Chapter 3

In Dr. Qin's Research Institute in H City, Ouyang Rui had a brainwave scanning device strapped to his head.

"Doctor, can't you read his memories?" a dignified middle-aged man said to an elderly man with white hair and beard.

"I'm sorry, Ouyang Family Head, but his brain's memories are now completely garbled code, impossible to decipher. There's also no possibility of recovery—it's a special kind of mental damage. His body is still alive, but I can barely find any normal brainwaves in his mind." Dr. Qin said to the middle-aged man before him, wiping sweat from his brow as he spoke. After all, this man was the head of one of the strongest families in District C.

"Please explain it simply," the Ouyang Family Head said.

"In other words, he's still alive, but his soul has vanished," Dr. Qin said.

"Like a vegetative state?" the Ouyang Family Head asked with a frown.

"Not the same. A vegetative state can still be treated. But once the soul is gone, there's no saving them," Dr. Qin said. "Ever since the existence of the soul was confirmed ten years ago, a new law was discovered. That is, even if every cell in a person's body is healthy and they have no psychological issues, once their soul disappears, they simply won't wake up. Soul loss syndrome has now been classified as one of the major incurable diseases by the World Medical Association."

"Thank you, Doctor. I understand what I need to do," the Ouyang Family Head said to Dr. Qin.

With that, he pulled out a pistol and shot Ouyang Rui right in the forehead.

The gunshot made Dr. Qin flinch all over. "You didn't have to kill him! Even if it's incurable, this world isn't what it used to be. Maybe someone out there could save him?"

"Dr. Qin, you're an expert in brain development. If even you can't solve this problem, I doubt anyone else can," the Ouyang Family Head said, narrowing his eyes. "Besides, the Ouyang family has no use for useless trash who can't even handle a small matter."

"..."

"Isn't this Brother Ouyang? Long time no see." A middle-aged man then entered the research institute, followed by another man with a haughty expression.

"Isn't this Brother Dong? It has been a while," the Ouyang Family Head said, looking at the leading middle-aged man.

"Oh? Isn't this Ouyang Rui? How did he end up like this!" the Dong Family Head said, looking at Ouyang Rui in surprise.

"Shouldn't you be asking your Dong Xue'er about that?" the Ouyang Family Head said.

"Well..." the Dong Family Head gave an awkward smile. "Let's discuss this later. Rest assured, for the sake of our friendship, I'll give you an explanation. Right now, our plan is at a critical stage, so it's best not to damage our goodwill."

"If it weren't for the plan being at a critical stage, do you think I'd be speaking to you like this?" the Ouyang Family Head said as he walked toward the door. "I'll wait for you to give me an explanation. Someone will come to deal with the body later."

"Of course," the Dong Family Head said.

Watching the Ouyang Family Head leave, a peculiar glint flashed in the Dong Family Head's eyes.

"Alright, Dr. Qin, let's talk about our plan," the Dong Family Head said to Dr. Qin. "I'd like to move up the completion schedule in private."

"Well... you know, the manpower in this institute of mine..." Dr. Qin said hesitantly. "The progress I reported to both families before was already the fastest I could manage."

"Don't worry, Dr. Qin. I know you're short on hands, so I've brought our Dong family's technical advisor to help you," the Dong Family Head said, looking at the middle-aged man beside him. "Let me introduce you. This is Dr. Musili, our Dong family's technical advisor. He'll help you speed up this project."

"But I don't understand..." Dr. Qin said.

"You don't need to understand anything. Just follow your own pace. Remember, this is an experiment that could change humanity's future. If it succeeds..." He paused, then said, "You'll become the greatest scientist of the new era."

"But..."

"No buts," the Dong Family Head said. "From now on, the two of you will complete this project together."

After thinking it over, Dr. Qin said helplessly, "Fine."

"Good. I wish you a pleasant collaboration," the Dong Family Head said with a smile. "Oh, and I hope that only the three of us in this room know about speeding up the progress. If you want to live to finish this great project."

"...Don't worry. No problem." Dr. Qin broke out in another cold sweat from the threat.

"I have high hopes for you. I flew all the way from B City in my plane just for this plan of yours. Don't let me down," the Dong Family Head said to Dr. Qin.

Watching the Dong Family Head leave, Dr. Qin looked at Dr. Musili, who was sizing up the research institute, and muttered to himself: 'What collaboration! He's just here to steal my research results and spy on me. Damn it, who knows what will happen to my work in their hands?'

Lin Wan arrived at Dr. Qin's Research Institute at her usual time today.

Unlike other days, when she entered the institute, she witnessed this exchange.

"Really outdated facilities. Suits you perfectly," Dr. Musili said to Dr. Qin. "Typical country bumpkin who doesn't understand technological progress."

