Picking Up An Alpha On Garbage Star - Chapter 80

Recently, the national virtual tourism project has begun public testing, and Pei An and Xie Yu received public test accounts.

 

The idea for virtual tourism came from Pei An’s observation of public discussions about the regret people felt about not being able to travel to other destinations.

 

This project, initiated by Pei An, quickly attracted a team of outstanding members after its establishment and began research with substantial financial support.

 

Virtual tourism, utilizing VR technology, involves creating a virtual network simulation platform to fulfill people’s travel desires.

 

The project took a full ten years to develop and is finally about to be launched.

 

Similar to holographic games, virtual tourism requires using a holographic pod, but it is more complex than game scene modeling. It involves replicating the real appearance of multiple tourist attractions and different seasonal scenes, making it a challenging task.

 

After investing heavily in building the virtual tourism platform, the project team provided a batch of public test accounts to national leaders like Pei An and Xie Yu, and distributed another batch randomly to the public.

 

Yes, to the entire population.

 

Since the establishment of the Lyte Republic, Pei An strongly supported national infrastructure development. After years of effort, the Lyte Republic’s star network is now unified. People no longer have to be confined to local networks, making interstellar communication much easier. The developed network now supports the operation of the virtual tourism platform.

 

When logging into the platform via the holographic pod, users first create a character. They can customize their appearance to a high degree of freedom, though nudity is not allowed. Everything found in human society is also present in this virtual platform.

 

Pei An and Xie Yu entered the holographic pod, created their characters, and clicked to enter a retro-styled street.

 

The street was lined with countless shops, each offering different services, such as coffee shops, book bars, taverns, and more. The project team had maximized economic benefits by not just focusing on tourism but also including commercial aspects.

 

Currently, the shops are operated by NPCs. Once the platform is fully open to the public, these shops will be run by real people, just like other games where one can make money.

 

However, Pei An and Xie Yu were there for the tourism project, so they did not visit each shop but headed directly to the tourist destination based on the search engine.

 

The tourist destination occupied a vast space and was designed to resemble a planet—Earth’s ancient origin.

 

Inside the spherical structure, there were fifty divided areas, each corresponding to a different star system. Each area had NPCs providing services, which would later be replaced by real people. This was also part of the project team’s plan to address employment rates through the virtual tourism platform.

 

Pei An, unfamiliar with traveling, and Xie Yu randomly chose an area and entered.

 

The NPCs cheerfully entered work mode and approached Pei An and Xie Yu: “Gentlemen, which planet would you like to visit? We recommend Kabis Star; its aurora is the most beautiful in the nation.”

 

Pei An nodded casually: “Then Kabis Star.”

 

During the public test phase, the tourism project’s costs were set by the project team, so testers did not need to pay. However, once the platform is officially launched, these tourism projects will incur a fee. After investing so much time and effort, the project cannot fail to generate revenue for the country.

 

No matter how high the project fees are, they won’t exceed the cost of traveling across star systems and staying somewhere, not to mention many people don’t have the time for such travel. Those who can afford months of travel are rare; most people have to work or attend school.

 

“Okay, gentlemen, please enter the sensory zone,” the NPC guided Pei An and Xie Yu into a highly sci-fi sensory pod.

 

Xie Yu couldn’t help but laugh: “Doesn’t it look like a hologram within a hologram?”

 

Hearing this, Pei An realized it did resemble that.

 

They allowed the NPC to connect the sensory lines and stood quietly. When the NPC announced, “Kabis Star will be entered in ten seconds,” the countdown began.

 

Ten, nine, eight… three, two, one!

 

The scene before them changed dramatically, and they were greeted by a stunning aurora.

 

Today’s aurora was banded, a mesmerizing, indescribable green that shimmered across the distant horizon, with starry lights scattered across the curtain of light, piercing through the boundless night.

 

“It’s beautiful,” Pei An unconsciously reached out, trying to touch the light.

 

Xie Yu turned to look at him. The Marshal’s dark eyes reflected the changing colors. Though the aurora was dazzling, he found those eyes even brighter.

 

“Gentlemen, please note that the tour of Kabis Star lasts ten minutes,” the NPC’s voice announced.

 

Xie Yu extended his hand to Pei An: “Come on, let’s have a date today.”

 

Pei An smiled and took Xie Yu’s hand.

 

Under the aurora, they strolled slowly, marveling at sights they had never seen before. The platform offered a voice guide service that users could choose to activate.

 

Pei An felt it was much like having a tour guide and decided to turn on the voice service.

 

The voice of the guide was a gentle woman’s, and although it was just a recording, it felt like a captivating narrative.

 

“The aurora is produced in high-latitude regions of the upper atmosphere, a result of the interaction between stellar and planetary magnetic fields. Along with the aurora comes a mysterious sound.”

 

“In the legends of Kabis, ancient Kabis people considered this mysterious sound as the language of the deities. The place where the aurora gathers is believed to be the abode of the deities.”

 

“A poet from Kabis once wrote in his poetry that under the aurora, one could hear the deities speaking.”

