Doomsday Cat City Lord - Chapter 31

“I remember that the physical damage caused by high-energy charged particles would be filtered out by the atmosphere before reaching the surface, and the charged nuclear material would be absorbed by the planet’s poles. The geomagnetic storm we need to defend against has power far exceeding the physical damage brought by high-energy particles.”

Mi Miaomiao summarized from the information it consulted that if Earth were in the path of a solar storm, the damage caused would occur in three waves:

The First Wave: Super-strong electromagnetic waves traveling at the speed of light, arriving within 10 minutes after the solar eruption. It interferes with communication systems and positioning systems, causing automatic driving systems to become paralyzed. However, after the star-chain is completed, it can be fully defended against, having almost no impact on Earth.

The Second Wave: High-energy charged particles, which arrive about 20 minutes after the solar eruption. They absorb radio waves, completely interrupting communication signals, to the point where even broadcasts cannot be used.

They have a material entity and can cause physical damage at the molecular level. After the particles pass through, there is no damage to the surface of objects, but the interiors have already collapsed and cannot be repaired. But just as Mi Miaomiao previously stated, Earth will self-defend against the charged nuclear material, and this layer of damage is exempted.

The Third Wave: Plasma clouds, which will arrive at Earth within a few days after the solar eruption. The material content is extremely high, causing Earth’s defense system to collapse, thereby producing a great geomagnetic storm.

The magnetic field collapses, and current will be generated within all metal; wires and submarine cables will also catch fire. Existing power supply systems and communication systems will be completely destroyed. Household appliances will generate sparks due to the magnetic field, triggering fires. Everywhere the eye can see, there are ignition points.

Places where technological products gather will form a sea of fire. Toxic gases caused by the burning of plastics, chemical products, and special metals will drift in the sky; thick smoke will block the sun, causing the destruction of the surface ecosystem.

“The star-chain was built to stop solar storms. Under normal circumstances, the plasma clouds would be diverted by the defense system composed of satellites, and Earth would be within a perfect defense circle. But since the world consciousness of Earth has confirmed that a great geomagnetic storm will occur in 4 days, that proves the star-chain defense can no longer be used.”

Deng Huai calmed down, reached out to take an unopened bottle of water from the City Lord’s unusually large desk, unscrewed the cap, and narrated while quenching his thirst: “Therefore, what we need to defend against also includes attacks at the physical level. High-energy charged particles are among the most destructive. If we can intercept them, the things we want to protect are highly likely to be left behind.”

“If it’s only a certain probability of defense, can system buildings block a geomagnetic storm that lasts for a week?”

Mi Miaomiao glanced at the communicator; the new batch of greenhouse wheat would be mature in five minutes. It simply stood up, closed the sketchbook, and put it into the drawer.

Deng Huai’s eyes were sharp enough to see that the book contained drawings of an extra-large cat tree house. He thought about the City Lord who he now served and who was leading everyone through the apocalypse being a cute big cat.

And since this big cat was studying human physical knowledge so diligently to save the world, if he worked hard and learned a bit more professional knowledge, what of it?

It’s just a week-long geomagnetic storm!

Deng Huai rubbed his face, reinvigorated his spirits, and said seriously: “I cannot provide a 100% guarantee now, but I request that you use the remaining unlocking authorization to build a System Bank.”

Mi Miaomiao was puzzled: “A bank?”

Watching the big cat tilt its head, staring with confused heterochromatic cat eyes, Deng Huai’s realization that Miaomiao was a cat became even more profound. He nodded and said earnestly: “Human banks all have vaults—not just for money, but also external safe-deposit box services. So I specifically asked the 012 system and learned that there are also safety deposit boxes in the System Bank, divided into three levels. The highest-level safety deposit box can store dangerous items.”

[Level 1 Bank: Possesses perfect infrastructure, an independent information storage system, and independent business training functions. Radiation range is a 5-kilometer radius. (Level 2 banks can choose the following upgrade directions: 1. Build a branch, radiation range increases to a 10-kilometer radius. 2. Build 5 branches, radiation range increases to an 800-kilometer radius. 3. Build 10 branches, radiation range increases to a 2,000-kilometer radius.)]

“…” The cat was speechless. Such monotonous architectural introductions as a cat that had never been into a bank, how was it supposed to find other uses for a bank?

“The bank’s architecture is layered in circles, with numerous internal walls; the defensive effect is higher than that of the training room. I want to save items like hard drives containing information, communicators, etc., in the most core area. In the outer rooms, I will save mechanical equipment in order of importance. If there is time… I want to go to a big city to save some scientific research materials, e-books, and video data… A geomagnetic storm really might destroy human civilization… City Lord, what are you doing?”

