Chapter 11 (1/2)

To common people, generators were money-consuming. In a matter of one week, accompanied by the rumbling noises, more than one million had been spent on diesel, which had been stored as energy on Mr. Rolin's base. At the dusk of the weekend, when Huang Xuan had paid another ¥200,000 into the site's account, Rolin's flat voice rose again as if coming from the remote mountains: ”Huang Xuan, are you interested in visiting the base?”

”Is it an invitation?”

”Sure,” Rolin answered flatly as if wind came out of an air-conditioner.

In fact, in the past week, Huang Xuan had been worried that the nearly omnipotent Rolin had heard his conversation with his mom. Although that was his intent at the time, he couldn't help worrying.

Huang Xuan was at an age full of optimism, just like a senior's life filled with prudence and cheer. With little suspicion, Huang Xuan smiled toward the air and said: ”How do I come to your base? By teleportation or opening the pool again?

”I have moved the base to the foot of the mountain. It isn't safe anymore here.”

In contrast to Rolin's flatness, Huang Xuan was astonished. He looked around and asked: ”You have moved the base away? When?”

”When there were 50,000 kWh of electricity in the base.”

Huang Xuan was too shocked to speak. He felt he had lost the biggest restraint on Rolin. At this point, Rolin once again offered the invitation. ”Would you like to come?”

”Yes. Yes,” Rolin answered twice in a row and added: ”But how?”

”You can pick a permanent teleportation spot in your house. I will connect it to the base to make it easier for you to visit the base.”

Huang Xuan asked again curiously: ”You mean I can visit the base in the future?”

”Certainly, you already have the 24-level authority.”

Huang Xuan felt flattered by Rolin's answer. Touching his forehead, he asked: ”What is the 24-level authority? What kind of authority did I have before? How do I improve my authority?”

Facing the three questions thrown by Huang Xuan, Rolin remained calm. ”The authority you had before was examiner, which is the lowest level. Because of your contributions to the base's safety, the base decided to confer you the 24-level authority, with which you can come and go freely in non-examination areas and make more contributions to the base.”

Huang Xuan was not sure how to react. He opened his mouth but said nothing. Looking around, he said: ”How about setting the teleportation spot in the pavilion? Will anybody get into the base by accident?”

”Of course not, only authorized people can get into the base.”

Instantaneously, with a flash across the pavilion, when Huang Xuan opened his eyes again, he was in a lively room of tens of square meters, composed of two rectangles. Its dominant hue was light blue, mixed with light green and light yellow, making up diverse patterns.

On one wall was hanging a huge-sized calligraphy and painting which was more than 6 meters. The name was written so hastily and illegibly that Huang Xuan couldn't read it. The painting made the room feel human because only humans could have decorated it this way.

Huang Xuan walked slowly around the room and couldn't help asking: ”Where's the owner?”

”He has gone back to the dominant plane to resist the shock of s.p.a.ce and time, because of which the dominant plane becomes shorthanded and leaves this place abandoned,” Rolin said in his usual voice.

”What about you?”

”Protecting the base, seeking opportunities to develop and waiting for orders.”

Huang Xuan touched his nose and asked: ”When did that happen?”

Rolin was silent for a while, then his typical flat voice was heard in the air: ”One hundred thousand years ago in standard time zone.”

This was the first time Rolin had given an inaccurate answer. However, things happened one hundred thousand years ago could hardly arouse sympathy. Huang Xuan stretched his lips and said with a smile: ”So, has it been a long time since the last time someone came here?” Then he added excitedly: ”Is my authority the highest?”

”Guardians of s.p.a.ce and time have the highest authority. Yours is the second highest,” Rolin answered seriously, ”But because it is a 24-level authority, you can enter F area only.”

”What is F area?”

”It contains the dining area, the entertaining area, bedrooms and the hallway.”

Hearing this, Huang Xuan's eyes were wide open. ”That's it?”