The rocket launched with a fierce eruption of flames, the intense red light illuminating the entire island in a fiery glow.
Those aboard the ship squinted as their eyes were dazzled by the blinding light.
Simultaneously, the temperature of the water beneath the launch platform rapidly escalated, causing the water to evaporate, forming a scorching heatwave that forcefully dissipated the surrounding cold air.
The contrasting extremes of hot and cold generated a massive surge of energy, which radiated outward.
The people aboard the ship could clearly feel the force as the windows before them trembled from the pressure.
The rocket detached from the launch platform, gradually gaining speed as it ascended, soaring faster and higher into the sky, leaving behind a fiery "tail" that grew increasingly distant.
Nicole, Angela, and Monica looked up, watching intently until the rocket vanished from view.
Their faces were filled with astonishment, their eyes unable to hide their shock.
Only those who watched from close range could comprehend the sheer magnitude of the power involved. The overwhelming force stirred the blood, invoking a sense of exhilaration.
Even those who had witnessed similar scenes before were deeply moved.
This achievement, a mark of success, not only added a new milestone to their personal records but would also open new opportunities for their future endeavors.
After a long while, they finally regained their composure, realizing that Zhao Lun had already turned away. He was now gazing at the large screen beside him, where the rocket's ascent was being displayed.
The rocket's trajectory was steady, climbing along the planned path. When it reached a certain altitude, a segment of the rocket separated, and its speed increased once again.
"Wow!" Maria exclaimed, initially thinking something had gone wrong with the rocket. The others anxiously watched, silently praying for success.
Zhao Lun clenched his fist, his eyes fixed on the screen. His mind's computer calculated rapidly, leaving no room for relaxation.
It was not yet the twenty-first century, and the advanced technology remained shrouded in secrecy. The current rocket technology did not guarantee a 100% success rate, and this did not inspire confidence in him.
Moreover, even the cutting-edge technology of the twenty-first century could not promise absolute success. A minor accident could lead to failure.
This was Zhao Lun's first satellite launch, and he was on edge.
The rocket pierced through the atmosphere, erupting with a blast before shedding another segment. The entire rocket ascended once more, eventually disappearing from the monitoring screens.
Only a small moving dot was visible on the projection, steadily following its calculated course.
Everyone stared at the pinpoint of light until it reached its final destination, and the success prompt appeared. A collective sigh of relief swept through the group.
"Success!"
"YES!"
The people on the ship cheered, raising their fists in celebration.
This success not only enriched their resumes but also earned them substantial bonuses—bonuses that were very much tangible.
Meanwhile, a connection prompt appeared on Zhao Lun's computer. He quickly confirmed it, clicked the button, and adjusted the signal. Moments later, a magnificent view filled the large screen.
A vast starry sky, countless stars scattered across the dark void.
Among them, the most radiant was the star emitting light and heat.
The blue planet stood out against the darkness, its beauty undiminished by the presence of the star.
The screen finally zoomed in on this blue planet.
The view drew closer, scanning through the atmosphere, and more vivid images were transmitted.
Continents, countries, oceans, and islands—all passed before the screen, eventually coming to a halt.
The screen showed a ship docked between the ocean and the islands, just as daylight was about to break.
The island appeared to have been ravaged, deserted, with only a nearby ship bearing the name "Seahorse."
"Hey, this image looks so familiar..."
"Isn't that the Seahorse?"
"How is the resolution so clear?"
"It's like we're seeing it in person!"
The group marveled at the unexpected clarity, astonished at the seemingly impossible.
It was dawn outside, and they could tell that daylight was imminent, as confirmed by the now stabilized view.
"Pack up. We're heading back."
Zhao Lun gave the order, and everyone began preparing.
Their presence here had already caused enough of a stir. Although they had previously made arrangements with the relevant authorities under the guise of a commercial project, it was still best to leave early to avoid any potential issues.
The ship set sail, heading back.
After the excitement, Maria returned to her warm bed, falling into a deep sleep.
Seeing her rest so peacefully, Nicole and the others, who had not properly rested, followed suit.
At that moment, Zhao Lun, now holding his tools, established a connection with Sky Eye No.1. The computer onboard was being taken over by his intelligent assistant at an incredible speed.
"Connection establishing: 1%, 2%, 3%... 100%"
"Connection complete. Self-check initiated... Scanning..."
"Intact..."
"Sky Eye No.1 is fully operational."
Each check confirmed the system was functioning properly, as designed. No issues were reported.
Zhao Lun continued with a final round of verification before relaxing. Everything was in order.
