Chapter Twenty-Six: Documentary—Lighthouse No. 43

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【'Coastal Demolitionist' game complete】
【Game settlement phase】
【Three-star hidden objective: Locate the core point of the Avunni 'Eye of the Hurricane' and sabotage the energy field nodes—Completed】
【Game rating: Three stars】
【Game final chapter completion: 98%】
【Countdown reset: Current death countdown—'Fifteen days', timer stopped】
【Item obtained: Origin Source—Trade Wind Core—Coastal Storm】
【Reward ability obtained: Modular Assembly (Cooldown: 12 hours)】
【Special settlement reward: The money you earned at 'Schlot Heavy Industries' can now be used as initial capital for your next character projection】
【Three-star special settlement reward: Storm Transit; you may make one final anonymous purchase of a service using your 'Schlot Heavy Industries' account (Tip: Malice from others is impossible to curb forever; it is best not to expose your identity)】
【Note: In a timeline of infinite possibilities, steadfastly eliminating all uncertainty is in itself a form of romance.】

Su Wen looked at the rewards.
A random association:
"A Trade Wind Core? Could it be that it can be combined with the hyacinth I obtained?"
Thanks to the hyacinth, his physical fitness had been increasing every day.
He walked to the windowsill, watching the soft, bulbous plant gently sway its branches in the breeze. He took the pale blue crystal out of his storage box and placed it beside the flower pot.
The next second, strands of pale blue light-velvet emerged continuously from the hyacinth bulb, drifting into the air and forming a ring-shaped pale blue sphere in the center. The core seemed attracted by the source point; it floated toward the center and gradually melted into the breeze.
【The Trade Wind Core is currently of too low a grade and is in a state of dormant nourishment】
【Micro-wind field regulation can be achieved by consuming R75-type specialized nutrient solution】
"A new ability. Looks pretty good," Su Wen said.
After the game ended, the infinite space of the storage box ceased to exist. He kept a few key high-tech items so that if he ever needed them in reality, he could access them at any time.
Now, the most critical reward was the 'Schlot Heavy Industries' service purchase. He looked at the prompt, then opened the old employee terminal interface of 'Schlot Heavy Industries' one last time. He chose a service that was perhaps not very meaningful, but would certainly not lead organizations like the Bureau of Mental Review or 'Zero-Sum Game' to target him.
"Mr. Su, no one is going to grant you leave if you're late."

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As the top student of the academic year, already preparing to apply to world-renowned universities, Jiang Menghan had never taken a day of leave herself. Yet, she had reported sick leave for Su Wen for two consecutive days.
Of course, as for not helping him with leave—she was only saying that. Aside from a select few, what anyone else said would never influence the decisions she made.
"I'm coming. The moment the scent of breakfast drifted in, I was already awake."
Su Wen smiled, closed his computer, put on his coat, and walked downstairs.
He left the window behind, where the delicate, pale blue hyacinth was gradually recovering in the breeze. Ripples belonging to the Origin Source began to spread slowly beyond the dimensions.
Half an hour later, Su Wen walked with Jiang Menghan toward Binhai University, holding an umbrella in the continuous rain that followed the hurricane. He looked toward the distant coastline. Although it was still covered by gloomy rain clouds, the images he had seen on his computer were not fake, so he said to the beautiful girl beside him:
"How about we go to the beach once the rain stops?"
"Have you thought about how we'll get there?"
The young girl did not refuse. On the contrary, she seriously considered the possibility of this short trip.
Su Wen said nonchalantly:
"We'll take my beat-up bicycle. I'll carry you."
Jiang Menghan blinked, her voice cool yet tinged with playfulness:
"Mr. Su, are you sure it won't fall apart?"
"Maybe we should take the tram instead."
Su Wen's confidence in the durability of his beat-up bicycle was likely even lower than that of Shelter Lighthouse No. 43.
Three days later, Jiang Xiuyuan returned home temporarily and invited Su Wen over as a guest. Upon learning that Su Wen had rescued Jiang Menghan after promoting to an Extraordinary, he expressed his gratitude with a solemn attitude. However, he soon returned to the research institute for closed-door study.
For some people, once they make a choice, they must inevitably lose something in return. Jiang Menghan could understand that.
Five days later, the two boarded the tram to the seaside.

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As the scenery outside the tram shifted from the steel jungle of the city back to nature, the cool, clean scent of rain and damp earth gradually permeated the air.
Looking at the sky, washed clean by the torrential rain and as clear as glass, Jiang Menghan wore a dress, her fair calves exposed as she stepped barefoot onto the white sandy beach. She then sat gently by the sea, cupping a handful of clear seawater.
Click.
The image froze. This beautiful moment was forever captured in the silhouette of time.
The girl waved at him:
"Su Wen, what are you doing?"
"I'm taking a picture of a beautiful girl who makes my heart skip a beat."
At the same time, a film quietly became a hit on the internet:
【Documentary: Lighthouse No. 43】
【From an unnoticed watcher to the only safe haven in a hurricane】
【Distribution: Azure】
A story about Lighthouse No. 43, established at the end of the last century, which had been polished by time until it finally waited for the engineer who needed it to arrive at the foot of the stone wall.
Then, piece by piece, mechanical parts were assembled into a cornerstone of civilization against the hurricane.
As the storm passed, the film reached its finale.
Su Wen and Jiang Menghan sat on a bench by the sea, watching this #1 trending documentary on Twitter. Night had already fallen.
【Collector No. SLT-3701, the final thoughtful service you booked has arrived. Have a pleasant life, goodbye.】
【Employee information destroyed】
【Schlot Heavy Industries future timeline altered】
【Mars Rescue and Star Sea Expedition time nodes altered】
In an instant, the dim night sky was covered in brilliance.
Fireworks were launched from the foot of the mountain into the sky, like meteors streaking in reverse, tearing through the heavens. The flowing flames bloomed into seeds of flowers, blooming wantonly in the darkness: purple, sun-like dandelions; descending cyan spider plants; roses woven from red and gold; white dahlias...
It was as if some Celtic poet had used the night as a canvas, painting the entire starry sky into a sea of flowers.