After completing the transaction, Qi Yuan earned his first bucket of gold and finally laid a solid foundation for his life in the shelter.
After dealing with the berserker, Qi Yuan quickly put his energy into the project application. If he wanted to gain a foothold in the shelter as a researcher, the results of his research were the most important.
However, applying for a research project was not an easy task. Although the Seraph had a lot of information stored, some of it was not suitable for applying for a project.
Ordinary projects could not apply for too much funding and could not earn too many academic points. For Qi Yuan, it was just a waste of time.
On the other hand, projects that were too difficult would waste too much time. Qi Yuan did not forget his original intention of entering the Black Steel Shelter. He just wanted to gain a foothold and complete the check-in. He did not really want to stay here forever as a researcher.
Fortunately, there were two level 4 researchers here for him to communicate with.
After an in-depth conversation with Zheng Yan, Qi Yuan finally chose the first research project — the energy module to strengthen the energy activity.
This was a level 3 project. The research project had a certain depth. The main problem was that it required constant trial and error and consumed a lot of energy cores. However, for Qi Yuan who had the energy control and data center, these difficulties were not a problem at all. Coupled with the existence of the Seraph, Qi Yuan was confident that he could obtain the detailed data of the energy module in about a month and complete the research of the entire project.
When his laboratory completed a few research projects and completely dispelled the doubts of others, he could be considered to have gained a foothold in the laboratory. If he could take advantage of this opportunity to be promoted to a level 3 researcher, he might be able to start the follow-up operations.
Although he was now a level 2 researcher and had obtained a layer of protection, it was almost impossible for him to complete the check-in.
In the shelter, the hierarchy was strict. Without enough status, there were many places that could not be set foot. The locations of the check-in points were not places that he could reach at present.
When he became a level 3 researcher, he would be considered to have climbed to the top of the pyramid of the Black Steel Shelter. Naturally, many people would attach themselves to him. Those places that were originally forbidden to set foot in would no longer be out of reach.
Qi Yuan spent two days writing the project application and personally handed it to Tan Qiu.
With Ai Xin's personal comments and Tan Qiu's help, Qi Yuan originally thought that the application would be approved very quickly. Unexpectedly, on the third day, Tan Qiu brought bad news.
"The project application was rejected?" Qi Yuan looked at Tan Qiu in surprise.
Tan Qiu's expression was also somewhat ugly. This result was also somewhat out of her expectations.
"Feng Qian's revenge came faster than I expected," Tanqiu said slowly.
"The laboratory has a special project review team. Your project could have passed the review, but the day after you submitted the project application, another third-level researcher submitted a very similar project application."
"The project approval team has strict regulations. Research projects of the same type are not allowed to be repeated. If two people apply for the same type of project at the same time, they will be ranked according to the researcher's rank, and the project application of the senior researcher will be given priority."
"This was originally a rule set by the project team to prevent internal conflicts in the laboratory. I didn't think that Feng Qian would use it to target you!"
Qi Yuan frowned slightly. With Feng Qian's status, if he was willing to lower himself to target a second-level researcher, he would have all sorts of ways to play with the rules.
Feng Qian had been working in the Black Steel Shelter for many years and was already deeply rooted. Some of his methods were indeed difficult to deal with.
"How many research projects can a third-level researcher apply for at the same time?" Qi Yuan asked.
"There are no strict restrictions," Tan Qiu said.
"For projects above level 4, a third-level researcher can apply for at most two projects at the same time. For projects below level 4, there are no strict restrictions. As long as it's not too much, the project review team will not make things difficult for a third-level researcher's project application."
A faint light flashed across Qi Yuan's eyes.
"In other words, no matter what project I apply for, Feng Qian can use the same method to stop it?"
Tan Qiu nodded. In the strict hierarchy of the Shelter, Feng Qian, as a fourth-level researcher, had that much power.
"Feng Qian's methods are overt. If you don't have a better way, you can come to my laboratory. When you become a third-level researcher, Feng Qian's methods will no longer be able to deal with you," Tan Qiu said.
Qi Yuan fell into deep thought. Going to Tan Qiu's laboratory was indeed a solution, but this kind of protection was definitely not free. After all, Tan Qiu had always wanted to use him as a test subject.
