Chapter 71: All Is Prepared, the World Watches

The grand building of Steed Technology stood beneath the dim sky like a shimmering star. The entire structure was adorned with fluorescent lights, its pale blue exterior radiating a sense of mystery and futuristic allure.

At the very top, the golden emblem of Steed Technology—a horse galloping—soared toward the sky, reaching for the distant cosmos.

Countless flying cars approached from all directions, and several media outlets hovered in the air, conducting aerial broadcasts.

Suddenly, brilliant flames erupted from the base of the building, shooting upward like the arrival of Christmas.

“We can see that Steed Technology has gone all out for this press conference. The beautiful lights and flames seem to herald a new era for humanity led by Steed Technology!”

Onboard an aerial drone, a host from the American National Television spoke passionately.

At the same time, countless people waited at home, watching on large projection screens, filled with both skepticism and hope.

“God bless us—may Steed Technology truly lead humanity out of crisis!”

On the top floor of Steed Tower, Ma Jun stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the blazing lights outside, a cigar in his mouth and a smile at the corner of his lips.

“Old Qian, when I leave for Pandora, I’ll leave everything here in your hands. There are many matters in the company—many different factions. You must handle them well!”

Qian Modo stood not far behind Ma Jun, cradling a tablet. He looked up, “Rest assured, boss! Time’s up. Let’s head to the conference room.”

“Let’s go!”

Ma Jun wore a black suit, his hair slicked to a shine. The suit had been custom-made at an old tailor shop, with a hidden galloping horse embroidered on the chest.

He had commissioned many outfits—suits, casual wear, even several sets of traditional Tang attire—all stored in his spatial ring.

To be fair, the little shop’s craftsmanship was unrivaled. Both the workmanship and materials were top-notch, rarely found on the market.

The suit Ma Jun wore now perfectly showcased his tall, robust figure and extraordinary presence.

After retrieving a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from his ring and putting them on, Ma Jun suddenly appeared more refined—a gentleman of ambiguous virtue.

Exiting the office, he was greeted cheerfully by busy employees, “Good afternoon, boss!”

The staff’s morale was high, which greatly pleased Ma Jun.

Taking the private elevator down several floors, he arrived at the dedicated conference level—a vast open space with no walls, only a few supporting columns.

He entered a lounge at the rear of the conference room, filled with sofas and people—Dawson, Gast, Harry, even President Stark of the company, as well as Lisa and Amanda, who had come to join the excitement.

After laughing and exchanging greetings with everyone, Ma Jun finally sat down.

“Hey, mate, I’ve prepared all sorts of new weapons, spacecraft, and airtight chambers for Pandora! A thousand mercenaries have been assembled—all battle-hardened, led by a retired colonel, and currently in training. They’ll accompany you over!” Gast reported.

Ma Jun nodded, “That’s fantastic! I’ve dreamed of going to Pandora since I was a child. Everyone says it’s hell, but to me, it’s nothing short of a treasure trove. Interested in coming along for the adventure?”

“I’d love to, but my family would never agree, and I really can’t leave here!” Gast replied, lowering his voice. “You’re entrusting everything on Earth to your assistant—be careful!”

“Don’t worry!” Ma Jun smiled. Gast’s temperament suited him well: cunning, but loyal to true friends.

He was concerned that Old Qian might not hold the fort, possibly outmaneuvered or bought off by families and government interests.

Yet Qian Modo would never betray Ma Jun, and his ability was more than sufficient to keep the company stable. As long as Ma Jun was safe on Pandora, the rear would remain secure.

“Mr. Ma Jun, I must say I admire your scientific spirit!” President Stark spoke earnestly. “Going to Pandora is not easy for a man of your accomplishments!”

“Thank you!” Ma Jun replied. “Has the company begun making my Avatar? I’d like to know when I can start training with the link.”

“Of course!” Stark said. “After we received your physical parameters a month ago, we began production. The technology is mature now. We’ve deployed the most professional team and the greatest resources to cultivate it, and it’ll be ready before you depart. As for link training, you can start anytime. Oh, by the way, Mr. Ma Jun, are you sure you want to learn the Na’vi language yourself?”

“Absolutely!” Ma Jun nodded with confidence.

He had never struggled with languages—thanks to a mystical pill he’d taken, every language became instantly comprehensible. He owed that to Little Flower.

Though it had appeared as a prize draw, it was clear Little Flower had prepared it specially for him—though he’d lost reputation points in the process.

