"Sir, have you decided on the song needed to choreograph the fireworks for tonight?"
On the rooftop of a high-rise building in the Golden Hour, for the sake of convenience in his upcoming operation, Fu Zhu had specially brought Calderon Chadwick back from the Simulated Universe. He planned to have him set up fireworks along the Radiant Feldspar's inevitable route.
"Yeah, let's use Robin's 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking'. March is a fan of Robin, she should like it."
"Understood."
With the song selected, Chadwick opened his phone and began searching for the sheet music of 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking' online. This wasn't difficult; the troublesome part was that he subsequently needed to combine Redstone circuits, Note Blocks, and fireworks according to the song's rhythm.
Chadwick was responsible for the design, while Fu Zhu was in charge of the construction. After all, the weight of various blocks in MC wasn't something an ordinary person could move, let alone someone like Chadwick who had only leveled up his Intelligence.
"Sir, this goes here, that goes over to the side..."
Chadwick directed Fu Zhu to place various Redstone items while backing away. He had only taken a few steps back when his heel suddenly kicked something. He turned around and looked down, discovering that this patch of ground was slightly different from the rest.
Chadwick leaned in for a closer look and found there was actually a port on the surface, seemingly used to release something.
"Sir, did you prepare this thing?"
Fu Zhu walked over, took a couple of looks, pulled out his pickaxe, and directly knocked it loose. He grabbed the dropped item in his hand and glanced at it.
[Firework Launch Port]
"Huh? I didn't place this."
Fu Zhu looked into the hole he had just dug out and discovered that underneath, it was loaded with many unused fireworks. Furthermore, above the fireworks, there were electronic devices connected; it was clearly prepared by someone with meticulous care.
"What do we do now?"
Chadwick was momentarily in a bind. If they installed Redstone circuits on top of this, it would very likely affect the fireworks below. But if they didn't install the Redstone circuits, what about Sir's plan?
Just as the two were conflicted, Fu Zhu suddenly noticed a marker approaching on the minimap, and the name annotated on the marker was extremely familiar.
[Masked Fool · Sparkle]
"Doctor, hide."
Fu Zhu immediately pulled two bottles of [Invisibility Potion] from his backpack. He handed one to Chadwick, and after they both drank the potions, they quietly hid to the side. Before hiding, Fu Zhu didn't forget to stuff the block he had just dug up back into place.
"Hum hum"
Sparkle skipped onto the balcony while humming a little tune. She walked up to the firework launch port Fu Zhu had just excavated and inspected it carefully. After confirming there were no issues, she clapped her hands, stood up, and giggled to herself.
"Hehe, wait until the banquet is in full swing. Master Sparkle will tell those people that I've installed Anti-Matter Bombs all over the Radiant Feldspar. Just think of how they'll panic and run around looking for bombs! Hehe, especially that stinky fellow Fu Zhu, acting all calm and confident all day long. I must take a picture of his panicked face and then scatter it all over the universe!"
Sparkle 'openly and honestly' reviewed her plan once more. After double-checking the firework installation, she left the building's rooftop with peace of mind.
Three minutes after she left, the figures of Fu Zhu and Chadwick gradually revealed themselves from the side. Chadwick turned his head to look at Fu Zhu.
"Sir, do you know this lady?"
"Yeah. If it's the fireworks she placed, then that's perfect."
Originally, he was still conflicted about how to set up his own things without destroying the fireworks placed by others. But now that he knew the person who placed the fireworks was Sparkle, he had no hesitation whatsoever—he would just borrow and use them directly!
Since the target was Sparkle, he wouldn't feel guilty no matter how he bullied her.
Those who play the fool must always be prepared to be played by others one day.
"Doctor, continue executing according to the original plan. As for these fireworks... link them all up with Redstone circuits."
"Alright." Seeing that Fu Zhu seemed to know the girl in red from earlier, Chadwick didn't ask further questions and buried his head in his work.
---o---
On the Radiant Feldspar, Fu Zhu and Chadwick worked for a long time. Finally, they managed to board this luxury airship, meticulously crafted by one of The Family's heads, before the banquet began.
The people invited to the Radiant Feldspar were either rich or noble. At least, from Fu Zhu's cursory glance, everyone's name on the minimap carried suffixes like "XXX Family" or "XXX Noble," and their attire consisted of luxury brands.
Fu Zhu took out his phone to check the time. Seeing that the banquet was about to start, he decided not to look for Himeko and the others first, but turned around and walked directly into the venue. He would find them at the banquet eventually anyway.
