Without Feng Qian's interference, Qi Yuan's promotion to a level two researcher was smooth-sailing thanks to the recommendation of two level four researchers.
Qi Yuan also set a new record for being the fastest assistant to be promoted to a level two researcher.
The next morning, the news of Qi Yuan's promotion to a level two researcher quickly spread throughout the lab. Although some people doubted that Qi Yuan didn't meet the requirements to be promoted, all the doubts turned into praise and admiration when the latest issue of Hope was delivered.
Not all assistant researchers could publish their own papers in Hope and have Ai Xin write the review. This was an honor that many researchers dreamed of.
The 120 academic points and 200 academic points made many researchers who hadn't been promoted to level two envious.
In short, most researchers below level three saw what they wanted in Qi Yuan's paper.
Deserted Exploration Department, seventh floor, room 0707.
According to the rumors, Mo Sheng, who had been recuperating after being severely injured by Xu Geng, was reading the news through a virtual projection in his office.
"This Qi Yuan came in from the Black Steel Shelter like you. Do you know him?" Mo Sheng suddenly asked.
Fu Qingqing, who was standing straight, shook her head.
"I've never heard of this name."
"Such a good seedling fell into Tanqiu's hands." Mo Sheng shook his head regretfully.
"What did Ling You say?" Mo Sheng asked.
"Before the exam, Ling You applied for a place in the Deserted Exploration Department for Qi Yuan, but Qi Yuan didn't choose the department in the end. Instead, he chose the Biological and Mechanical Research Laboratory." Fu Qingqing said.
Mo Sheng coughed a few times and his face flushed red. Fu Qingqing immediately walked behind him and patted his back. At the same time, she took out a silver syringe from her pocket and was about to inject it into Mo Sheng.
Mo Sheng waved his hand and stopped Fu Qingqing.
"Your injury …" Fu Qingqing was obviously worried.
As a peak level six aptitude user, Mo Sheng had strong defense and recovery abilities. Normal injuries wouldn't last this long. If he couldn't heal himself for this long, it meant that his foundation was damaged.
"I'm fine!" Mo Sheng said softly.
"Xu Geng is already a 7th rank Heaven Awaken ability user. Although he injured me, he also pointed out a path to the 7th rank for me. Once I completely analyze this power, I should be able to take the final step!"
"Let's not talk about me anymore. How's the progress of activating your energy weapons?" Mo Sheng asked.
Fu Qingqing shook her head.
"I don't have a clue yet. The energy weapon in my hand is too weak. Currently, the degree of activation has not exceeded 10%."
After pondering for a moment, Mo Sheng slowly said, "Some things should be left to the professionals. I suggest you leave the weapon's activation to the laboratory. You still have other things to do, so you shouldn't waste too much time on it."
Fu Qingqing shook her head stubbornly.
"I want to try again!"
The activation of energy weapons had always been a difficult problem for mid-level ability users, but as long as they could complete the activation, it would also bring about a huge increase in strength.
"You!" Mo Sheng shook her head with a bitter smile.
Fu Qingqing's stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat were, in many cases, a kind of beautiful quality. It was precisely because of this tenacity that she was able to stand out in the wilderness and advance to the 4th rank so quickly.
But sometimes, this kind of stubbornness would lead her into a dead end. For example, the activation of the energy weapon in her hand.
"I'll give you ten more days. If there's still no progress, I'll go look for Tan Qiu and meet this Qi Yuan while I'm at it. Young people as bold as him are rare!"
Although Fu Qingqing was a bit unwilling, seeing that Mo Sheng had already made her decision, she still nodded.
In the laboratory, Tan Qiu led Qi Yuan around the various departments to familiarize himself with the environment. In the end, she brought Qi Yuan to an independent laboratory.
"From today onwards, this laboratory will be under your control for a year. You also have a quota of three assistants under your name. You can apply for it yourself."
"After a year, if you want to continue to have this laboratory, there are only two ways. One is to rent this laboratory for ten academic points a year. The other is to become a third-level researcher. Third-level researchers can have a laboratory for free forever."
"The equipment in the laboratory will be configured according to the standards of a second-level researcher. If you want more equipment, you can apply for it through the project. You can also buy or rent it through the academic points."
"With your current status, as long as you don't leave the shelter, even Ke Shoulin and Feng Qian won't dare to do anything to you. You don't have to worry about your safety."
Before Tan Qiu finished, Zheng Yan immediately interrupted and said, "As long as you're willing to go to the Storm Shelter, the Storm Shelter can double these conditions for you!"
