The view shifted. The bedroom ceiling was replaced by the iconic blocky clouds and the unyielding square sun.
It was early morning in the Minecraft World.
Ethan, currently in Spectator Mode, floated in the silent void, looking down at the terrain below. His current "empire" consisted of a few solitary, pathetic structures. There was a simple String Farm, a small 9x9 automatic crop plot—now deserted—and the skeletal foundation of an unfinished Iron Farm standing lonely on the plains.
Looking at these shabby workshops, Ethan let out a wry, self-deprecating laugh.
"This is the limit of what I could grind out by myself. Exhausting, back-breaking work, and for what? Pitiful efficiency."
Previously, Ethan had felt that without the ability to control enough entities, complex Redstone machinery was a waste of time. He had spent his energy risking his life to explore the "Other World" instead of building. When he played the game in his past life, he was a lone wolf. He did everything himself. That soul-crushing grind was enough to make anyone want to quit.
But tomorrow, everything would change.
Ethan's gaze swept across the vast, empty plains, and a vision of the future crystallized in his mind. Tomorrow, there would be thousands of Federation combat engineers who had undergone the most rigorous training on the planet.
Iron Farms, Gold Farms, and Guardian Temples with efficiencies in the millions would spring up like mushrooms after a rainstorm. Redstone-automated sorting lines would categorize and archive hundreds of millions of blocks.
"I used to be a struggling survival player," Ethan murmured, a surge of unprecedented pride swelling in his chest as he surveyed his territory. "Starting tomorrow, I am the owner of the server."
The feeling was intoxicating. He had originally planned to descend and finish the Iron Farm himself, but he looked at his blocky hands and retracted them.
"Forget it. No more grinding."
"With thousands of workers entering tomorrow, they'll finish this in minutes. Why should I stay up late?"
Ethan took one last look at the tranquil, cubic world before his consciousness withdrew in a flicker of light.
Westmount Estate
Ethan turned over in his bed, a relaxed smile on his lips. The quilt was soft, the temperature was perfect, and the silence was absolute. This was the soundest sleep he had enjoyed in the eighteen years since his transmigration.
Outside, the night was deep, but Ethan knew that when the sun rose, it wouldn't just be him waking up—it would be the entire Federation.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
With steady, rhythmic breaths, the Chief Commander fell into a dreamless sleep.
The Next Day
When Ethan opened his eyes, the autumn sun had already climbed to its zenith. He had slept as if trying to compensate for the fatigue of two lifetimes. After a quick wash, he changed into a crisp casual outfit and stepped out into the courtyard.
Captain Kayne Reed was already waiting, his expression efficient and respectful.
"Director, you're awake. Lunch has been prepared—your favorite home-style comfort food."
"Thanks, Kayne." Ethan stretched, soaking in the midday warmth.
Kayne reported as he led the way to the dining area. "General Zhang called earlier. He didn't want to disturb your rest, so he asked me to escort you directly to the Astra Command Hub once you were ready."
Kayne's tone took on a hint of unconcealed awe. "The General is already stationed there. Per your instructions, the first wave of personnel, supplies, and equipment has been assembled. Furthermore, he emphasized that a top-tier think tank, personally approved by Elder Lee, has arrived."
"The General said that once you're there, feel free to propose any 'wild' ideas you have. Those experts are there specifically to turn your imagination into reality."
"A think tank..." Ethan nodded, his eyes sharpening.
This was exactly what he needed. There were countless "black technologies" in the Minecraft world he couldn't exploit alone.
Take Bone Meal, for instance. In the game, it just accelerated crop growth or forced a sapling into a tree. But in reality? If they could achieve industrial mass production and scatter tens of thousands of tons of Bone Meal over the deserts or the Amber Highlands... within days, the wastelands that had plagued the Federation for millennia would transform into lush, green oases.
The strategic significance for national ecology and food security was staggering.
"And then there are the potions, the Redstone logic gates..." Ethan pondered silently. Every mechanic needed a scientist to analyze and localize it for Earth.
After a hurried lunch, Ethan stood up. "Let's go, Kayne. Take me to see our new home."
"Yes, Director."
Kayne whispered a few words into his comms. Less than thirty seconds later, a black, bulletproof sedan with a special-clearance pass pulled up to the gate. Kayne personally opened the door, then slid into the driver's seat.
The car, sleek as a panther, sped toward the deep mountains northwest of the capital.
As they left the urban sprawl, the scenery grew desolate and the roads rugged. Ethan noticed that while civilian traffic had vanished, the number of "eyes" in the shadows had tripled. Every few kilometers, he spotted hidden checkpoints. Eventually, armored vehicles with live ammunition could be seen patrolling the shoulders.
This was the Federation's hardest shield—the heart of the nation's defense.
After an hour of driving, they reached the foot of a majestic mountain. Ahead lay an ordinary-looking checkpoint, but the towering watchtowers and dark machine-gun nests told a different story.
Kayne rolled down the window and handed over a dark gold token. The sentry swiped it through a modified scanner.
Beep! Permission Confirmed: SSS-Rank.
The sentry's pupils contracted. He immediately snapped to a salute, his eyes filled with fervent admiration. He didn't know who was in the car, but he knew the token represented a clearance three levels higher than his commanding officer—as if Elder Lee himself had arrived.
With a dull roar, the mountain wall ahead split open. It was a massive blast door disguised as a rock face.
"Director, hold on."
Kayne stepped on the gas, and the car plunged into a deep, lit tunnel. When they emerged on the other side, even Ethan's breath caught.
It was a world of its own.
The entire mountain had been hollowed out, revealing a gargantuan subterranean dome illuminated as bright as day by a sea of high-power searchlights.