The Witch Hunter System

Chapter 880: Director Gardner



While Vaan was spending time in the Garden of Thyia, news of Heavenreacher's launch continued to make waves across the Pangea continent like an unstoppable tsunami.

Within a short span of three days, the news had spread to every corner of the continent's middle regions.

In particular, the Heavenreacher had become the most common topic of discussion on the streets of the Freedom Federation's nine kingdoms and thirty-six city-states, which led the world in magic engineering.

However, this wasn't surprising, considering the Freedom Federation was the gathering spot for the continent's brightest minds.

Anyone with a passion or interest in the research and advancement of magitech would consider moving to the Freedom Federation to broaden their knowledge. After all, the best academies and research facilities were there.

However, even within the Freedom Federation, its various top academic institutions and research facilities still had their differences in quality and direction.

That said, it was undisputed that the Steelcore Kingdom, the heart of the Freedom Federation, possessed the best of the best academic institutions and research facilities. Funnily enough, it was also the Steelcore Kingdom that possessed one of the Freedom Federation's worst research facilities, the Starry Steel Research Tower.

Furthermore, Starry Steel Research Tower was located in Steelcore Royal Capital.

Despite its prime location with access to the Freedom Federation's best talents and resources, the Starry Steel Research Tower had become the most undesirable placement for graduate researchers.

However, this wasn't surprising considering its research direction.

Ever since the Starry Steel Research Tower changed its research direction to the sea of stars thirty years ago, it operated at a loss without any notable achievement or progress.

There were even recent talks of it being shut down if its research direction wasn't changed. Nevertheless, its director, Christopher Gardner, stubbornly insisted that expanding into the sea of stars was the Freedom Federation's future due to its vast uncharted territory and free

resources.

The sea of stars held endless possibilities to explore.

As such, Director Gardner was very shocked yet excited when he heard about the Black Rose Kingdom's Heavenreacher.

That said, although he was impressed by the Black Rose Kingdom's achievement, he was also resentful that it didn't belong to him or his country but another one.

Inside the presidential office on the top floor of a high-rise steel building that stood out from the rest, Director Gardner placed a folder of compiled information about the Heavenreacher on the president's desk.

"President Hugo, please take a look at my findings in the past couple of days. The

Heavenreacher's launch wasn't a one-time gig. Many people have seen its repeated success," Director Gardner immediately spoke.

"Although we have yet to see any of the people who went up come back down, as it hasn't been long, many witnesses have all watched the live footage of the people's activities in the sea of stars."

"Even the colonization of the moon had been an overwhelming success! This is the future of humanity I've told you about! While we've been taking baby steps toward that goal, the Black Rose Kingdom has already arrived at the final step!"

"The vast territory and resources out there will be monopolized by the north if nothing is done and changed. We must reach out to the Black Rose Kingdom and negotiate the acquisition of this world-breaking technology!" Director Gardner hurriedly stated with passion.

However, President Hugo, who had been sitting in the comfort of his seat while listening to Director Gardner's ramble, did not show any signs of urgency or concern.

"Director Gardner, you were placed in charge of the Starry Steel Research Tower because I respected your academic knowledge and admired your unique vision despite your lack of achievement," President Hugo calmly stated.

Suddenly, his unfocused gaze turned stern and sharp as he added, "However, you need to recognize the difference between dreams and reality."

"What do you mean by those words, President?" Director Gardner frowned with displeasure, feeling slightly offended by President Hugo's indirect insult of calling him foolish or delusional.

"Do you really think the newly established United Nations will share Heavenreacher's technology even if we are willing to reach out and negotiate?" President Hugo coolly questioned.

"Even if the chance is low, we must try!" Director Gardner argued, saying, "Otherwise, our Freedom Federation will lose its economic hegemony within three years, and our ideals of spreading freedom to other countries will become impossible!"

"History has taught us how self-destructive our race can be, and tyranny never ends well. If we allow such a dictatorial group to lead the world, the oppression and violation of human rights will suffocate us!"

"Even if humanity doesn't eventually fall to ruin under their leadership, life will become hell, President!" Director Gardner solemnly stated.

"Pftt!"

The seemingly tense atmosphere created by Director Gardner was quickly dispersed by a Solaran female's sudden stifled laughter on the side.

Although Aya Foster wanted to maintain her etiquette and professionalism, she couldn't help but laugh at Director Gardner's hypocritical words.

Of course, Director Gardner couldn't be more displeased by such a reaction as he turned to her with a gloomy look that demanded a satisfactory explanation.

"Did I say something funny, Secretary Foster?" Director Gardner asked.

Secretary Foster originally didn't want to escalate the situation further. But when she saw Director Gardner's attitude, she ultimately decided to give him a piece of her mind.

"If you allow me to speak frankly, then yes, you did, Director Gardner," Secretary Foster boldly replied before adjusting her spectacles, then adding, "How can I not laugh when I see such a big hypocrite?"

"To speak so righteously when your heart is so full of greed and jealousy is truly unsightly. It's even more ridiculous when you are so ambitious but lack the capabilities to back it." "Just as the President previously said, you are simply dreaming, Director Gardner. You need to wake up," Secretary Foster criticized with blatant contempt.

Even if the Freedom Federation managed to acquire Heavenreacher's technology from the Black Rose Empire, it still lacked the technology to build space stations and reach the moon. Supposedly, they were able to acquire all the necessary technology. Even then, it would still take too much time and resources to build everything. By the time they complete construction, the entire moon would already be under the Black Rose Empire's sovereignty.

Trying to take the moon's resources and land then was nothing short of asking for serious

trouble.

"It's time to face reality. The North's growth is unstoppable."