Although logic told Ke Shoulin that Tan Qiu was not the type to give up easily, he found it hard to believe that Tan Qiu would choose a Stage 2 refugee as his berserker.
"That Qi Yuan, is there something special about him?" Ke Shoulin asked.
"Since Tan Qiu chose him, there must be something special about him," Feng Qian said calmly.
"I've also collected some information about this Qi Yuan. Although he's only Stage 2, his combat power is not weak at all. He has even single-handedly killed a Stage 3 Pinnacle several times."
"Killing a Stage 3 Pinnacle as a Stage 2?" Ke Shoulin frowned.
This kind of thing was not common. Furthermore, the cases that had been reported were all related to genetic warriors or new humans.
Their bodies were strong, and they had more abilities. Their ability combinations were more reasonable, which was why they could defeat a Stage 3 Pinnacle as a Stage 2.
Ke Shoulin had seen a few Stage 3 Pinnacle warriors in the wilderness. Although they were weaker than Stage 3 Pinnacle warriors in the Shelter, there was not much of a difference. If Qi Yuan could defeat them as a Stage 2 Pinnacle warrior, he naturally had the qualifications to fight Ke Long.
"Could it be that this Qi Yuan is also a Stage 2 Pinnacle warrior?"
"It's possible." Feng Qian nodded.
A normal Stage 2 Pinnacle warrior could not threaten Ke Long, but if this Stage 2 Pinnacle warrior had the strength of a Stage 3 Pinnacle warrior, then it was different.
Ke Shoulin pondered for a while and quickly came to a decision.
Due to certain reasons, the Shelter's attitude towards Stage 2 Pinnacle warriors and New Humans was very gentle. He could not make a fuss about it, but Qi Yuan's Stage 2 ability was a huge shortcoming.
No matter how strong he was, a Stage 2 refugee did not have the qualifications to enter the Shelter. If he did not interfere, Tan Qiu could still use his influence to let a Stage 2 refugee enter the Black Steel Shelter. However, since this Qi Yuan was Ke Long's opponent, he could forget about taking a single step into the Black Steel Shelter.
Stopping a Stage 2 refugee from entering the Shelter was already within the rules of the Shelter. Without Qi Yuan, even if Tanqiu could find another person to replace him, his strength would definitely be affected without any familiarity with him.
Although it still couldn't guarantee that Ke Long would win, it would still increase his chances of winning from 99% to 99.99%!
"Tanqiu trusts this Qi Yuan a lot. In order for him to enter the sanctuary, he even made him a research assistant." Feng Qian pretended to remind Han Sen.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to Tanqiu about her losses. I don't think she'll fall out with me over a rank 2 wastelander!" Ke Shoulin said.
"Of course she wouldn't be so impulsive!
Tanqiu has enough talent, and his brain is also very smart. It's just that he didn't use his intelligence where it should be used! "
Feng Qian's eyes flashed. He had never taken Qu Shan Hai and Qi Yuan seriously. They were just small fries. The only one who could truly threaten him was Tanqiu.
Tanqiu had just become a Level 4 researcher, and there was a huge gap between their qualifications. Since she wanted to use him as a stepping stone to get to the top, then she couldn't miss a single step. As long as he could suppress Tanqiu this time, it would be very difficult for her to compete with him for the position of chief.
In Feng Qian's eyes, this berserker duel was just a test between him and Tanqiu. It was just that neither of them had participated in the duel.
Tanqiu's pawns were Qu Shan Hai and Qi Yuan. Although Qu Shan Hai had the ability to hit him where it hurt, he definitely couldn't threaten him now. The huge gap in power and status between the two meant that Qu Shan Hai wouldn't have a chance to make a comeback.
Compared to Tanqiu's pawns, Feng Qian's pawns were much more powerful. Qu Shan Hai's opponent was his student, Tang Hong. The berserker on his side was under Tang Hong's name. Although Tang Hong was only a Level 2 researcher, his parents were M5s in the logistics department.
Just this title alone brought him a lot of research funding. Once Tang Hong successfully became a Level 3 researcher with the help of the berserker, there would be more resources in the future.
As for Qi Yuan's opponent, Ke Long, he crushed Qi Yuan in all aspects. Ke Shoulin didn't even need to show up personally to put pressure on the hazard management department to keep Qi Yuan out of the duel.
Ignoring the difference in strength between the players, just the difference in strength between the pawns was enough for him to clinch victory.
With such a huge difference, how are you going to fight me?!
After leaving the training room, Ke Shoulin returned to his office and called for his private secretary to give him instructions.
