Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 1268 - 718

Chapter 1268: Chapter 718

Osenia was quite familiar with Wu Jiarong.

At least they were quite familiar before.

That was back on Rage Owl Star, when the Alliance was just starting out.

Osenia was always the major manager in the rear, while Wu Jiarong was in charge of production technology.

Inevitably, the two would have a lot of work interactions, naturally becoming familiar with each other.

But as decades passed, Wu Jiarong looked more and more unfamiliar to Osenia.

It wasn’t that their work interactions had lessened.

Although they didn’t meet as frequently as in earlier years, even now, they still often interacted in work.

Wu Jiarong’s ’sense of unfamiliarity’ was a kind of… change that Osenia found hard to describe.

Moreover, this change happened right before her eyes, occurring during each of their contact.

Changes occurred in appearance and voice.

She still remembered that once, Wu Jiarong, although her arms had been modified to a mechanical form early on, her eyes turned mechanical, tubes behind her head connected to her waist and back, rising to an always-moving, flexible auxiliary operating machine with numerous control sticks…

But regardless, although the degree of modification was significant compared to ordinary people, overall, she was still humanoid in appearance. Osenia remembered the special beauty when Wu Jiarong’s hair fluttered, revealing fair skin touching the mechanical structure; she also remembered her slightly baby-faced smile, which could be described as sweet.

That wasn’t something Wu Jiarong deliberately pursued; she grew up in an environment that didn’t value appearance. That was her most natural self, the aspect left from that time.

And these appearances, as time passed, also disappeared rapidly with Wu Jiarong’s technical progress and rise in position in the mechanical corner.

Osenia felt that each time they met, something seemed to diminish from Wu Jiarong, or something increased, or something changed.

Her body was changing, her voice was changing, her emotions were changing…

Nowadays, the only thing left resembling her past self was her unchanged face. That face, nourished by nutrient solution, couldn’t make expressions. It wasn’t that Wu Jiarong lacked the technology; she simply chose not to, keeping the same expression in all circumstances was best. Even preserving a face was just to keep a biological recognition mark, to let ordinary people know whom they were facing.

Other than this face?

Only the skull and brain remained original.

All others were changed to mechanical devices, even the exterior wasn’t preserved.

Covered under a robe, only showing a face, Wu Jiarong’s face was expressionless, the mechanically synthesized voice without emotion, the hormone secretion organs that easily influenced emotional change were gone.

Of course, she still was a person.

At least according to the Empire’s definition of a ’person,’ she was undoubtedly human.

However, how much emotion or sentiment from humanity was left in her was hard to say.

Osenia felt a mix of emotions but didn’t feel uncomfortable.

No one forced Wu Jiarong. Every component on her body was crafted and replaced by her own hands, chosen by herself.

Originally, Osenia thought about exchanging a few pleasantries before starting the formal topic, but when the screen connected, she hesitated and thought better of it.

Seeing Wu Jiarong’s calm demeanor didn’t seem like she had any interest in idle chit-chat.

Thus, she decided to save time and get straight to the point.

What Osenia wanted to ask about was a ’secret project.’

The confidentiality level of the project was extremely high, even Osenia as the Alliance Premier and government head didn’t have enough clearance to view all the details of this project.

This was quite normal. Although she was one of the highest authority figures in the Alliance besides Gu Hang, only Gu Hang himself had the right to access all intelligence within the Alliance; no one else had the complete authority.

Like Wu Jiarong not knowing many of the sensitive data of the Alliance Central Government, some secretive technology and production projects were unknown to Osenia as well.

She understood all this and was always aware of maintaining discretion, never probing into what shouldn’t be asked.

However, this time was different.

This secret project had already had a significant impact on the Alliance Government, she had no choice but to inquire.

The first phase planning alone had a budget of sixty billion, the project’s finances, personnel organization, technical production, transportation… all conducted confidentially.

A project costing sixty billion… was already astonishing. This amount was enough to construct a complete battleship.

But reportedly, this was just the initial phase.

As the person in charge of the project, Wu Jiarong was already having the Alliance Government prepare for the second phase budget, which was needed next year and the amount was increased, totaling eighty billion.

Altogether one hundred and forty billion over two years… The initial Alliance’s yearly Imperial Tax only amounted to three hundred billion! This project would consume half of the Imperial Tax in two years, is that feasible?

Already scratching heads under the pressure of the Imperial Tax, and still having to bear such a hefty project.

It was extremely challenging.

Of course, this project was settled by Mr. Gu before he left, giving the Alliance Government orders to cooperate to the utmost, Osenia certainly couldn’t hinder it. Not only to follow Mr. Gu’s orders, but she also understood that with such a high-level of confidentiality and huge input, what was being built must hold a critical purpose for the Alliance’s development.