Deng Huai’s limbs hung downward; on his waist and abdomen were two interlaced teeth thicker than his own thighs. He experienced the feeling of being held in a cat’s mouth for the first time. He didn’t know how he should react.

“Work.” Holding the person in its mouth, it walked behind the eight wooden houses. Not far away was the steep slope misaligned with Platform 6.

Deng Huai staggered and stood firm, only to see a tree wall of honeysuckle, up to 30 meters long, rapidly growing in front of him.

The effect of repeatedly and massively catalyzing plant growth was that Mi Miaomiao could efficiently build the outline of the bank’s building within 1 minute.

Clicking on the system panel, a two-story building with a rough style appeared on the crude framework. But in its perception, the underground area of this bank could rank alongside the system warehouse.

Deng Huai held a detection instrument, checking room by room. He knocked on the final wall, let Mi Miaomiao look at the data on it, and said excitedly:

“Two system warehouses are pressed tightly together. The room where this wall is located has its protection elevated by one level. I previously promised I couldn’t guarantee a 100% protection rate, but now the data proves that the probability of resisting high-energy charged particles is 99%.”

After the excitement, Deng Huai thought of another question: “Since you knew the news of the solar storm in advance, you must have also prevented the fires after the geomagnetic storm in advance. However, regarding the filtering of toxic gases, I have another suggestion…”

After waiting a while and receiving no response, he turned his head—the cat was gone!

【Beep-beep-beep! Master, your AI Qingtian has returned! Detected that you have a large amount of unread information; do you need me to read it to you?】

The moment the voice sounded, Deng Huai hadn’t even reacted. It wasn’t until the communicator on his wrist trembled, reminding him that he had received a video invitation, that he suddenly realized the one speaking just now was the intelligent AI he had set up!

So… communication had been restored?!

With trembling hands, he clicked on the light screen. What entered his vision was a line of red alerts: [Communication can only be maintained for 30 minutes. Please cherish the time.]

After looking at the detection data of the instrument, Mi Miaomiao suddenly thought that since a batch of electronic equipment could be saved, then as Deng Huai said, what could be more precious than the spiritual products of human civilization?

If one were to save, save everything. Just rely on that little bit of information they went to a certain city to collect?   Or was it more reliable to go directly to Gu Jing?

It still remembered when binding with the system, 012 said that the Administration had conditions for helping apocalypse worlds; the host needed to display unique civilization’s sparks for their own sake and for the sake of the planet.

The fire of civilization belonging to animals would ignite step by step from Rong City, but the light of human civilization had illuminated this planet for hundreds of millions of years. Mi Miaomiao wanted to save it completely.

Go find Cheng Ningye, find a way to get close to the Anqing Province base, and send another email to probe. With that previous prophecy email, Gu Jing shouldn’t directly refuse.

Walking through the residential area in front of the refuge area, what appeared before its eyes was a long, narrow tunnel. The rooms on both sides of the tunnel were spare warehouses, and at the end of the tunnel was a secret room. After opening it, inside was a wide well shaft leading straight to the mountain belly below.

Stepping on the tree vines on the well wall and leaping downward, the wind blew from below, increasingly fierce. Mi Miaomiao shook its ears uncomfortably. When its paw pads stepped on level ground, it couldn’t help but sneeze due to the suddenly warming air.

This was a huge space built at the bottom of Mount Muyuan. On both sides of the walls were sealed wooden doors, and special pipes flashing with white light were embedded in circles overhead and beneath its feet.

“The second part is coal powder; transfer it first. …Whoosh-whoosh! … Xuan Yu, that’s enough, pause and rest a while.”

“Meow.” Okay.

A familiar cat’s meow sounded on the system panel. Mi Miaomiao stepped forward and asked with concern: “Xuan Yu, are you cold? Are you injured? How is the situation in Danshan City?”

“Miaomiao, you gave me a fright.” Cheng Ningye clutched his heart. In the dim environment, two cat eyes larger than lanterns suddenly appeared the scene was too horrifying.

Xuan Yu had just wanted to reply that it was fine when a system message jumped out in front of it: [To pursue a cat, you cannot just stubbornly be strong; you have to say your true feelings, let the other party know your contributions, and let the other party feel heartache for you!]

Listening to Cheng Ningye’s voice on the other side, Xuan Yu’s voice became inexplicably much lower when it spoke: “…Meow-oo.”