The person in charge of the assessment in the hazard management department was usually an M3, or at most an M4. He didn't even need to show up to communicate with this kind of person. His secretary was enough to represent his will.
Ke Shoulin believed that the person in charge of the assessment in the hazard management department would know what to do as long as his brain hadn't been sucked dry by the tainted beast.
They didn't even need to break the rules to stop a Level 2 refugee. As long as they didn't purposely leave any openings, it would be enough!
Just as Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin were secretly preparing, Tan Qiu, who was Feng Qian's biggest opponent, leisurely took out Qi Yuan's thesis.
After meeting with Qi Yuan, Tan Qiu was completely certain that this energy matrix was Qi Yuan's work. In her opinion, at least half of the value of Qi Yuan's berserker was condensed in this energy matrix.
Since there were no other problems with this energy matrix, it was better to be the reviewer herself than to write the recommendation letter for Qi Yuan.
During this period, Feng Qian and Tan Qiu had secretly exchanged blows many times. Tan Qiu had made concessions in many areas in exchange for the right to decide the date of the duel.
The date of the duel was five days later. That day was also the date of the next issue of Hope's publication.
By doing so, she could reduce Feng Qian's vigilance to the greatest extent.
After reading Qi Yuan's thesis once again, Tan Qiu took out a fountain pen from the pen holder on the desk and began to write a review.
"This is a breakthrough result. It subverts the traditional structure of energy matrices …"
Tan Qiu wrote very slowly and carefully. As a Level 4 researcher, she was almost at the top of the pyramid of scientific research. Under normal circumstances, this kind of Level 3 energy matrix thesis would not be pushed to her hands. However, since she had already decided to go against Feng Qian, this time, endorsing Qi Yuan became a necessary support. Otherwise, when Qi Yuan stepped into the shelter as a wilderness refugee without anyone to rely on, how could he charge and break through the enemy lines and fight against Feng Qian?
After Tan Qiu finished writing, it was already evening. She glanced at the time and put the fountain pen in her hand back into the pen holder. After reading the full text again, she gently pressed the button on the desk.
A young woman in a black suit walked in. Her hair was shaved short, and her appearance was close to neutral. If it wasn't for the bulge in front of her chest that was too obvious, it was almost impossible to tell her true gender.
Tan Qiu handed the thesis with a review to her and said slowly, "Go to the Hope Building in the Hope Building.
"Submit this paper to Hope Building's 2203 office. Tell You Qing that I want to see this paper in the next issue of 'Hope'."
"Also, remember to tell him to keep it a secret. Before the official publication of Hope, do not leak any information about this thesis."
"Yes!"
The woman took the thesis and left without hesitation.
Tan Qiu stood up and looked out the window. The glass window that occupied the entire wall immediately showed a blue sky with floating white clouds.
Of course, this was not a real scene, but a virtual projection. It was said to be the sky of the old era.
Most of the main structures of the shelter's buildings were buried deep underground. This virtual projection was the best way to relieve the pressure of work.
Tan Qiu looked at the blue sky in front of her and her thoughts gradually drifted into the distance.
This confrontation with Feng Qian was just the beginning. As Molin's retirement approached, the conflict between the two would only become more and more intense. Perhaps one day, they would directly fall out with each other.
Qi Yuan was indeed a very valuable chess piece, but this chess piece's self-awareness was too strong and could not be controlled.
Although this battle with Feng Qian could temporarily tie Qi Yuan to her ship, this relationship was not stable. If she wanted Qi Yuan to be on her side, relying on external pressure was far from enough.
If Qi Yuan was stronger and had the strength of a stage-four, perhaps she could consider sharing some benefits with him. But Qi Yuan was only a stage-two. His strength was too weak. Even if she gave him the benefits, he would not be able to keep it.
Wait for Qi Yuan to grow?
How long would it take for a stage-two ability user to have the qualifications to stand on her side? Molin's retirement was in the next few years, she did not have much time to waste on Qi Yuan.
After a long time, Tan Qiu sighed softly.
The doorbell suddenly rang.
Tan Qiu looked at the image of the door and turned off the projection on the wall. Only then did she press the button to open the door.
The light at the door turned from red to green. Hong Cang pushed the door open and entered.
"What's the matter?"
"There's news from the hazard management department. Ke Shoulin's secretary just went to the hazard management department and found the examiner for the Iron Chariots this time. He prepared an excuse that his ability level is too low to prevent Qi Yuan from entering the shelter!"
Tan Qiu closed her eyes and tapped her fingers lightly on the desk.
Ke Shoulin and Feng Qian were staunch allies, and Ke Long was a berserker user. It was expected that Ke Shoulin would make a move. But Ke Shoulin, as the deputy head of the combat department, disregarded his status and directly attacked a stage-two wilderness refugee. This was somewhat out of her expectations.
