Three months had passed since Liu Hui first took notice of the Wang Xiao'er incident and exacted vengeance on his behalf.

A great deal had transpired in those intervening months. The nuclear explosion that had previously shaken the world was slowly fading from public consciousness. The nuclear accident investigation team, led by the United States, had failed to uncover any concrete evidence at the site to definitively link any specific power to the nuclear weapon. They ultimately chose to play along with the narrative, fiercely attacking the Al-Qaeda base in Afghanistan to vent their frustrations, especially since the organization itself had claimed responsibility for the event. Meanwhile, all nuclear-armed nations began rigorous inspections of their stockpiles, checking for any possibility of leakage or loss. This massive security overhaul effectively plugged numerous vulnerabilities and reduced the potential danger of nuclear materials falling into the wrong hands.

After months of public anxiety, the global populace discovered that their daily lives had remained largely unaffected, and thus, they slowly began to forget the nuclear incident. After all, the world was constantly bombarded with new hot topics; no single event, no matter how monumental, could hold continuous attention indefinitely before being eclipsed by the next headline.

The Starlight Charity Foundation had concluded its rescue operations in the disaster zones, having fully utilized the two billion US dollars in supplies and funds allocated by Liu Hui. They were now preparing for their return journey. Liu Hui's father, lauded for his effective disaster relief efforts, received universal praise from the affected nations. The surviving victims even hailed him as a living Bodhisattva, wishing to erect tablets in his honor for eternal remembrance. Consequently, the reputation of the Starlight Group soared to new heights in these countries. Liu Decheng, too, had matured significantly over these months, transitioning from initial awkwardness to a calm and composed demeanor during the rescue missions—thus, Liu Hui’s primary objective was largely achieved.

However, Liu Hui’s father remained somewhat troubled. Chen Shaokang of the Amy Group had been spending considerable time with his wife over the past few months. During their leisure moments, Chen Shaokang shared amusing anecdotes from his own childhood, a tactic that successfully allowed him to establish common ground with Liu Hui’s mother. Watching them converse so warmly made Liu Decheng profoundly uneasy. Fortunately, with the completion of the relief mission, Chen Shaokang's Amy Charity also had to return to the United States, leaving him no further excuse to linger near Liu Hui’s mother. Seeing Chen Shaokang depart brought Liu Decheng a temporary sense of relief.

In the magical plane, Alexander had completed his assessment of the output capacity of the black essence derived from the Stinky Tree. He informed Liu Hui that he could supply approximately one hundred thousand tons of the raw black essence annually. After detailed calculations, Liu Hui determined that he could refine ten thousand tons of white seasoning from that volume of black essence. Using an average amount of 0.5 grams of this white seasoning per dish, these ten thousand tons could create twenty billion servings of cuisine.

The Starlight Group currently operated three thousand gourmet restaurants worldwide. If these twenty billion servings were distributed among these three thousand establishments, each restaurant could prepare 6.6 million dishes per year. Averaged out daily, this amounted to eighteen thousand dishes per day per restaurant. A single restaurant producing eighteen thousand dishes daily would be ample to meet the demands of regular business operations.

Once Liu Hui fully grasped these figures, he couldn't help but swallow hard. If he could secure a net profit of twenty US dollars per dish, he stood to earn four hundred billion US dollars annually purely from this white seasoning. Given the exquisite taste and deliciousness of his cuisine, achieving a twenty-dollar net profit on every plate was entirely feasible.

Yet, Liu Hui quickly realized that selling eighteen thousand dishes daily in every restaurant might present a challenge. Therefore, he needed to accelerate the pace of opening new locations. Armed with the super seasoning as his ultimate weapon, he felt confident that opening stores up to thirty thousand would not result in losses.

Although the research team had definitively concluded that the white seasoning was absolutely safe, Liu Hui decided against deploying it for the domestic market. He planned to open more new stores overseas to profit from foreign clientele. After all, while the seasoning was perfectly safe, it offered zero nutritional value.

Alexander also reported on the situation with the miraculous Peeling Trees. He informed Liu Hui that there were approximately twenty-one million specimens of each type—those thriving in extreme cold and those in extreme heat—with a growth cycle spanning about ten years. He confirmed his ability to provide Liu Hui with one million trunks of each type of tree annually, standardized to a diameter of one meter and a height of forty meters.

Liu Hui calculated that, at a minimum, he could manufacture forty billion pairs of stockings or undergarments each year using this supply of one million miraculous Peeling Trees of each type. Given their practical functionality—providing both warmth and cooling sensations—he was confident in netting a pure profit of twenty US dollars per pair of stockings or undergarments, translating to an astonishing eight hundred billion US dollars in annual profit from the Peeling Trees alone.

Alexander had brought Liu Hui immense wealth, and in return, Liu Hui prepared a vast quantity of supplies for him. Due to the sheer scale of the current Starlight Logistics company, it possessed numerous expansive warehouses. Through complex logistical maneuvering, Liu Hui managed to stockpile a sufficient amount of daily necessities unnoticed. When handing these supplies over to Alexander, he also provided him with a set of remote monitoring equipment. Regrettably, Alexander found no sign through the monitoring device of the entity secretly observing them.

