Super Mothership
As soon as the New Year's benefit of 1,000 kilowatt-hours per person was announced, some people couldn't sit still anymore.
"Excuse me, how can one join the 'Prometheus' energy network?"
"It's simple. Just go to the official Atlantis website and submit a connection application. Our engineering team will begin laying the undersea cables for free from Atlantis Island to the designated country. The total construction time, anywhere in the world, will not exceed one month.
Once the cables are integrated into the national power grid, all registered citizens will be able to enjoy the energy services provided by Atlantis!" Chu Xiaoxiao replied.
"Gasp!" Another wave of shocked gasps echoed.
Global free networking within a month—the service and construction speed truly shocked many people.
"What about energy usage fees?" someone else asked.
"We’re still using the Infinity Coin pricing model. Users who exceed the free per capita quota will be charged 1 Infinity Coin per 50,000 kilowatt-hours of energy."
One Infinity Coin for 50,000 kilowatt-hours of energy? How is that not practically free? Everyone was too stunned to even gasp.
The Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia looked utterly despairing, and a group of energy stakeholders appeared devastated.
If the other side were launching a price war—even slashing current energy prices by a factor of ten—they still had confidence that with their vast resources and influence, they could engage in a long-term battle and force some concessions.
But clearly, they had completely misjudged the cost base of the Prometheus Project—because it was nearly zero!
Now, just looking at the envious and flushed faces around them, it was clear that petty tricks would be useless.
When others are enjoying nearly free energy and you're still paying outrageous electricity bills—even voters in the U.S. probably wouldn’t stand for that, right?
"I object! This is monopolistic dumping and a serious violation of international antitrust laws!" the U.S. Secretary of Energy, sensing trouble, quickly stepped forward to protest.
Chu Xiaoxiao looked at him, her gaze seemingly tinged with pity. "Mr. Secretary, I’m talking to you about the progress of human civilization, and you're talking to me about monopolies?"
Her tone and expression carried an entire hierarchy of contempt—for the Secretary’s intelligence, emotional quotient, vision, and even moral compass…
Ignoring the now visibly dark-faced Secretary, Chu Xiaoxiao lightly waved her hand, and a series of charts and graphs appeared in front of everyone.
“According to statistical data, fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal have consistently accounted for more than 85% of the world’s primary energy consumption. The proportion of nuclear and renewable energy remains relatively small.
Even with the rapid advancement of Earth’s technology in recent years, this energy structure cannot be changed in the short term.” At this point, Chu Xiaoxiao paused briefly and glanced at a few nations led by the U.S., making their expressions subtly awkward.
Atlantis’s intelligence network was virtually all-seeing. Naturally, she knew that the reason energy systems had evolved so slowly over the past few decades was not purely technical—but also due to obstruction by vested interest groups behind the scenes.
Several great inventions that could have revolutionized the current energy structure had been quietly “disappeared” simply because they threatened the profits of these groups.
The energy sector ran far deeper than most ordinary people imagined.
“Fossil fuels not only have low energy conversion efficiency, but also cause serious environmental problems—such as reckless extraction, greenhouse gases, water pollution, and smog!
What’s more, the high cost of energy has become a major constraint on the advancement of Earth’s civilization!
According to our estimates, once connected to the Prometheus energy network and using efficient, clean, and inexpensive energy, a country's industrial growth rate could increase by 5–10 percentage points!
Average production costs for businesses could drop by 20 percentage points!
National R&D investment expenses could decrease by 30 percentage points...”
Chu Xiaoxiao used data and real-world examples to show every country the enormous benefits that an energy upgrade could bring.
As she spoke with facts and figures, many people fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons of handing over energy supply rights to Atlantis.
Energy, as a strategic resource, being in someone else’s hands was of course risky—and damaging to domestic energy enterprises.
But the energy service Atlantis was offering was simply too massive to ignore.
For many net energy-importing countries, this was practically manna from heaven.
If your energy lifeline is already under someone else’s control, does it matter who controls it? At least the Atlantis Corporation never interfered in other nations’ internal affairs.
From another angle—if you don’t accept the offer, others will develop faster than you. Their production costs will be lower. How are you going to boost exports or cut deficits then?
You might think you're holding your ground by working hard independently—but after 10 or 20 years, when everyone else is fully electrified and you’re still burning coal, how will you compete?
