Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 921 - 156 Protecting Animals

Chapter 921: Chapter 156 Protecting Animals

Seeing Niyaguti’s hesitation, Xiang Shan immediately spoke, "Actually, you needn’t worry about any involvement with ’weapon development’. Our research is conducted for peace. The two of us are not military personnel. We are from the United Nations, members of the United Nations Project Services."

"The Project Services is..."

"An organization within the United Nations system, dedicated to executing international project management, international procurement services, infrastructure development, social responsibility investments, innovation and other capacity-building activities for the United Nations, international multilateral organizations and financial institutions, member state governments and other partner institutions."

Xiang Shan displayed a very official smile, "Neither my assistant nor I are citizens of the Federation. You absolutely have no need to worry about any entanglement with the military. However, due to other considerations, we can only work under strict confidentiality at the moment."

Niyaguti’s mouth slightly opened, seemingly realizing something shocking. However, her stunned expression did not last long. Niyaguti sighed, "I...am very sorry. I believe your project is peaceful and of extreme importance. But right now, I have something very important to do...I... I..."

Niyaguti raised her hand and rubbed her temples.

"Are you worried about impacting the current research project?" Xiang Shan said, "There is no need to worry at all. Since your current project is coincidentally similar to ours, the two projects can be merged together—believe me, ma’am, this will surely benefit you. There is no public institution on the entire Earth that is more well-funded than we are."

"Perhaps. The conditions are excellent, but right now..., I really don’t have the mind to..., no, I should say I don’t have the time. I have to rush back to the Federation this month for two more hearings..." Niyaguti said, "I understand you are doing very meaningful work, but I also have things I must do."

"May I ask, what are you referring to?"

"Mining companies," Niyaguti answered straightforwardly, "Submarine hydrothermal vents imply massive sulfide ore deposits. In recent years, breakthroughs in engineering technology have been reducing the cost of extracting those seabed deposits. Mining companies are scrambling to conduct underwater exploration activities in search of mineral veins with immense economic benefits."

Niyaguti sighed, "Yet submarine hydrothermal vent communities are fragile populations. They live at temperatures much higher than the deep-sea water and have very weak mobility. Once their habitat is disturbed, the entire population could be wiped out. However, the legal protections for these hydrothermal organisms are still inadequate..."

Xiang Shan closed his eyes in contemplation. Come to think of it, he had indeed vaguely heard of similar matters before. However, in his impression, that series of news was all about "unmanned submersibles achieving certain technological breakthroughs."

The "Alvin" submersible, which first discovered hydrothermal organisms, was said to be installed on a mother ship weighing less than a thousand tons. But for modern submersibles, such a small ship was insufficient. Mother ships carrying modern high-end submersible equipment usually have displacements of several thousand to tens of thousands of tons.

These technologies, in fact, have a strong relationship with deep-sea solid mineral mining technologies.

The development of deep-sea exploration technology can also drive the development of deep-sea mineral mining technology.

Moreover, the "shuttle-craft style" deep-sea mining technology, which utilizes a mode composed of mining ships, mining submersibles, and transport submersibles, can basically be adapted for the deep-sea exploration technology developed for marine research.

Xiang Shan calculated in his mind for a while.

—In other words, humanity can already extend its hand into the seabed...

This type of technology is roughly maturing in this era.

Come to think of it, recently, didn’t the Federation mention that a super deep-sea submarine was operating in...in that area?

Xiang Shan took out a device and checked the latest news.

Then he discovered...

That famous ten-thousand-ton research vessel was indeed operating near the Galapagos Islands.

Following the information on that research vessel, he found it was indeed jointly funded by several mining companies.

On closer inspection, it turned out they were invited by Ecuador. Ecuador emphasizes this foreign investment project greatly to rejuvenate its economy.

"Oh ho..." Xiang Shan nodded, "I can already guess what’s going on."

Niyaguti said, "Yes, there are discussions online about it...but the outcry is too small. Some fools are even trying to lobby the Ecuadorian government to expel those Federation enterprises."

"That would indeed be difficult," Xiang Shan nodded, "For Ecuador, deep-sea mineral deposits almost don’t exist; they lack the ability to exploit them. Bringing in foreign investment at least yields some financial gain, and if a permanent mining station is built, it may even significantly boost domestic industrial development."

Ecuador’s tertiary industry is very developed, with tourism and service industries accounting for half of the domestic GDP. In the remaining portion, manufacturing is less than two-thirds of the extractive industry, and the petroleum industry holds a substantial weight.

"But for people in the Federation, we’re merely protecting a few of the thousands of endangered species," Niyaguti sighed, "I can copy my current research data for you. I trust Yog as a person. But besides this, I don’t have the energy for other research. Returning to the country for activities, then coming back to rush studies on hydrothermal vent communities..."

Xiang Shan said, "Thank you for your support. But there’s no rush on this matter. I’ve just had a sudden arrangement come up, and I fear I also have to head to the Federation shortly."

Zhu Xinyu popped her head out, "I didn’t hear about any such arrangement before I came here. What are you going to do?"

"Protect animals," Xiang Shan said, "For all humanity, ’protecting deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities’ is the most important task at present."

The way he skillfully borrowed the tiger’s skin as a big banner had always been quite capable.

And now, there was precisely a gigantic banner for him to borrow.

....................................

years later.

On top of a whale’s head, Xiang Shan’s consciousness was steadily descending.

He was now quite close to his destination. And for the first time since he fully inherited the Eighth Martial God’s legacy, his Inner Strength, which had been steadily increasing, showed signs of improving.

While reviewing Ola Freeman’s records and learning whale language, Xiang Shan’s brain was also adapting to entirely new principles.

At this moment, in the empty ocean, Xiang Shan felt as if he were entering the whales’ dream.