk of landslides. Recent heavy rains have easily caused fatal landslides and mudslides. Entry is not recommended."
This was a message from Yunzhong Group's headquarters.
The group base conducts a real-time assessment of the weather and environment in each operating area on the planet, rating them according to five levels: safe, general risk, moderate risk, high risk, and extremely dangerous.
Safe and general risk areas are accessible first, but these areas typically contain no valuable resources.
High risk and extremely dangerous areas are typically designated during magnetic storms, thunderstorms, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, making them temporarily off-limits.
Medium risk areas are where miners most frequently enter and exit during their daily operations.
"If you insist on entering Area G46 to conduct operations, you will need to sign a personal safety commitment."
A very simple statement arrived from base headquarters, stating that they had fulfilled their obligations to conduct risk assessments and provide warnings. Any future accidents involving miners in Area G46 would not be the responsibility of Yunzhong Group.
Yunzhong Group would not provide any excessive compensation.
Tian Xiao had signed at least 170 similar safety commitments during his six months at Yunzhong Group, and the remaining ten days were spent resting.
So...
This is bullshit!
After verbally recording and videotaping, confirming that he was indeed venturing into Area G46, the aircraft reached the end of its planned route without slowing down.
The pit, with a diameter of 1,500 meters, felt quite oppressive.
Tian Xiao thought of the saying:
When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back at you!
"Qinglong."
"Designate this deep pit as the collection operation point. Begin analysis and calculations, and conduct a detailed safety assessment."
Although Tianxiao knew the mine would not be prone to accidents at this point, he still needed to be professional in basic operations. After all, analysis and calculations wouldn't consume much energy or take much time.
Qinglong quickly assessed the operation point:
"The rock structure in Area G46 is currently stable. There's no falling debris or large-scale cracking of the soil, and the supporting surfaces are intact."
"Seventeen teams are already working in the deep pit in Area G46. They're operating according to regulations, and everything is normal."
"Outside weather: North winds, west. Localized rain clouds will pass over Area G46 in half an hour, causing rainwater to backflow, causing pressure changes within the deep pit, and pressuring the rock formations, affecting the aircraft's vision and balance. Risk assessment: medium risk."
Medium risk.
As expected.
While Qinglong was reporting, Tianxiao manually piloted the aircraft into the deep pit, aiming it in the direction of the broken vein metal ore.
The broken vein, worth thirty million, is right here.
Unfortunately...
Three balls of light flickered constantly inside.
Someone's digging.
Huh~
Did someone get there first?
Let's take a look.