As the bells on the Radiant Feldspar rang, the invited guests streamed into the venue.
Fu Zhu also found Himeko and the others, who had dressed up meticulously, inside the venue. Aside from Dan Heng, everyone else was wearing formal gowns or suits.
"Why did you all change your clothes? If I'd known, I would have changed too."
Fu Zhu walked over and greeted them. Looking at the formal wear on everyone, he felt a bit of regret. He originally thought this banquet was just a formality.
Himeko raised her hand to cover her mouth, laughing softly as she said, "There's no need for that. Welt and I did it just for social etiquette. Little March and the others just wanted to match the atmosphere. As for you, no matter what you wear, no one dares to look down on you. The important thing is the person, not the clothes."
Hearing Himeko's words, Fu Zhu felt a bit better, but he still nudged Dan Heng, who was wearing his regular clothes beside him, with his elbow in a teasing manner. "Dan Heng, you're still the best."
Dan Heng shook his head with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "I am the Express's guard. Wearing regular clothes makes it easier for me to move."
"...Although what you say makes sense, why do I feel inexplicably hurt?"
Dan Heng choked for a moment, remaining silent for a good while before raising his finger toward a changing room in another direction. "If not, I can ask the staff to help prepare two suits for us to change into?"
Fu Zhu shook his head and rejected Dan Heng's proposal. "Forget it, I like regular clothes too."
Just as the group gathered together waiting for the banquet to start, a woman wearing a long purple dress walked over with elegant steps.
"Crew of the Astral Express, first time meeting you. I hope I haven't disturbed your conversation."
Fu Zhu and the others followed the voice and looked over. The moment he saw the unfamiliar face, Fu Zhu looked at the minimap.
[Strategic Investment Department · Ten Stonehearts · Jade]
Upon seeing this remark, Fu Zhu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Jade.
"Does the Corporation value Penacony this much? They actually sent out a third member of the Ten Stonehearts."
The rest of the Express crew looked at Jade with some surprise upon hearing Fu Zhu's words, while Jade covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
"Worthy of being the Dual Emanator, Mr. Fu Zhu. Rumor has it you possess a skill capable of seeing through people's true names. It seems the rumors are true."
After Jade praised Fu Zhu, she proactively extended her right hand. "But please allow me to introduce myself. I am Jade of the Strategic Investment Department, one of the Ten Stonehearts."
Although Fu Zhu wasn't particularly fond of the Ten Stonehearts, since the other party had extended goodwill toward him, he didn't refuse. He reached out and shook Jade's hand briefly.
However, there was one point Fu Zhu was very concerned about. After letting go of her hand, he asked curiously, "Is the Corporation's information network that fast? It hasn't been half a day since I became an Envoy of Harmony, yet you already know?"
Jade merely smiled apologetically at him. "The Corporation has its own unique means of obtaining intelligence. Forgive me for not being able to explain, I ask for your understanding."
Fu Zhu wasn't someone who couldn't take a hint. Since the other party said so, he didn't continue to press the issue.
However, the topic was cut short because of this question. Fortunately, the banquet also started at this moment. Robin, dressed in a magnificent gown, walked onto the stage. Holding the microphone, she first bowed to the people offstage before beginning to speak about the main business of this banquet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, speaking here today as the acting head of the Oak Family, regarding the things done by my brother, the former head of the Oak Family, Sunday... I, on behalf of the Family, express my sincerest apologies to all the victims. The Family will certainly compensate everyone for their various losses..."
Robin spoke at length on stage about the 'Dream of the Great One'. After ten minutes or so, her speech gradually neared its end. Finally, she directed her gaze toward the location of the Astral Express crew, a smile returning to her previously solemn little face.
"Finally, to thank the Nameless for their contribution in this incident, the Family has decided to gift this Radiant Feldspar unconditionally to everyone on the Astral Express, as well as 10% of Penacony's shares! Thank you for saving Penacony."
As the last word fell, thunderous applause rang out below the stage. Everyone turned around to look at Fu Zhu and the others, their faces wearing smiles of kindness—or ingratiation.
This made March 7th and Xing, who had originally been looking forward to the banquet, suddenly become a bit shy. They hid behind Himeko and Welt one after another. Fu Zhu, however, stood where he was without a care.
Compared to these people's applause, he was more concerned about the shares and this Radiant Feldspar.
