Fang Senyan's heart tightened at Mr. G's words, realizing the man had now confided in him with no small amount of classified information revealed. He straightened his posture and asked:

"What exactly is going on?"

Mr. G exhaled in relief. Had Fang stubbornly refused cooperation, there'd been nothing he could do about it - though Mr. G's apprehension proved unfounded. The moment "Qinghai-Tibet Railway" was mentioned, a cascade of text suddenly materialized across their retinas:

**"Hidden Timed Sub-Mission Activated: True Ace Up the Sleeve."**

**"Requires gaining Chinese government friendship and being of yellow race to trigger; no restrictions on recipient."**

**"Rewards are substantial but failure carries severe penalties. Choose carefully."**

Four pairs of eyes met. Compared to their initial trepidation upon entering this world, their resolve had hardened into steel after Black Brother's death forged them like fire purging dross from iron. After all, they'd turned the tide under impossible odds - an experience that left an indelible mark on every survivor.

Though Time Limit Girl had already returned to her home dimension as per schedule, the quartet remained confident. Notably, she'd told Fang Senyan the transportation array was nearing final activation, its spatial connection ready to open at any moment for them to fight shoulder-to-shoulder again.

After giving solemn nods and accepting the mission, Mr. G gestured for Xiao Xiang to draw the curtains, then produced a compact projector. Instantly, detailed schematics of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway illuminated the room.

On the projection screen, the railway was clearly divided: The 814km Lanzhou-Xining segment had been completed in 1979 and operational since '84 with no special features. But the Golmud-Lhasa stretch began construction in 2001, finished by 2006.

Xiao Xiang explained:

"Technologically speaking, we'd possessed the capability to build this line as early as the 1980s - the Sichuan-Tibet Highway traverses far harsher terrain and was operational since 1950! When we truly want something achieved, it always gets done."

"But comprehensive factors delayed it: economic constraints, technological limitations, transportation challenges. Most importantly, the extreme altitudes of Qinghai and Tibet severely impacted health - even locals suffer 14%-18% congenital heart defect rates in infants. For Han-Tibetan hybrid offspring born there? A staggering 37%! That's why this project remained shelved for decades."

Mr. G continued:

"Yet in 2000, we learned of the catastrophic flood predicted for 2012. To prepare, we began relocating coastal region resources to high-altitude zones - a costly but resolute effort behind Western Development Policies."

"As research deepened though... our worst fears materialized. Previous 'safe' areas at 500m elevation became danger zones while only regions over 2,000m remained viable. Thus the Qinghai-Tibet Railway became mission-critical - a lifeline to rapidly evacuate citizens when government ordered it."

Fang Senyan's group listened intently as Xiao Xiang added:

"Government prioritization of this project was extreme for such a 1,000km line taking five years. This reflected constant adjustments necessitated by increasingly precise predictions about the 2012 deluge - especially once Himalayas were confirmed to be submerged."

"The final decision became three-pronged: visible Ark plan, covert Long March special ship construction... and our true secret weapon - seventeen colossal nuclear bunker cities carved into Tanggula Mountains during railway excavation. Each can shelter 100,000 people connected by watertight tunnels with decade-long food reserves underwater."

"Success here would make us the first nation to establish a million-person metropolis post-disaster! With fully functional industrial systems and production chains - buying at least five crucial years of recovery!"

Fang Senyan interrupted:

"So how exactly can we contribute?"

Mr. G poured over his half-filled glass, swirling it clockwise until water formed a vortex nearly spilling over the rim. When he stopped, the surface resumed its calm level.

"Once tectonic stability returns, flood momentum dissipates. Scientists estimate crustal activity won't exceed 48 hours - less than a month total! At 5,000+ meter elevation, water should recede even faster, but we must ensure two months of oxygen autonomy from worst-case scenarios."

Xiao Xiang interjected:

"The crux lies here. While small-scale oxygen generation is well-established, sustaining millions for extended periods remains unsolved - compounded by international surveillance."

"A breakthrough finally emerged! A scientist proposed water additives to extract oxygen through electrolysis. His additive formula has reached final testing stages!"

"We need you to protect Dr. W! Those supernatural attackers are as relentless as flowing mercury. Within 24 hours, a powerful entity will hunt him down - their abilities render our security protocols useless. Only you can ensure his survival."

**Hidden Timed Sub-Mission: True Ace Up the Sleeve**

**Objective:** Ensure Mr. W survives within 24 hours.

**Note:** This is no ordinary protection mission! Your enemies will be unprecedentedly formidable.

**Bonus Condition:** Survival + successful interrogation = top rating.

**Penalty Failure:** -10 to all attributes, lose government trust, forced return to Nightmare Dimension.

Fang Senyan's group focused on the penalties. While losing 10 attribute points was severe, the real blow came from forfeiting access to several Asian artifacts in the museum. The forced return seemed mildest until realizing their painstaking preparations would vanish - all calculated advantages cut in half!

Still, they accepted the mission and immediately flew to the plateau with government assistance. After meeting Dr. W, Fang studied current conditions.

The scientist had thick eyebrows often furrowed together like a blade's edge - an augur of his solitary nature and decisive character. Despite this, he appeared relatively amiable while his assistant sneered at their presence. "Seeder" defense systems made them superfluous in the man's eyes.

Skeptically, the assistant played footage showing tunnel-like spaces filled with slow-moving missiles trailing smoke. These melon-sized warheads with infrared guidance doggedly pursued targets through dense black clouds erupting from multi-tube launchers until no space remained untouched...

"RQ"

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