CHAPTER 553: CHAPTER 451: CONSPIRACY THEORY SPECULATION

On the Mobile Base that Chen Xin specially requisitioned from the homeland, there was a 130mm naval gun.

This was originally a clearing cannon intended for the Mobile Base, used for removing obstacles on the mobile path that were not easily cleared. However, after Chen Xin made some slight modifications, the gun was also capable of high-angle firing and launching special shells.

After all, such modifications were not particularly difficult, and the original naval gun already had a certain high-angle capability; Chen Xin merely made slight adjustments.

With a cannon for firing, the next step was the special shells themselves.

Thanks to the researchers’ efforts, the chemical agents Chen Xin required were quickly formulated, and the quantity was considerable.

"How did you manage to produce so much?" Chen Xin looked at the chemical agents in the blue plastic barrels in front of him with much surprise.

The quantity was indeed not small, and if used for making shells, Chen Xin estimated that at least a dozen could be made without issues.

"We asked Lucia if they had any related chemical materials, and they granted us access to a chemicals warehouse that was well-stocked." The researchers explained to Chen Xin and shrugged helplessly.

Hearing this explanation, Chen Xin was momentarily surprised but soon dismissed it and asked the researchers, "Is there anything we need to be cautious about when handling these chemical agents?"

"There’s nothing particular to worry about. They are very stable, non-volatile, and not easily decomposed. They’re only weakly alkaline; just make sure you clean it off promptly if it gets on your skin and avoid getting it in your eyes." The researcher thought for a moment and replied to Chen Xin.

These chemicals are practically similar to household baking soda, indeed requiring no special precautions as long as one doesn’t unintentionally ingest them.

With the researchers’ assurances, Chen Xin felt relieved. With that, all that was left was to simply fill the special shells with them.

And the shells were already prepared by Chen Xin.

With the cooperation of the researchers, Chen Xin quickly completed the shell loading.

He didn’t produce many, only three, intending to test their effects in the next experiment before deciding on any upgrades, adjustments, or mass production.

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"Dalia, do you have a moment? There’s something I want to report to you privately." Valentine approached Dalia looking a bit agitated as he spoke to her.

"Valentine? What’s the matter?" Dalia looked at Valentine with some surprise but turned to the person beside her and said, "You go ahead, I’ll discuss the resettlement work with you later."

Once the person beside her left, Dalia asked Valentine, "What is it that you need to speak about privately? I can only give you ten minutes, as I have a meeting with the officials about resource aid afterwards, so please speak quickly if you have something urgent."

This wasn’t because Dalia was annoyed with Valentine, but because she genuinely didn’t have time.

As the official reconstruction efforts were underway, the revolutionaries were also working on rebuilding and settling the areas they occupied.

However, compared to the officials, they were lacking in both resources and construction power, which led to numerous problems in the reconstruction work.

These days, the committee members were all extremely busy, with everyone having their hands full. As one of the leaders, Dalia was naturally even more exhausted, her tiredness evident in her face.

Despite this, many things still needed her attention in the areas occupied by the revolutionaries, leaving her with very little time.

Valentine didn’t waste time with pleasantries and directly told Dalia the reason he sought her out: "Here’s the thing, Dalia. Before the meteor strike, I worked at a chemical plant and knew that a large batch of chemical materials was sealed by the officials before the disaster hit.

I was planning to organize a team these past two days to retrieve that batch of chemical materials to see if they could be of any use. However, when I went to that warehouse, I saw people from the Flame Country removing a batch of chemical materials from it."

"People from the Flame Country took a batch of chemical materials?" Dalia felt a sense of helplessness and rubbed her forehead as she spoke to Valentine. "Valentine, I know you’ve always been concerned about the future of the revolutionaries, but this is something you could handle on your own; there’s no need to report it to me.

Besides, isn’t it normal for the Flame Country to remove a batch of chemical materials? An agreement was made between the officials and them, so they might simply need the materials. There’s no need to suspect a conspiracy behind every action."

"I originally thought the same, but then someone showed me this." Valentine was no conspiracy theorist. He said this for a reason and had his evidence.

He pulled an old phone from his pocket, opened a video, and placed it in front of Dalia.

"What’s this?" Dalia picked up the phone and watched the video being played. She frowned: "Looks like the wind’s blowing? Isn’t it normal for the wind to start in this kind of weather?"

"No, this isn’t normal. This footage was shot near the base where the Flame Country is stationed." Valentine explained to Dalia and gestured for her to watch closely, "Since the Flame Country is based there, I assigned a few people to keep an eye on them. If the Flame Country made any moves, they’d notify me promptly; this video was recorded by them.

Before this video started, they said there was no wind, but they heard a sound, though not clearly, from the base. Suddenly, a strong wind broke out from the center to the surroundings, like something had exploded in the middle."

"What does this have to do with what you’re saying?" At this point, Dalia also saw the wind blowing in patterns as if something exploded in the middle, as shown in the video Valentine’s people recorded.

The footage gave Dalia a headache. She certainly didn’t want to consider possible conspiracies involving the Flame Country, but the scene shown in the video could easily lead to negative associations.

"I think the Flame Country is possibly experimenting with something. This may be why they acquired this base from the officials." Valentine wasn’t sure about the specifics either. He speculated based on what he knew: "It could be a machine, or it could be a weapon. The last time Vasily and I went there, we saw a huge machine."