He sifted through the internet repeatedly, comparing geological conditions, policy support, transportation convenience, and construction costs across various regions.
After ruling out one place after another, he finally locked his gaze on Ohio.
Numerous military bases were scattered throughout the state.
The fact that the military chose this area was enough to prove that its geological and geographical conditions were superior.
If the military favored it, following their lead would certainly not be a mistake.
Furthermore, security near military bases was relatively tight, which would help hide his underground base and prevent it from being discovered.
Online data also indicated that Ohio’s geological environment was excellent, with hard soil resistant to collapse and many natural caves.
Utilizing these could significantly reduce construction costs and shorten the development cycle.
Xia En quickly found the contact number for the Ohio state government.
After dialing, he patiently inquired about land acquisition, policy incentives, tax breaks, and other related matters.
The staff on the other end were very enthusiastic, answering his questions one by one and even recommending several areas suitable for land purchase.
After several rounds of communication, he quickly settled on West Liberty, Ohio, as the location for the base.
It was a small city focused on agriculture and manufacturing with a low population and a relatively quiet environment, far from the bustle of urban centers.
It was perfect for building a highly concealed underground base, and the local government offered generous incentives to attract investment.
However, during the process, Xia En discovered a problem: he needed to register a new company to acquire the land smoothly and enjoy the relevant incentives.
Purchasing a large area of land in an individual’s name came at an extremely high price, requiring not only high land transfer fees but also heavy taxes and a tedious approval process.
But if he bought it in a company’s name, he could enjoy various government subsidies and support, saving a lot of money and simplifying the approval process.
After hanging up, Xia En leaned back in his chair and pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping the desk as he cycled through potential candidates in his mind.
Then, he picked up his phone and scrolled to a familiar number: Smith.
That was the accountant who had once helped him with some “creative” bookkeeping.
His skills were decent, and although his character wasn’t top-tier, he worked efficiently and held a certain level of awe toward Xia En.
Xia En needed him again, though this time, he would never allow the man to cook the books—after all, it was his own money now.
The call went through, and after three or four rings, a familiar voice answered.
Xia En spoke first, his tone casual without much pleasantry.
“Hey, pal, how have you been lately?”
The other end was silent for a few seconds, seemingly not expecting a call from Xia En.
Then, Smith’s low, somewhat helpless voice came through.
“Mr.
Xia En, I’m glad to hear from you.”
“To be honest, not so good.”
He began to ramble and complain, his tone full of grievance.
“Not long after you left the company, things went south, and I was laid off again.”
“But at least I didn’t go back to prison this time.
That payment you gave me before…
it was good, but it’s long gone.
Now I’m worried about finding my next job; I can barely afford rent.”
Smith’s words were full of frustration and helplessness.
He went on for quite a while, as if he had finally found an outlet for his stress.
Xia En listened patiently until he finished, never interrupting.
After all, Smith had helped him before and hadn’t landed him in trouble.
Xia En felt a sliver of trust for this less-than-perfect “talent,” and right now, he truly needed someone who understood the necessary procedures and could handle chores.
Once Smith finished, Xia En spoke with a smile, his tone teasing.
“Then you’re in luck.
I happen to have a job here with excellent pay.
Want to give it a try?”
He paused, his voice turning serious with an unquestionable authority.
“But you have to be honest this time.
Do your work properly.
This is a company wholly owned by me.
You can hang up now if you’re not up for that.”
Xia En gave Smith a few seconds to think.
He knew that given Smith’s current situation—burdened by debt and desperate for work—the man would likely not refuse.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Smith’s eager and excited voice came through the phone.
His tone was full of surprise and gratitude.
“Who would refuse a job?
Especially from a boss like you!
Mr.
Xia En, just give the orders.
I’ll get it done.
I definitely won’t repeat my past mistakes.
What do you need me to do?”
Hearing the blatant flattery and the urgency in the man’s voice, Xia En couldn’t help but chuckle.
His tone softened slightly.
“Nice flattery, but don’t bother next time.
Just do the work.
I value your ability, not your brown-nosing.”
Then, getting down to business, he instructed clearly: “Go register a company called Hummingbird Unmanned Equipment.
Register it in New York.
Pick an office building with good transport links and a suitable environment.
Look for the building yourself; I’ll provide the funds from the account I give you later.”
“Also, you’re in charge of hiring the foundational staff.
Not too many, but they must be reliable and efficient.
