"Committee Member Tan, this is the latest issue of Hope!"
The man handed a few copies of 'Hope' to Tan Qiu, then turned and left respectfully.
According to the usual schedule, the latest issue of Hope would appear on the desks of every academic committee the next morning. Tan Qiu had used her own channels to expedite the delivery of these copies.
Tan Qiu held the copies of Hope in her hands and handed one to Zheng Yan.
"The solution you want is inside."
Although the technology of the new era was extremely advanced and digital information had been popularized in every corner, several top journals had unanimously adopted the style of the old era and used paper pages.
Zheng Yan took the copy of Hope and flipped through the pages with a serious expression. He glanced at the index and quickly saw Qi Yuan's name. When he saw the title of the paper and Qi Yuan's independent signature, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
He originally thought that Tan Qiu would use the method of co-authorship to help Qi Yuan gain academic points. He did not expect that the paper would be published with Qi Yuan's independent signature.
With Qi Yuan's status, he should not have been qualified to publish a paper in Hope. Therefore, Tan Qiu should be the one who recommended this paper.
Zheng Yan quickly flipped to the page number of the paper and saw Tan Qiu's recommendation for this tweet.
"This is a breakthrough result. He has subverted the structure of the transmission energy matrix …"
Such a high evaluation!
Zheng Yan suppressed the shock in his heart. With Tanqiu's status, personally endorsing a wasteland refugee who didn't even have the status of an assistant researcher was already an inconceivable matter. Moreover, she had given such a high evaluation. If there were any problems with the thesis, Tanqiu's reputation would be swept to the ground.
However, when Zheng Yan saw Qi Yuan's text, his expression gradually became shocked as if he had seen something shocking.
Tan Qiu took out another copy of Hope and handed it to Feng Qian.
"Your plan seems to have failed again!"
Feng Qian snorted coldly but still took the copy of Hope. He then went straight to Qi Yuan's paper.
Feng Qian glanced at Tanqiu's comment and looked at the end of the thesis. There was the evaluation and academic score given by the Academic Committee.
In the evaluation of the thesis, Feng Qian saw a familiar name — Ai Xin. She was a Grade Four researcher who stayed in the Doomsday Munitions Headquarters. She had a deep understanding of energy matrices and was considered an authoritative existence in the field of energy matrices in the entire Doomsday Munitions Headquarters.
Ai Xin rarely wrote comments for a thesis. The last time she wrote comments for a thesis was a year ago, and it was for a level six energy matrix.
But today, Ai Xin's name appeared at the end of Qi Yuan's thesis!
In a way, this represented Ai Xin's approval of the thesis.
Just the appearance of Ai Xin's name was enough to attract everyone's attention.
"This is a nearly perfect Grade 3 energy matrix. It opens a whole new window for our current energy matrix. We can excavate endless treasures from this energy matrix!"
"Overall level, theory, structure, and significance, 120 academic points awarded!
200 academic points! "
No matter if it was the evaluation or the final reward, they shouldn't appear in a Grade 3 energy matrix thesis. If it wasn't for Ai Xin's name at the end, Feng Qian would have thought that this person was also bought by Tanqiu.
For a third level ability user, two hundred academic points was definitely a huge amount of wealth, while one hundred and twenty academic points completely removed the last obstacle for Qi Yuan to advance to a second level researcher.
Other than that, Ai Xin's comment was enough to make Qi Yuan famous. Tomorrow, when Hope appeared in every laboratory in the Shelter, Qi Yuan's name would be remembered by countless researchers.
How could a homeless person get such a high evaluation from Ai Xin?!
How could he!
Feng Qian felt as if there was a nameless fire burning in the depths of his heart!
This couldn't be Qi Yuan's work. This must be Tanqiu's work!
It must be Tanqiu who signed Qi Yuan's name at the end of her thesis!
She was committing academic fraud!
Feng Qian roared in his heart.
The unwilling Feng Qian began to read the main body of the thesis, trying to find evidence of Tanqiu's cheating. But soon, his eyes became the same as Zheng Yan's, full of shock.
After an unknown amount of time, Feng Qian and Zheng Yan closed the Hope in their hands at almost the same time. Feng Qian looked deeply at Qi Yuan. This thesis not only described the structure of the energy matrix in detail, it also used the berserker as an example to explain the reason for its construction. It was only because they couldn't find a suitable rank 3 energy core that they were forced to work on other areas. That was why the energy matrix was born.
