Materials Science Department Head Huo Yuan

The next morning at half past eight, Gu Yuan arrived on time to pick him up.

The car Li Du drove today was unusually low-key, with no association insignia on the sides.

Mo Yuan even noticed when he got in that the license plate was an ordinary civilian one.

He glanced at Gu Yuan, who was leaning against the passenger seat and flipping through a stack of paper files. Without looking up, Gu Yuan said, "Since this technology hasn't been made public yet, it's better to keep a low profile."

"What time was the appointment?"

"Half past nine. We should arrive just about in time." Gu Yuan closed the file. "I brought along the testing report for the Star Silver Ingot sample, including the summary concerning the Molecular Reconstruction principles in your design schematics."

The car left the Mecha Engineer Association's grounds and drove through the broad morning streets of Mingdu South District. Along the way, Gu Yuan briefly explained Director Huo's basic circumstances.

Huo Yuan was sixty-two years old and the head of the Materials Science Department of the Federation Academy of Sciences. He had held that position for nearly ten years.

His academic stance leaned toward practical application, and he had always been impatient with research projects that had nothing but theory and could not be converted into tangible results.

Gu Yuan had known him for more than twenty years. Their relationship was not particularly deep, but they could be considered mutually appreciative.

Forty minutes later, the car stopped in front of the side entrance of a gray building.

The entrance was not large, and there were no conspicuous markings on the exterior walls. However, at least four layers of concealed energy-detection arrays had been arranged around the building.

A young man in a white lab coat was standing beside the side entrance, clearly waiting for them in advance.

Gu Yuan got out and greeted him. The young man stepped aside to lead the way, bringing the two of them into the building through the side entrance.

The corridors in this building were quite narrow, with metal panels embedded in the walls. The lighting had a cool blue-white color temperature.

They passed through two security checkpoints. After their identities and belongings had been verified, they were led into a meeting room of about forty square meters.

The room was simply furnished: a long table, several chairs, and a few transparent material samples displayed on a shelf against the wall. A portable quality-testing instrument sat in the center of the tabletop.

They had been seated for less than a minute when the door was pushed open.

Huo Yuan looked quite thin. He wore a clean white lab coat, its sleeves rolled up to the middle of his forearms, revealing lean yet powerful arms.

His hair was gray but neatly combed. A pair of fine metal-framed glasses rested on his nose, and the moment his gaze fell beneath the lenses, it was direct and devoid of any intention to exchange pleasantries.

"Gu Yuan, where's the sample you mentioned?" He sat down and spoke quickly and clearly. "Let me see the goods first."

At that, Gu Yuan placed the alloy case he had brought with him on the table and opened it, taking out the silver-blue Star Silver Ingot.

Under the meeting room's cool lighting, it reflected a restrained, deep-blue sheen. The cloud-like patterns on its surface were fine and even, like a frozen sea.

Huo Yuan reached out and picked up the metal ingot, lightly pinching its edge between two fingers. He raised it to eye level and carefully examined its sides and bottom, paying particular attention to its patterns.

His movements were extremely cautious. He then placed the piece of Star Silver onto the testing instrument.

The instrument ran for less than thirty seconds before a line of data popped up on the screen.

Huo Yuan glanced over it. There was indeed no problem.

He picked up the piece of Star Silver again and examined it repeatedly from different angles. Then he returned it to the tabletop and turned toward Gu Yuan.

"The quality of this Star Silver is indeed extremely high." He sighed with emotion.

Huo Yuan glanced at Mo Yuan again, his eyes filled with astonishment. "I never expected that I would actually get to see such exquisite technology—and see it from someone so young, no less."

"You flatter me."

Huo Yuan leaned back in his chair and folded his hands on the table.

His silence lasted less than five seconds before he spoke again. "I've also read your Molecular Reconstruction design schematics. At least within the scope of my knowledge, the theoretical section holds up. But there's a long road between a theory that holds up and technology that can produce a finished product. I need to confirm whether your sample was the result of a single experiment or the result of multiple rounds of optimization."