 

“More widely circulated is the belief that this sound is a blessing from the deities.”

 

The voice guide did not specify what kind of blessing the deities bestowed but moved on to explain the true source of the sound—there were no deities, only science.

 

But how could they not understand what the so-called divine blessing was?

 

Pei An said, “I guess the Kabis Star tourism project will become a popular dating spot for couples in the future.”

 

Xie Yu proudly replied, “There are only the two of us now. Isn’t this blessing from the deities meant for us?”

 

Pei An laughed and nudged Xie Yu, “Do you think the deities are always on call like us?”

 

Xie Yu laughed heartily at this.

 

With only ten minutes, they made the most of their time, taking countless photos surrounded by the aurora.

 

How could one claim to have traveled without taking photos?

 

After leaving the aurora of Kabis Star, Pei An and Xie Yu were in a playful mood and decided to try the next project. This time, they randomly chose the Ura Grassland.

 

The Ura Grassland was an endless plain, with verdant grass stretching up to the sky.

 

The grassland allowed for horseback riding. Since Pei An had never seen a horse in the interstellar era, and he had never ridden one in his previous life either, he was unfamiliar with it.

 

The NPC kindly offered, “We have staff available to provide riding lessons.”

 

Pei An had to admit the service was thoughtful.

 

However, Xie Yu declined the NPC’s offer. He chose a horse, mounted it, and extended a hand to Pei An: “Come on, I’ll take you for a ride.”

 

Pei An raised his eyebrows, “You can ride a horse?”

 

Xie Yu replied, “Maybe I dreamt that one day I would ride a horse with my loved one, so I learned in advance.”

 

Pei An laughed at his whimsical answer but still took Xie Yu’s hand and mounted the horse. Xie Yu held him securely in front of him.

 

“Let’s go!” Xie Yu urged the horse forward.

 

Pei An leaned against Xie Yu’s chest and inexplicably thought of a song from his past life: “You are the wind, I am the sand, entangled and lingering around the world.”

 

Thinking of this, Pei An couldn’t help but smile even more joyfully.

 

After spending decades in this world, the sorrow and gloom from the apocalypse of his previous life seemed increasingly distant. He no longer remembered how the zombies tore at humans.

 

His eyes now reflected the prosperity and strength of the Lyte Republic.

 

Xie Yu’s arm wrapped around him protectively, and he boldly spread his arms, enjoying the exhilaration of horseback riding.

 

The sky was clear, the clouds soft, and everything was perfectly bright.

 

That day, aside from the aurora of Kabis Star and the Ura Grassland, they tested many other tourism projects, each executed excellently. It was truly impressive for a national-led project.

 

Public testing was not limited to one round. After the first round, the project team would make improvements based on the results and conduct a second round of testing. After further improvements, a total of five rounds of public testing were planned before the platform would be officially launched.

 

“The interactivity of the virtual platform is undoubtedly strong. Our plan is to develop not just tourism projects but also other areas such as economy, education, and military, provided the technology supports it. We are open to trying new things,” said the project team leader.

 

Pei An also hoped to see such a platform. If everyone was on the same platform, it could bridge the gaps between different star systems and significantly reduce the discord caused by the vastness of national territories.

 

“First, focus on getting the tourism projects up and running. Once they are stable, continue to explore deeper areas,” Pei An promised the project team. As long as they were dedicated, the country would continue to support them.

 

The project was challenging, but the results were gratifying for the team members. They could sustain themselves on this project for a lifetime, and when they introduced it, everyone would praise them for being part of such a grand project.

 

After five rounds of public testing, the virtual platform officially launched, named “Star World.”

 

In addition to accessing Star World through purchasing a holographic pod, special stores were also established for those who could not set up a pod at home. The initial goal of the virtual tourism project was to benefit all citizens, leading to the creation of these specialized stores.

 

Three days before Star World’s official launch, the purchase link for holographic pods was opened. The newly established Star World Equipment Company worked overtime to produce the first batch of 50 million pods. However, with the vast population of the Lyte Republic, 50 million pods were quickly sold out. Those who got one were overjoyed, while those who missed out left messages urging the company to release a second batch.

 

Three days later, Star World officially launched. On the first day, the number of virtual tourism users in Star World reached over 300 million, generating substantial economic benefits.

 

After deducting the earnings allocated to the respective tourist spots, there was still a substantial amount of revenue left, including the income from the holographic pods. Since this was a state-led project, the profits were reinvested into national and public welfare. The public not only enjoyed the convenience brought by high technology but also indirectly benefited from the state’s contributions.

 

Star World sparked a nationwide craze. After its launch, Pei An’s already high approval ratings soared even higher.

 

Of course, there were a few people who, for various reasons, did not support Pei An. However, this tiny fraction did not impact his approval rating.

 

After Star World’s launch, Pei An and Xie Yu would log in whenever they had time for a date. Their unique jobs prevented them from going on spontaneous trips like ordinary people, so Star World was a convenient alternative. It was also a versatile venue suitable for all ages, with many people visiting daily.