Tan Qiu ignored Zheng Yan and continued, "Second-level researchers are already qualified to independently lead experimental projects. If you have a suitable project, you can write a project application. After the application is approved, the laboratory will evaluate the project based on its level, theory, significance, impact, and other aspects. The corresponding funds will be given to promote the project."
"However, there is one thing to note. If you apply for the laboratory project funds, although the final experimental results will belong to you, it also means that the experimental results must be disclosed to the academic committee. When you publish the paper, you need to add the name of the laboratory behind your name."
"If other people want to use your research results, they will have to pay a certain amount of academic points to the academic committee. These academic points will be distributed according to the ratio of 2: 3: 5 to the academic committee, the laboratory, and yourself!"
Qi Yuan nodded. Listening to Tan Qiu's introduction, he began to slowly realize the power of the academic committee. There was always a selfish side to human nature. Not everyone was willing to disclose their research results to others. Although this kind of sharing would bring rich returns, some things could not be replaced by simple benefits.
The academic committee, to a large extent, broke the barrier of human selfishness. Even if some people still retained their selfishness, they could not change the general trend created by the academic committee.
"Your previous berserker did not use any funds from the laboratory, so you do not have to give the laboratory a share. However, the academic committee's share must be given."
"The academic committee will take your share and at the same time protect your rights. If anyone imitates your berserker without permission, the academic committee will step in to stop them. They will also punish them according to the situation. If your interests are harmed, the academic committee will also compensate in subrogation."
Qi Yuan raised his eyebrows. He did not expect the academic committee to have such a strong sense of patent. However, it was precisely because of these methods of the academic committee that they could break the isolation of academia and protect the interests of researchers.
After touring the laboratory, Tan Qiu suddenly said,
"As for Feng Qian, this incident may not have much of an impact on him. You have to be mentally prepared."
Qi Yuan nodded, indicating that he understood. As a level 4 researcher, Feng Qian would of course not fail because of a level 3 mechanical equipment.
In the new era where strength was respected, although the sanctuary also had laws, when the difference in status between the two parties was too great, you would find that the new era's laws might be willing to protect the weak, but that was it. They would not really stand on the side of the weak. Their real purpose was to help the strong and maintain the order of the world at the bottom.
"To the academic committee, every level 4 researcher is a very valuable asset. Unless they have concrete evidence, the academic committee will not easily touch a level 4 researcher. This is the privilege of a level 4 researcher!"
"However, after this incident, the academic committee will probably send someone to vaguely warn Feng Qian. In future research, the academic committee will probably use other methods to compensate you."
"Feng Qian has suffered such a big loss. Will he stop for a while?" Qi Yuan asked.
"Not necessarily," Tan Qiu said slowly.
"However, with Feng Qian's personality, he will definitely not let this matter rest. Within the scope of the rules, he will probably use some methods to suppress you. You have to be mentally prepared."
"Looks like the lesson I gave him was not enough!" Qi Yuan said with a smile.
"One day, when I really hurt him, he will probably stop."
Tan Qiu shook her head silently in her heart. As a level 4 researcher, how could Feng Qian be so easy to deal with? This time, if he had not been impatient and exposed a flaw, he would not have suffered such a big loss. It was easier said than done to scare Feng Qian.
Skipping over the matter of Feng Qian, Tan Qiu continued.
"The arms dealers that were attracted by the berserker have already gathered in the meeting room. They are all clamoring to see you. You can go and deal with these things first, then start writing the project application. If you want to gain a foothold in the laboratory, the best way is to produce results that belong to you!"
Although Tan Qiu also hoped to take Qi Yuan into her laboratory, she also knew very well that Qi Yuan would not be willing to submit to others and would definitely choose to set up his own project team.
Qi Yuan nodded in response to Tan Qiu's suggestion.
He took a gamble and became a level 2 researcher in one fell swoop in order to avoid the fate of becoming Tan Qiu's experimental material. With the existence of the Blazing Angel, he would not be worse than anyone else.
"Do you need someone to accompany you to the arms dealers?" Tan Qiu suddenly asked.
The arms dealers were all old foxes. It was easy for newcomers to be tricked by them and suffer losses.
"No hurry, let them be for a while. I can deal with them myself," Qi Yuan said.
Tan Qiu nodded and did not say anything else. Although those arms dealers were not easy to deal with, this was the laboratory, which could be considered Qi Yuan's home ground. With Qi Yuan's temperament, he should be able to deal with them.
