Rust - Chapter 608



Only Krnovel

RUST [RUST]-608

There was a consensus that we should catch up on the concepts that we had forgotten. However, opinions were bound to be divided on what followed.

The information that Ki-sun sent could be largely divided into three categories. One was that there was a possibility that various disasters, including a major earthquake, would occur in succession.

It was such a dark omen that even Maru, who had prepared in his own way, wondered, ‘Are they telling me to just die?’

Of course, it was probably the worst case scenario, but judging from how things have turned out so far, it wasn’t a wrong statement.

“There is certainly a possibility that climate and environmental disasters will occur in succession.”

Maru nodded at the PD’s story.

This is something that has already happened in Japan.

An earthquake strikes and a tsunami sweeps through in its wake.

Under its influence, a chain of volcanic eruptions occurred, contaminating the water and soil on the surface with volcanic ash, and the volcanic ash, smoke, and dust that rose into the stratosphere caused the temperature to drop, turning it into a catastrophic disaster.

Maru experienced how Japan’s climate, terrain, environment, and society changed in that short period of time.

“We have started reinforcement work to prepare for earthquakes and are applying insulation to strengthened standards, but the situation is actually difficult.”

Even last year, half of the year was winter, covered in snow and ice. And half of the remaining six months were scorching hot, reaching 35 to 40 degrees. So the actual time available for construction was extremely short.

Hood continued what the PD said.

“The Ark Tower is prepared, but the other buildings are not.”

Since she had checked various information centered around Detroit, the story continued to be relatively specific.

“In Michigan alone, there was a magnitude 4.3 earthquake in 2015. In 2020, two dams failed due to heavy rains.”

“······.”

“······.”

“The newly annexed Canadian territories are also dangerous. In 2010 and 2011, Ontario and Quebec experienced magnitude 4 and 5 earthquakes. The good news is that crows and wolves can detect signs of earthquakes.”

A crow sitting on the nurse’s shoulder croaked as if to tell her not to worry about the earthquake forecast.

Kaaaak-

“Here’s what happens when sea levels rise rapidly.”

The Michigan coast was safe, but the Canadian side was not. Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec in particular were vulnerable to rapid sea level rise.

“If we assume the worst, I think it would be a good idea to exclude the eastern part of Ottawa from the Canada Hub plan.”

Hood’s argument is that there is no need to waste time and resources on areas vulnerable to earthquakes and sea level rise.

“The seismic work currently underway in Detroit also appears frankly inefficient.”

A quantum computer and a bunch of grapes were used to calculate that if a major earthquake were to hit, Detroit’s urban functions would be paralyzed.

What good is strengthening earthquake resistance if the buildings don’t collapse? It’s meaningless if the city’s infrastructure is destroyed.

“What is the alternative?”

Hood unfolded the blueprint as if he had been waiting for Maru’s question.

“It’s about building a floating city.”

The technological advancements in each field using quantum computers and grape clusters are astonishing. If we continue like this for another 15 to 20 years, we will be able to open the Universal Century.

Even if we assume that space exploration technology can be acquired more quickly, considering the time it takes to build a space elevator or mass driver, and the time it takes to build a spaceport and reach Mars, 15 to 20 years is still tight.

The question is whether it can last for the next 15 to 20 years. What if a major earthquake occurs while the orbital elevator or mass driver is being built? What if the continental plates shake as the Earth’s axis shifts?

It didn’t make sense.

That’s why the Empire was also focusing on building safe cities rather than trying to advance into space. They were building bunker cities to avoid the coastal areas that were at high risk of flooding.

“You want to build a city on water?”

“Yes. I think building a floating city is the most realistic alternative.”

Maru had heard something like that when he was in Korea.

“A floating city? That thing they said they were building off the coast of Busan, Korea?”

“Yes. It would have to be built with much more advanced technology, but the basic concept is similar.”

At that time, out of the blue, an article came out about building a sea city off the coast of Busan. It was said to be the world’s first sea city construction plan and an international project with participation from various countries.

Now that I think about it, it was because major advanced countries judged that an unexpected disaster could strike, so they decided to build a test city off the coast of Busan, South Korea, to accumulate data.

At the time, it was predicted that unmanageable climate change and disasters would occur no sooner than 2050.

Locally, heavy snow, heavy rain, extreme cold and heat waves may be a problem, but honestly, I thought it would be beneficial.

Couldn’t rapid warming be an opportunity to turn Russia’s barren Siberia into arable farmland?

Europe, which was in conflict with Russia, is also benefiting from global warming. The rise in average winter temperatures has made Europe’s winters milder, reducing its burden of heating energy.

Climate change is causing problems with food supply and increasing the number of hungry people?

How good is that? The price of grain that was being sold cheaply doubled or tripled. The country and companies were delighted to have taken control of the grain market.

This was the case in all fields and sectors. At the time, the world was shouting that they had to prepare for climate disasters, but inwardly they were busy calculating and maximizing profits.

And when the great disaster and mutant virus outbreak occurred, everything that humanity had built up was collapsing.

“If it’s a water city, then you’re saying we should build it on a lake?”

“Yes. I think we should build floating cities on four of the Five Great Lakes, excluding Lake Erie, which is shallow, and move the core facilities of the Holy Kingdom there.”

“Don’t do that.”

Maru accepted Hood’s opinion.

“I’ll give you full authority over the design and construction of the new city plan. Go ahead and do it.”

“···Yes. I understand.”

Hood, who had argued passionately, responded half a beat slower when Maru immediately appointed her as the general manager.

Maru was the type to push ahead once he made a decision. It might have been a risky decision to give Xenia Rodden, a computer and programming expert, full authority from planning to completion, but Maru had no hesitation.