Pay close attention to the finance and administration roles—there can’t be any mistakes.”
“Once the company is capitalized and all procedures are done, go to Ohio immediately and help me buy the land I’ve selected.
I’ll send you the address later.
Pay close attention to the land acquisition details and report any issues to me promptly.”
Smith agreed immediately, his tone respectful.
“No problem, Mr.
Xia En.
Rest assured, I’ll handle everything perfectly.
I won’t let you down!”
Then, he couldn’t help but ask out of concern, “By the way, Mr.
Xia En, is the company’s nature still drone manufacturing?
I don’t mean to pry, Boss, but do you have to stick with drones?
What happened last time still makes my heart skip a beat.
We have to be careful about Skylark Company suing us for trade secret infringement!”
Xia En smiled indifferently upon hearing this, his voice brimming with confidence.
“Don’t worry.
This technical field is completely different from before; it has nothing to do with drones.
There won’t be any disputes over trade secrets.”
“Furthermore, the relevant patents for Skylark are currently in my hands.
They only have the right to use them, not ownership.
They have no standing to sue us, and even if they tried, they wouldn’t win.”
“That’s good, that’s good!” Smith breathed a sigh of relief, his voice much lighter as the weight was lifted from his chest.
“Boss, you can count on me.
I’ll have the company registration and land purchase settled within a week.
Just wait for my good news!”
Xia En gave a simple “OK” and didn’t waste any more words, hanging up immediately since he had much to do.
With the company and land issues addressed, he immediately opened his browser to search for a suitable construction firm.
He wasn’t building an ordinary base; it was a secret facility deep underground.
Its specialized purpose meant that the design drawings and construction requirements were extremely strict, leaving no room for error.
Therefore, he had to find a firm that was qualified, experienced, reputable, and capable of maintaining absolute secrecy.
Only then could he ensure the quality of the base and keep his secrets safe.
Xia En had already planned the design of this underground base in his mind.
Every detail and dimension was crystal clear.
He had even given it a name: “The Ground Nail.”
“This is the first nail I’m driving into this world.
It must be solid, and it must be hidden.
It will be the foundation of my future development.”
Xia En murmured softly, his eyes filled with resolve and his voice carrying absolute determination.
He opened multiple search engines, entered keywords, and meticulously reviewed the qualifications, past cases, and reputations of various construction firms.
After comparing them repeatedly, he narrowed the list down to a few that met his requirements and looked into their details.
It didn’t take long for him to find a firm that fit the bill.
This company had extensive experience in underground engineering, had built small underground facilities for the military, had an excellent reputation, and maintained tight security protocols.
He immediately called their lead designer.
Skipping the pleasantries, he stated his requirements in a forceful, non-negotiable tone.
“That’s right.
I want the base to be one hundred meters underground.
The geological structure must be stable and capable of resisting conventional impacts.
Even in the event of a minor earthquake, there must be no risk of collapse.”
“Yes, you heard me correctly.
No need for ventilation ducts.
Don’t install any life-support systems.
You don’t need to consider human comfort.
Just build it according to the dimensions and structure I provide.
Don’t add anything extra.”
Hearing such strange requirements, the designer couldn’t help but ask, his voice filled with confusion: “Sir, if I may ask, if an underground base lacks ventilation and life support, it will be impossible for anyone to survive inside.
Are you sure you don’t need them?”
Faced with the designer’s questioning, Xia En’s tone remained cold, showing no intention of explaining.
“Why?
You don’t need to know that.
You just need to tell me if you can do it.
Complete the construction on time and with quality according to my specs.
If you can do it, money is no object.”
He continued to list his requirements, his tone still authoritative.
“Additionally, I need three tunnels in different directions.
These three tunnels must not be connected.
One is for entry only, and one is for exit only.
These distinctions must be strictly maintained without exception.”
“The only tunnel meant for both entry and exit must be equipped with three nuclear-radiation-shielded doors.
Their sealing and protection levels must be up to code, capable of withstanding high-intensity radiation and impact without any leaks.”
“Furthermore, all tunnels must be built in segments.
Each segment must have an independent protective door and pre-installed interfaces for equipment.
I will arrange for professionals to handle the equipment installation later; you just need to handle the basic construction.”
“I’ll repeat: just tell me if you can do it.
Don’t ask so many questions.
Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask—just do your job.
If you can’t do it, I’ll find another firm immediately.”