Miaomiao, after leaving Boyun Mountains, the temperature dropped to minus 40 degrees. I had to stop to melt the ice and snow on my wings after flying for a distance. But with the self-heating clothing, I didn’t get frostbitten.

There are three large human bases in Danshan City; they are in a chaotic battle because of food resources. I didn’t go deep into the urban area, directly finding a mining site near there that was occupied by Level 3 monsters. Currently, this is my territory, and two-thirds of the materials have been transferred.

Cheng Ningye always felt that Xuan Yu’s meow this time was different from usual, but before he could think deeply, the folding computer and communicator on his wrist simultaneously lit up with green light.

“Signal restored?”

Mi Miaomiao and Cheng Ningye looked at each other. Only then did it realize that it had come down to find Cheng Ningye for a reason, and it immediately told him its thoughts.

The First Agricultural Base of Anqing Province.

The delay in the signal restoration was not outside Gu Jing’s expectations. The previously intermittent signal had already been enough for the X2-Cold Air drone to take off.

But Gu Jing never expected that he would actually receive an email sent by the prophet.

The content was very long, and the update on the geomagnetic storm data was also very detailed—detailed to the point that the solar storm would arrive in 4 days.

As for the question of data preservation within it, it was important yet unimportant to Gu Jing, so he quickly agreed.

Long before the apocalypse, the Alliance had prepared a large amount of Earth civilization information storage devices. The three in his hand were delivered by the Second Army Corps Commander when the apocalypse first began.

For the same thing, the three continents each had their own storage plans, and the people in charge of the major official bases in Central Province also understood the importance of preserving human civilization.

Deep underground secret rooms, sealed boxes made with special space meteorites… there was always one or two copies that could be preserved. Even if the human species disappeared, the fire of civilization would still remain.

In Gu Jing’s eyes, it was Rong City’s information that made him care more. Having agreed with the prophet on the trade location two days later, the documents on the desk were replaced by the adjutant with photos taken by the Cold Air drone half a day earlier.

Deep in the Boyun mountain range, a huge banyan tree reaching into the sky stood between heaven and earth. According to the drone’s long-distance probing, the energy emitted from the banyan tree’s core was extremely vast, far exceeding the detection range of the instruments. Except for nuclear weapons, existing high-energy weapons were highly likely to be intercepted by it and couldn’t carry out effective strikes.

Beneath this photo was a base near the banyan tree; although the image was blurry, one could see the figures of human activity.

Previously, Gu Jing was still pondering how to contact this base. Now it seemed that regarding this base, it was best to just watch from afar.

“Rong City and Anqing Province are too close; sooner or later, Gu Jing will discover it.” Cheng Ningye sighed, thinking of the meeting two days later, his whole body feeling as if it were being pricked by thorns.

“After this contact, it should be exposed. But it doesn’t matter; after Rong City becomes public, Gu Jing will have to cooperate with us sooner or later.” Mi Miaomiao helped assign rooms for the last batch of supplies sent by Xuan Yu, watching the 10-minute end countdown on the communicator, and nudged the servant.

“Help Dongfeng check the contact information for its servant.”

Cheng Ningye sighed again but didn’t want to waste time, directly borrowing the authority Gu Jing had opened to him to successfully enter the intranet.

Checking names, ages, finding the information for “Lu Lei” within 30 seconds, and forwarding it to Dongfeng’s communicator.

“You keep busy; I’ll go remind Dongfeng, lest it forget to bring its communicator.” The big cat greeted the servant and, grabbing a tree branch, quickly returned to the wellhead.

After the wheat was planted, there was still corn; after the corn was planted, there was still rice. Apart from crops, there were also fruit trees to be cultivated… City Lord Miaomiao left the office, but most of its day was spent in the newly built planting greenhouses.

Watching Miaomiao leave, Cheng Ningye hesitated for a long time before clicking on Ai Yuan’s account. His relatives had passed away long ago. Among the friends he cared about, the safety of only Ai Yuan and his sister Wen Yushuang remained indeterminate.

Shao Yang and Jiang Xiaoyu borrowed Qin Xin’s communicator and logged into their own accounts. The avatars of their relatives were all gray; a few acquaintances and classmates’ avatars were still lit, but for some reason, they had no desire to speak.

The three finally gathered together to look at the information online.

There were always people like them, facing all of humanity with their limited time.

The news from the Changsong Plateau was mostly released by the base officials. The content was mostly promoting the base’s safety, introducing the base’s welfare system, and there were many photos, making the situation look okay.

The few personal messages were also mostly surprised that communication had been restored, followed by looking for relatives and issuing rewards.

