At the end of the sixth winter, Zhou Yi reviewed the work of the year.

It was a year of tremendous growth for the company.

Within this year, the company's profit capacity jumped to a new level, formally commencing the development of Mars resources, with this alone earning over 45 million Light Seeds.

Zhou Yi spent 20 million on the White King; now he still has a surplus of 30 million Light Seeds, thanks to this.

Apart from the digital assets skyrocketing, the company also officially completed its first step in branching out.

The Flower Clothes Group, Cross Sea Association, and Three-blade Gang have all become interest alliances of the company. These three gangs, consisting of tens of thousands of sea people, will be provided with severe illness medical insurance and high-quality education for the next generation by the company.

Taking the chance at the World Exhibition, the Wasteland Development Company officially penetrated the Western Continent market. At the other end of the world, the electric cats have already become the company's icon.

And in the farther outer space.

The Sun Eye project on the Moon is in full swing, the entire city of Guanghan Palace has begun operating, and the development of the Moon's surface has also entered the right track.

Over there, large-scale experiments on the Dead Sea area have begun, along with the further disassembly and deconstruction of Gem Cells.

These are things that are impossible on Earth; the former would face suppression and natural disasters by the Dead Sea Master, and the latter would be courting death.

Mars, however, is a Light Seed Ore collection site and a world where the electric cats can show their skills. The Moon People mining team has already gone below the surface, beginning deep surveys and excavation.

Furthermore, the company has recruited many new employees this year.

Book-eating Demon, Cang Hai-jun, White King—all have their special skills.

...

There were many successes.

But there were also many experiences of failures and setbacks.

Previously, many projects were invested in, and failures became the norm.

Take, for example, the recent tiny people in bottles. Zhou Yi had high hopes for them, thinking that the world might still hide secrets on these tiny people.

But the first drunkard fell asleep drunk and never woke up.

The second tiny person was mute, stood still and motionless until disappearing.

The third was even a kid who knew nothing but cried for his mom.

All in all, while the Moon did extend the tiny people's existence, there had been no breakthrough developments yet.

The next major project was the delegation election.

Zhou Yi provided information and technology, while the Legal Front invested hundreds of millions of Light Seeds in Zhang Zhi, the Freedom Army leader.

The whole winter passed, nearly half a year in total.

Though Zhang Zhi had indeed been hammered by Heavenly Pearls and Light Seeds into a Level 2 Light Core Body, there were still no signs indicating his selection or being summoned.

Cang Hai-jun remained calm: "Chairman, we can only wait."

"In the past, the selection cycle for the two ultimate successful candidates we supported was different, with entirely different processes. The only certainty is that as long as the delegate dies or goes missing, the next one will be picked."

"The delegate selection isn't about directly picking the strongest but sending a batch of qualified candidates into the Heavenly People. Besides the chosen delegate, others can't return, most likely becoming experimental materials for the Heavenly People."

"However, the competition for delegate usually prioritizes talent. Just like Wang Fengwu with his strong talent in genetics, he would get the place even if his competitor was a stronger Light Core Body."

"But without special talent, the core comparison is the strength of life."

Zhou Yi could only continue waiting for this.

Zhang Zhi himself had a good mindset.

After upgrading to a Light Core Body, his severely damaged lungs could self-heal, but to cover it up, he still stayed in the special ward.

Every day, aside from continuing to absorb various resources to become stronger, he would wander outside Jade City during his free time, sometimes watching the snowy scenery on Jade Avenue or viewing the Sky-reaching Tree and Pan Tree in Yalong Bay, and sometimes watching outdoor movies with residents.

"Mr. Zhou, this counts as a rare relaxation time in my life."

Zhang Zhi looked relaxed: "Since the hazy childhood and being modified into a mutant, I never had such leisurely moments. Probably won't have it again in the future either."

"Sometimes I feel that life depends entirely on luck. If born in Sand Port, in this era, I might live safely under Wasteland Company's protection without worrying about hunger."