"Continue monitoring!"
He assigned tasks to Athena, then lay down to rest.
The area was secluded, and with the task completed, the ship sailed smoothly toward home.
Before noon, they finally returned to the port from which they had departed.
Zhao Lun and the others boarded the same vehicle, and the rest of the arrangements were already in place, leaving nothing for them to manage.
The sailors, who had received their bonuses, bid them farewell with reluctance.
At the doorstep, a few pets ran to greet their owners.
"Amy, Grey Shadow."
Maria reached her hand out the window, playfully teasing them.
"Alright, let's get off here."
Zhao Lun instructed everyone to disembark. The vehicle was parked by the maid, who then drove it back to the garage.
Breakfast had been rushed, and now, hunger set in.
Lunch was already prepared, so they sat down without delay and began eating.
Afterward, they headed to the laboratory, where they used the facility's equipment to take control of Sky Eye No.1.
"Can we see it from here?"
"It's even clearer than the big screen on the ship!"
Maria and the others recalled the view on the ship's large screen.
Now, the image was projected and optimized, looking vibrant and crisp, offering a fresh perspective—almost as if the world itself had been illuminated.
The view began expanding from their estate, gradually sweeping across Trissy Town, then to larger cities, and eventually covering all of Great Britain.
The entire island was blanketed in snow, with some areas still snowing. The projected world was a snowy wonderland, giving the impression of an endless white horizon.
Leaving Great Britain behind, the view turned to the neighboring countries. Snowflakes drifted over the landscape, while festive celebrations were visible, occasionally showing lively events.
Maria and the others were so captivated that they zoomed in to get a closer look.
"Wow! This is amazing!"
"This is incredible!"
"This is so fun."
Sky Eye No.1 was indeed powerful. From above, the people below looked as if they were right in front of them—every detail, even the smallest hair, was visible.
Maria's mouth hung open in astonishment as she couldn't take her eyes off the screen.
Much of Europe appeared to be thriving, with vibrant holiday atmospheres.
Moving on from these festive countries, the view shifted to the disintegrated Soviet Empire.
Here, the streets were also lively, but in a different sense—there were parades and riots.
Angry mobs unleashed their rage, and many buildings in the city had been destroyed.
Scenes of devastation spread across the entire empire.
A monument was toppled, and a statue of a former leader was pulled down.
A storefront was smashed, its contents looted, and nearby, people were chanting while tossing Molotov cocktails, setting fires, and causing chaos.
Cars were overturned, homes set ablaze, and countless people had been displaced.
Helpless people cried, only for some of them to join the enraged mobs...
The violence was so intense that it was terrifying.
"Oh my God! What are they doing?!"
"This is insane!"
"Hey! Hey! Stop it, damn it!"
The chaos unnerved Nicole and the others, causing them to gasp in shock.
The intelligent system's voice and the vivid projection made the riot feel as though it was unfolding right before their eyes.
As the group watched the madness unfold, they instinctively recoiled, but there was nowhere to retreat, as the wall behind them offered no escape.
The wall became a barrier, and the tension nearly caused panic until Zhao Lun muted the sound, allowing them to step away from the horrifying scene.
Only then did they realize they had been frightened.
Among them, only Zhao Lun, Ada, and Maria remained unfazed.
Maria, usually mocking, was now as serious as Zhao Lun, both of them intently observing the chaos.
The view shifted once again, this time to the largest continent in the world, the most chaotic place on Earth.
The biggest event of the year, aside from the collapse of the Soviet Empire, was a war of aggression.
From January, led by the rogue state of America, a coalition of multinational forces launched a limited war against Ik, authorized by the UN Security Council, in an effort to restore territorial integrity to Kote.
This war was the most technologically advanced, utilizing the most modern weaponry and the highest military spending in human history.
Key battles included a month-long airstrike campaign and a 100-hour ground conflict at the borders of Ik, Kote, and Saudi Arabia.
The power disparity was stark, and the multinational coalition achieved a decisive victory with minimal losses, devastating the Ik forces.
In the end, Ik accepted the UN's resolution and withdrew its troops from Kuwait.
This war saw America deploy a vast array of cutting-edge technology in combat, demonstrating overwhelming air superiority and electromagnetic dominance.
The victory secured America vast oil resources and marked the beginning of its rise to global supremacy.
With the collapse of the Soviet Empire, America solidified its position as the dominant global power.
As Sky Eye No.1's gaze shifted to this region, the earlier shock seemed insignificant in comparison.