Without Feng Qian's suppression, Qi Yuan's fourth project application went very smoothly. The project review team, which had been criticized because of Xiao Yu's academic bullying, only took two days to receive news from the project review team that the project had passed the review.
When Qi Yuan arrived at the project review team again, the person in charge of receiving him was a middle-aged man wearing a monocle.
He was wearing a black tuxedo and extended his right hand to Qi Yuan. He smiled and said:
"Hello, researcher Qi Yuan!
I'm your project tracker, Jin Wei! "
"Hello!" Qi Yuan shook his hand.
Project trackers were responsible for tracking the progress of research projects that had passed the application. The laboratory would decide the amount of funding for the research project based on their feedback.
"The project review team has already reviewed your project application. After some research, your new project has been evaluated as a level three project. The laboratory will allocate a special research fund to your project at the same time. The entire experiment will be supervised by me. The first batch of project funds will be transferred to your laboratory account in three days. The subsequent funds will be allocated according to the progress of your experiment."
"If you need anything, you can contact me directly. I'll help you with the coordination!"
"Thank you!" Qi Yuan said.
Although many researchers didn't want the existence of lab trackers, they couldn't refuse a lab tracker sent by the laboratory because rejecting a lab tracker was equivalent to rejecting the laboratory's funding. Other than level four researchers who had special privileges and could apply for projects without the supervision of lab trackers, even level three researchers had to be supervised by lab trackers.
However, Qi Yuan didn't reject the existence of lab trackers because he didn't have to worry about his experiment progress falling behind. With a lab tracker helping to coordinate, he could save a lot of trouble.
For example, the application to go to the bottom twenty floors of the prison.
If he went through the process himself, he would undoubtedly waste a few days. However, with a project tracker, this time could be saved.
"Before the project officially starts, I need to go to the prison to collect some experimental samples. I'll leave the application process to you!" Qi Yuan said.
Ma Yingwei wasn't surprised by Qi Yuan's sudden request. As a tracker for Qi Yuan's project, he had already done his homework and knew that Qi Yuan's project required various experimental materials from the prison.
"Do we need to enter the lower twenty floors?" The guard asked.
The vetting procedures for those above the 20th floor and those below the 20th floor were completely different.
"Yes," Qi Yuan said calmly.
Ma Yingwei was slightly surprised. The prisoners below the twentieth floor were all dangerous fellows. Ordinary level three projects rarely required them to go down to the twentieth floor to collect samples.
Ma Yingwei's professionalism allowed him to suppress the shock in his heart. He knew that most researchers liked to be questioned.
"I'll immediately go to the Hazard Management Department to apply for permission. However, because it involves the lower twenty floors, the procedures will be a little troublesome. The application may take a few more days."
Qi Yuan nodded.
"I'll wait for your news!"
After leaving the project review team, Qi Yuan returned to the laboratory and opened the laboratory's mailbox.
The laboratory's mailbox had been open for some time, but it had always been quiet. However, after the news of Feng Qian's surrender and the Dance of Death spread, the laboratory's mailbox suddenly became lively.
Many assistant researchers who weren't assigned started to send messages to Qi Yuan to apply to join the laboratory as Qi Yuan's assistant.
High-yielding researchers like Qi Yuan were the favorite of all research assistants. On average, he published one paper in Hope every month. This speed was enough to make most level three researchers feel ashamed.
The assistant researchers didn't send out the application because they were worried that Qi Yuan wouldn't be able to break through Feng Qian's blockade.
Now, not only did Qi Yuan break through Feng Qian's blockade, but he also had the support of two level four researchers, Tan Qiu and Cao Yansheng, behind him. He also had strong research abilities and was definitely a potential stock.
As long as they entered Qi Yuan's laboratory, even if they couldn't become the second or third author, they would definitely be able to learn enough techniques and accumulate a lot of experience.
Qi Yuan's meteoric rise was already foreseeable. Now that Qi Yuan was still young, it was the best time to join him.
However, Qi Yuan didn't even look at the applications from the assistant researchers and chose to delete them all.
No one knew how many of these assistant researchers had ulterior motives. If they fell into Feng Qian's trap, then there wouldn't be a place for them to talk about it.
