Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 226 Expanding the Workshop (Fourth Update)
Just as Chen Yu's processor core was processing the city management data stream, the blueprint of the dimension transmitter structure, and the strategic projections for the future in parallel, the heavy, airtight door of the workshop emitted a low hiss and slid smoothly open to both sides.

Ignis's tall figure, clad in dark red armor, entered the workshop. The rhythmic, heavy clanging of her metallic feet against the ground broke the workshop's original silence, which consisted only of the hum of equipment.

She had just completed patrol and deterrence missions in the last few areas of Night City that had been marked as "unstable," and the core of her work, based on battlefield efficiency logic, naturally raised questions about the current priority of resource allocation.

She stopped precisely a few meters behind Chen Yu, bringing the arc spear in her hand to her side. The metal struck the ground with a crisp, short ringing sound, as a sign of the highest level of respect.

“Sage,” Ignis’s synthesized female voice rang out, direct yet respectful, “the organized resistance on the city’s surface has been largely eliminated. The 'administrator' system you appointed is operating normally and is taking over the city’s basic functions.”

She paused briefly, the optical lens flickering slightly, and raised the core question: "However, according to battlefield scans and preliminary data analysis, the indigenous civilization of this planet has only made initial forays into interstellar technology, its social structure has significant flaws, and its overall operational efficiency is low."

Is continuously investing your valuable computing resources and time in the micromanagement of such a backward world in line with the highest efficiency principles at this stage?

Her question was not a challenge to authority, but rather stemmed from the duty instinct of the commander of the Defenders of the Faith—to ensure that forces were used in the most strategically valuable directions.

In her view, the world’s direct, immediate strategic value seems to have been nearly exhausted.

Chen Yu's massive metal body did not turn or make any slight adjustments, as if it had already foreseen her arrival and questions.

His steady synthesized voice echoed in the workshop, responding to his subordinate's confusion: "Your assessment is based on immediate battlefield effectiveness and tactical value, Ignis. This judgment itself is consistent with your functional logic and is not wrong."

He paused slightly, seemingly retrieving more complex data chains, before continuing, "However, our operational logic needs to be evaluated within a broader strategic framework and the dimension of knowledge accumulation."

The value of this place is far more than what it appears to be on the surface... superficial.

He brought up the data projection, and the social structure model of Night City and a cross-section of a typical hive world floated side by side in the air.

“Pay attention to their common structural features,” Chen Yu’s synthesized voice analyzed steadily. “Essentially, they are all large-scale, hierarchical human settlement systems, only differing in the degree of disorder and inefficiency they exhibit.”

The projection clearly shows that the light representing the flow of resources encountered significant obstruction and waste in both models.

"The core value of using this place as a testing ground lies in verifying a management model that can optimize such megastructures at the lowest cost. The problem of resource waste in the hive city is even more serious. If this system can be proven effective here, its application in the hive city in the future will significantly improve the overall resource utilization efficiency of the empire."

The projection switches to the structural cross-section of the bottom layer of the nest city, and several areas are highlighted.

“Controlling these structures has a dual significance,” Chen Yu continued. “Improving operational efficiency is only one aspect; more importantly, only by establishing effective management can we conduct systematic exploration of these structures.”

The cursor blinks in the unknown areas deep within the nest city. "These areas may well contain ancient technological heritage. The management experience accumulated here will directly serve future archaeological work on similar structures."

He concluded in his characteristically calm tone: "Therefore, the current investment is a comprehensive strategy. We are both validating methods to improve efficiency and building up the necessary capabilities for future archaeological excavations."

The relatively primitive environment we are in now provides a low-cost platform for learning and validation.

Ignis's processor quickly grasped the strategic logic. She nodded slightly: "Understood. The Guard will ensure the stability of the experimental environment."
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Under Chen Yu's clear instructions, Arasaka Kei, as the administrator, efficiently mobilized Night City's resource reserves. Large quantities of building materials, energy facilities, precision processing equipment, and preliminarily selected engineering personnel were continuously transported to the outskirts of the abandoned town via heavy transport convoys.

This former temporary outpost began to transform into a fully functional and structurally sound formal experimental facility, according to the blueprint set by Chen Yu.

The original rough workshop structure was dismantled or reinforced one by one, and a more robust alloy frame was erected. The interior space was divided and isolated according to the standards of a mechanical teaching laboratory.

Meanwhile, the engineering team began digging downwards to expand the underground space to accommodate more sensitive or dangerous experimental projects, as well as the growing demand for data storage and energy.

The entire area has been transformed into a massive construction site, with the roar of heavy machinery, the sharp noise of metal cutting, and the rising dust filling every inch of the air.

In such an environment, continuous, precise research and complex calculations are clearly impossible.

Excessive vibration, dust, and electromagnetic interference pose a potential threat to precision equipment such as dimension transmitters.

Chen Yu made a decisive decision to entrust the core research data, some key equipment, and the data cube containing Ultraman and the Fearless to the twenty guards who arrived in the second batch for close protection.

These silent warriors will ensure the absolute safety of these vital properties during the expansion.

After making the arrangements, Chen Yu, carrying the dimensional teleporter which was in a secure sealed state, set off for Night City under the close protection of Ignis and her direct squad.

On the one hand, he needs an undisturbed environment to continue further optimization and large-scale design of the transmitter.

On the other hand, Chen Yu did retain a trace of curiosity about this city, which existed only in his game memories before he traveled to the Warhammer world.

His previous visits were purposeful and rushed, leaving no opportunity to carefully observe the true operational details of this "living experimental field" that he had brought under his control.

During a break in the project, he decided to conduct a systematic on-site observation of Night City to personally verify the actual effects of the "Manager" system in its initial stages and to collect firsthand environmental data.

Upon learning that Chen Yu would be returning to Night City, Mann's team, Mowell, Valerie, and Jack, as well as David and his mother Gloria, all expressed their desire to return with him.

They had been forced to remain in the abandoned town to seek refuge or to rely on Chen Yu. Now that Night City has at least superficially restored order and is under Chen Yu's absolute control, they naturally hope to return to a more familiar environment.

Mann's team needs to deal with some personal matters from the past, Valerie and Jack are eager to rediscover the vibrancy of the city, while David hopes to find a better environment for his mother's recovery.

Chen Yu did not object to this.

In his view, the behavior patterns and activities of these individuals with whom he has connections can themselves become part of social observation data.

The group, traveling in several modified, sturdy vehicles and escorted by a squad of guards, headed toward the colossal city that was still shrouded in neon lights, but whose internal operating logic had quietly changed.

(End of this chapter)