The Black Moon Merchant Guild's fleet entered the Black Steel Shelter. After a strict inspection, all the supplies were sent to Qi Yuan's private laboratory.
Due to Xiao Yu's bullying, the pitiful and helpless Qi Yuan had attracted the attention of many people. However, when the boxes with the Black Moon symbol were moved to Qi Yuan's laboratory, their sympathetic gazes were mixed with a deep sense of envy.
Something that the Black Moon Merchant Guild had to travel thousands of miles through the wilderness to deliver was definitely not something simple. Judging from the number of boxes, it was clear that these things were definitely not cheap.
Putting aside the boxes of materials that were emitting powerful energy fluctuations, when they saw the special symbol on the last box, the people who were watching the materials being transported were so envious that they felt like they were about to explode.
There was actually Asterite!
Some of the bitter researchers couldn't help but wail.
The uniqueness of star energy stones meant that they would always be scarce. Although the laboratory had a certain amount of star energy stones in reserve, those were only available to Rank 3 researchers and above. For Rank 3 researchers and below, the amount of star energy stones they received each year was limited to the laboratory's quota, and the amount would never exceed five thousand grams.
Just by looking at the size of the box, they could feel the size of the Asterite inside!
"Are the people of the Black Moon Merchant Guild crazy?
They're actually using Asterite to make a deal with Qi Yuan? "Someone couldn't help but say sourly.
If it was in the past, these words of jealousy might have made many people feel the same way. However, Qi Yuan's recent miserable state made most people's sympathy overpower their jealousy.
"If you can create a Level 3 Mechanical Equipment as powerful as a Berserker and publish a paper on 'Hope' that Ai Xin will personally review, there will also be merchant guilds carrying Asterite to make a deal with you!"
"I heard from the project review team that Qi Yuan's third application for a project seemed to have been rejected. The reason was the same as the previous two."
"Was it Xiao Yu again?"
"Who else could it be other than him!
A Level 3 researcher so brazenly oppressing a newcomer. In ten days, he consecutively stole three project applications. This is too ruthless. He's completely not giving Qi Yuan a way out! "
"Keep your voice down. Xiao Yu is that person's disciple. Who knows whose idea it is to do all these bad things!"
"First it was Tang Hong, now it's Xiao Yu. To be targeted by this person, Qi Yuan is really unlucky!"
"Doesn't Qi Yuan also have someone backing him?
Why didn't she stand up for Qi Yuan? "
"Heh, how could it be so simple!
Didn't you see that Qi Yuan would rather let Xiao Yu steal three projects than enter her laboratory? There must be something wrong here! "
"Applying for three level three research projects in ten days, Qi Yuan's knowledge base is too astonishing. If I were that person, I probably wouldn't dare to let Qi Yuan grow."
"News of Qi Yuan being bullied by Xiao Yu has spread like wildfire. Everyone on the 20th floor and below seems to have received the news."
"Since they received the news, why didn't they speak up for Qi Yuan?
If he could recruit Qi Yuan, it would be a profitable business!
With Qi Yuan's technical ability, no matter whose laboratory he goes to, he should be able to hold his own! "
"Speak up for Qi Yuan?
How?
If Qi Yuan had his own independent research project, would he go to another laboratory and be the second author? "
"I reckon that those below are probably also observing. When Qi Yuan realizes the reality and gives up on applying for an independent research project, they will make a move to recruit him!"
"Qi Yuan is proud and arrogant. He didn't give up even after three projects were stolen. How could he be recruited so easily?"
"In addition, the materials sent by the Black Moon Chamber of Commerce are enough to support several level three research projects. I reckon that Qi Yuan might not apply to the laboratory and conduct his own research projects!"
"If I were Qi Yuan, I would do it myself and finish the projects that Xiao Yu stole before he did. That way, I would be able to vent my anger!"
"There's not much point in doing so. Xiao Yu is obviously shameless. Even if Qi Yuan produces the research results first, Xiao Yu won't lose much. He'll just give up on a useless project. I reckon that he didn't intend to invest time in these projects in the first place."
"If he wants to steal, he'll steal the research projects that Xiao Yu has already invested a lot of time and energy into. Only then can Xiao Yu have a taste of his own medicine!"
"Xiao Yu is a level three researcher after all. If Qi Yuan wants to compete with him in Xiao Yu's field of expertise, his chances of winning are slim. If he wins, he might be able to recoup his investment. If he loses, he'll lose both talents!"
"In the past, there were people who used Xiao Yu's method to steal other people's research projects. However, they didn't go as far as Xiao Yu did. This time, Xiao Yu's unscrupulous behavior has made us low-level researchers nervous. The chief should have received the news as well. Why didn't he do anything?"
