As the leader of the Underworld, Natasha introduced Bai Luan to Bronya, and also served as a witness to prove that he possessed the ability to change this world.
Although Stelle and the others had mentioned that Bai Luan was also with them, Natasha's description of a single person having the power to change an entire world was a bit too challenging for Bronya's worldview.
Of course, Bai Luan could understand Bronya; after all, the first step to understanding is to question.
So, Bai Luan had Natasha bring the heater relic.
Bronya was skeptical of this heater, which had several times the energy utilization efficiency of ordinary ones.
After all, such an improvement was too exaggerated and too illogical.
But Bronya also hoped it was true; if it was, the lives of the people of Belobog would be much better.
She invited Serval to inspect it.
Serval carefully disassembled the heater relic that Bai Luan had casually upgraded, and then praised it profusely.
After receiving Serval's affirmation, Bronya immediately held Bai Luan in high regard.
"Thank you for your outstanding contribution to Belobog. As the Supreme Guardian, I thank you on behalf of Belobog."
"Perhaps this means nothing to you, but I hope to present you with a medal symbolizing the highest honor. This is the only way we can express our gratitude to you."
"We can talk about medals later. That heater isn't important; I just whipped it up casually."
When Bai Luan said this, Bronya's eyes cleared.
What did he mean, 'whipped it up casually'?
How far ahead was the technology tree of the universe compared to Belobog's?
"I can fix the engine of creation."
"?"
"And I have a way to mass-produce cities like Belobog."
"???"
Bronya fell silent, then looked at Bai Luan and said, "Although the heater proved your ability, what you're saying far exceeds what that heater can prove."
Bai Luan sighed.
This was the trouble with planets that had just gotten internet access.
If it were a planet that had been online for a long time, he wouldn't need to explain much; a single phrase, 'I am Genius Society #85,' would explain a lot.
But Belobog had no idea what the Genius Society was.
Bai Luan gave Serval a rough explanation of his envisioned dome technology.
It was a man-made ecosystem that, by maximizing the use of the subterranean vein's energy, formed an energy shield, and then manipulated the temperature within the shield through a series of devices to create an environment suitable for human survival.
Serval listened, dumbfounded.
How did she feel like she was falling behind?
Had she been away from the path of scientific research for too long?
Why, in front of Bai Luan... did she feel like a new Silvermane Guards recruit?
Seele gently nudged Bronya with her elbow and asked, "What's he mumbling about?"
Bronya shook her head and admitted, "I don't understand either."
Bai Luan explained it as simply as possible, and Serval looked at Bronya, a hint of helplessness in her voice, and said, "I don't quite understand, but what he's saying should be true."
Bronya's thoughts were very simple.
Since Serval didn't understand, others would probably understand even less.
"Do you believe me now?"
Bronya was silent for a moment, then asked, "What's the price?"
"I have a few requests."
Bai Luan began to list his demands.
Bronya's expression also became serious.
Such incredibly important research results would surely come with very harsh conditions from the other party.
She had to be prepared for him to demand an exorbitant price.
"First, I am not responsible for the materials to repair the engine of creation; you need to provide them yourselves.
Second, you need to learn the dome technology yourselves; I will not help you build it.
Third, when I need the subterranean vein in the future, you must prioritize supplying me, and I will purchase it at market price."
"...That's it?"
Bai Luan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's it."
Bronya's eyes cleared again.
How was this any different from giving it away for free?
Seeing Bronya's expression, Bai Luan knew she must think she had gotten a bargain, so he spoke up to remind her, "Don't think this is an easy task. To achieve these points, resources and time are both indispensable."
Bai Luan paused, then continued, "Especially the third point. If I come back in a few hundred years, no one will probably remember me, right? At that time, how will you ensure I get priority access to the subterranean vein?"
Facing Bai Luan's reminder, Bronya was silent for a moment, then said, "We will write you into Belobog's history to ensure your priority even centuries from now.
As for the first two points..."
Bronya smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. After all... we've always been dealing with these problems while surviving in the ice and snow."
"..."
When a group of people accustomed to hardship stands before you, it's hard not to feel sympathy for them.
In fact, Bai Luan could repair the engine of creation right now, and finding resources was simple for him.
After all, his activities were not restricted; he could effortlessly obtain the resources buried by the ice and snow.
But help should not be linked to getting something for nothing.
The difficulties on Jarilo were nothing to him, but if these difficulties were not solved by the Jarilo people themselves, it would be meaningless.
So, what he had to do was secretly lower the difficulty of the problems and give them to Bronya and her team to solve.
Quietly providing some humanitarian aid and secretly reducing their survival difficulty was acceptable.
Bai Luan took out the already prepared materials list and handed it to Bronya.
Bronya reached out with both hands and took it.
"I will find a way to gather these materials as soon as possible."
Perhaps many years later... they would discover that it was utterly impossible to repair the engine of creation with the materials on this list.
Let's just say... it was a little Easter egg he left for them.
Just thinking about someone on Jarilo discovering this in the future, Bai Luan couldn't help but smile.
At that time, that person's expression should be very interesting.
The smartest group of people in Belobog gathered together and began to learn the dome technology; they were much harder to teach than the old veterans.
It seemed this would also be a long-term uphill battle, but fortunately, the crisis brought by the Stellaron on Jarilo had been resolved. They had time to wrestle with each technological singularity until they conquered it.
But Bai Luan couldn't stay on Jarilo forever, so he packaged all relevant knowledge.
He meticulously set up an unlocking process like a series of challenges, then entrusted this knowledge to Svarog for safekeeping.
I've hidden all the treasures in the Mechanical Settlement. Go find them.
With Bai Luan's departure, the era of scientific research officially began... The King of Scientific Research is proudly serialized!
Cough, cough, wrong channel, wrong channel, I haven't left yet.
Bai Luan's material list was carefully calculated based on Belobog's current situation, with the difficulty of collection perfectly controlled.
It was almost at Belobog's current limit.
So, Bronya exhausted all her efforts to gather these materials, finally collecting all of them seven days later.
When Bronya came to inform Bai Luan that the materials were ready, her dark circles were as heavy as a panda's, and her steps were very unsteady.
Coordinating the upper and lower levels, allocating resources, and persuading everyone these past few days had completely worn her out.
Bai Luan felt that Bronya was about to collapse on the floor and fall asleep, and suggested that she should get some good sleep before talking, but she shook her head and refused.
She bravely endured and reported everything to Bai Luan, then took out two contracts, watched him sign them, and ensured the cooperation was finalized.
One contract remained with Bai Luan, and the other was kept by the Architects.
Bronya put away the contract, let out a long sigh of relief, and a weight was finally lifted from her mind.
Finally, she told Bai Luan something more personal:
"During my process of gathering materials, I received a lot of help from a wealthy man.
He led the fundraising and donated a large portion of his assets, helping us immensely. He asked me to convey to you that he wishes to meet you."
"He wants to meet me?"
Bronya nodded and said, "This wealthy man... his ideas are a bit unusual. He is willing to give you all his assets in exchange for a spaceship that can fly to the stars."
Are there people who yearn for the stars even in this place?
How interesting.
"Did he say why he wants to fly to the stars?"
"He said..."
Bronya relayed the wealthy man's exact words.
"I want to see scenery beyond the snow."
A flicker of understanding crossed Bai Luan's eyes, and he nodded.
"Let him come see me."