Zerg also delivered good news to Liu Hui. The simplified version of the products, requested by Liu Hui, had finally been manufactured. The effects of these items perfectly aligned with Liu Hui’s mercenary specifications: while effective, they required continuous, repeated use to achieve optimal health maintenance or cosmetic results.

However, Liu Hui was cautious about predicting profits in the supplement and cosmetics industries. Consumer habits regarding these products were deeply ingrained and unlikely to change quickly; usage wasn't solely dictated by superior quality. Moreover, the global market was already saturated with established, well-known brands that had carved up the consumer base. Nevertheless, Liu Hui remained confident, knowing the significant efficacy of his new products would likely secure loyal customers once they were introduced.

Liu Hui had also begun construction on the workshops for refining the super seasoning and the production lines for the warming/cooling stockings and undergarments. While the Starlight Group had initially earmarked a significant tract of land in a remote suburb of Hong Kong as a potential factory zone, the company's explosive growth now meant that the reserved area was already crammed full of various production workshops and factory buildings. There was simply no room left for expansion. Liu Hui was forced to undertake internal modifications of already completed facilities just to barely squeeze in the two new required workshops.

The Starlight Group formally applied to the Hong Kong government to purchase the surrounding land to expand the factory complex. However, this request encountered numerous hurdles, entangled in too many complex vested interests to be resolved quickly. Even with the full support of the Hong Kong government, transferring the adjacent land for Starlight’s development was impossible in the short term. Facing a genuine shortage of industrial land, Liu Hui grew increasingly desperate to secure property entirely under his own control.

Fortunately, the launch of the health supplements and cosmetics was still some time away; otherwise, they would face the predicament of having no place to manufacture them. Nevertheless, Liu Hui needed to prepare in advance; otherwise, such a scenario would severely impede his earning timeline.

Ever since the specialized components ordered by the Starlight Group from international shipbuilders began arriving three months prior, the construction of Starlight City had officially commenced.

Towed by tugboats, these components were transported to the coastline near Bag Shui Ao in Hong Kong. Construction machinery, already waiting, towed them ashore, and assembly proceeded according to the serial numbers stamped on each part. Since all components were manufactured strictly according to precise specifications, their assembly proved remarkably straightforward—they simply needed to be connected based on their assigned numbers.

Since this 0.5-kilometer platform was merely the initial prototype of Starlight City, containing minimal classified elements, its assembly was swift, culminating in a floating island anchored in the sea.

Upon completion of the floating island, Chen Changsheng led his team of scientists onto the structure to begin the first phase of modifications according to their existing blueprints. They started by strategically deploying various formations in critical areas of the island and installing advanced monitoring equipment and testing instruments within the reserved interior spaces. Before long, although the external appearance of the island remained unchanged, its interior had been fundamentally transformed, bearing little resemblance to its initial assembled state.

Subsequently, the heavy machinery and various large equipment purchased by the Starlight Group were transported onto the island, and houses and factories designed for diverse purposes began to rise, instantly turning the entire floating mass into a massive construction site. Now, the most critical phase of Starlight City was complete: this foundational island had been fully modified, and the entire city structure would now expand outward, radiating from this central hub.

Next, the second batch of components ordered by the Starlight Group from various manufacturers was scheduled for delivery. This second shipment was enormous. According to the plans devised by Liu Hui and Chen Changsheng, once these components were assembled, the area of the floating island would swell to four square kilometers. Once this massive four-square-kilometer platform was constructed, even more machinery and factories would be moved onto it. That would mark the zenith of Starlight City’s construction—it would transform into a colossal, gold-devouring beast, steadily consuming Liu Hui’s immense capital.

On this particular day, after leaving work, Liu Hui was intercepted by Chen Changsheng and pulled toward the submarine manufacturing plant, specifically summoned to attend the launching ceremony for the Starlight Group’s very first submarine.

Liu Hui knew his maiden submarine was slated for its descent into the water that evening, a moment he had anticipated for a long time. He and Chen Changsheng entered the manufacturing plant. Inside a large, sealed hangar, following three months of intense construction and the implementation of numerous cutting-edge technologies, this ten-thousand-ton submarine capable of deep-sea navigation was finally complete. Today was its christening day.

Both Liu Hui and Chen Changsheng understood the paramount importance of secrecy, so they chose not to publicize this joyous occasion. Attendees at the ceremony were limited to construction crew members, the scientists involved in the submarine’s design, and the specialized crew members they had personally trained. Since the vessel was built inside a roofed facility, the outside world remained completely unaware that the Starlight Group was about to launch a large-scale submarine.

Liu Hui stood before the massive hull, filled with a sense of awe. The submarine measured 120 meters in length, 20 meters in width, and 15 meters in height—its sheer physical presence was stunning.

“Director Chen, it seems to me that aside from its imposing size, there’s nothing particularly special about this submarine. Why exactly can it dive to a depth of eleven thousand meters?” Liu Hui inquired.