Plus, he had the help of the Seraph, so he didn't need any assistant researchers.
After deleting all the assistant researchers' private messages, there were still a few level one researchers' applications in the remaining private messages. Qi Yuan also chose to delete them.
In the end, there were only five private messages in the laboratory's mailbox.
These five private messages all came from outside the laboratory from five different people. One of them directly stated the purpose of the message, which was to ask Qi Yuan to help activate the energy weapon. The other four were directly inviting Qi Yuan to meet and discuss in detail.
Although the sender of these four private messages weren't the big shots who stood at the peak of power, there was still some information in them. They weren't the main characters, and the main characters were still behind them.
After reading the private messages, Qi Yuan couldn't help but shake his head.
"They're really arrogant!"
Among the four private messages, other than one that was relatively modest, the other three all faintly revealed a sense of arrogance.
Obviously, for these white gloves who worked for the big shots, they were used to this kind of arrogant attitude in front of others. Most of the time, they didn't even need to reveal who was behind them, and there would be people lowering their heads in front of them.
The private message that directly stated the purpose of the message came from an M5 from the Desert Reconnaissance Department. The other party purposely mentioned Mo Sheng in the message, but didn't mention the reward. Obviously, he wanted to use Mo Sheng's name to get a free ride.
Although this person was an M5, Qi Yuan was sure that he definitely wouldn't catch Mo Sheng's attention.
Qi Yuan didn't hesitate to delete this private message that was trying to get a free ride from him.
Then, Qi Yuan focused his attention on the only one of the remaining four private messages that was modest.
The other party was only a P4, but he was from the Army.
Even in a powerful department like the Army, there weren't many people who owned mutated energy weapons. Therefore, this private message was most likely related to one of the big shots in the Army.
Thinking about the checkpoint in the Army, Qi Yuan only thought for a moment before replying to the other party and asking to meet at the laboratory.
That afternoon, a young man with a crew cut came to the living room of the laboratory. Although he deliberately didn't wear a combat uniform, Qi Yuan could still sense an aura that was different from others. It was an aura that was a mix of blood and killing intent.
"Researcher Qi, I'm Xin Yuanshan. Nice to meet you!" The young man took the initiative to greet him.
Qi Yuan smiled in response, then the two of them sat down.
The young man didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
"Researcher Qi, I've asked you to meet this time because I have a favor to ask. I have a mutated energy weapon in my hands, and I'd like you to help me activate it!
As for the reward, feel free to tell me! "Xin Yuanshan said.
Qi Yuan glanced at him and didn't immediately agree. Instead, he said calmly, "Since you've come to me, you should know very well that I'm not short of money.
Over the past few days, many people have contacted me, wanting me to help them activate their energy weapons, but I didn't agree to any of them.
"Activating an energy weapon isn't an easy task. It'll waste a lot of my time. For a researcher, time is the most precious thing!"
Xin Yuanshan maintained his upright posture. He wasn't disappointed by Qi Yuan's rejection. If Qi Yuan didn't raise the price and agreed so easily, that would be the real surprise.
However, since Qi Yuan was willing to meet him, there must be a basis for a deal between the two of them. After pondering for a moment, Xin Yuanshan directly threw out his conditions.
"As long as you complete the activation of the energy weapon, I can sponsor 600 kilograms of Asterite for the laboratory!"
For a second-level researcher, 600 kilograms of Asterite was definitely a huge sum of money. It was even 200 kilograms more than what Mo Sheng had offered.
According to the Blazing Angel's normal eating speed, he would have more than half of the 600 kilograms of Asterite left after the Blazing Angel's consumption.
The reason Xin Yuanshan had offered 600 kilograms of Asterite in one go was not only because mutated energy weapons were difficult to activate, but also because Mo Sheng had already spread the news that he had given him 600 kilograms of Asterite in order to activate Death Dance. This set the tone for the price of activating energy weapons in one fell swoop.
If anyone wanted to activate an energy weapon in the future, the price couldn't be lower than 600 kilograms of Asterite.
Qi Yuan silently cursed in his heart, but didn't immediately agree.