After walking around the laboratory, Tan Qiu turned and left. Zheng Yan quickly followed. He still had many things to discuss with Qi Yuan about Qi Yuan's core energy matrix.
Qi Yuan did not refuse Zheng Yan's invitation. After all, Zheng Yan was a level 4 researcher and had jointly recommended him with Tan Qiu, helping him to overcome an obstacle. He had to accept this favor.
Time flew by quickly. By the time Zheng Yan left in satisfaction, it was already afternoon.
Qi Yuan looked at the time and walked to the reception room, ready to meet the arms dealers.
In the reception room, there were a total of seven arms dealers. After being ignored by Qi Yuan for a while, they were obviously much quieter. They flipped through the pages of 'Hope' in their hands and chatted intermittently.
One of these people was from the Black Steel Shelter, while the other six were from other shelters. Some of them were even from the Truth Door.
As a qualified arms dealer, mining business opportunities from these top journals was the most basic operation.
"This Qi Yuan is really patient!" An arms dealer from Triumph Shelter said with a wry smile.
"He's just a guy born in the wilderness. What gives him the right to be so arrogant in front of us? In my opinion, we shouldn't be waiting for him here. He should be the one waiting for us!" Another said bitterly.
"I think Old Yue is right. He just came to the laboratory from the wilderness. His foundation is not stable. First, he has no resources. Second, he has no connections. He should be very eager to convert berserkers into resources. Why don't we work together to make him beg us?"
"That makes sense!"
"Yes, it should be like this!"
The others agreed, waiting for someone to leave. However, after looking around for a while, they found that everyone was saying to leave, but their butts were not moving. It was as if they had no intention of leaving.
"That's enough. We all know each other's backgrounds. Who would be fooled by these tricks?" An arms dealer who had been silent all this time could not help but say.
"If there were only two or three of them, we could work together to lower the price and try to manipulate them. Now that there are seven, who would be stupid enough to leave at this time?"
"Hey!
We have nothing to do anyway. Even if we can trick one of them to leave, we'll have one less competitor! "Another arms dealer said faintly.
"We've been waiting here for half a day, and Qi Yuan hasn't come to take a look. I don't know how long we have to wait!"
"If you can't wait, you can leave first. Don't waste time here!"
…
The door to the reception room suddenly opened, and Qi Yuan, dressed in a black robe, walked in from outside.
The reception room suddenly fell silent for a few seconds, and then became lively again.
"Seeing you today, Researcher Qi is indeed a dragon among men. You have a dignified appearance!"
"Researcher Qi, please sit here!
I just read the paper, and it's really enlightening. It's worthy of being a paper personally reviewed by Ai Xin! "
"Researcher Qi, yesterday's battle brought out the glory of the Black Steel Shelter. Now, the outside world is praising you to the heavens!"
…
Qi Yuan had not yet taken his seat when a series of flattery came one after another.
Qi Yuan did not respond. He walked straight to the main seat and sat down. Only then did the noisy reception room quiet down.
Qi Yuan looked around and said with a smile, "Everyone has been waiting for so long.
I won't take up too much of your time. I'll make it short! "
"The performance of a Berserker has already been fully demonstrated in combat yesterday, so I won't introduce it any further. I'm also very clear about the purpose of everyone's visit. I only have two requests for this transaction. Everyone can first consider whether or not you can accept them."
"First, I can sign an exclusive transfer agreement for the berserker, but the payment must be made in one lump sum!"
"Second, the payment can be made in terms of xenogeneic metals and energy cores, but there must be a certain proportion of Asterite. If the price is similar, whoever offers more Asterite will get the berserker!"
The arms dealers present looked at each other. Qi Yuan's conditions were too different from what they had expected. They had originally planned to use paper money and resources to exchange for the berserker.
After all, Qi Yuan came from the wilderness. The paper money introduced by the Gate of Truth was the basis of the price system in the wilderness. Paper money also had a good purchasing power in the shelter.
Most of the refugees who had just entered the shelter were already used to using paper money. It would take a long time for them to break away from the paper money price system.
They did not expect Qi Yuan to abandon paper money as soon as he entered the shelter.
Moreover, what the hell was Asterite?!
If the berserker had a Tier 4 mechanical equipment, it would be fine. But since when could a Tier 3 mechanical equipment be settled with Asterite?
Was Qi Yuan starting to get arrogant?
Or was Asterite worthless?