"No one can guess what the chief is thinking. Although Xiao Yu is ruthless, he didn't break the rules set by the chief. He only broke some unspoken rules. According to the chief's usual behavior, even if he did take action, he wouldn't punish Xiao Yu. Instead, he would think of ways to avoid such things from happening again."
"That's true. Xiao Yu must have known this. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to be so unscrupulous."
…
After checking all the items, the originally empty warehouse in Qi Yuan's private laboratory was finally filled by one-third. After checking all the items, Qi Yuan took the modified design materials for the Berserker and found the representative of the Black Moon Chamber of Commerce who was waiting in the parlor.
"Mr. Fang, I've checked everything. There's no problem. Here's what you want!" Qi Yuan handed a thumb-sized storage device to the representative.
Mr. Fang carefully put away the device and glanced at the dispirited Qi Yuan. Suddenly, he said in a low voice,
"Researcher Qi, your work in the lab seems to have been a bit difficult recently?"
Qi Yuan nodded.
"I've encountered some problems. However, with the things you sent me, I should be able to get through the current difficulties."
After pondering for a moment, Mr. Fang chose his words carefully and said slowly, "I'm sorry.
Then, he said slowly, "The mechanical weapon you asked me to bring to Arc Light was delivered to him five hours ago. It's one of the active main battle level 3 mechanical weapons of the Triumph Shelter's combat division. Its name is Wild Sand!"
Qi Yuan glanced at him in surprise. Every shelter had strict control over the active main battle mechanical weapons. He didn't expect that the Black Moon Chamber of Commerce would dare to bring out Wild Sand. He had thought that the Black Moon Chamber of Commerce would give Arc Light a retired level 3 mechanical weapon of the Elements Realm.
Mr. Fang seemed to have guessed Qi Yuan's thoughts and said in a low voice, "Don't worry. The Triumph Shelter is in a bit of a mess, so they don't have strict control over it. Besides, they are far from the Black Steel Shelter, and they don't interact with each other. They won't bring trouble to your friend."
"Thank you."
Qi Yuan nodded.
From these details, he knew that it wasn't a coincidence that he became the representative of the Black Moon Chamber of Commerce in the Black Steel Shelter.
The Triumph Shelter was indeed far away from the Black Steel Shelter. Even if they knew that Arc Light had Wild Sand, they would only turn a blind eye to it.
Although Arc Light was a wilderness refugee, he was also a wilderness refugee from the Black Steel Shelter. If the Triumph Shelter dared to enforce the law in another shelter, it would be a slap in the face to the Black Steel Shelter.
Unless the Triumph Shelter was crazy, they would never start a conflict with the Black Steel Shelter for a level 3 mechanical weapon.
Mr. Fang glanced around. After making sure that no one else was around, he lowered his voice and said,
"A level 4 researcher from the Ashes Shelter praised your paper on Hope. He asked me to bring you a message. If you are willing to leave the Black Steel Shelter, he can transfer you to the lab in the Ashes Shelter."
The Ashes Shelter?
Qi Yuan raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect his paper to be so influential that even the Ashes Shelter wanted to poach him.
Zheng Yan wanted to poach him because the research strength of the Storm Shelter was indeed weak, and they urgently needed capable researchers to fill in the gaps. However, the Ashes Shelter wasn't weak at all.
The Ashes Shelter was ranked 14th among the 21 shelters in the Doomsday Munitions, three places higher than the Black Steel Shelter, which was ranked 17th.
"Thank him for his kindness for me!"
Qi Yuan shook his head in the end. Although Feng Qian and Ke Shoulin were blocking his way in the Black Steel Shelter, he still had the check-in point, and he wouldn't leave until he completed the check-in.
After being rejected, Mr. Fang didn't pursue the matter further.
Conveying this invitation was a risky move. If the person from the Ashes Shelter wasn't so close to the higher-ups, he wouldn't have done it.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. If you need any help in the future, you can come to me at any time," Mr. Fang said.
"Of course!" Qi Yuan replied with a smile.
After Mr. Fang left, Qi Yuan adjusted his mood and made himself look extremely dispirited. Then, he pushed open the door of the parlor and walked out.
On his way out, Qi Yuan met a few researchers. They looked at him with sympathy. Although some of them were gloating, most of them were already on his side.
Stealing three project applications in a row wasn't something that a single person should do!
Through the area detection, Qi Yuan saw the expressions of the researchers around him and let their emotions ferment in the lab.
Now that he had laid the groundwork, it was time to collect some interest from Xiao Yu!
Qi Yuan returned to his lab and began to prepare for his counterattack against Xiao Yu.