The three looked at each other and also posted their relatives’ information and their location online, looking forward to a miracle.

Jiang Xiaoyu looked at the location information below the message and hesitated: “Is it not good to post Rong City’s location privately without permission?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Qin Xin used an extended light screen to view the information, and upon hearing this, turned her screen to the two. On it was the Rong City promotional photo posted by Mission Hall head Hang Qiushi.

Tall city walls, neat planting greenhouses, and an animal guard team with uniform uniforms and fierce auras.

“Rong City is also attracting more people to join.”

The three let go of their worries and instead searched for information from the northern military base. There was a lot of retrieved content.

People there had long known about the space shuttle with relay communication functions taking off, and they were all waiting for the opportunity to contact relatives and friends. Many people had also taken photos of the base and their personal lives in advance, sending them all to the network in one go.

Excluding these trivialities of life, the three found some important information. Many people suspected to be military family members were scolding the Space Force, saying that it was one thing for them to run away, but they even destroyed the star-chain! Earth was about to face the imminent solar storm directly…

For the remaining time, the three searched for information related to solar storms and geomagnetic storms, and only fell into sleep with uneasy emotions long after the communication time ended.

The next day, walking into the central hall of the refuge area, they found that the passersby all had happy and excited expressions.

“Excuse me for bothering you, may I ask if you didn’t go online yesterday? Do you know about the solar storm?” Shao Yang randomly stopped a young man carrying a communicator.

“Went online, know.” The young man had handsome features, his expression indifferent and aloof.

As if seeing the three’s doubts, he raised an eyebrow, “The City Lord and the others have already made preparations in advance. Didn’t you see that there are almost no circuits in the refuge area? Just honestly listen to the arrangements.”

The young man’s tone was flat, with every word in the same tone, but for some reason, it felt like he was mocking them.

The three couldn’t ask any more questions. Ji Yinming turned and left with his arms crossed. Ke Yi and Sang Xuan were also off today, and they had agreed to have a hot pot meal together.

Breakfast was pork rib soup, steamed buns made of new wheat, and there was corn porridge for those who liked sweets. The three were new additions to Rong City and could eat for free within five days. No one wasted food; even the soup was drunk without a single drop remaining.

Walking out of the refuge, the temperature was even lower. But putting on a full set of winter clothing and being wrapped from head to toe, Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t feel cold at all.

The bonfire on Platform 1 was still burning. There were still no owners at the stalls, but today there was an extra large tent, and many people were moving boxes and pushing modified tricycles in and out. After asking around, it turned out they were all handing in technological products.

“Large items like refrigerators and household robots are hard to preserve under a magnetic storm. Handing them over to the base will also return some points. Protecting one’s own house while also contributing having points for this, Rong City is truly too great.” The middle-aged woman gave a thumbs up, smiling and striding down the mountain.

“If you have important electronic equipment you want to save, it’s not that there isn’t a way. See that tree wall? Inside is the newly established Rong City Bank. It seems like they used lead plates or some new material when building the house, which can isolate radiation. You go and rent a small compartment; if successful, you’ll protect your things. If they get burned, the bank will even compensate you.”

Grandpa Feng looked at the three young people, who were barely older than his own grandson, standing there in a daze, and couldn’t help but point them in a direction.

Qin Xin looked at the communicator in her hand and chose to go to the bank to give it a try.

Shao Yang and Jiang Xiaoyu followed the enthusiastic old man and said anxiously: “We only joined Rong City yesterday; there are many things we don’t understand. Could we ask you to be a guide? We can hire you with points.”

“What points? If you want to know something, just go to the Mission Hall and check the Rong City official website using a computer.”

Grandpa Feng waved his hand and walked like the wind, reaching the foot of the mountain in a short while. He had just taken on a task building a garbage incinerator was a matter of toxic gas emissions; he had to participate personally to be at ease.

Walking to the back mountain, he saw the huge burial pit had been completed, with a depth of 10 meters. The bottom layer was cement and carbonized wood. When the time came, large electrical appliances would be buried inside, and thick sandy soil would be covered on top, which could prevent hazardous substances from polluting the surrounding land.

Beyond the distant sky, against the background of the pitch-black universe, a long-distance spaceship traveled lonely among satellites. A huge and flexible mechanical arm drifted, touching floating space junk. Sparks gathered point by point, and one broken star-chain satellite after another recovered to a normal state at a miraculous speed.

“Master, detected a space shuttle taking off from Earth. Shall I connect to Earth’s signal? Please… please return to Earth as soon as possible.” At the end of the words, the intelligent AI seemed to have human emotions.