If she did not leave a spy in the hazard management department, she might have really been tricked by Ke Shoulin.
But since Ke Shoulin made a move, she could not just sit back and do nothing. Otherwise, Ke Shoulin alone could cause her plan to fail.
Ke Shoulin might not have known Qi Yuan's true purpose and targeted Qi Yuan to ensure Ke Long's victory. But he had hit the nail on the head and hit her plan's fatal spot.
If Qi Yuan was only a berserker user, she would not have needed to care about Ke Shoulin's actions. With her power, she could easily choose a stronger stage-three ability user to replace Qi Yuan.
But Qi Yuan's true identity was not only a berserker user, but also one of the designers. He was an important tool for her to deal with Feng Qian.
Most importantly, Qi Yuan had a way to deal with Feng Qian's berserker. Although Qi Yuan and Qu Shan Hai did not say it explicitly, Tan Qiu was sure that no matter how strong Feng Qian's berserker was, as long as it went up against Qi Yuan, it would definitely fail.
Now, Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin were both promoting Ke Long and the new berserker. The higher they were praised now, the harder they would fall when the time came.
Qi Yuan was not someone to be trifled with!
If he dared to use the berserker to go against Feng Qian, he must have absolute confidence.
Tan Qiu was not worried at all that Qi Yuan would lose in the battle of the berserker.
Instead, she was worried that Qi Yuan had dug a hole too deep. If Ke Long was killed, then it would not be easy to clean up the mess.
Relying on Ke Shoulin's identity and position, Ke Long was also vicious and merciless, killing people without batting an eyelid. Once Qi Yuan was provoked, he might really kill.
Ke Long was Ke Shoulin's only son. If he died at the hands of Qi Yuan, the anger of a combat division's deputy head would definitely crush Qi Yuan.
Thinking of this, Tan Qiu suddenly remembered Qi Yuan's thesis. With the quality of that thesis and the berserker, Qi Yuan had the chance to surpass the assistant researcher and directly become an official researcher.
It might be difficult for him to become a rank two researcher, but he would definitely become a rank one researcher.
Although Mo Lin was old now, he had not retired yet. As long as he was still around, no one would dare to touch an official researcher. Even a division head would not dare to face Mo Lin's anger, much less a combat division's deputy head.
If Qi Yuan also realized this, he might not have held back in the battle with Ke Long.
Tan Qiu frowned. If Ke Long died at the hands of Qi Yuan, he would definitely be the target of Ke Shoulin's anger. That would definitely be bad news for him.
Ke Shoulin, who had nowhere to vent his anger, would definitely shift his target to him. Although Ke Shoulin did not dare to really flip out on him, a combat division's deputy head was definitely a very powerful enemy.
Although this was the worst possible outcome, with Qi Yuan's ability to stir up trouble, he definitely had the ability to turn this into reality.
Tan Qiu rubbed his forehead. He was starting to realize that Qi Yuan, this chess piece that he could not control, seemed to be a hot potato.
Although there was the danger of being tricked, the first battle with Feng Qian could not be separated from Qi Yuan. After thinking for a moment, Tan Qiu finally made a decision.
Soon, a disheveled Su Li with a few obvious lipstick marks on his face came into the office.
"Why are you looking for me again?" Su Li, who had been disturbed, said impatiently.
Tan Qiu glanced at him and took out a silver potion from the test kit, handing it to Su Li.
"Blade potion?"
Su Li's eyes instantly lit up. He recognized the potion in his hand at a glance — Blade potion.
Blade potion could allow a rank two ability user to awaken a rank three combat domain ability without any side effects. Moreover, the success rate of awakening was extremely high. The value of this potion, with the price of the shelter, was enough for him to find two high quality goods and have fun with them for a month!
"This is for me?" Su Li asked in disbelief.
"Give it to Qi Yuan!" Tan Qiu said expressionlessly.
Su Li's expression immediately fell. He said unhappily, "Give it to him for what?
You might as well give it to me! "
Tan Qiu ignored Su Li and calmly said,
"Tell Qi Yuan that if he wants to step into the Black Steel Shelter, he must advance to rank three. Also, remind him that when the time comes, the person using the berserker to fight him will be Ke Long. Tell him to go easy on him and not kill him!"
Su Li put away the potion and said unconcernedly, "Ke Long, that little bastard, is not a good thing. If I kill him, so be it. What's the point of keeping him?"
Before he finished speaking, Su Li felt Tan Qiu's cold gaze sweep over him. He immediately laughed and turned to leave.