New book
Food Wars: Not about Food
Inside the conference room, Morin's "exchange" with the mecha designers finally came to an end.
Calling it an exchange was generous.
It was closer to one-sided guidance.
That had been Morin's plan from the start.
If he wanted influence, he had to show strength.
Even if that strength felt a little unbelievable.
Whenever someone asked how he understood so much, Morin's answer never changed.
"It's simple."
"I just looked once and understood."
"This isn't difficult, is it?"
"The difficulty is about the same."
"I found the information online."
"Oh, I taught myself hacking and broke into some databases."
"Yes, I taught myself everything."
In short.
Self-taught.
A genius who taught himself multiple fields and reached expert level by the age of twenty-one.
That wasn't strange, right?
Nothing wrong with that.
Morin's calm, matter-of-fact tone made the academicians start doubting themselves.
Is this really normal?
Normal my ass.
They recalled their own learning process.
Years of struggle.
Guidance from masters.
Decades of accumulation.
They were already in their forties, sixties, even seventies, and this was their level.
Morin?
Self-taught.
Twenty-one.
And more knowledgeable than them.
That conclusion was reached after the "exchange."
The mecha designers were completely convinced.
No matter what they asked, Morin answered without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the ones asking questions often got stuck instead.
Morin would calmly point out that their questions were unclear or logically ambiguous.
After several rounds, anxiety started to creep in.
Was there really no question that could stump him?
They weren't shameless.
They couldn't ask questions that exceeded the limits of current science.
That would just be throwing a tantrum like an old fool.
They were colleagues.
Public embarrassment served no purpose.
Everyone wanted to save face.
Everyone was here to build stronger mechas and push research forward.
They were impressed.
They were envious.
Some even felt a trace of jealousy.
But they didn't hate him.
When the gap became too large, only admiration remained.
The person ahead of you had reached a level you couldn't even comprehend.
Even the jealousy was washed away by Morin's open and generous answers.
In truth, Morin had planned to hold some things back.
He intended to release certain technologies gradually, on his own schedule.
That way, he could get more...
bonuses.
Defeating monsters mattered.
But making money and earning experience points mattered more.
Fortunately, none of the questions touched on those technologies.
So he kept them hidden without saying a word.
...
When the one-sided defeat finally brought the discussion to an end, Zhao Wei and Qin Guang quietly slipped back into the room.
As if they hadn't left earlier due to not understanding a single thing.
Qin Guang cleared his throat.
"Academicians, today's welcome session will end here. I need to take Comrade Morin to arrange his office and laboratory, so-"
"Secretary Qin, can't you have someone else handle that?" an academician interrupted.
"We still have theories we want to discuss with Comrade Morin."
"..."
Qin Guang paused, then changed tactics.
"It's like this. Comrade Morin traveled a long way to get here. He needs rest to recover his energy. We also need to arrange a full physical examination, just in case-"
Before he could finish, he was interrupted again.
"Then we'll have to trouble you!"
"Take good care of Comrade Morin!"
"Isn't it obvious he's exhausted from the journey?"
"Why are you rushing? Can't this wait until tomorrow?"
One academician even scolded the one who spoke first.
Morin: "..."
He had expected enthusiasm.
Experiencing it firsthand still made him think they were... kind of cute.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
He said nothing and followed Qin Guang, who gestured for him to leave.
His "high IQ, low EQ" persona couldn't break.
If it did, it would affect his plans later.
"Before the physical, we need to discuss your salary and benefits," Qin Guang said as they walked.
"We've drafted a proposal. It's only a draft. Everything is negotiable."
"I understand," Morin nodded.
"Just tell us what you want," Zhao Wei said with a smile.
"As long as it's legal and within my authority, I'll get it for you."
Qin Guang's expression darkened.
He was walking ahead, so neither Zhao Wei nor Morin could see it.
He had just carefully emphasized "negotiable."
Zhao Wei ruined it with one sentence.
This was desperation.
Too much desperation.
Qin Guang felt frustrated, but helpless.
He knew why Zhao Wei was rushing.
People were coveting Zhao Wei's position.
They wanted to cancel the mecha program and replace it with the so-called "High Wall" project.
Profit.
The High Wall project?
More like the "Give Up Completely" project.
A group of people who had forgotten their roots.
Give up land.
Give up resistance.
Give up the future.
Give it all to aliens.
The more they gave up, the less chance there was to fight back.
If that was the case, they might as well fight to the end.