"Is there any other solution?" Qi Yuan asked.
Tan Qiu looked at Qi Yuan with a half-smile, as if he had seen through his thoughts.
"If you can find someone to sponsor your project without the laboratory paying for it, even if it's a fourth-level researcher applying for the same project as you, the project review team will give priority to your project application."
Qi Yuan shrugged. Research that could earn a large amount of academic points usually required a large amount of experimental materials. The sponsorship fee was not something ordinary people could afford. Although the Black Steel Shelter also had rich people, they obviously would not risk offending Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin to sponsor him.
However, this situation was not impossible to solve. The smooth sale of the berserker had brought in enough resources to support him to complete a few third-level projects. Even if there were no sponsors and no funding from the laboratory, he could still make the laboratory operate. It was just that the price to break this situation was a bit high.
However, Qi Yuan was not the kind of person who would take a beating passively. Since Feng Qian had disregarded his identity and made a move, Qi Yuan was prepared to let him have a taste of the backlash of power.
"Since Feng Qian is willing to put aside his face to deal with a newcomer like me, then I'll play with him!"
Hearing this, Tan Qiu was slightly surprised and asked, "You want to deal with Feng Qian again?"
Although Feng Qian had suffered a loss because of the berserker incident, this did not mean that he was easy to deal with. This old fox, to be able to reach his position today, he did not lack tricks and schemes. Although Qi Yuan was a second-level researcher, the difference between him and Feng Qian was still too great. They were not on the same level at all.
"The person I want to deal with is a third-level researcher who doesn't know what's good for him!" Qi Yuan grinned, revealing his white teeth.
"Since a third-level researcher dares to disregard his reputation and help Feng Qian suppress me, he must be Feng Qian's most loyal supporter. Although I can't influence Feng Qian now, dealing with a third-level researcher is not a problem!"
"What other projects does this third-level researcher have under his name?" Qi Yuan asked.
Hearing this, Tan Qiu quickly guessed Qi Yuan's intentions.
"You want to compete with this third-level researcher?" Tan Qiu asked.
Although third-level researchers could permanently have an independent laboratory for free, the results of experiments were still the foundation of a researcher's standing in the laboratory. Therefore, every third-level researcher would have a few research projects under their name.
Most of these research projects were submitted through the laboratory and received funding support from the laboratory. Therefore, they also needed to be supervised by the laboratory. If there were no results after a long period of time, or if someone else produced the same results, then the research project's funding would be stopped.
Although it was common for projects to be stopped, most of them were because the research project had reached a dead end or was proven wrong. It was very rare for someone else to produce results first.
If a third-level researcher's research project had a second-level researcher produce results first and was forced to stop the research, then it would be a humiliation that could not be washed away.
Qi Yuan did not hide his intentions and admitted them.
"If he can steal my project, then I can naturally steal his project too. This is called reciprocity!"
"Although he can suppress you without caring about his reputation, I don't recommend you do so!" Tan Qiu said.
"Every research project requires a lot of manpower and resources. Therefore, the laboratory will prohibit the occurrence of internal conflicts during the project review. If you do this, it will be considered a vicious competition. Even if you can win the competition, you will lose the reputation that Ai Xin brought you. It's not worth it."
"He is a third-level researcher and has been in the laboratory for many years. He also has Feng Qian's support behind him. Therefore, even if his methods are not honorable, it will not have a substantial impact on him."
"But you're different. Your foundation is too shallow. Your way of doing things will only bring you endless trouble. Once your reputation is tarnished, even if Feng Qian doesn't do anything, you can forget about applying for project funding support from the laboratory in the future!"
Qi Yuan smiled slightly.
"If I take the initiative to internal conflict, of course my reputation will be ruined. However, if I am forced to resist, will the situation be different?"
"It's not easy to turn internal conflict into a forced resistance. Be careful of playing with fire!" Tan Qiu reminded him.
"I tolerated it when one of my projects was snatched away, but that didn't make them stop. They went from bad to worse and continued to snatch away my second and even third projects. Wouldn't I become a pitiful wretch who was bullied and forced into a corner with no way out?" Qi Yuan said with a smile.
