Integrated Core Zone.
With the Landbreakers defeated, the under-construction area had successfully been cleared into a safe route.
So Andre and the workers—who had been operating deep in the wilderness—ran into no danger on the way, and arrived smoothly at the planned deployment site for the Protocol Core.
Together, they cleared away every last piece of the Landbreakers' slapdash "illegal construction."
"Ugh… my legs aren't what they used to be. This little bit of work nearly killed me," Andre panted, lamenting that he was getting older and didn't have the stamina he had in his youth.
Hao Fan couldn't agree more.
"Right? Same. These days I get tired just from walking a couple steps."
"The hell with you, you little punk," Andre shot back, exasperated. "You're still young. You're just plain weak. Figure out a way to train your body."
Then, impatient to get to the real business, he pressed on:
"Finally got the site cleared! Friends—no time to waste. Let's begin!"
He clenched his fist, practically vibrating with excitement.
Chen Qianyu was honestly afraid he'd stop breathing.
"Slow down, slow down. You're unusually fired up today."
"Of course I am! When we first came to the Hub Zone Base, it was to prepare the production and testing work for the Integrated Industrial System!"
Andre spoke with fervor.
"Sure, I didn't expect we'd end up doing it under these circumstances…"
The Administrator's awakening.
The Anchor crashing into the base.
The Landbreakers' assault.
A string of unforeseen emergencies had happened back-to-back in such a short time that it left everyone rattled.
But at least… the outcome was good.
After everything they'd been through, the moment had finally come:
Deploy the Protocol Core.
"Supervisor Perlica, your protocol application has been received."
At that moment, liaison officer Ophena came through on comms, reporting process progress.
"Permission verification is complete. The Protocol Core can be delivered at any time!"
"Understood. The Administrator and I will begin deployment preparations immediately."
Perlica nodded and ended the call.
Then she turned to the Administrator beside her, face solemn.
"Administrator, the Protocol Core is protected by the highest level of encryption. Only your authority can guide it down."
"Everything is ready… Let's begin."
Perlica's voice carried deep emotion.
Clearly—just like Andre—she had been waiting for this moment for a very, very long time.
"This day has finally come."
"…Mm."
The Administrator nodded lightly.
Her memories still hadn't returned, but she felt she should know what to do.
Looking at all the operators around them—faces full of anticipation—Hao Fan, who hadn't played the beta and had no clue what a Protocol Core actually was, couldn't help leaning over to Andre to ask… earning a blatant eye-roll.
"Brat. I've waited for this day for a long time."
"…You seem pretty excited?"
"Of course! This is a small step for Endfield, but its significance runs deep!"
Andre couldn't help but pour his heart out.
"The Protocol Core is the foundation of the Integrated Industrial System. With it—just hook up power—and we can build a complete industrial framework from scratch out in the wilderness!"
"It's the symbol of bringing civilization's lifeblood back to the frontier!"
"Ahem… I'm getting ahead of myself."
Andre realized he was getting carried away, so he shut up and waited quietly instead.
Hao Fan blinked.
The "Protocol Core" Andre described sounded a lot like a Minecraft crafting table—something that lets you handcraft items out of thin air.
"Sounds kind of insane… I should ask Chen Qianyu."
Driven by curiosity, Hao Fan drifted over to Chen Qianyu, who was currently imagining what the Protocol Core would look like on the ground.
She was happy to talk about it.
"I've heard Perlica bring up the Protocol Core over and over. I'm pretty curious what it's actually like."
"Do you understand it?"
"Not really. Usually it's Perlica and the R&D Center people studying that stuff. Besides our usual protocol teleportation, the Protocol Core can do something even more important."
Chen Qianyu said, eyes shining.
"Perlica always says that with the Protocol Core and the Integrated Industrial System, we can change this planet's future!"
Hearing that, Hao Fan couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation too.
By then, the Administrator was ready. She stepped onto the open patch of grass ahead and slowly extended her left hand.
The Protocol Originium she carried projected Endfield's emblem—and through her highest authority, she established contact with the Protocol Core hovering beside the Dijiang and lifted its top-level encryption.
And in the very next instant—
The Protocol Core, now receiving guidance, was dropped from outer space.
A massive sealed metal capsule fell like a meteor, unleashing a roaring shockwave that even blew apart the clouds over Valley No. 4.
The sheer spectacle made Hao Fan think of the Anchor crash earlier.
But unlike the Anchor, the Protocol Core clearly began decelerating and buffering as it neared the ground, reducing the impact of its descent.
In the end, it landed with pinpoint precision right in the designated deployment zone.
BOOM—
The sealed capsule opened.
A heavy metal ramp (or hatch) unfolded and slammed down, slow and weighty—revealing the Protocol Core within, already beginning to activate.
Hao Fan stared upward blankly.
This thing was over ten meters tall.
So it really was a huge special facility.
"Ah… it's perfect. Exactly as predicted!" Andre said, trembling with excitement as he looked at the Protocol Core he'd dreamed about for so long.
"At this rate, delivering a Protocol Core even farther north won't be a problem at all…"
"Ahem."
Chen Qianyu deliberately cleared her throat twice, cutting him off—basically telling him to stop getting so hyped at his age.
"Ah, sorry, I think I got a bit too excited. Haha…" Andre chuckled awkwardly.
Even he felt like he'd been getting "too excited" a little too often today.
But it couldn't be helped.
After so many years of planning, they'd finally reached this moment. Staying calm was… unrealistic.
The Administrator and the others exchanged smiles.
"Now that the Protocol Core has been deployed, this location becomes the Integrated Core Zone—where we begin establishing the protocol teleportation network," Perlica said, gazing up at it, unable to hide her joy.
"The Integrated Industrial System will operate based on the Integrated Core Zone. It can respond to local needs immediately and provide support."
Hearing her words, the Administrator nodded thoughtfully.
"A very practical approach. I'm beginning to understand what it's for."
"We've already looked up at the stars… so we should be even more grounded." Perlica laughed softly, her tone tinged with nostalgia. "That's something you used to remind us of again and again."
"Don't worry, Administrator. We've never forgotten…"
"From the Protocol Core—and the entire Integrated Industrial System it supports—new hope will be born."
"That… is Endfield's goal."
....
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