Chapter Sixteen: Borrowing a Little for Now

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A Milestone Achievement!
The system’s wording is usually quite precise and never exaggerated.
But now, it actually claimed that this lithography machine was a milestone achievement, which forced Lin Yang to reconsider the importance of lithography machines.
“System, it’s just a lithography machine. Is it really that important?” Lin Yang couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes, host. On a relatively underdeveloped technological and cultural planet like yours, an advanced lithography machine holds milestone significance for the development of national scientific research!”
“… I see.”
Hearing the system’s response, Lin Yang realized he had somewhat underestimated the importance of lithography machines before.
His eyes sparkled as he said, “System, since even such an ordinary lithography machine is considered a milestone, if I exchange the manufacturing blueprints for a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine and give them to the National Academy of Sciences, would their successful creation of a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine carry even greater significance?”
“Answering host: For ordinary technological civilizations, the more advanced the lithography machine, the greater its significance and impact.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Yang didn’t hesitate. He immediately said, “System, I want to exchange for the complete manufacturing blueprints of a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine.”
Although the Achievement Mall had finished products, the system had previously advised against using achievement points recklessly.
Moreover, it had suggested guiding the National Academy personnel to build it themselves would be better, so he chose to exchange for the blueprints.
One set of blueprints only required twenty National Treasure Points, making it more cost-effective.
After exchanging the 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints, Lin Yang looked at his remaining three hundred National Treasure Points with some doubt.
Because while the 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints cost only twenty points, the second most expensive item was nuclear fusion technology, which suddenly soared to five hundred points—far beyond his current reach.
“System, why is there such a huge price gap? And I don’t quite understand why the 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints are so cheap?”
Lin Yang couldn’t help but complain, also feeling curious. This was a 0.1-nanometer machine, not just one nanometer. By value, it shouldn’t be this cheap. The price seemed almost like giving it away for free.
“Answering host, items in the system mall are priced according to their value. You can acquire more National Treasure Points by completing system tasks to exchange for your desired items. Additionally, some special items are priced based on their unique significance.”
“For example, the 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints are priced low because high-end lithography machines are foundational and essential to cutting-edge technology. To avoid wasting excessive time on the basics and to facilitate a smooth and rapid entry into technological advancement, the system has adjusted the price accordingly.”
“Oh, so your system is actually quite generous.”
Lin Yang grinned, beginning to understand the system’s intention.
Because many aspects of future technological development rely on lithography machines, this 0.1-nanometer blueprint was priced cheaply to help with the initial breakthrough.
That made sense; otherwise, the cost of 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints wouldn’t be this low.
However, the system’s earlier words made him frown: “I want to complete more tasks too! But where are the tasks? Didn’t you say the National Academy would produce new task leads once they built the lithography machine? Where are the tasks?”
“Answering host, please be patient. Currently, there are two ways to obtain National Treasure Points: first, you can passively wait. You may send the 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints back to your country. Once the National Academy successfully builds the 0.1-nanometer lithography machine, you will receive corresponding National Treasure Points as a reward. You can then use these points to exchange for more advanced technologies, forming a virtuous cycle.”

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“Second, you can actively complete system tasks. Starting immediately, system tasks will refresh irregularly. Currently available tasks include partially damaging the shrine dedicated to Sakura and stealing some of Sakura’s cutting-edge research technology. You may undertake both simultaneously.”
“However, the system must remind you that these tasks carry a certain level of danger. Therefore, the system recommends that the host temporarily wait passively until enough National Treasure Points are accumulated to exchange for long-range offensive weapons. At that time, you can safely and precisely strike Sakura’s shrine.”
“Huh? You mean there really are tasks to go sabotage Sakura?”
Lin Yang’s eyes lit up instantly.
Just a few days ago, he had wished for a task to sabotage Sakura. It would be a way to vent frustration and earn National Treasure Points simultaneously. He hadn’t expected such a task to actually appear!
As for the system’s warning about danger, he didn’t care at all!
Come on, this kind of win-win opportunity — even if it was very dangerous — he couldn’t miss it!
“Sabotaging a shrine, huh? I’m an expert at causing trouble!”
“Let’s go, right now!”
Lin Yang was eager to get started.
But the next moment, when he enthusiastically opened the ticket booking website to buy a plane ticket to Sakura, he discovered…
“Insufficient balance?!”
Lin Yang was momentarily stunned.
He actually ran out of money?
“….”
Silence.
Silence was the smog hanging over him at that moment.
He had to admit, the weather and environment here in Little Eagle’s territory were truly terrible!
After silently staring out at the gloomy sky for a while, Lin Yang suddenly remembered he was here on a study tour in the Western Continent.
Yes, a study tour!
He had just graduated from high school this year. Because his grades were mediocre and the domestic competition too fierce, he couldn’t get into a good university at home. So he planned to study abroad and was using the vacation to check out several schools he was interested in applying to.
His family wasn’t wealthy; to support his education, they had already emptied their savings, giving him just enough money for normal expenses.
But he had been traveling through several countries continuously, and his funds had finally run out.
He had been so caught up in the excitement of binding the system that he had overlooked this very practical problem.
“System, can you exchange for money in your mall?”
After the silence, Lin Yang asked awkwardly.

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Others who bind systems become billionaires in minutes, but here he was, worrying about money!
“Sorry, host. The system mall does not allow the exchange of any currency. If you are seriously short on money, you can exchange items from the mall and sell them.”
“Alright.”
The system’s answer was exactly what Lin Yang had expected. No direct money exchange, but he wasn’t too disappointed.
However, it did remind him of something.
Although the system mall couldn’t directly trade currency, everything in the mall was priceless!
If sold, countries around the world would probably fight fiercely to become the foolish buyers.
Of course, this thought only flashed through his mind briefly.
He would never really sell those high-tech items to other countries.
But!
“I won’t sell to other countries, but surely I can get some support from my own country, right?”
Lin Yang began to think.
He had already given the National Academy the lithography machine blueprints and returned Little Eagle’s cultural relics to his homeland.
Either one was priceless, right?
Asking the National Academy and the Cultural Relics Bureau for some compensation wasn’t too much to ask, was it?
“No, I can’t say ‘ask,’ that sounds too harsh. Let’s say ‘borrow’—I’ll definitely pay it back later.”
Lin Yang rubbed his forehead and decided to ask for… cough, borrow some money.
Yes, just borrow a little for now!
He was the proud system owner; he wasn’t the kind to owe money and not repay!
He would definitely pay it back once he was successful!
For now, desperate times called for desperate measures.
“Besides, I even prepared a set of 0.1-nanometer lithography machine blueprints for them. The National Academy surely won’t refuse my request for a loan, right?”
Muttering to himself, Lin Yang dialed the duty phone number of the National Academy, which he had called once before.