Rebirth: Super Banking System Chapter 2472 - 2310: In the Spotlight

In just one month.

Six percent.

This drop could almost be labeled significant. Last year, the Euro began its decline due to the European debt crisis, shedding twelve percent throughout the course of that year.

With this year's six percent added.

That makes eighteen percent.

Furthermore.

The trend of decline appears likely to continue.

Greece.

European debt.

The United Kingdom.

These three uncertainties are churning Europe’s financial markets. A massive surge of capital is seeking safety, which in turn has caused the U.S. Dollar’s value to climb once again.

It is safe to state.

Every time a global economic or financial crisis erupts, it drives capital to seek refuge, ultimately deepening and cementing the supremacy of the U.S. Dollar.

The current situation.

Is effectively insolvable.

Unless a new currency comes into play. It would need to possess exceptional value, immense strength, massive circulation capacity, and be governed by relatively flexible regulations.

Only then could it mount a challenge to the Dollar.

Otherwise.

It remains just another cycle in an inescapable dollar trap.

...

The Asia Dollar?

At this moment, it is simply not viable.

- Currency value.

- Strength.

- Circulation.

- Regulation.

All four critical markers fall far short; the path forward is still quite long. Thankfully, the task criteria specifies international trade settlement, excluding pure financial maneuvers.

Regardless of what happens.

Merely dumping capital into a country’s stock market cannot be viewed as a bona fide trade activity. The system’s metrics are calibrated specifically for commodity trade that impacts the national economy and the public interest.

And, the transactions must be legitimate, tangible trade activities.

They cannot be mere financial games.

Otherwise.

If an American company bought one hundred billion in European bonds, and in the next heartbeat, a European company bought them back, repeating this every single second.

In that scenario.

The transaction volume within a single hour would dwarf the entire world’s annual commodity trade. If calculated that way, the Asia Dollar would just be playing pretend.

Simply pumping up transaction volume would be child's play.

Ten thousand transactions per second, ten trillion per transaction.

It would skyrocket to ACE in an instant.

Clearly.

This specific loophole is one Tang Qing cannot exploit.

...

The next day.

January 27th.

Online.

The world is watching.

"It is finally setting sail."

"I have been looking forward to this!"

"I am dying to see it in motion. It is estimated to be the most fuel-hungry maritime vessel on the planet."

"Absolutely!"

"It burns through a month’s salary every single minute."

"Terrifying!"

"Why not use nuclear power instead?"

"..."

This inquiry.

Was met with countless eye-rolls from the crowd.

Buddy!

Nuclear power?

What are you thinking?

This is equipment for civilian use; even our national military ships rarely employ nuclear reactors. Setting aside the prohibitive cost, you have to actually be able to acquire one first.

"If he built a nuclear one, would you even dare to step foot on it?"

"Uh!"

"Probably not."

"Exactly!"

"..."

The majority responded with near-unanimous agreement. The primary reason is, quite naturally, the fear of a nuclear leak; even with high-level safety protocols, people would naturally feel wary.

Think about the construction of nuclear power plants.

Currently.

Huaxia’s nuclear power plant technology is among the best in the world, and it is also leading in safety standards. Living in the vicinity presents no documented danger to residents.

However.

Still, nobody wants such a facility sitting right in their backyard. Many believe it is best kept in desolate regions, or perhaps, better yet, not built at all.

None at all.

That is the safest option.

Obviously.

This stance invalidates the hard work of countless researchers over many decades. It is not just nuclear plants; many people even find cellular base stations dangerous. Is the public wrong?

No.

They are not wrong.

Human instinct is to avoid danger, which is never a mistake. Calling them ignorant or foolish is one thing, but they are not wrong. The researchers, for their part, are also not wrong.

Technological advancement is designed to benefit the nation and the populace.

Avoiding danger.

Is simply a basic human impulse, and there is only one remedy.

---Stay away from the source.

Because.

The friction between the two is fundamentally irreconcilable when rooted in human nature.

...

"Using oil is still a better choice."

"Indeed."

"Right."

"It is much safer to burn fuel. Even if it catches fire, you get some smoke and the threat is visible. A nuclear leak is hidden, intangible, and far more terrifying."

"..."

After the discussion on energy sources concluded.

They shifted their attention back to the live feed.

Today.

Because it is a Sunday, many are free and have even set alarms specifically to witness the departure ceremony of this gargantuan project.

Above in the sky.

More than twelve drones are broadcasting high-definition footage from various vantage points. The view occasionally cuts to the control room and other functional areas.

The entire crew is occupied.

On the screen.

A countdown clock ticks away; as the time draws shorter.

Instantly.

The tension in the air becomes palpable.

...

Finally.

The countdown falls into the final ten seconds.

"Woo!"

A massive blast from the Floating Number’s horn echoes everywhere. As the timer hits zero, several exhaust vents surge with white smoke; a byproduct of the active engines.

After filtration.

The emissions are rendered harmless.

In under a minute, all six of the Floating Number’s engines roar to life, initiating their self-diagnostic sequences. For the moment, the blades remain still because they are currently decoupled.

Much like a motor vehicle engine.

Starting it up.

Does not make the car drive forward; power must eventually be shifted to the wheels. They are currently in the pre-heating phase. Only after the engines reach stable operation can they move to the next stage.

Six engines.

Four operational.

Two in reserve.

The redundant design is massive. Even if a single engine remained operational at maximum output, it would still be capable of propelling this gargantuan entity.

Furthermore.

Every engine is capable of 360-degree rotation.

In the control room.

Once the self-check completes, the securing lines are released.

"Output power."

"Affirmative."

After a series of manual inputs.

Instantly.

The engine energy is channeled into the blades; the entire Floating Number vibrates slightly and begins to creep forward, the operators careful not to apply too much thrust initially.

...

Moments later.

The vessel begins to accelerate.

All six engines output their thrust in alignment, heading toward the south. A fleet of over ten ships follows, providing a protective escort.

This is a mandatory safety precaution.

Without such measures.

Departure permits would never be granted.

"It’s moving!"

"Spectacular!"

"It really looks like a drifting island."

"..."

The viewer count spikes rapidly. To keep viewers engaged, the broadcast drones cycle through dynamic angles, making this far more than just a typical maritime trial.

This plays out like a full-scale documentary.

In truth.

Previously.

The testing of the aircraft and submersibles was also cut into a documentary and hosted on the Comet Group’s official portal, even though countless people had seen it streamed live.

Yet they still could not resist watching it again.

As a result.

The viewership numbers were astronomical. Such 'documentaries' offer a sense of immersion because many of these viewers had seen the events unfold in real-time.

The experience felt completely different.

...

Afternoon.

Three o’clock.

Reaching the exploration zone, far removed from standard shipping lanes, spanning a fifteen-kilometer radius with depths ranging from one hundred to two thousand meters, this is designated as the initial testing phase.

It is not positioned over a tectonic plate junction.

There is no historical record of volcanic activity in the region.

Therefore.

Drilling can be conducted safely anywhere in the area.

Compared to prospecting for minerals on solid ground, the challenges of working underwater are significantly higher. Yet, humanity long ago conquered these depths; otherwise, deep-sea oil drilling platforms would not exist.

The difficulty lies.

Not in the act of drilling, nor in mass extraction, but in pinpointing deposits with actual commercial value. Copper and iron are highly profitable to extract on land.

But on the seabed.

The operational expenses skyrocket, relegating such sites to the status of 'waste mines.' At current market rates for copper and iron, any attempt at extraction would result in a net loss, essentially just burning fuel for nothing.