Just shouting slogans like “Let’s suffocate for our dreams”—what’s the point? Are you going to sell your ideals?
National strategy doesn't mean you can't compromise—it depends on whether the offer on the table is worth it.
Besides, every country maintains strategic energy reserves. Even if daily energy supply is handed over to Atlantis, it’s not like they could completely cut off your access. Worst case, you keep a backup energy network.
This... actually seems promising?
Most people around looked visibly tempted—even the U.S. Secretary of Energy was beginning to hesitate. After all, energy was just one of America’s strengths. A wise person doesn’t let one tree block the forest.
Seeing the momentum shift so dramatically, the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia could no longer sit still. His country’s entire economy depended on energy exports. If the world upgraded its energy, it would be like ripping out their spine.
“You can make it sound as pretty as you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Atlantis Corporation is trying to monopolize global energy.
Once you collapse the traditional energy industry, you’ll be free to raise prices at will. And then won’t we all just be lambs waiting for the slaughter?”
The Saudi Prime Minister’s words did spark concern among many, but Chu Xiaoxiao just smiled casually.
“Heh! If all you’re worried about is us profiting from this, then rest easy. On behalf of Atlantis Corporation, I hereby pledge—the rate of 1 Infinity Coin per 50,000 kilowatt-hours… will not change for 100 years!”
“Gasp!” Another wave of shocked inhalation swept through the room.
100 years?!
No company had ever dared to make a price commitment over such an absurdly long time span!
Are you sure this isn’t some “pinky promise—cross my heart, a hundred years no take-backs” kind of 100 years?
What if there’s an energy crisis? What about inflation? There are way too many unpredictable variables.
Aren’t you afraid of losing money?
Mechanical Bug: “……” (What money?)
(Money: “Did someone call me?”)
Before everyone could fully process what they’d just heard, Chu Xiaoxiao spoke again.
“Money, to our chairman, Captain Ghost, is just a number. He doesn’t even know how many zeros are in his own account.
Unless you think he’s making wishes to himself using money he printed himself…”
Her little joke drew a round of good-natured laughter from the crowd.
True! The Infinity Coin is issued by his company—he literally controls the printing press. If he wanted to “make money,” he could just print more. But what’s the point in that?
So… the New Year’s energy benefit… was real?
“You… you’re mixing up concepts!” the Saudi Prime Minister said, flustered. “Even if it’s not about money, it could be about power—about putting us at your mercy! This is naked economic aggression and a strategic monopoly!”
Supermarkets slash prices, Jack Ma gives out red envelopes—call it a “holiday gift” all you want. Don’t think I don’t see through the scheme!
Say what you want—I don’t believe a single word of it!
As for being “at someone’s mercy”… that was a bit of a stretch. Ghost Captain’s battleships were literally floating overhead. Let’s not pretend we have any real leverage here… It was kind of awkward, really.
“Ahem! As the Special Advisor on Earth’s Development Affairs, and as… well, a company with a deep sense of social responsibility, Atlantis is committed to advancing the progress of human civilization.”
Chu Xiaoxiao’s face turned slightly red as she said this, and several audience members gave each other weird looks.
A company with a deep sense of social responsibility?
Who didn’t know that Atlantis operated as a “limited liability corporation”…
Even she seemed to realize that her dignity was dropping by the second, so she quickly moved on.
“Therefore, we’ve decided: All profits generated by the Prometheus Project will be used to establish the Earth Development Public Welfare Fund. Funds will be distributed on a national basis—returned free of charge to local governments to support infrastructure development, such as expanding energy networks!”
Everyone was stunned. The Saudi Prime Minister looked completely dumbfounded.
WTF?!
We’re over here talking about monopolies, and you’re over there talking about human progress and the future of civilization?
I talk to you about money and power, and you respond with charity and moral responsibility?
How are we even supposed to keep talking?!
If they’ve gone this far… can you really accuse someone running a global charity of monopolistic behavior?
There’s no clause in international antitrust law for that!
With this proposal on the table, aside from a few outliers, no country could possibly refuse such… generous terms.
Anyone with half a brain could see it: Atlantis’s energy initiative… was now unstoppable.
So it turns out, handing out red envelopes and discounts? That’s child’s play.
The ultimate form of marketing… is actually philanthropy.
The Saudi Prime Minister looked utterly defeated. What a painful realization this was…
TL Note- New Era?
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