The most shocking part was that the thesis also mentioned a few defective energy matrices. They were the core energy matrices that he used to build the berserker. Although the thesis didn't say a single word that accused him of plagiarism, when this thesis was published, people would quickly connect those defective energy matrices to the berserker he designed.
This was solid evidence of plagiarism!
If he hadn't been careful enough to put the berserker under Tang Hong's name and let Tang Hong step into the trap for him, when this thesis was published, his reputation would be ruined.
A fraud by a rank 4 researcher was enough to make everyone's eyeballs explode!
Although Tang Hong was now the scapegoat, as Tang Hong's mentor, he couldn't escape the blame and would definitely be implicated!
The berserker and this thesis were like two tight slaps to the face, making Feng Qian feel a burning pain!
"Good move!"
Feng Qian said with a gloomy face, then left hurriedly. He still had many things to deal with. Otherwise, when this bomb exploded tomorrow, he didn't know how much of an impact it would have on him.
The M4 administrator that Feng Qian called over also left dejectedly. Without Feng Qian's support, he didn't have the courage to stand in front of Tanqiu.
"I'm afraid Feng Qian will lose sleep tonight!" Zheng Yan said meaningfully.
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as losing sleep," Tanqiu said.
"Ke Shoulin needs an explanation and Tang Hong's parents need to be appeased. I'm afraid Feng Qian will have to bleed a lot to suppress this storm!"
Tanqiu glanced at Zheng Yan and asked, "How is it? Have you found the solution you want?"
Zheng Yan nodded.
"I already have a clue. The specific details still need to be perfected through experiments."
Looking at "Hope" in his hand, Zheng Yan sighed.
"Genius creativity. What a talent that makes people jealous!"
Zheng Yan looked at Qi Yuan.
"I'm sincerely inviting you to the storm laboratory. The status of a second-level researcher and the treatment of a third-level researcher. What Tanqiu can give you, I'll give you double!
How about it? "
"Shut up!"
Tanqiu rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Zheng Yan had lowered his face to snatch Qi Yuan away. She was really worried that he would be snatched away.
In order to avoid any accidents, Tanqiu decided to confirm Qi Yuan's status in advance.
"Qi Yuan, come with me."
"I'll register you as a second-level researcher immediately. Tomorrow, you can go to the Academic Committee for filing. From tomorrow onwards, you'll be a second-level researcher in the Biological and Mechanical Research Laboratory."
"My laboratory also has a few research projects related to energy matrices. If you're willing, you can directly participate."
"If you have a suitable experimental project, you can also write an application and submit it to me directly. I'll approve it."
Zheng Yan followed behind with a gloomy face. Once Qi Yuan's identity was confirmed, it would be impossible to poach people from the Black Steel Shelter.
Tanqiu looked at Zheng Yan and said, "Qi Yuan is promoted to a second-level researcher. He still needs a joint recommendation. Are you willing to sign it?"
Zheng Yan opened his mouth. He wanted to say no and delay the confirmation of Qi Yuan's identity, but in the end, he just nodded.
After realizing that Qi Yuan could no longer be poached, Zheng Yan rolled his eyes and suddenly thought of a new way.
Zheng Yan leaned over to Qi Yuan's ear and whispered, "The storm laboratory invites other researchers for an academic exchange every year. Next time, I'll personally invite you. Please don't refuse!"
After Tanqiu and the others all left, the researchers who stayed in the same place recovered from the shock.
"What just happened?"
"What's in" Hope "?
Why did Feng Qian leave with a long face?
Why did Zheng Yan give Qi Yuan such a generous offer? "
"Although I didn't see it, I can roughly guess."
"" Hope "must have published Qi Yuan's thesis, and it's the kind that's worth more than 100 academic credits!
That's the only explanation why Tanqiu can't wait to confirm Qi Yuan's identity as a second-level researcher! "
"A refugee from the wilderness published a thesis in" Hope "and earned 100 academic credits in one go. He directly jumped from assistant to second-level researcher?
Why do I feel like I'm dreaming? "
"Even in my dreams, it's not that ridiculous!"
"Tsk tsk, Qi Yuan has been an assistant researcher for less than an hour and he's already promoted to a second-level researcher. This speed is indeed unreal!"
"When the latest issue of" Hope "arrives tomorrow morning, remember to apply for a copy as soon as possible. I want to see what kind of thesis Qi Yuan published. How did he get promoted so quickly?"
"I'm so jealous. I've been a first-level researcher for two years and I've only accumulated 40 academic credits. If I want to accumulate 100 academic credits, I don't know how long it'll take!"