“Boss, you can’t distinguish the difference by sight alone. First, the material used to construct this hull has been reinforced using solid-state formations, increasing its tensile strength by over a hundred times that of ordinary submarine materials. Therefore, the sheer structural integrity of the hull alone allows it to descend to eleven thousand meters. Of course, we don’t know its absolute maximum operational depth, as the deepest oceanic trench known is only eleven thousand meters,” Chen Changsheng explained with pride.

“You said ‘first,’ so there must be a ‘second’ factor as well?” Liu Hui pressed.

“Indeed. The second factor lies in a brand-new technology we applied to the submarine’s outer hull: the deep-sea pressure negation system. This submarine actually has a dual-layer hull; the outermost layer is mobile, designed to mitigate external water pressure. Many international navies have utilized similar concepts, but our key differentiator is the incredible strength of our hull material. When our submarine descends into the deep sea, the outer hull compresses inward under the immense water pressure. We have connected this outer layer to a generator. As it is compressed by the water pressure, it drives the generator, converting the water pressure into electrical energy, which in turn counteracts that portion of the water pressure. The outer hull then snaps back to its original position, only to be compressed again, generating power again, reducing pressure again, and restoring itself—this process repeats ceaselessly. Through this conversion device, the pressure exerted on the inner hull is significantly lessened,” Chen Changsheng elaborated.

Liu Hui whistled softly in amazement. “Are you saying that because our material possesses greater flexibility, we can construct a machine that generates electricity underwater, converting intense water pressure into electrical energy? And under the protection of this system, the inner hull is essentially shielded from crushing pressure, allowing the submarine to reach the deepest trenches?”

Chen Changsheng smiled. “While there are minor nuances, that is essentially the reality. However, based on our initial design specifications, the hull’s inherent strength alone was sufficient for deep-sea operation; this apparatus merely serves as an enhancement to the excellence we already possess.”

Liu Hui pondered for a moment. “No, this deep-sea power generation mechanism holds enormous potential. I have a strong premonition that this deep-sea generator will prove critically important in the future. By the way, which scientist invented this deep-sea power generation device?”

Chen Changsheng replied cheerfully, “It was the invention of a young scientist named Yang Hua.”

“Yang Hua?” Immediately, Liu Hui pictured the young man who only seemed interested in reading scientific journals and textbooks. Liu Hui had met him in Bashan; the young man later joined the Starlight Scientific Research Institute and harbored aspirations toward Li Zhi. Liu Hui had dismissed this as mere wishful thinking at the time, never imagining the young man possessed such genuine talent to invent a device capable of generating power in the crushing depths of the ocean.

“Director Chen, what powers this submarine?” Liu Hui asked next.

Chen Changsheng beamed. “For propulsion, we are utilizing a Level Seven Energy Stone. A Level Seven Stone contains ten billion kilowatt-hours of electrical energy, equivalent to the energy output of a medium-sized American nuclear aircraft carrier’s reactor. It serves perfectly as the submarine's primary power source. Since this vessel is entirely electrically propelled, its acoustic signature is extremely low—below the ambient background noise of the ocean—making it virtually undetectable by enemies. Moreover, because it is electric, we have equipped it with four ultra-high-power engines, allowing its maximum speed to reach seventy knots, making it the fastest submarine globally right now. This single Level Seven Energy Stone can sustain the submarine at its maximum speed for one million kilometers. Crucially, we have a second Level Seven Energy Stone reserved for this vessel. If the two stones are used in conjunction, its endurance capability becomes terrifyingly extensive. Furthermore, we have the continuous charging provided by the underwater generator. Although it still has minor imperfections, it supplies a constant stream of electricity. Thus, as long as the submarine remains submerged, it will continue to generate power, further extending its operational range.”

Liu Hui expressed his astonishment. “I hadn't realized the endurance of this submarine would be so vast.” He continued, “I am aware that the Americans operate nuclear submarines. How do they compare to ours?”

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “Boss, the primary advantage of American nuclear submarines lies in their nuclear propulsion, enabling prolonged submerged endurance without needing to surface to recharge, significantly reducing exposure risk. Additionally, their larger size allows for better living conditions for the crew, greater weapon payload capacity, and superior detection equipment, making their overall combat effectiveness incomparable to conventional diesel-electric subs. However, our submarine possesses all of those advantages and more. We can maintain submerged operations indefinitely without recharging. Our vessel is significantly larger than theirs, and our noise signature is lower. Therefore, our submarine has already far surpassed America’s nuclear submarines; one could rightfully call it a super-submarine.”

Liu Hui felt a wave of realization. “We’ve overtaken them just like that?”

Chen Changsheng winked slyly. “Naturally, Boss. Let me take you inside for a tour of the submarine.”

The Sea Fish Sets Sail wishes everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. (It’s somewhat peculiar that this three-day Mid-Autumn holiday encompasses Teacher’s Day on the first day, 9/11 on the second, and the Mid-Autumn Festival itself on the third.)