"How's Ke Shoulin doing recently?" Qi Yuan asked.
Xin Yuanshan raised his eyebrows. He knew that Qi Yuan was a little worried about the grudge between him and Ke Shoulin, but he misunderstood.
"Minister Ke has been living in seclusion recently. He hasn't made any moves."
Qi Yuan paused for a moment, then said, "I want to know if Minister Ke will be going out to carry out combat missions recently."
A glint flashed through Xin Yuanshan's eyes. He seemed to be surprised by Qi Yuan's madness and thought that Qi Yuan was preparing to make a move on Ke Shoulin. He took a deep breath and slowly said:
"You don't have to worry about Minister Ke at all!
Attacking a researcher is a serious crime. Minister Ke definitely won't do anything irrational. "
"Similarly, attacking a vice-minister of a combat division will only be more dangerous!"
"No, you misunderstand!" Qi Yuan smiled.
"I'm just a second-level researcher. How could I have any bad intentions towards a vice-minister of a sixth-level combat division?
I'm just thinking that the next time I visit a combat division, if I run into Minister Ke, the two of us will be a little awkward. "
Ke Shoulin had tried to kill him many times, and Qi Yuan did have the intention to kill him. However, Qi Yuan also knew that with his current strength, he was no match for Ke Shoulin. If it wasn't for the rules of God's Sanctuary protecting him, he would have died in Ke Shoulin's hands.
Qi Yuan had already recorded this score in his little notebook. When he had enough strength in the future, he would settle the score with Ke Shoulin.
His purpose this time was only to go to the combat division to sign in. If Ke Shoulin was guarding the combat division, it would be easy to ruin his check-in. If he could get him out for a while, the difficulty of signing in would plummet.
Xin Yuanshan heard this and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. If Qi Yuan really wanted to plot against Ke Shoulin because of the previous grudge, then he must be crazy.
After hesitating for a while, Xin Yuanshan slowly said, "One month later, Minister Ke will go out to the southern battlefront for a change of guard. The change of guard will take about two months."
Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. Two months was enough for him to go around the combat division and complete his check-in.
"You can send the weapon over today. One month later, when Minister Ke goes out for a change of guard, I will personally send it to the combat division!" Qi Yuan said.
After the deal was done, Xin Yuanshan also smiled.
Although 600 kilograms of Asterite was a lot, to that person, as long as he could complete the activation of the weapon, it was completely worth it.
"In one hour, the Asterite and the weapon will be sent over."
"Happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!"
Xin Yuanshan's movements were very fast. In less than an hour, a spear-like mutated energy weapon and six hundred kilograms of star energy stones were neatly delivered to Qi Yuan's laboratory.
Looking at the Asterite in the box and the spear on the lab table, Qi Yuan couldn't help but sigh.
"They are all rich people!"
Although the strength of this spear was slightly weaker than the energy of Death Dance, it was still far stronger than the energy weapons of mechanical equipment.
Moreover, the fact that the other party was able to pay for 600 kilograms of Asterite in one go was enough to prove the other party's financial strength.
The news of Ke Shoulin going out for a change of guard in a month was definitely a military secret in the combat division. For Xin Yuanshan to be able to get this information a month in advance, it was enough to prove the status of the person behind him.
Using this activation of the weapon, not only could he harvest a wave of Asterite, he could also find a chance to complete his check-in at the combat division. This deal was definitely a huge profit!
"Time to work!"
Qi Yuan summoned Blazing Angel.
The Blazing Angel looked at the chest filled with star energy stones, and his saliva suddenly flowed out of his mouth.
So much food!
Qi Yuan stroked Blazing Angel's hair and casually condensed a strand of Asterite energy and sent it into her mouth.
"Don't drag it out for too long. Complete the activation of this mutated energy spear within a month."
Blazing Angel nodded vigorously while drooling as she swallowed the Asterite energy.
After arranging Blazing Angel's task, Qi Yuan began to make preparations for the next project.
The first four papers had already brought him hundreds of academic points. After publishing a few more papers, he would be promoted to a level 3 researcher. Compared to a level 2 researcher, a level 3 researcher was obviously more persuasive.