Although the Radiant Feldspar was an airship dedicated to entertainment, an airship was still an airship regardless of how specialized it was for leisure. Who said a modified one couldn't be used for combat?
He hadn't operated an airship in combat before!
A few minutes later, the banquet's speeches finally ended. Xing and March 7th acted as if they had been granted amnesty, hurriedly leaving the main hall. They really couldn't adapt to this kind of scene specifically used for social interaction and the exchange of benefits.
Fu Zhu was also bored, so he followed them out. However, just as he walked out of the main hall, before he could find March 7th and Xing who had run out, Jade, whom he had parted with not long ago, suddenly walked over leading Topaz and Aventurine.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, I wonder if you have time to chat with us?"
Fu Zhu glanced at the three of them, then nodded. In any case, the time for the firework show he arranged hadn't arrived yet. It wouldn't hurt to hear what they had to say before that.
"Thanks."
Jade and the other two walked with Fu Zhu to a secluded empty table nearby and sat down. After calling a waiter to serve four glasses of wine and water, Jade opened her mouth to state her purpose.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, in fact, the Strategic Investment Department has always been very curious about your magical methods and strange items. We have always wanted to reach a cooperation with you in this regard."
Jade worried that Fu Zhu wouldn't understand the specific content, so she turned her head and gave Aventurine a look. Aventurine immediately took out the Aventurine Stone that had been enchanted with Mending by Fu Zhu and placed it on the table.
Seeing the Aventurine Stone, Fu Zhu immediately understood. He crossed his arms, crossed his legs, and looked at the three people sitting opposite him.
"You want the Enchantments in my hand?"
"Exactly."
Jade nodded with a slight smile. Then she picked up the Aventurine Stone from the table. With a sudden exertion of force in her palm, she crushed it into powder. Immediately afterward, she injected her own power into the pile of powder. In the next moment, the shattered Aventurine Stone was as good as new.
"The Aventurine Stone is a [Cornerstone] bestowed by [Diamond] that seals the authority of an Emanator. Attempting to repair it is no easy task. This technique you call 'Enchanting' is something the Corporation has never heard of or seen before."
Fu Zhu didn't speak; he just continued staring at Jade, waiting for her next words.
Jade continued, "I wonder if Mr. Fu Zhu knows the purpose of the Corporation's founding?"
Jade's question made Fu Zhu think for a moment. "To help the Amber Lord gather building materials to build the wall? Although I don't know what the Amber Lord is building the wall for, your goal should be this, right?"
"Correct." Jade nodded affirmatively. "The purpose of the Corporation making money is to offer more high-quality building materials to the Amber Lord, to express our faith in the Will of [Preservation]. Therefore, we sought you out, Mr. Fu Zhu. You may not be aware, but those miraculous items in your hand that you call 'blocks' are simply the building materials the Corporation has been searching for in their dreams for many years!"
When Jade spoke to this point, her originally calm and composed face took on a hint of fanaticism. "We have investigated the blocks you use. Originally two independent blocks, once placed together, become a single whole, completely natural! It's as if they were like this originally; no adhesive methods are needed at all!
"More importantly, there is quite a bit of intelligence indicating that the blocks in your hands can even withstand the attacks of an Emanator without sustaining any damage!"
Watching Jade's 'agitated' appearance before him, Fu Zhu couldn't help but feel a sliver of a desire to tease the three of them across from him. Immediately, he secretly grasped one of the Stellarons in his backpack within his hand and converted it into Bedrock.
Because of the special nature of the Stellaron, it could be converted into 99% of the blocks in MC, and Bedrock was among them.
Fu Zhu raised his hand and placed it on the table. The Bedrock block hovered in his palm.
"Those blocks you mentioned are merely a bit hard. The vast majority can still be destroyed through explosions. If you really want something hard, it has to be this block in my hand named Bedrock."
Jade immediately perked up, staring dead at the Bedrock in Fu Zhu's hand. After sizing it up for a long time and confirming she had never seen this substance before, she couldn't help but ask Fu Zhu.
"Mr. Fu Zhu, is it even harder than an Obsidian block?"
Fu Zhu looked at Jade, who brought up Obsidian, with some surprise. He hadn't expected the Corporation's intelligence to be this extensive; they even knew about Obsidian.
"Obsidian isn't even enough to look at in front of it. Let me put it to you this way..."
"In my hometown, Obsidian is merely a foundation stone used to construct portals. But this Bedrock is specifically used to isolate [The Void] in order to protect the world. Even an Aeon cannot move it a single millimeter."