"This is the first batch. The second and third batches will be completed today, and the estimated conversion rate can be raised by another three to five percent. The parameters of the apparatus have already been adjusted, so there are no fundamental obstacles." Mo Yuan's tone was unhurried. "Also, the engraving-precision requirements for the core array are an order of magnitude lower than those marked in these schematics. In other words, this technology can be replicated through a standardized process."

Huo Yuan's eyebrows moved slightly. "To what extent can it be replicated?"

"I can write a complete operating manual right now. Any Level Seven Soul Engineer who has received standard array-engraving training can master the engraving method for the corresponding core array within three months." Mo Yuan continued, "The conversion apparatus at the Third Experimental Base was something I built temporarily, but it isn't the only way to produce it. In the future, apparatuses of the same specifications can also be made through industrialized batch production. The cost won't be much higher than that of existing high-end industrial furnaces."

Huo Yuan listened quietly to the end, then turned his head and picked up the Star Silver Ingot once more.

This time, he looked at it for less time than before, but when he put it down, his movements were gentler.

"Gu Yuan," he said, "tell me frankly. If this technology is put into production, when can the first batch of material samples be delivered to the Materials Testing Center of the Academy of Sciences?"

"Didn't Mo Yuan say so? The third batch can be finished this afternoon." Gu Yuan helplessly waved his hand. "But if you need us to cooperate with the formal project-approval process—"

"Hahahaha, it seems you came to me today already certain that I'd be tempted. But you were right. I really can't resist the appeal of this technology..."

"So I'll skip the formal process for now." Huo Yuan waved his hand. "I'll conduct an internal test first. The Materials Science Department has a Multidimensional Materials Scanner. There are only three in the entire Federation, and its testing precision is sufficient to determine all the core parameters of this piece of Star Silver. Once the test results are out, I'll take the report straight through the internal channel of the Academic Affairs Council. If the data is sound, I'll personally push the project forward."

He looked at Mo Yuan. "Do you have any other independent requirements?"

Mo Yuan said without hesitation, "My name must be listed first, and I retain the rights to be credited for the achievement. The Mecha Engineer Association may be listed as a co-creator, but I won't accept having my personal contribution concealed under the name of an 'Academy of Sciences project team.' The only cooperating party can be the Materials Science Department. It must not pass through the Academic Affairs Committee and expand to other departments."

Huo Yuan looked at him with some surprise. "That suggestion of yours will probably offend quite a few people. But who can blame me for having such high hopes for this project?"

"There's no problem with putting your name first. I'll stop the expansion on the Academic Affairs Committee's side." He smiled. "But you need to think one thing through. Once this technology is made public, many people will try to approach you from every angle. The Academy of Sciences can only block some of them, and I'm afraid there will be quite a few attacks from the shadows."

"I know," Mo Yuan said. "But I've never been afraid of such things."

Huo Yuan's brows lifted slightly. "Confidence is a good thing, but young people should still rein in their sharpness. If you need anything, come to me anytime. There's no need to bear it all alone."

Mo Yuan neither agreed nor disagreed.

His age could indeed mislead many people, even though he had never concealed his identity as a Level-9 Soul Engineer.

That was simply how things were. Most people thought highly of themselves. Even when someone had already displayed enough ability to prove their strength, as long as that person was young, there would always be old-timers who assumed they were all reputation and no substance.

Until they were personally proven wrong.

Watching Mo Yuan's reaction, Huo Yuan did not press him for details. He simply lowered his folded arms and lightly tapped the tabletop with one hand.

"All right, I'll keep one of the samples here. Once the third batch is finished, have Gu Yuan bring it over directly. There's no need to make another appointment." After saying this, he stood and extended a hand toward Mo Yuan. "Welcome to the Federation Academy of Sciences' list of collaborators. Although you won't officially be part of the academy, I hope you'll treat this technology as a collaborative project."

Mo Yuan stood and shook his hand.

"I'm sure I won't disappoint you."