Chapter 3

In H City, inside the research institute of the renowned scientist Dr. Qin, Ouyang Rui had a brainwave scanner strapped to his head.

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

"I'm sorry, Ouyang Family Head. His brainwave memories are now nothing but a jumble of nonsense, completely impossible to decipher. There's no chance of recovery, either. It's a special kind of mental damage. His body is still alive, but I can barely find any normal brainwaves in his brain." Dr. Qin spoke to the man before him, wiping his sweat as he did. After all, this man was the head of one of the most powerful families in District C.

"Put it simply," Ouyang Family Head said.

"He's still alive, but his soul has disappeared," Dr. Qin replied.

"Like a vegetable?" Ouyang Family Head asked with a frown.

"No. There's still hope for someone in a vegetative state. But if the soul is gone, there's no hope." Dr. Qin continued, "Ever since the existence of the soul was confirmed ten years ago, a completely new law was discovered. Even if every cell in a person's body is healthy and they have no psychological problems, once their soul disappears, they will never wake up. Soul disappearance syndrome has now been classified as one of the World Medical Association's incurable diseases."

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

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

The gunshot made Dr. Qin shudder. "You didn't have to kill him! Even if it's incurable, this world isn't what it used to be. Maybe there's someone who can save him!"

"Dr. Qin, you're an expert in brainwave development. If even you can't solve this problem, I doubt anyone else can treat him." Ouyang Family Head narrowed his eyes. "Besides, our Ouyang Family has no use for a worthless fool who can't even handle a little thing."

"..."

"Isn't that Ouyang?" A middle-aged man entered the research institute. Another middle-aged man, wearing an arrogant expression, followed behind him. "Long time no see."

"Isn't this Dong?" Ouyang Family Head said, looking at the man in front. "It really has been a long time."

"Oh? Isn't that Ouyang Rui? What happened to him?" Dong Family Head exclaimed in surprise.

"Maybe you should ask your Dong Xue'er," Ouyang Family Head replied.

"Well..." Dong Family Head gave an awkward laugh. "Let's talk about it later. Don't worry, for the sake of our friendship, I'll give you an explanation. Our plan is at a critical stage right now, so we'd better not let this damage our relationship."

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

"Of course," Dong Family Head replied.

As he watched Ouyang Family Head leave, a peculiar glint flashed in Dong Family Head's eyes.

"Right, Dr. Qin. Let's discuss our plan." Dong Family Head turned to him. "I'd like us to quietly move up the completion schedule."

"Well... you know how short-staffed my research institute is..." Dr. Qin said hesitantly. "The progress I reported to your two families was already the fastest possible."

"Don't worry, Dr. Qin. I know you're short-staffed, so I brought our Dong Family's technical consultant to help you." Dong Family Head looked at the middle-aged man beside him. "Allow me to introduce Dr. Musili, our Dong Family's technical consultant. He'll help you speed up this project."

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

"You don't need to understand anything. Just keep working at your own pace. This experiment could change the future of humanity, if it succeeds." Dong Family Head paused, then continued, "You'll become the greatest scientist of the new era."

"But..."

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

After thinking it over, Dr. Qin replied helplessly, "All right."

"Excellent. I hope you work well together," Dong Family Head said with a smile. "By the way, only the three of us here should know about the accelerated schedule. If you want to live long enough to finish this great project."

"...Don't worry. No problem." His words left Dr. Qin sweating again.

"I have high hopes for you. For the sake of this project, I flew here from B City myself. Don't disappoint me," Dong Family Head said to Dr. Qin.

As Dong Family Head left, Dr. Qin looked at Dr. Musili, who was surveying the research institute, and grumbled inwardly: What cooperation? He's obviously here to take credit for my research and keep an eye on me. Damn it. Who knows what will happen to my research once it falls into their hands?

Lin Wan arrived at Dr. Qin's research institute at her usual time.

Unlike any other day, as soon as she entered the institute, she came upon this exchange.

"What outdated equipment. It really suits you," Dr. Musili said to Dr. Qin. "I suppose a country bumpkin like you has no idea how technology has advanced."

"As long as it works. At least I can use this old equipment to produce groundbreaking research," Dr. Qin retorted. "Unlike certain people who use all kinds of expensive instruments and still can't produce a single result of their own. And yet they have the nerve to call themselves top researchers."

"What did you say?" Dr. Musili said. "I'm a cutting-edge talent from the World Academy of Sciences. Unlike you, who went to a third-rate university and didn't get your doctorate until you were forty, I had my 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 consultant for the World Academy of Sciences!" Dr. Musili retorted.

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

"Tch. My papers make the front page of Science Magazine every year," Dr. Musili said.

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

"I'm a technical authority who works across dozens of fields at once."

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

"Can't you say anything else?"

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

"Do you want to fight?" Dr. Musili was furious. He had to admit that no matter how high one's standing in academia, a Nobel Prize could outshine all those other accolades.

"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you! I'll have you know that when I was young, I beat two city-level fighting champions," Dr. Qin said, just as undaunted.

"What are you two doing?" Lin Wan couldn't stand it anymore. She hurried over and grabbed the two doctors, who were about to come to blows.

"Lin Wan, perfect timing! Help me teach this shameless jerk a lesson." Dr. Qin saw her and hurried to his side. "I'll have you know, I trained Lin Wan myself. She's a master of dozens of martial arts. If you want to fight me, you'll have to get past her first."

"Doctor! I'm here as an assistant, not a bodyguard!" Lin Wan said helplessly.

"Lin Wan, this guy's in his prime, and I'm just an old man. You can't stand by and watch him hurt me, can you?" Dr. Qin said beside her. "Besides, I've always treated you well, haven't I? Shouldn't you help an old man like me at a time like this?"

"..." Lin Wan was speechless. "You know you can't beat him, so why are you squaring up to him?"

"I just can't stand the guy. I've already lost physically, 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 stood watching them from the side.

"Hit him, Lin Wan! Don't go easy on him for my sake!" Dr. Qin continued to cheer from the sidelines.

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

"Lin Wan! Aren't you turning against your own side? Who told you to apologize? I told you to hit him!" Dr. Qin shouted from behind her.

"Hmph!" Dr. Musili snorted.

"See how smug he looks? Why are you apologizing to someone that arrogant and shameless?" Dr. Qin kept grumbling behind her.

"Be quiet!" Lin Wan shouted at him.

"..." Dr. Qin obediently fell silent.

"You were kicked out of the World Academy of Sciences because of that personality, weren't you?" 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. Your papers are published in Science Magazine every month, and I've read every one of them," Lin Wan said, putting on an admiring expression.

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

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

"Haha, at least you have a discerning eye, young lady. Unlike certain stubborn old men," Dr. Musili said proudly.

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

"Of course I am!" Dr. Musili laughed. "You're a fine young woman! Once this research is finished, would you be interested in working at my institute?"

"I'll think about it," Lin Wan replied. "Someone as important as you shouldn't take Dr. Qin's behavior to heart. He doesn't get along with people from the World Academy of Sciences, which is why he acts like this."

"I'm magnanimous enough to let this go," Dr. Musili said.

My brother was right. Flattery really does work. If I'd actually fought him, I'd never get my papers published in Science Magazine again.

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

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

"Huh?"

Dr. Musili looked at Dr. Qin. "In other words, I'm just an assistant. I'd never stoop to stealing someone else's research."

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