"You want to continue applying for research projects and lure Feng Qian to continue?" Tan Qiu asked with some surprise.
Research projects in the laboratory were basically a process of finding a problem and then trying to solve it. For most researchers, finding a problem and finding a suitable research project was not an easy task.
The degree of academic suppression of research projects by stealing research projects existed in every laboratory. Tan Qiu had seen a few low-level researchers being robbed of their research projects using the same method. What happened to Qi Yuan was something that Feng Qian had already done.
For most second-level researchers, it was not easy to find a suitable project. If their research projects were stolen, it would have a huge impact on them. Many people would even be unable to recover from this setback.
Although Tan Qiu wasn't worried that Qi Yuan would be unable to recover from this setback, the feeling of defeat was unavoidable. However, she also didn't expect that Qi Yuan would use such a method to kill a thousand enemies while suffering eight hundred casualties to counterattack.
To be able to think of a suitable research project within two days and submit it was already a very shocking matter. Tan Qiu found it hard to believe that Qi Yuan could find even more suitable research projects in such a short period of time.
"Help me check the projects under the other party's name. I will immediately prepare the next project application. If he continues to use this method to disgust me, I will become a pitiful person who is forced into a corner!"
"I think that other people will definitely forgive a pitiful person who has no way out and is forced to fight back!"
Seeing that Qi Yuan had made up his mind, Tan Qiu did not try to persuade him anymore. If Qi Yuan could really turn himself into a pitiful person who was forced into a corner by academic suppression, even if he did something out of line in the future, he would still receive the greatest amount of forgiveness from others.
If Qi Yuan really used this method to fight back, he would only need to succeed once to make the other party lose all face.
A third-level researcher using academic suppression methods to bully a newly promoted second-level researcher. He was so overbearing that he did not give the other party a way out. The newcomer was forced into a corner and was forced to fight back. In the end, the other party's home was stolen.
Once this kind of thing happened, even if the method of stealing home was a little out of line, it would not be criticized. The onlookers would only applaud and cheer. The third-level researcher who took the initiative to put pressure would be nailed to the pillar of shame. He would be completely labeled as an idiot who did not have any strength and only knew how to show off!
Tan Qiu looked deeply at Qi Yuan. If Qi Yuan's plan succeeded, his counterattack this time would completely ruin the reputation of a third-level researcher. In fear of harming the innocent, the other third-level researchers under Feng Qian would also not use such methods to deal with Qi Yuan.
However, there were also many uncertainties in doing so.
The most difficult part was whether Qi Yuan could find a suitable research project and submit it to the project review team.
If he carried out the project carelessly, the other party might not fall into the trap. The project review team would directly reject the project application.
Another uncertain part was whether Qi Yuan could win in the academic competition in the future.
If he won, he would naturally be able to break through Feng Qian's suppression. If he lost, the result would be that he would lose everything.
Although the berserkers brought great returns, the cost of the research project was also a huge figure. The annual expenditure of the biological and mechanical research laboratory was not much less than that of a combat division.
"Are you sure you want to use this method to fight back?" Tan Qiu wanted to confirm one last time.
"Of course!" Qi Yuan said with certainty.
"I want to use this matter to let everyone know that there will be a price to pay for bullying me!
This is the only way to intimidate those enemies with bad intentions! "
Seeing that Qi Yuan had made up his mind, Tan Qiu did not try to persuade him anymore.
He only said calmly, "Before nightfall, Su Li will send the details of the other party to you."
Qi Yuan nodded, then turned and left. He returned to his independent laboratory and prepared to sort out a few suitable projects from the Blazing Angel's stored data to submit a second application.
Due to the absence of an assistant researcher, the laboratory appeared empty. However, to Qi Yuan, having an assistant or not didn't make much of a difference. Not only could he have some peace and quiet, he could also prevent the assistant researcher from leaking his secrets.
With Feng Qian's identity and status, it was easy for him to bribe a few assistant researchers. Even a fourth-level researcher like Tan Qiu could fall into his trap. As a second-level researcher with no background, there was no way he could prevent this from happening.
As for the Blazing Angel, with his identity as a second-level researcher, he did not have to worry too much about the consequences of it being exposed. However, if he could continue to hide it, it would be better than exposing it to others.