‘With quantum computers and bunches of grapes, there’s little chance of problems in planning and design.’

There was also an AI called Samantha who could help in real time. Rather, it was judged that Hood’s experience and knowledge could be helpful.

Maru’s quick decision was definitely effective.

It was decided that the floating city that would become the future capital of the Holy Kingdom would be built on Lake Superior.

It is the third largest lake in the world, bordering the U.S. state of Minnesota and the Canadian province of Ontario to the north, and the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan to the south.

With a maximum depth of 406m and an average depth of 147m, it was a lake that could withstand long-term droughts.

Xenia Roden designed the city using all the latest cutting-edge materials and introduced modular construction methods for some of the construction processes, allowing construction to continue 24/7, even in winter.

While Hood was busy building a floating city using all the available resources of the Holy Kingdom, Maru, along with Kim Yang and a nurse, rode a snowmobile to the southern part of the kingdom.

The temperature outside the vehicle was as cold as -35 to -40 degrees Celsius, but the new snowmobile moved without a hitch. This was because it used a Heat Pipe Reactor (HPR) that was several generations older.

A miniature nuclear power plant that can produce 120 kilowatts of electricity per second for 20 years was one of the singularities created using quantum computers and grapes.

Although they haven’t yet been made small enough to be installed in exosuits or armored vehicles, it won’t be long before micro-reactors are developed.

The battery industry has also advanced. It is an all-solid-state battery that uses materials made by processing the byproducts of monsters. If it were a conventional battery, it would be nearly impossible to use it in an environment where the temperature goes below -35 to -40 degrees Celsius.

The reason Maru didn’t move alone and instead took Yang Kim with him was because he was conducting a field test of the exosuit equipped with the new battery.

Miss Kim, who had been looking forward to a long, long winter, was suddenly dragged in after planning a long, long vacation, and she groaned slightly.

“It would be dangerous if it discharges quickly like last time.”

It was Ms. Kim who was secretly appealing for danger.

“That won’t happen, since it’s a battery that was made by researchers working on quantum computers. Even if there’s a problem, I’ll be nearby watching.”

It was Ms. Kim who slowly turned her head at the words that Maru would be watching.

If it feels dangerous, isn’t that what you’re saying? You’re going to just come out and say, “Live!” Even if there’s something like “life-saving cardiac stimulant,” the feeling of having a heart attack is really scary.

Taking advantage of the gap in Ms. Kim’s stomach, the nurse cautiously opened her mouth.

“Uh-What should I do?”

Sending Kim Yang out first meant that they would prioritize field tests of the new exosuit and new battery. In other words, they would beat them all up until the data was extracted.

Then why did he call? Even though he understood the rats’ story, the rats did not understand his words. So it could not be for communication.

Maru answered simply.

“Now that some time has passed, I guess I should check to see if communication is possible again.”

“Ah-? Yes···.”

The first piece of information that Ki-sun sent was a study on the possibility of a series of disasters, including a major earthquake. The second piece was about the proliferation of rodents and the resulting rapid changes in the ecosystem.

It wasn’t just common rats like rats and voles that were a problem. Nutrias, chipmunks, and chipmunks also exploded in numbers.

This meant an increase in carnivores that preyed on them.

Cats were a given, but even foxes and canines, carnivorous monsters that were immune to moderate firepower, began to appear in abundance.

In the end, the story is that in the underground waterways of the empire, rats that have mutated are eyeing the surface, and outside the city, carnivorous animals that have increased in number after eating rats are targeting humans.

“That’s why you should have taken the chance when you had it. What have you been doing all this time that you’re saying you’re going to die?”

Kim Yang made a face that said, “That’s a serious joke.” Just because there are more rats and more carnivores that eat them, how can you act weak by talking about the ecosystem in a grand way?

“They say it’s so serious that they need to mass-produce clones. I should check it out while I’m here.”

As the steadily moving snowmobile arrived near Toledo, Maru spoke to Ms. Kim.

“Okay, let’s go.”

[···Dispatch.]

Kiiyiyong

Kim Yang’s exosuit emerged from the snowmobile, making a subtle engine noise.

Toledo was a city in Ohio, but it was close to Detroit, and was a city where Virginia Langley was active and later wiped out by Confederate forces.

After that, it was virtually incorporated into the territory of the Holy Kingdom and is now a city that serves as a stronghold for the Holy Rats and Flame Rats.

PD distributed medicine and bombs to the rats in Toledo, and the rats in Toledo distributed them to the rats in other areas.

Kkeukkkeukkkeuk

The bitter cold was going on for -35 to -40 degrees Celsius. The temperature felt like -55 degrees Celsius, but the inside of the new exosuit was comfortable.

‘The scientific and technological capabilities of the Holy Kingdom are the best in the world.’

After calming down her pounding heart for a moment, Ms. Kim walked towards the supply warehouse where the PD was putting down the supplies.

Kkeukkkeukkkeuk

Maybe it was because it was so cold, but the joints made some noise.

Even so, why can’t I see a single rat?

The last time PD sent a supply ship was a month ago. Even if the severe cold had set in and the supply had stopped, there should have been rats in the supply warehouse.

[I don’t see any rat pups.]

[Chiiik-chijijik- I see there’s a communication problem. Chiiik- There’s a rat or something nearby, chiiik- Beep- Watch out for the floor. Beep-]

[Okay.]

Kim Yang headed to the supply warehouse, checking the floor with a vision sensor.

From a distance, it looked fine, covered in snow, but up close, there were clear signs of combat here and there. Traces of explosions, burns, and even dark, stains of blood.

[Have you seen it?]

The rear sensors reacted along with it.

beep—-