The Red Star International Department Store in Forty-Nine City was already bustling when Leon Ford walked through its doors. Even though he had visited this place many times before, he still couldn't help feeling impressed. Large banners hung from the ceiling. Counters lined every corner, covered with products from food to clothing to cosmetics. Clerks shouted prices enthusiastically, and the whole place felt like a living, breathing marketplace.
Department stores of this era prided themselves on one thing:
"Here, you can buy anything in the world."
Leon moved from aisle to aisle, carefully selecting gifts for his upcoming blind date. It took him nearly an hour, but he finally gathered everything he needed:
two packs of peach cakes
two pounds of melon seeds
one pound of White Rabbit candy
a can of fruity biscuits
two pounds of pork
one bottle of Moutai liquor
When the clerk finished counting, the total came to 18 yuan and 2 cents. Leon winced. Moutai alone cost six yuan. With a monthly salary of 84.5 yuan, this was a meaningful expenditure—something only someone with true savings would dare make.
After paying, he stepped out of the department store and headed to Quanjude, where he bought a roast duck to take back to the mill. Only after securing all of this did he cycle toward the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, where he worked.
As soon as he approached the factory gate, voices rose around him.
"Good morning, Master Ford!"
"Morning, Master Ford!"
Leon smiled at each greeting. Being addressed as "Master" in this era was not casual—only highly skilled workers earned that title. And Leon, a seventh-level fitter, was considered one of the top talents in the entire mill. Young workers often sought his guidance, and he taught them generously, without hiding any techniques. Because of this, they respected him deeply.
His reputation—Master Ford—had spread far across the factory.
Leon entered Workshop No. 5, where more than a dozen workers were already busy machining various metal parts. A young worker in blue coveralls hurried toward him with a drawing in hand.
"Master Ford, you're here. We have a precision part that needs machining. The error cannot exceed one millimeter."
Leon glanced at the drawing and immediately understood what needed to be done. Without hesitation, he walked to the lathe, adjusted the machine, rolled up his sleeves, and began the delicate work. Every movement of his hands was stable, confident, and precise—like a musician familiar with every note of a song.
More than a dozen workers gathered around silently, watching the master at work. Their eyes were full of admiration.
Half an hour later, the part was finished. After measuring it, the error was only 0.3 millimeters—far exceeding requirements.
Leon handed the part to the young worker, then grabbed his ceramic cup and took a seat to rest. Another worker kindly brought him a kettle of hot water.
Leon nodded gratefully and took a sip.
For a moment, his focus drifted.
"I wonder what's happening in the Destiny Ant Nest now…"
He thought of Fate, the Ant Sage, and the queen ant who had just been transformed. The birth of a new ant civilization had shocked him, but it also reminded him of something chilling.
He was living in the Three-Body Universe.
A world where the Trisolarans—an advanced alien race—could strike at any moment.
He had once lived with a relaxed mindset, thinking he had all the time in the world. But now, with the truth exposed, that comfort vanished. The looming threat of the Trisolaran fleet felt like a mountain pressing on his chest.
Yes, he had the Dream Machine from the Inception Civilization.
But that didn't change human destiny on its own.
"Against the Trisolarans, I'm still too weak."
The thought kept echoing in his head.
He needed allies.
He needed knowledge.
He needed technology.
Secretly, he was already planning to build an organization similar to the future ETO—an underground network meant to change the fate of humanity. But for now, all he could do was prepare quietly.
He took another sip of water and then suddenly remembered:
"I still haven't used today's civilization search."
His pulse quickened. Yesterday's result had been overwhelming, giving him the Dream Machine and starting the ant civilization miracle. Perhaps today would be just as extraordinary.
He opened the system panel in his mind and pressed the search button.
A cold electronic voice echoed instantly:
"Ding! Civilization search successful.
This time's civilization: Ace Agent Civilization."
Leon almost dropped his cup. His whole face lit up.
Agents? Technology? Advanced gadgets?
He listened as the rest of the information flowed into his mind.
Ace Agent Civilization—based on the Kingsman universe.
Advanced weaponry, elite spy gadgets, powerful communication devices…all disguised in ordinary objects.
Another message arrived:
"Extracting civilization technology…
Extraction successful.
Congratulations to the host for obtaining:
Holographic Glasses × 2."
In that instant, Leon felt two small objects appear in his hands. He quickly looked around—none of the workers noticed anything unusual. They were still busy machining parts.
Leon sighed in relief.
The system felt so primitive—no storage space, no safety protocols.
He had to be more careful next time.
He slipped one glasses case into his pocket and opened the other.
Inside lay a pair of flat, gold-rimmed spectacles. They looked simple—perfectly acceptable for the 1960s aesthetic.
Leon put them on.
Buzz.
A faint vibration ran through the temples of the glasses. His lenses lit up with tiny lines of data.
A description appeared:
---
Holographic Glasses (Kingsman Exclusive)
Real-time data analysis
Long-distance audio and video transmission
Remote communication
Holographic projection
Encrypted messaging
---
Leon pressed a button on the side of the frame.
Instantly, numbers and measurements appeared, analyzing the metal part on the table beside him.
He pressed another button.
A holographic projection of himself appeared in front of him—transparent, three-dimensional, and perfectly lifelike.
He removed the glasses.
The projection vanished.
He put them back on.
The projection returned.
He grinned.
This was technology that didn't belong to Earth.
Not for another fifty years at least.
If used wisely, this could become the foundation of his future underground organization.
A tool to coordinate people.
To gather intelligence.
To contact allies safely.
He was about to test another feature when someone walked into the workshop.
A young man wearing a simple gray coat, round glasses, and polished shoes. His expression was polite, almost gentle. Leon studied him—he looked strangely familiar, but Leon couldn't recall from where.
The young man approached him with a respectful smile.
"Hello, you must be Master Ford, the seventh-level fitter of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill."
He extended his hand.
"I'm Brian Mullin, a reporter from Dasheng Daily.
The higher authorities sent me to interview you—
a model worker of the people.
I hope you will cooperate."
Leon blinked.
A reporter?
Now?
He hadn't expected this at all.
But he straightened up and offered a polite handshake, quickly switching from secret civilization-searcher to his public identity—
Master Leon Ford, the humble, hardworking worker of the steel mill.