The motorcade pulled into the southern gates of the Taichu Yanjing Sanctuary Science Park.
Snow had begun to fall again, dusting the towering glass roofs of the research hangars in pristine white. Inside Hangar Seven, however, the air smelled of ozone, warm motor oil, and freshly carved spirit-timber.
A massive titanium gantry crane rolled along the ceiling beams, lifting a twenty-ton aerodynamic fuselage with effortless grace.
“Chairman Lin!” Master Lu Jian called out, wiping grease from his calloused palms with a blue cotton rag.
Master Lu walked briskly across the polished hangar floor. Beside him hopped nineteen-year-old Tang Xiaomi, her hair tied in two high pigtails held by copper clips. She wore a heavy leather flight jacket covered in bronze tool pouches and diagnostic gauges.
Old Master Mo walked close behind them, his emerald appraisal glasses glowing faintly as he examined a row of glowing silver engine blocks.
“You summoned us on short notice, Chairman,” Master Lu said, his voice brimming with engineering enthusiasm. “What is our production target for this week?”
“We are heading to the western mountains,” Lin Mo replied, stopping beside a line of sleek black vehicle frames. “Our security division has three days to collect an outstanding debt from the thirty-six hidden sects. I want thirty-six custom vehicles and three heavy long-range airships ready before sunrise.”