…
In a private lounge.
Ke Shoulin, Tang Hong, and Tang Hong's parents had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Feng Qian return, they immediately looked over.
"How's the situation?" Ke Shoulin asked.
Feng Qian was silent for a few seconds, then he shook his head with a gloomy expression.
"Tanqiu was prepared. He couldn't get the person over!"
Ke Shoulin's expression suddenly became ugly.
Every minute Qi Yuan was alive was an insult to him.
With Qi Yuan's current reputation, he couldn't do anything to him. He could only do it from Feng Qian. He didn't expect Feng Qian to fail as well.
"With your status, how could you not be able to deal with an assistant researcher?"
Ke Shoulin's words were laced with anger, but Feng Qian couldn't be bothered. He could only say helplessly, "Qi Yuan is no longer an assistant researcher. He's a second-level researcher now!"
Second-level researcher!
The few people in the room looked at Feng Qian in shock, as if they couldn't believe the news he brought.
Feng Qian passed the "Hope" in his hands to Ke Shoulin. Although Ke Shoulin couldn't understand the thesis, he could understand the reward at the end.
When he saw the 120 academic credits reward, Ke Shoulin's eyes narrowed.
Qi Yuan had actually published a thesis in advance and obtained 120 academic credits!
With these academic credits and the joint recommendation of Tanqiu and Zheng Yan, the second-level researcher position was already in Qi Yuan's bag!
No wonder Feng Qian didn't bring him back!
Qi Yuan was just a refugee in the wilderness, but he had soared so quickly. How was he supposed to deal with him?
Ke Shoulin handed the "Hope" to Tang Hong's parents absent-mindedly. When they saw the thesis and the evaluation at the end, they fell silent.
They already knew part of the truth about the berserker from Tang Hong. Although Tang Hong's greed had played a part, the real culprit was undoubtedly Feng Qian. Tang Hong had only helped Feng Qian block the disaster.
Now that Qi Yuan had soared, Tang Hong had completely lost all hope. Once the evidence of plagiarism was confirmed, Tang Hong would have no hope of being promoted to a third-level researcher. He might even lose his second-level researcher position. This was what worried them the most.
Tang Hong muttered to himself as he looked at the evaluation at the end of the thesis.
"How is this possible? Ai Xin actually personally wrote a review for a wasteland refugee's thesis, and even gave him such a high evaluation!"
"Why?
Qi Yuan is just a refugee in the wilderness!
How could he get all this? "
"Don't be agitated!" Tang Hong's mother comforted her son.
"Feng Qian is still here. He has a way to solve this problem!"
Her words were not only for Tang Hong, but also for Feng Qian. Feng Qian's mistake had affected Tang Hong so much. Feng Qian would definitely be the one to solve the problem.
Tang Hong lowered his head and didn't say anything. As a researcher, he knew better than Ke Shoulin or even his parents what Ai Xin's name meant. This was the recognition he dreamed of getting, something he couldn't even get. Now that it had appeared in the thesis of a wasteland refugee, it was simply ironic.
Ai Xin's evaluation brought Qi Yuan less glory and prestige than his victory over Dragon Devourer and Yang Jing.
If Qi Yuan didn't let him go, even if Feng Qian wanted to protect him, he might not be able to!
After a long silence, Feng Qian spoke.
"I'll think of a way to deal with Tang Hong. I'll do my best to protect your status as a second-grade researcher. I'll arrange a few more theses for him so that he can quickly accumulate 1000 academic points and become a third-grade researcher."
Tang Hong's parents looked at each other and nodded. This condition was enough to make up for Tang Hong's loss. As for how much Feng Qian had to pay, they didn't care. This was the compensation Feng Qian had to give.
"As for Ke Long …"
Feng Qian looked at Ke Shoulin.
"I'll apply to the Academic Committee to use academic points to exchange for a chance to enter the Four-Star Glory trial as compensation for Ke Long!"
Ke Shoulin nodded.
The Four-Star Glory trial meant that one would have a 100% chance to control a core fourth-grade ability. Even he had a hard time coming into contact with it. Only through the influence of the Academic Committee could he obtain such an opportunity.
After comforting Ke Shoulin and Tang Hong's parents and sending them off, Feng Qian sat down in his chair, exhausted.
He had suffered a crushing defeat in today's confrontation with Tan Qiu. Qi Yuan's sudden appearance was the main reason for his defeat.
"Qi Yuan!" Feng Qian muttered to himself, as if trying to carve this name into his mind.