"As long as it works. I can make new breakthroughs with old equipment," Dr. Qin shot back sarcastically. "Unlike some people who use all kinds of high-end instruments but can't produce a single result of their own. And they still have the nerve to call themselves top-tier researchers."

"What did you say?" Dr. Musili said. "I'm a cutting-edge talent from the World Academy of Sciences. Unlike someone who studied at a third-rate university and didn't get a doctorate until he was forty, I had a postdoctoral degree by twenty-five. How dare you compare yourself to me?"

"Heh, I've won a Nobel Prize," Dr. Qin said.

"I've been a technical advisor at the World Academy of Sciences!" Dr. Musili said.

"Heh, I've won a Nobel Prize," Dr. Qin said.

"Tch, my papers are featured on the front page of the World Science Magazine every year," Dr. Musili said.

"I've won a Nobel Prize," Dr. Qin said.

"I'm a technical authority who dabbles in dozens of fields worldwide."

"I've won a Nobel Prize," Dr. Qin said.

"Can you say something else?"

"Fine. I've won two Nobel Prizes!" Dr. Qin said.

"You want to fight?" Dr. Musili was furious. Admittedly, no matter how much status you achieve in academia, a Nobel Prize outshines all those accolades.

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who! Let me tell you, when I was young, I beat two city-level boxing champions," Dr. Qin said, equally unyielding.

"What are you two doing?" Lin Wan couldn't stand it anymore. She quickly stepped in and pulled apart the two doctors who were about to come to blows.

"Xiao Wan, perfect timing! Help me teach this shameless bastard a lesson." Dr. Qin saw Lin Wan enter and come to his side. "Let me tell you, Xiao Wan was trained by me. She's a master spanning dozens of combat fields. If you want to fight me, you'll have to get past Xiao Wan first."

"Doctor! I came here to be an assistant, not a bodyguard, alright?" Lin Wan looked helplessly at Dr. Qin.

"Xiao Wan, this guy's in his prime, while I'm just a bag of old bones. You can't just stand by and watch this man hurt an old man like me, can you?" Dr. Qin said beside her. "Besides, haven't I treated you well enough usually? At a time like this, shouldn't you help out this old bones?"

"..." Lin Wan was speechless at the old man. "You know you can't beat him, so why are you putting up that fighting stance?"

"I just can't stand this kid. Physically, I've already lost, but I can't lose in spirit," Dr. Qin said.

"Are you a child?" Lin Wan said helplessly. As she spoke, she walked over to Dr. Musili, who had been watching the two of them from the side.

"Beat him up, Xiao Wan. Don't spare my feelings," Dr. Qin cheered from the sidelines.

"I'm so sorry. Dr. Qin is just childish," Lin Wan said, bowing to Dr. Musili. "Please don't take him seriously."

"Xiao Wan! Isn't that biting the hand that feeds you? Who told you to apologize? I told you to go beat him up," Dr. Qin shouted from behind.

"Hmph!" Dr. Musili snorted coldly.

"See that arrogant look on his face? Why are you apologizing to someone so ungrateful?" Dr. Qin kept rambling from behind.

"Shut up!" Lin Wan shouted at him.

"..." Dr. Qin obediently shut his mouth.

"Is this personality why you got kicked out of the World Academy of Sciences?" After silencing Dr. Qin, Lin Wan turned to Dr. Musili. "You're Dr. Musili, right?"

"Oh? You know me?" Dr. Musili's expression softened slightly.

"Of course I do. Your papers are published in Science Magazine every month. I've read every single one," Lin Wan said with an admiring look.

"Oh? You've read my papers?" Dr. Musili asked.

"Of course. Your papers are absolutely brilliant," Lin Wan said. "Your understanding of scientific theory is truly admirable. Honestly, I never expected to meet you here today."

"Haha, you're a young lady with good taste. Not like some stubborn old man," Dr. Musili said smugly.

"Not at all. You're very famous in the scientific community," Lin Wan said.

"Of course I am," Dr. Musili laughed. "You're a fine young lady! After this research is done, are you interested in working at my institute?"

"I'll consider it," Lin Wan said. "Someone as important as you shouldn't bother with Dr. Qin. He just doesn't get along with the people at the World Academy of Sciences, that's all."

"I'll be magnanimous and let this slide," Dr. Musili said.

'Brother was right. Flattery gets you everywhere. If I'd actually hit him, my papers would never get published in Science Magazine again.'

"By the way, what are you here for?" Lin Wan asked curiously.

"I'm here to help you complete this experiment," Dr. Musili said.

"Huh?"

Dr. Musili looked at Dr. Qin. "That means I'm just an assistant. I wouldn't stoop to stealing someone else's research results."

"Hmph, that's more like it," Dr. Qin muttered.

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