Chapter 16: Material Constraints

"Indeed, this is a problem..." Jiang Chen nodded slightly.

Due to Earth’s technological limitations, it was impossible to manufacture a ‘miniature nuclear reactor’ that met the requirements, so the only option was battery power. This meant that the Boxer’s maximum combat duration at peak output was a mere ten minutes. Of course, if not pushed to maximum power, this time could be greatly extended. In ‘semi-energy-saving mode,’ with the speed and strength of a warlord-class, sustaining combat for two or three hours posed no issue at all. Battery replacement was not particularly troublesome either—just two minutes and it was done.

However, if the fighting intensity was high, endurance became a critical issue that had to be resolved; otherwise, the Boxer’s actual combat value would be severely diminished.

“There’s another issue,” Jarvis continued, “Among the Boxer’s core components, the vast majority require the use of ‘A3-3221 Alloy.’ The production of this alloy is very low, and acquiring a sufficient share won’t be easy.”

‘A3-3221 Alloy’ was an extremely strong metal; even a planetary-class powerhouse would find it difficult to damage, making it widely applied in fields where high metal strength was essential. But the synthesis of ‘A3-3221 Alloy’ required a metal called ‘Iridium-193,’ whose reserves on Earth were extremely scarce and very difficult to mine, severely limiting the output of the alloy.

Even for Jiang Chen, obtaining large quantities of ‘A3-3221 Alloy’ would be challenging. The annual output was fixed, and many fields needed it; after allocations, very little remained. A single Boxer power armor consumed about 1.5 tons of ‘A3-3221 Alloy.’

Jiang Chen had not paid much attention to this issue before, but with Jarvis’s reminder, he realized that scarcity of certain materials might affect the pace at which he could build a Boxer power armor force.

“Apart from ‘A3-3221 Alloy,’ are there other materials difficult to obtain in large quantities?” Jiang Chen couldn’t help but ask.

Jarvis paused before responding, “If you intend to implement unmanned automation, the production capacity of the ‘Dragon Might IV Chip’ will also be insufficient.”

As he spoke, data scrolled across the screen, listing the production, general fixed allocation, and the share that Jiang Chen might acquire of both ‘A3-3221 Alloy’ and ‘Dragon Might IV Chip,’ all sourced from Jarvis’s online searches.

“Master, this data comes from public information online and may not be entirely accurate. If you authorize me to infiltrate the HR Alliance’s encrypted servers, I can obtain more precise data,” Jarvis reminded.

Both materials were produced and supplied by the HR Alliance, so their database would naturally contain more detailed and accurate information.

“Infiltrating servers is out of the question,” Jiang Chen shook his head, declining.

As one of the most powerful organizations on Earth, the HR Alliance was highly likely to possess auxiliary intelligences. Jarvis was only a basic AI; if it clashed with cosmic-grade intelligences, leaving aside victory or defeat, the risk of exposing his own existence would increase dramatically. Jiang Chen had no intention of taking that risk.

His own strength was currently far too limited; he had to proceed with caution.

“Alloy, chips...” Glancing over the data provided by Jarvis, Jiang Chen began to ponder.

Finding suitable substitutes was not a problem for him. Whether it was a stronger alloy or a more powerful chip, the system’s blueprint reserves had the necessary alternatives. He just needed to select the most suitable ones, produce them, and gradually expand production capacity to meet the Boxer's needs.

Of course, this would require considerable time—and a great deal of money as well.

The manufacturing cost of the first experimental Boxer alone exceeded ten billion. Even if costs dropped with mass production, the decline wouldn’t be dramatic. New alloy formulas and new chips had to be developed from the system’s blueprints into actual products and then mass-produced, all of which demanded enormous financial backing.

Without money, nothing could be accomplished.

“Jarvis, how much money do I have left?” Jiang Chen asked.

Jarvis quickly pulled up Jiang Chen’s financial status and reported, “Master, you have 2.2 billion in cash in your personal account, and your studio’s account holds another 6.5 billion, for a total of 8.7 billion. However, you still owe 78 billion in debt, mainly an interest-free loan from Jiangnan Bank, which must be repaid within a year.”

Jiang Chen: “...”

He had thought that after the Ripper collaboration, he would no longer be short on funds, but a few months later, he was still deep in debt?

Jiang Chen was aware of the debt, of course.

The main expenses were the construction of the supercomputing center and the Boxer production facility.

Using the future profits from the Ripper project as collateral, Jiang Chen had borrowed a staggering one hundred billion from Jiangnan Bank, nearly all of which went toward the supercomputing center and the manufacturing plant.

Jiang Chen immediately asked, “Haven’t the subsequent revenues from the Ripper project been transferred to me?”

“The latest patent dividend settlement was directly appropriated by Jiangnan Bank to repay your debt,” Jarvis’s synthesized mechanical voice now sounded especially cold.

“Tch...” Only then did Jiang Chen recall that, per his contract with Jiangnan Bank, the military’s patent dividends would be used for loan repayment first. Only when the debt was cleared would the funds be credited to his account.

That was also one of the conditions for waiving loan interest.

“In other words, if I want to expand the Boxer program, I still need to raise a large sum of money,” Jiang Chen murmured.

But the money issue wasn’t insurmountable. Jiangnan Bank had granted him a five hundred billion loan limit, of which only one hundred billion had been used; four hundred billion remained. Worst case, he could borrow more and repay it slowly.

Jiang Chen hesitated: should he use this as his ‘startup capital,’ or find another way to make money?

He wasn’t lacking in valuable items; the system’s blueprints included many things that, while not all useful to him, could fetch a high price. Yet, whichever path he chose, there were risks involved.

“In the end, it’s all about personal strength. If only I were strong enough, I wouldn’t have to be so cautious...” Jiang Chen couldn’t help but mutter.

“Master, regarding the plan to establish a Boxer unit, I recommend conducting combat trials before making a final decision,” Jarvis suggested, “This experimental model only needs simple modifications—a computer installed and the communications module removed—to simulate extreme conditions and test whether it can achieve the expected independent combat capabilities.”

Jiang Chen considered this for a moment and nodded slightly. “Very well. Let’s do it that way.”