Chapter 591 Mineral Procurement
In the dark galaxy, stars continue to emit endless light and heat, and energy sails made of special alloys are frantically capturing the light of stars one after another.
From a distance, this Dyson megastructure looks like a huge sphere composed of countless bright spots, flashing alternating golden and white light.
Inside the energy sails, countless machines and equipment have never stopped running since they were installed.
All kinds of energy emitted by stars, whether thermal energy or particle rays, are absorbed and converted into source energy suitable for storage.
On the outer surface of the Dyson sphere megastructure, a large number of energy storage bases have been established. Complex transmission lines, endless computers and robots together constitute a huge energy system.
In a grid array, densely arranged satellites and space stations rotate around the megastructure sphere to provide support and maintenance for it.
Tens of millions of space shuttles, like hardworking worker bees flying all over the sky, continuously transport the massive energy crystals produced by the energy storage base to various giant star ports.
The Dyson megastructure is a huge system project and a complete energy system. Creation is often much more difficult than destruction.
Compared with the simple and crude destructive plundering, the Dyson megastructure's way of collecting stellar energy not only requires higher technical difficulty, but also rises to the level of survival concept.
The boundary between civilization and barbarism is often reflected here.
As a highly developed hegemonic civilization, the Lance Empire has complete resource development laws and regulations.
After all, no matter how vast the empire's territory is, it cannot withstand years of violent excavation.
Even private territory must follow relevant regulations.
What's more, this galaxy cluster is only temporarily entrusted to the family of the empire for the sake of the true god Molson.
Although the Molson Consortium is eager to seize energy, it dare not risk the great disapproval of civilization and carry out violent excavation.
If not, there is no need to spend a lot of time and energy, and use a large amount of manpower and material resources to build a Dyson megastructure.
Just force multiple artificial giant war stars into the gravitational circle of the star and extract them at close range to achieve similar energy collection efficiency.
But doing so will undoubtedly cause huge disturbances to the entire star system, and will also cause irreparable damage to the life stars in the galaxy.
Generally, only outside the empire, where the law has not yet reached, the consortium dares to do this.
For the consortium stewards who have been responsible for external development for many years and have become accustomed to rough means, the current slow development efficiency is too low.
"Find a way to speed up the collection speed, and this year's indicators must be exceeded!"
Derien stood in front of the French window, overlooking the surface of the Dyson megastructure and the star-like energy storage bases and said coldly.
"Sir steward, the collection efficiency can be improved, but what really restricts us is the lack of transportation capacity."
Behind him, Assistant El shook his big head, frankly not like a purebred Ailon.
Compared with outstanding spiritual talents, the cunning and cowardice of Ailon people are undoubtedly much more famous.
This is not a stereotype, but the evolutionary result of the survival of the fittest after countless years of accumulation and screening of racial characteristics and living environment.
In this star region, the Ailons are synonymous with profiteers and are also a group of staff that the higher races like to recruit.
These weak-bodied big heads are much better than other subordinate races.
El has worked for Derian for many years and is a real confidant. He knows that his boss doesn't like to listen to nonsense, so he naturally speaks with less scruples.
"Hey, can't you think of a way to get more energy transport ships?"
"At worst... let the existing fleet speed up the transportation efficiency and increase the speed?"
Derian didn't blame El, but asked helplessly with a tone of negotiation.
He didn't think he could do better than El, so he never made random comments.
"There is really no way to deal with this. The consortium's massive purchases have caused the market price of transport ships to soar a lot. However, the allocated funds are already stretched to maintain the operation of the Dyson megastructure and the mining of various resources."
"The existing ships are operating at high intensity for a long time, and the maintenance is also a sky-high expense.
"Now it is basically the limit. If the transportation capacity is increased, a large number of transport ships will enter an over-limit operation state. Not to mention the repair and maintenance costs, the reduction in the safety factor will inevitably lead to a surge in the scrap rate!"
"In my opinion, we have to start from other aspects............."
At this point, El deliberately paused and did not continue.
Derien knew that the other party had not finished speaking, so he turned around and raised his eyebrows and said: "Hmm? What do you think, just say it!"
"Haha, to be honest, recently a fellow interstellar merchant came to me to make a deal with you. "
El rubbed his hands, not hiding his greed.
"He has discovered a rich vein of Tidar crystals and is organizing large-scale mining, hoping to sell them to the consortium nearby."
"Nearby?"
Derien is also a smart man, and he easily grasped the key point, and his pair of blood-red pupils immediately turned upside down.
"Could it be that he found it in this galaxy?"
The price of Tidar crystals is not high, but the demand is huge, and they have always been a must-have product in the market.
As long as the mining cost can be controlled well, it will definitely make a lot of money.
As the largest local power, if there are rich mineral veins in this galaxy, Derian will definitely not want to let the interstellar merchants take advantage. As long as he uses some tricks, he can easily put the mining area under the name of the consortium.
After a long time of getting along, El can guess his boss's thoughts without thinking.
"Sir, this mineral vein is indeed in the asteroid belt of this galaxy, but it is located outside the mining area designated by the consortium, and the mining environment is relatively complex, otherwise it will not be hidden from our own prospecting team."
"The other party is very sensible. In my opinion, this deal is still worth doing. There is no need to make trouble."
"After all, as long as we use our own mining team, the mining income of resources must be reported to the consortium for summary before it can be allocated as needed..."
El lowered his voice, and his words were obviously meaningful.
Deren naturally understood what he meant. He hesitated a little before nodding and saying, "Yes, you are right."
After using the power of the consortium to get the mineral vein, he would organize large-scale mining, which would definitely not be hidden from internal supervision. At that time, his personal income would at most be a little hard work.
The mined Tedal crystals must also be integrated and distributed by the consortium.
God knows how much can be allocated back to him at that time.
But if it is purchased in bulk from interstellar merchants, it will be completely different.
Not only can he apply for a large amount of purchase expenses from the consortium and extract a reasonable price difference from it, but the interstellar merchants will also give him a token of respect.
He can also intercept some Tedal raw crystals on the spot, thereby greatly improving energy transportation capacity and exceeding performance indicators and regular assessments.
One deal, multiple profits!
Which choice should be made, even a fool knows!
"Well, then you can do it!" Derian waved his hand and ordered: "I've been busy recently. I'm only responsible for the approval process and payment of the goods. I haven't asked about other details, and I don't have time to take care of them. Do you understand?"
El understood and nodded hurriedly: "We just happened to contact a long-term source of goods in the market, and we didn't investigate the specific place of origin of the other party at all."
"Hahaha!"
The two looked at each other and smiled happily at the same time.