Chapter 2418: Unless You Leave the Stone Behind
"Young Master Rong," the visitor, dressed as a butler, said with a smile to the two of them, "The Old Master invites you and Mr. Xu to return home for a meal."
Xin Rong wiped his face and urged Xu Huo, "Hurry up and freshen up, we'll just make it back for lunch."
Xin Rong had originally only used Xu Huo as an excuse to go see the large teleportation device, never expecting his grandfather to directly send someone to invite them.
Since an elder's face had to be saved, the two quickly tidied up, changed into clean clothes, and headed to the Xin family home.
Unlike the previous meal where the entire Xin family was present, this time only Xin Rong's grandfather and his parents were there.
Xin Rong's grandfather seemed to be in poor health, looking much more haggard than the last time they met, with a layer of grayish decay covering his eyes.
The old man graciously greeted Xu Huo, and the conversation mostly revolved around the elders showing concern for the younger generation. When he heard that Xu Huo wasn't married yet, the old man jokingly suggested helping him find a wife.
Xu Huo flatly refused and made it clear that he wouldn't be staying long in Platinum Eye.
The old man, seasoned in business, didn't change his expression over a few words. He merely expressed regret that his own family didn't have such an outstanding younger generation.
Shortly after the meal, the old man excused himself, citing fatigue, and asked Xin Rong and his parents to take Xu Huo to see the large teleportation device.
"Unlike the carriers of small teleportation devices, the carriers of these large devices are usually assembled from multiple parts and take up a lot of space. Especially devices capable of teleporting starships—those are enormous."
"Ours is still considered small." Xin Rong spoke to Xu Huo with a hint of excitement as their aircraft soon arrived at one of the Xin family's experimental zones.
The site prepared for the teleportation was already built, covering an area roughly the size of five or six football fields.
"Is this the entire site?" Xu Huo asked.
"How could it be?" Xin Rong said. "This is just the area for placing the teleportation device. The real site is over there, hidden by the environment simulator."
Since they were going to show the device, they naturally wouldn't just let him see the site. With the approval of Xin Rong's parents, the sides of the current site opened up, and machinery gradually emerged from underground.
The first things to catch the eye were two massive metal strip-like objects. The advanced craftsmanship made these colossal structures, clearly assembled from numerous metal parts, appear seamless. Only some energy patterns were left on the sides. They were entirely white, standing about a hundred meters tall when fully extended. There were also two bases on the ground, which Xin Rong introduced as buffer devices.
"For a spatial teleportation device to achieve cross-district and wormhole-point travel, it must forcibly open a channel in space. It doesn't directly punch through space but uses technology to connect two spaces, like taking a shortcut."
"But taking a shortcut isn't easy either. It requires immense power to open and maintain the channel, so a buffer zone is needed. The main part of the base is underground, but the primary work after the channel opens is still handled by these two vibration wings."
Xu Huo looked up at the pair of vibration wings, then at the base covered in cold metal casing, sensing a hidden aura of killing intent—an instrument smaller than a building could often determine the survival of an entire district.
Under the tremor of technology, humanity was so insignificant.
"It can teleport starships. How many times can such a device be used?" he asked again.
"Probably about five or six times." Xin Rong rubbed his chin. "But activating this thing costs a fortune. It's only used during special periods, definitely not for regular cargo transport."
Xu Huo nodded slightly. "It's also very convenient for transporting people."
Xin Rong smiled but didn't say much more.
Some districts did use teleportation devices for human trafficking, but for a city like Platinum Eye, it was merely a channel for weapon transport.
After viewing the device, Xin Rong took him to see other places. At this point, his parents excused themselves. Once they were gone, Xin Rong lowered his voice to Xu Huo, "My parents are probably hoping to get the agency rights for Mechanical Castle through you. They've been working the city government's connections lately, but it didn't work out."
"Don't feel pressured. We're friends, but they're thinking too highly of themselves. A simple home-cooked meal and they think they can pull strings?"
"Is your family facing a cash flow crisis?" Xu Huo weighed the ultra-miniature device in his hand, which was smaller than an insect egg on his fingertip.
"Probably buying the teleportation device used up the cash flow." Xin Rong also looked worried. "There have been a lot of moves from the family lately. I wonder if something's about to happen."
"Shouldn't be anything major," Xu Huo said. "If it were, your family would be considering relocating entirely."
Xin Rong thought about it and agreed. He then showed him another type of miniature device. "My family doesn't deal in ultra-miniature medical instruments. These are mainly for reconnaissance and surveillance. But they're too small—there are pros and cons. For convenience, we usually stick to normal-sized ones for deterrence and reminders."
"As for your family's favor, I can try to talk to Bai Kou, but whether she agrees or the city government has other plans, I can't control that," Xu Huo said.
Xin Rong was overjoyed and slapped his shoulder hard. "I knew making friends with you was the right call! From now on, if you need any instruments, just ask me! You came to Platinum Eye to buy some instruments, right? Don't worry, I'll prepare them for you!"
Xu Huo gave a faint smile. "Let's talk after it's settled."
"Whether it works out or not, I'll remember this favor!" Xin Rong put his arm around his shoulder and led him out. "I wonder if there's any news from Mechanical Castle."
Xu Huo didn't contact Bai Kou through Under Dimension but instead asked Fang Jie to send a message to Mechanical Castle saying he wanted to visit. A day had passed, and whether it was a yes or no, there should have been a reply by now.
When they left the experimental zone and returned to the city, Fang Jie told Xu Huo that he could go to Mechanical Castle before dinner.
Xu Huo didn't delay. After parting ways with Xin Rong, he went straight to Mechanical Castle.
This time, Yan Fang led him in again, still to the same study. Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of their last busy meeting, Bai Kou was clearly in a good mood today. She seemed to have just freshened up, her hair not yet fully dry as she leaned back in a lounge chair reading a book.
When their eyes met, Bai Kou raised an eyebrow slightly. "Impressive progress."
"Just average." Xu Huo sat down across from her. "You seem very happy today."
"Finally got a break from work. Being able to rest properly naturally puts me in a good mood." Bai Kou even poured him a cup of tea, using her spatial power to float it across the table to him.
Xu Huo took the cup. "So sweet?"
"Drink it or don't." Bai Kou leaned back in her chair, her gaze returning to the book as she asked casually, "How long are you staying this time?"
"Rest for two or three days, then head to the next instance." Xu Huo said. "You want to borrow the Primordial Stone?"
"Forget it if it's just two or three days." Bai Kou wasn't very interested. After a pause, she added with a hint of displeasure, "Didn't you say I have no talent? What can I do in two or three days? Unless you leave the stone here with me."