"If I could choose, I would rather be an ordinary citizen here than what I am now."

Zhou Yi chuckled, "If that were the case, you'd envy someone like the Freedom Army leader who commands great respect and power, stirring the world."

"Hahaha, Mr. Zhou, you're right. People always forget what they have and envy others."

Since his arrival, Zhang Zhi had become noticeably more cheerful.

He bit a cigarette.

"Indeed, cigarettes are better than smoke pills."

"If I can't smoke, my life would lose too much fun."

"Being a Light Core Body, the freedom to smoke is the most obvious benefit."

"Mr. Zhou, would you like one?"

He offered a cigarette box.

Zhou Yi waved his hand, "No, thank you."

Laughing, Zhang Zhi put away the cigarette box: "There are a lot of smokers in the Freedom Army, and there's a reason for that. We are under great pressure, hiding everywhere, often exhausted and scared, so cigarettes become something to relax instantly."

"Actually, alcohol isn't bad either, but it's more expensive and inconvenient to carry. Cigarettes don't delay things, but alcohol does."

"For both good and bad things, smoking two sticks makes things less bitter. A cigarette, then go into battle; that's how it's helped us a lot."

Zhou Yi understood.

"Most brothers in the Freedom Army come from hardships. If you see them doing well on Mars, you can give them more work."

"I don't know my own future, but if my brothers can find work here, at least I've given them an account."

Zhang Zhi cared deeply for the mutants he brought.

Zhou Yi assured him, "Recruitment is ongoing. The next batch will target 100 mutants to become Mars miners. At the headquarters here, we've recruited 140 mutant Wasteland Armor Operators."

"Thank you."

Zhang Zhi cupped his fists.

Zhou Yi nodded.

Actually, these jobs and treatments were earned by the mutants themselves.

Just like Zhang Zhi said, the Freedom Army's mutants indeed worked hard. As Mars miners, no one slacked off.

Duke Destructive's feedback said these people didn't want to embarrass Zhang Zhi and were motivated.

In the past, they were disliked everywhere, banned from approaching towns; ordinary people feared them, enhancers saw them as potential criminals, and Guangna Species despised them.

Now, they wanted to prove mutants were not bad. Whether Guangna Species or enhancers, mutants could do what they did and do it better.

Years of experience and inertia made mutants a discriminated group, seen as destructive and harmful.

On Mars, there were no such rules.

Do well, you're a good miner.

Do more, earn more; the basic annual income was 1,000 Light Seeds, very attractive and motivating for the mutants.

In operating Wasteland Armor, mutants outperformed Bone Men and ordinary people, and even the company's enhanced ones produced by the Base Plan.

The Sub-Dragon Bay Laboratory, which specialized in researching and manufacturing Wasteland Armor, provided corresponding data support.

Li Mo specifically reported this to Zhou Yi.

"Chairman, mutants who survived modification experiments now have extreme endurance and adaptability."

"The armor is hot and narrow inside; long-term operation tires the body and pressures the mind."

"Mutants from the Freedom Army excel here. They are more agile and powerful than Bone Men, more patient than ordinary enhancers, and stronger than normal people, naturally fitting as Wasteland Armor Operators."

He suggested massively introducing mutant employees specializing in operating Wasteland Armor.

Zhou Yi agreed in principle but required a gradual introduction to control risk and continued training of company operators.

...

Winter passed, spring arrived.

One day, Zhang Zhi went out for his usual walk but never returned to his ward.

Two months later.

Zhang Zhi suddenly reappeared under Jade City.

He found Zhou Yi.

"Mr. Zhou, I was teleported to the Heavenly People."

Zhou Yi asked him, "What was the result?"

"Thanks to your help."

Zhang Zhi was concise: "I'm now the 8th delegate, filling a vacant spot."

Zhou Yi's heart surged.

This is wonderful!

But what's with the 8th delegate?

Weren't there only seven delegates?

"I wasn't initially selected, but it was still luck…"

Zhang Zhi showed a bitter smile, then shared his experience.

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