 

Most importantly, each tourist attraction in Star World had a limited time slot. This meant that if people liked a particular attraction, their interest wouldn’t wane just because they had visited it in Star World; in fact, seeing the sights briefly made them more eager to visit in real life, so the income from tourist spots only increased.

 

One day, Pei An and Xie Yu logged into Star World again.

 

Star World could scan physical data for modeling, meaning that users could enjoy the virtual experience looking exactly like their real selves, making it feel closer to real life.

 

Thanks to this feature, Pei An and Xie Yu, while strolling through Star World’s main street, unexpectedly spotted two familiar figures: Pei Zhiyu and Ming Lie.

 

These two had developed an indelible bond since kindergarten and continued through high school.

 

The problem was that these two high school seniors were wasting time playing in Star World instead of studying seriously.

 

“Pei Zhiyu.” Pei An called out to his son, who was joyfully hopping around ahead.

 

Pei Zhiyu stiffened. That voice… could it be his dad?

 

He slowly turned around and, though he couldn’t see his father’s face, the familiar walking style told him that the person approaching was definitely his dad.

 

Pei Zhiyu awkwardly raised his hand in greeting, “Hi…”

 

Pei An pulled him aside to avoid blocking others.

 

“If I’m not mistaken, you should be in class right now.”

 

Pei Zhiyu awkwardly explained, “The school is on a break today, no classes. We’ll make up for it tomorrow.”

 

Pei An asked, “Then why aren’t you at home? And why is Ming Lie with you instead of doing his homework?”

 

Pei Zhiyu immediately retorted, “We finished our homework before coming out!”

 

Ming Lie added, “Uncle Pei, we did complete our homework. I personally supervised the work.”

 

Pei An nodded, then asked, “So why not go home? It’s not like we don’t have a holographic pod at home. Why come out to play?”

 

Although Pei Zhiyu was already seventeen and about to turn eighteen, Pei An still worried as an old-fashioned father.

 

“We just wanted to go out and have some fun. It doesn’t feel the same at home,” Pei Zhiyu said softly.

 

Pei An fell silent.

 

His job kept him so busy that Pei Zhiyu had never had the chance to visit other star systems with him. Compared to other children, Pei Zhiyu had missed out on many childhood experiences.

 

Teenagers are required to travel with an adult, otherwise they can’t leave their star system.

 

After high school graduation, there would be a three-month vacation. Pei An thought for a moment and said, “How about going to another star system with Ming Lie after graduation? I’ll arrange the tickets for you.”

 

Pei Zhiyu was bewildered by the sudden change of topic.

 

Xie Yu interjected, “Why buy tickets? Just let them travel with a passing fleet.”

 

Pei An: “…”

 

Pei Zhiyu: “…”

 

Ming Lie: “…”

 

As expected of you.

 

Xie Yu was indeed capable of arranging for his son to be sent on a military ship with a passing fleet.

 

Pei Zhiyu thought, as expected, their father-son relationship had some friction.

 

“When we told Guangguang who his real parents were, it was already obvious,” Pei An sighed, thinking about Pei Zhiyu joining the military academy in the future.

 

Xie Yu comforted him, “When we told Guangguang who his real parents were, it was clear what would come next.”

 

Growing up together with Ming Lie, Pei Zhiyu had realized something was off when Ming Lie differentiated into an alpha while he remained undifferentiated. Since alphas and omegas have a very slim chance of having beta offspring, Pei Zhiyu became suspicious and inquired about it.

 

Pei An and Xie Yu had never intended to hide the truth from him. They just didn’t know how to start. When Pei Zhiyu discovered the truth himself, they confirmed it. They explained that his biological parents were heroes named Pei Song and Geng Ting, and that he was their adopted child.

 

Knowing the truth didn’t distance Pei Zhiyu from Pei An and Xie Yu. On the contrary, he became even more determined to attend a military academy and study diligently, vowing to get into the best military academy in the country and not embarrass his biological and adoptive parents.

 

Ming Lie, however, had never shown any particular interests or inclinations. Only after Pei Zhiyu decided to apply for a military academy did he follow suit, and his sudden decision didn’t affect his focus on military theory.

 

Much more stable than Pei Zhiyu.

 

“Let them fly as they wish; it’s none of our concern,” Xie Yu said, wrapping his arm around Pei An and walking forward. “We promised to have a date today, so let’s not break that promise.”

 

Pei An helplessly said, “You’ve been competing for affection with our son for over a decade. How are you still like this?”

 

Xie Yu proudly responded, “I’d rather he find a reliable partner quickly after becoming an adult. He should stick with his partner all day long. What’s wrong with sticking with me?”

 

The alpha logic is always abundant.

 

Somehow, Pei An was left with no choice but to indulge a little.

 

Author’s Note:

 

The side story of their outings was too unrealistic, so I set up a virtual tourism project. This way, they have traveled across the country’s famous mountains and rivers.

 

Is there any other side story you’d like to see?