War Has Begun!

Boss Xu had not guessed wrong. Gao Yuan was only one step away from securing X2 Fiber.

When the system activated Mission 3 last night, Gao Yuan's store of knowledge about materials chemistry instantly increased, which was why he had the confidence to make such a bold claim today.

Next, Gao Yuan would be busy in the laboratory again, but he did not feel tired, nor would he feel lonely.

Because he knew deeply that this was a war, and X Fiber was an indispensable weapon in that war!

Stockholm, Sweden.

Bergman suddenly received a call from Clavensen, the R&D director, asking him to buy some new products from a competitor. So he drove his Volvo sedan to a clothing boutique operated by Xiyin Group in the city center.

Though it was not the weekend, business in the store was remarkably good. Especially in the promotional area by the entrance, where dozens of customers had gathered to watch as a sales clerk explained at a rapid pace.

"This is our latest X1 high-tech fabric. It has incredibly powerful quick-drying properties. Worn next to the skin, it can keep you dry at all times." The clerk held up a white undershirt as he introduced it to the customers.

To better demonstrate the features of X1 fabric, the clerk used a watering can to deliberately soak the T-shirt, then handed it to the customers.

An astonishing sight followed. The dripping-wet T-shirt dried at a visibly rapid rate, and the customers cried out in amazement, unable to believe their eyes.

"Suppose you are washing dishes and accidentally splash water on your clothes. They will dry in less than a minute. And if it is more serious, if the T-shirt gets completely soaked, then drying it in the sun for around ten minutes will be enough," the clerk continued.

The customers grew even more excited and asked about the price of these high-tech garments. They were told that there was currently a launch promotion: buy one, get one free.

As for the styles, they were mostly basics: quick-drying underwear, quick-drying pants, quick-drying jackets, quick-drying long- and short-sleeved T-shirts, and so on. There were only a little over forty styles in total for now, but more would be released later.

"They really know how to brag. If fabric like that really exists, I would buy a hundred pieces without a second word," Bergman muttered to himself.

In fact, people living in colder, higher-latitude regions placed even greater importance on how quickly their clothes dried.

After all, in the snow and ice, everyone bundled themselves up like polar bears. Once they started sweating, if their clothes could not dry in time, walking through a minus-thirty-degree wind in soaked underwear was an experience no one who had tried it would ever forget.

Although Bergman worked for Xiyin Group's competitor, Sweden's H.M. Group, if these quick-drying T-shirts made in China could truly achieve the effect just demonstrated, he would not mind buying some for himself and his family.

However, Bergman was convinced that the Huaxia people were talking nonsense.

As a doctor of materials science, he knew very well that the best quick-drying material in the world was COOLMAX, produced by DuPont Company. And COOLMAX could never dry in ten minutes, even in summer.

"Sure enough, it is cheap. It costs roughly one-third as much as DuPont fabric, but unfortunately, it is all inferior bargain-bin trash."

Bergman picked up a basket and carelessly tossed garments bearing the Kunlun X1 logo into it as though he were throwing away pieces of garbage.

Then he walked straight to the checkout counter, paid, got an invoice, and prepared to leave with two large bags of clothes.

When Bergman reached the entrance, he saw the store manager directing employees as they cleared the shelves.

"This row, and that row too. Clear them all out and replace them with products made from X1 fabric."

"Mm, the posters on the glass need to come down too."

"But Manager, if we do that, one-third of the entire store will be occupied. There are only a little over forty X1 fabric products in total. Is this really necessary?"

The store manager, who looked to be in his thirties, shrugged. "I do not understand it either, but headquarters is determined to push high-tech ready-to-wear clothing now. We should not ask too many questions. Just do as we are told."

As Bergman walked, he thought viciously to himself. As his employer declined day by day, Bergman had grown more vicious with every passing day.

When he arrived beside his Volvo, a sinister smile appeared on his face.

As everyone knew, Volvo, once the pride of Sweden, had been acquired by Geely Group. Many Swedes deeply resented this.

Bergman waited.

About half an hour later, Bergman arrived at the group headquarters.

He opened the trunk, carried the two bags of clothing through the main entrance, and was left dumbfounded by what he saw.

Because he had gone to buy competing products for the company before work, he had arrived a little late.

For some reason, the entire headquarters now had an air of grim tension. Everyone hurried along with solemn expressions.

"Did something happen?"

Confused, Bergman stopped a colleague from the marketing department to ask. They were fairly familiar with each other and had shared coffee in the break room before.

The marketing colleague looked at Bergman's bewildered face, then at the two large plastic bags in his hands.

"You still do not know?"

"Know what?" Bergman asked back, suddenly feeling uneasy.

"War has begun. All of Europe is going to war!" the marketing colleague said in a lowered voice. "Those bastards' Summer's End Offensive will begin in twenty-four hours!"

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