Now that the identity problem had been solved, it was no longer necessary to be a smuggler.
Also, Lu Zhou wanted to see how the land he circled on the map had developed now.
As for the restoration of his identity…
He could wait until he got back on Earth.
The only downside was the name on the ID card.
Lu Ai…
Although he understood that the little guy had missed himself, the name didn’t seem like a man’s name.
He would change it once he was back on Earth.
Lu Zhou sat in the passenger seat while looking at the vast desert outside the rover window. He suddenly thought of something and spoke.
“Speaking of which, when you first saw me, what did you think?”
Professor Leonard was slightly stunned. No matter how he thought about it, he felt that something was wrong.
After hesitating for a moment, he spoke in an uncertain tone.
“Surprised, shocked?… Everyone says that you are dead, that you are a hero of human civilization, and that you have sacrificed your life for the future of mankind. At least that’s how it’s written in the book. But I really didn’t expect that you found a dormant capsule of the Martian civilization, and it was still intact… Your luck is incredible. Speaking of which, why are you asking this question?”
“Nothing, just curious.” Lu Zhou said with a sigh, “I don’t know if someone will pick me up outside the airport.”
Leonard didn’t speak, he just thought in his heart.
It’s been a hundred years, why would anyone pick you up…?
Just as the two were chatting with each other, the outline of Tiangong City appeared on the horizon where the desert meets the sky.
In fact, Lu Zhou, who had witnessed the life of a civilization from germination to destruction, felt that he would not be surprised by anything.
But having said that, when he saw the hemispherical dome inlaid on the surface, his face still showed a surprised expression.
‘What is that?”
“You mean the protective cover?” Leonard glanced toward him. He thought for a while and said, “That thing is an aerogel material… Don’t look at me like that, I am an archeologist. If you are interested, go ask a professional.”
This answer obviously couldn’t satisfy Lu Zhou’s curiosity.
When he saw the hemispherical protective cover and the shuttle between Tiangong City and outer space, a strong impulse and thirst for knowledge crawled all over his body in an instant.
This was probably the first time he had a glimmer of curiosity for this brand new world. After experiencing the sadness brought forth by the changes, it was like seeing a new continent.
Countless unknowns were waiting for him to discover…
The rover parked in the garage outside the city. The two entered the buffer room through the conveyor belt. After paying the cleaning fee, they took their folded spacesuits and left the buffer room.
As soon as the two officially stepped into this city of the future, the breath of clarity and the fresh air rushed toward them.
Everything in front of him was almost the same as he expected.
No, in fact, it was more than he had imagined.
Everything here was far more prosperous than the blueprint of the Martian colony he had originally planned…
Lu Zhou gulped and murmured, “It’s almost like…”
Professor Leonard laughed.
“Welcome to Tiangong City! This is an oasis in the desert. It is probably the epitome of civilization! Guns and knives are prohibited, 24-hour drone patrols, designated locations for people with criminal records…”
Many second-tier “countries” that were relatively behind in the field of space resource development had adopted trade policies that were more welcoming to air pirates.
For example, as long as full tariffs were paid, ores and goods of unknown origin were allowed to flow into the market on Mars. These minerals and goods were likely to come from pirates active in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, snatched from countries with greater control over outer space such as the Pan-Asian Cooperation.
This strategy had, to a certain extent, regained part of the trade share for weaker trans-regional organizations such as the North Sea Alliance, but this double-edged sword also brought a series of crimes and diplomatic downsides.
In contrast, the Pan-Asian cooperation, which itself had an absolute advantage in space trade, was naturally the most loyal guardian of space routes. Not only was a large amount of budget spent every year on combating space pirates, but they also adopted a zero-tolerance attitude toward desperadoes running on Mars.
What Professor Leonard said was correct.
On Mars, Tiangong City was absolutely unique in the field of public security.
Of course, what shocked Lu Zhou at this moment was not the deep-seated problems, but he was simply shocked by the visual impact of the buildings, traffic, greenery, and passing pedestrians.
Pipes inlaid with conveyor belts were connected between the tower-like buildings, and the intricate roads were dazzling.
There were no cars here.
In addition to seeing motorboats flying in the sky, there were small drones that danced like a swarm of bees.
A little further away was the city express orbit.
As for the edge of the city, in addition to the two staggered light rails, there were countless conveyor belts built into the pipeline. The conveyor belts connected almost every inch of the buildings, sending people to where they wanted to go with the highest efficiency.
All his imagination for the future was reflected here.
And things he never imagined.
Later generations filled in the blank space of the blueprint he left…
After a long time, Lu Zhou, who came back to his senses, spoke with emotion.
“Is this the same for all Mars colonies… or only Tiangong City?”
“Most of them are, the difference is only in size.” Professor Leonard shrugged and said, “Anyway, I feel that every city seems to be designed based on the original colony. If you are curious, next time when you come to Mars, choose New London or New Virginia as your landing point. Go and see for yourself.”
“I am now more and more looking forward to what it is like on Earth.”
“Don’t worry, it will be more amazing than here.” Professor Leonard smiled and handed Lu Zhou a pair of AR glasses. “I bought it when I left customs. It is worth 1,222 credits. You can connect through it. Go to the ‘City Cloud’ server. Without this, it will be difficult to travel on Earth. I suggest you get used to life in the future world as soon as possible.
“Hurry up and put it on! I bet, after seeing the enhanced reality, you will definitely be more excited!”
Like a child showing off a toy, Professor Leonard excitedly urged Lu Zhou to put the glasses on. Leonard asked impatiently, “So?! How does it feel!”
“I feel relief.”
A faint smile appeared on Lu Zhou’s face.
“At least it was worth it.”