At least then, they would have tried.
...
"This is our benefits proposal," Qin Guang said, handing Morin the contract.
"Please review it carefully. Ask me if you have questions."
"Alright."
Morin opened it and read.
Zhao Wei glanced at Qin Guang.
Qin Guang shot him a look that clearly said:
Don't interfere.
One glance was enough.
They were comrades.
Brothers forged in life and death.
Truthfully, although Qin Guang always called Zhao Wei "Ge," his strategic thinking and operational ability had always been superior.
A superior listening to his secretary wasn't unusual.
Morin finished reading quickly and set the contract down.
"I've read it. I need to revise a few clauses."
"Go ahead," Qin Guang said, fully focused.
"Before that, I have a question."
"Go on."
"Is it possible for me to independently design and build a mecha?"
Qin Guang: "!!!"
"Independently?" Qin Guang emphasized the word.
"Yes," Morin nodded seriously. "I want to complete all designs by myself."
Qin Guang almost said "impossible."
A mecha involved countless disciplines.
China's existing mechas were the result of every designer working together, plus international collaboration.
One person doing everything?
Unprecedented.
Then he remembered who stood in front of him.
Morin.
The man who solved every unsolved question and scored full marks in half an hour.
Maybe...
"...I can grant you design authority," Qin Guang said after thinking.
"But the design must be approved by more than half of the mecha designers before construction. That's non-negotiable."
Zhao Wei remained silent.
This authority had been delegated to Qin Guang long ago.
Today, Zhao Wei was essentially a mascot.
And not a very handsome one.
"Of course," Morin nodded.
"There's one more thing."
"I need an advance of 100 million RMB, transferred to my personal account."
"100 million?" Qin Guang restrained the urge to refuse.
"May I ask what you need it for?"
"I just want to experience having 100 million," Morin said calmly.
"They say wealth brings satisfaction. I want to feel that."
"...That's it?" Qin Guang stared at him.
Under Morin's steady gaze, he couldn't help doubting himself.
He thought Morin wanted to spend extravagantly.
Just... satisfaction?
"Yes," Morin nodded.
Geniuses had quirks.
Morin couldn't suppress his urge to draw cards.
If he was drawing, it would be from the big pool.
Why draw from beginner pools?
A bronze pool capped at bronze rewards.
A diamond pool capped at diamond rewards.
Which would you choose?
For unlucky people, maybe only the guarantee mattered.
He was also curious about what upgrading his [Mecha Designer] skills would unlock.
"By the way," Morin added,
"I'll first complete a mecha design as proof. Transfer the money only after it's deemed feasible."
That made sense.
100 million was no small amount.
Qin Guang agreed immediately.
What else was there to say?
If Morin could design a full mecha alone...
100 million was nothing.
Even a billion wouldn't be enough.
The contract revision was simple.
They printed it.
Morin signed and fingerprinted it.
Zhao Wei stamped it.
Two copies were made.
The contract took effect.
Then came the physical examination.
Non-negotiable.
In their eyes, Morin was priceless.
They wouldn't be at ease otherwise.
And then-
"Holy shit, where did you find this guy?" the doctor burst out, rushing to Qin Guang with the report.
"What's wrong?" Qin Guang's heart sank.
"There's a problem! A huge problem!"
Qin Guang nearly collapsed.
Then-
"I've never seen such a perfect body!"
"...Huh?"
"Can you speak normally?" Qin Guang rolled his eyes.
"If he's healthy, just say so."
"This isn't just healthy!" the doctor said excitedly.
"His body is at the human limit."
"No-he is the human limit."
"...What do you mean?"
"Muscles, hormones, cell activity, brain activity-everything is at the theoretical maximum!"
"A perfect human!"
The doctor concluded:
"He's a born mecha pilot!"
"Theoretically, he could pilot a mecha alone without side effects!"
"I thought Song Shu was the best pilot candidate I'd seen in years," the doctor said emotionally.
"I didn't expect this."
"This one is a miracle!"
"He'll be the most outstanding mecha pilot ever!"
"I'll stake my reputation on it!"
Qin Guang stood frozen.
Mecha pilot?
Wasn't the person he brought for a physical a genius mecha designer?
How did he suddenly turn into a genius mecha pilot?
Find 30+ Advance chapters
And for More Fan fiction
👇
👇
[Support link: pat reon.com/RioRaRyu]
------------
More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 250 power stones = Bonus Chapter
Give me more Power Stones
------------