According to the information sent by Su Li, Xiao Yu's lab had received eight research grants. Among them, two were level 4 projects, which were the in-depth optimization of the energy transmission module and the basic activation of energy weapons.
The remaining six research projects were all Tier 3 projects, including the three projects that had been taken away from him.
Among the two level 4 projects, the in-depth optimization of the energy transmission module wasn't progressing smoothly. At least, the project review team wasn't satisfied with the progress, and the final inspection result was unqualified. If there was no substantial progress in this project within half a year, the project team would consider canceling the grant for this project.
As for the other level 4 project, the basic activation of energy weapons, it had made some progress and passed the review of the project team perfectly. Xiao Yu's application for an additional grant was also approved by the project team.
As for the six level 3 projects, except for the three projects that Xiao Yu had stolen from him, only one of the other three projects wasn't progressing smoothly and had reached a standstill. The other two projects were halfway through and were expected to be completed within half a year.
In the end, Qi Yuan's gaze fell on the three projects that Xiao Yu was progressing the most smoothly.
Since he had decided to counterattack, then the slap he gave Xiao Yu had to be strong and heavy. It had to hurt him!
Those projects that weren't progressing well obviously didn't have much value to Xiao Yu.
However, those projects that were progressing well were different. They didn't just mean a large investment in the lab, they also meant that Xiao Yu had invested a lot of time and energy.
Snatching any one of them was like digging out a piece of meat from Xiao Yu. If he could snatch all of them, then it meant that Xiao Yu's efforts in recent years had all been in vain.
Moreover, the failure of so many projects would probably cause Xiao Yu's weight in the project team to plummet, and he would become the last of the level 3 researchers.
You snatched three of my projects, so I'll return three of your projects. This is very fair!
Then, which project should I start with?
Qi Yuan's gaze swept over the three projects he had chosen.
Although the basic activation of a level 4 energy weapon was somewhat beyond the scope of his own abilities, there was a large amount of information in the Blazing Angel's data storage for similar projects. Using this information, he could completely complete this research project in front of Xiao Yu.
As for the other two level 3 projects, they were even simpler. Not only did the Blazing Angel's data storage have complete data, his own few auxiliary abilities could also easily repeat the corresponding experiments.
Although the results of all the projects required the support of detailed experimental records and data, he had already obtained the answers at the same time as he had obtained the questions.
Compared to other people who were fumbling their way forward, he only needed to copy homework step by step to be able to smoothly complete the project.
He wouldn't take a detour, wouldn't step into a trap, and would go straight to his destination.
Qi Yuan had originally planned to directly start with Xiao Yu's most important energy weapon basic activation project. However, this was a level 4 project after all. Even if it was just repeated experiments, it would still require a large amount of experimental materials. Although the Black Moon Merchant Guild had sent over a lot of materials, it wasn't complete. He still lacked some key experimental materials.
Moreover, this project required the use of several special instruments. The level 2 researcher's laboratory wasn't equipped with them, so he needed to queue up at the level 3 researcher's public laboratory to apply.
Therefore, Qi Yuan could only regretfully give up on this project and turn his head to the other two projects.
Although these two projects also lacked some materials, he still had 200 Academic Points, so he could buy them at his own expense.
After Qi Yuan sealed the laboratory, he summoned the Blazing Angel.
Since it was an independent laboratory, it meant that no one could enter without his permission. Therefore, as long as the Blazing Angel didn't go out to have fun, no matter what she did in the laboratory, no one would know.
The Blazing Angel opened her eyes wide and looked around the laboratory. Very quickly, she sensed a familiar fluctuation coming from the direction of the warehouse!
Although this fluctuation was very weak, as if it was isolated by something, she still caught it.
"Asterite!"
The Blazing Angel couldn't help but drool.
Qi Yuan was instantly shocked.
It was so far away, and it was sealed with a lead box, but she could still sense it?
"I'm hungry!"
The Blazing Angel said pitifully.
Qi Yuan smiled bitterly and shook his head. As he stepped into the third step, the amount of Asterite energy needed to light up a third step talent was much more than the second step. If it wasn't for the windfall he made from the Headless Giant statue, even if he completed the check-in, it would be very difficult for him to light up all the third step talents.
It was precisely because of the shortage of Asterite that he chose to trade with the Black Moon Merchant Guild, which had more Asterite.
On the Blazing Angel's side, as her strength recovered, her thirst for Asterite also increased. Qi Yuan was very doubtful that the Asterite he had stored up could support him to advance to the fourth step.
"Let's work first. Only after we do the work well will we have food to eat!" Qi Yuan patted the Blazing Angel's fluffy hair.
The Blazing Angel nodded while drooling, without the slightest awareness that a fourth step powerhouse should have.