“Ma Jun, are you only taking a few doctoral students as research staff to Pandora?” Harry asked nearby. “They won’t be much help, and since only you have an Avatar, for safety’s sake, you’ll have to collect samples alone.”

“Don’t worry, Harry!” Stark responded with a smile. “The company has operated on Pandora for years. There will be full support for Mr. Ma Jun. The Avatar program’s lead is a botanist. Aside from the mining crews, everyone else will cooperate with Ma Jun’s team.”

“Mr. Stark, forgive my bluntness!” Ma Jun shrugged. “I’ve heard about the Avatar program. After all these years, there’s been no progress—worse, things have backfired! Clearly, those scientists are not qualified diplomats.”

“Yes,” Stark replied, both dejected and regretful. “We invested heavily, but saw no results. The Na’vi are still in a primitive era—communication is extremely difficult. Some shareholders are even considering military options.”

“Gentlemen, the press conference is about to begin! The reporters are waiting. Please make your way to the hall!”

A staff member knocked loudly, announcing.

Old Qian, the host for the event, promptly stood and led the way into the conference room.

The hall was enormous, capable of seating hundreds, perhaps thousands. Plush carpets covered the floor, and three walls were floor-to-ceiling windows, with beautiful lighting shielding the room from the gloomy sky outside.

Numerous reporters had taken their seats, with many others standing at the back, ready to broadcast live.

Old Qian stepped onto the podium, cleared his throat, “Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon! Welcome to the Steed Technology Life One launch event! I am Qian Modo, President of Steed Technology!”

“Millions of years ago, humanity learned to use fire. From the Stone Age to the Industrial Revolution, we entered a period of rapid development…”

Old Qian’s speech was lengthy, but eloquent, elevating the history of human progress to dazzling heights.

“Today, Life One is born! It heralds a new era for humanity. With the solution to the food crisis, humanity will never again be troubled, and can fully embrace the cosmic age!”

At the end of his speech, the journalists applauded generously.

“Next, allow me to introduce the members participating in today’s launch—Steed Technology’s founder and chief developer of Life One, Mr. Ma Jun!”

Though many had come, most were present for support; Dawson and the others had no speaking roles.

At a product launch, it was only fitting that the product was unveiled by Ma Jun himself.

On the giant screen, Ma Jun’s profile and achievements appeared, followed immediately by Life One—a pale blue vial and a red pill, the size of a fingertip.

“Before I speak, I’d like everyone to watch a live video!” Ma Jun waved, activating the screen.

The footage showed massive flying transports taking off at the port, emblazoned with the Steed Technology logo.

In fact, these aircraft were rented, temporarily branded for the launch.

“As you can see, the first batch of products is already en route to all corners of the world!” Ma Jun smiled. “The fastest will arrive in South America within half an hour, and soon after, Life One will be on market shelves everywhere. That means, friends, you can eat Life One while watching the launch, and see its effects firsthand!”

“As everyone knows, Mother Earth has been destroyed by us! Yet she still struggles to nurture humanity. Her body, battered and fragile, is on the verge of collapse!” Ma Jun’s voice grew somber. “Humanity seems to face the most difficult moment since its birth.”

“Should we regret? Or should we pray?”

“No! We must remember the lessons of progress and bravely forge ahead!”

“Some say the road ahead is darkness. Others say darkness is the last moment before dawn. Of course, pessimists believe that even at the end of darkness, it remains dark.”

“But I say, it is precisely because of darkness that humanity can go further! The dark times temper us; as long as we hold light in our hearts, humanity will never perish!”

The journalists applauded enthusiastically, and people around the world felt their blood stir, their numb faces slowly flushed with hope.

“Life One is not just a premium food. According to countless clinical trials, long-term use will strengthen the human body!”

“We’ve tested both healthy individuals and those with chronic weakness. After daily use for just three months, the weak had their bodily functions restored. Healthy individuals saw slight improvements in strength and memory.”

“Such a miraculous product—surely it’s expensive or made from rare materials?”

“On the contrary, based on current global crop yields, once Life One is produced in full, it can supply tens of billions of people! Its global price is just three dollars and fifty cents.”

With the impassioned speech concluded, countless reporters photographed Ma Jun and raised their hands.

“Mr. Ma Jun, can you answer a question?”

“Mr. Ma Jun, you are a hero to humanity! Would you grant The New York Times an exclusive interview?”