415: Chapter 414 Outstanding Scientist Wang Shuo

The resentment in the Middle-aged man's tone was audible to anyone.

Behind every one of those names stood a rare pillar of the Chinese scientific research community.

Now, fourteen of those pillars had snapped.

Research progress in related fields had regressed by at least ten years. Even more infuriating was that due to a traitor's betrayal, other countries had gained access to what should have been the Chinese Government's top-secret technological processes.

This was tantamount to a punch in the face of the Chinese Government, and they had to swallow their broken teeth along with their pride.

"The 615 Incident was a massive blow to the higher-ups."

The Middle-aged man sighed slightly:

"After the 615 Incident, we increased personnel to protect these precious scientists and simultaneously ordered the confiscation of passports from all personnel in government enterprises and high-level research units to prevent them from leaving the country without authorization."

Wang Shuo nodded slightly. These measures could indeed solve part of the problem, but they only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

"Before talking about the third gift, I must apologize to you, Wang Shuo."

The Middle-aged man stood up, seemingly wanting to bow to Wang Shuo.

Wang Shuo was startled and hurriedly stood up to hold the Middle-aged man back: "Uncle Zheng, what are you doing?"

"If I don't, I fear you will hold a grudge."

The Middle-aged man smiled faintly. Seeing he couldn't bow, he didn't force it, sat back down, and said: "Actually, this was also the intention of a very important figure."

The Middle-aged man smiled bitterly: "All the situations your company has faced that I mentioned earlier might have something to do with this important figure."

"An important figure?"

Wang Shuo's focus was clearly not on the same channel as the Middle-aged man's: "How important?"

The Middle-aged man paused slightly, then couldn't help but shake his head: "You just need to know that they are very important—the kind of person whose single word could cause your company to face the situation I mentioned earlier."

"I explained the 615 Incident to you in detail not only to let you know about the severe situation facing the Chinese Government, but also to let you know that this important figure did so unintentionally."

"Unintentionally?"

Wang Shuo stroked his chin.

"Yes, unintentionally. Their good intentions were simply exploited by others."

The Middle-aged man's expression became slightly more serious: "I just said that after the 615 Incident occurred, the higher-ups placed great importance on scientists, especially outstanding scientists in their fields. And you, student Wang Shuo, are an outstanding talent."

"Me?"

Wang Shuo was stunned and pointed at himself: "An outstanding scientist?"

"Correct, it is you."

The Middle-aged man nodded: "If you weren't one before, then after you publicly released the zero egg, you became one. Once your teacher Teacher Ding Runan, your mentor Professor Zeng Xuewei, your principal Ding Congsheng, your connection Dean Qin, and Dean Qian all acknowledged that the zero egg was created by you, you became one."

Wang Shuo was dumbfounded. He felt he had been low-key enough; he hadn't expected to be noticed by the higher-ups, and such high-level ones at that.

Sure enough, outstanding people are as bright as fireflies in the night wherever they go; it's hard to hide oneself.

"Originally, the higher-ups would still observe for a period of time when encountering such situations, but you are different."

The Middle-aged man looked at Wang Shuo, unsure whether to be gratified or regretful: "You created the Electromagnetic Rifle, and you created it under Zheng Yi's observation."

"So..."

"So this big leader favors me?"

Wang Shuo chimed in.

"Heh, it's not that easy."

The Middle-aged man poured cold water on Wang Shuo: "Although you are very outstanding, you are still young and need training. Even if the higher-ups notice you, they won't disturb your normal development."

"Is that so?"

Wang Shuo rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward.

"What did you think?"

The Middle-aged man looked at Wang Shuo with an amused expression.

"I didn't think anything."

Wang Shuo asked back: "If that's the case, Uncle Zheng, why did you apologize to me?"

"That is what I am about to tell you next."

The Middle-aged man frowned: "Someone found that important figure. No one knows what was said between them, but after the other party left, a piece of news spread throughout the entire Chinese circle overnight."

"What news?"

Wang Shuo was a bit curious.

Zheng Yi was also curious; this was the first time she had heard of this matter.

The Middle-aged man sighed and looked at Wang Shuo: "The Chinese Government intends to acquire your company, and you, Wang Shuo, will be arranged to enter the Central Academy of Sciences to study and train, to be cultivated as a new generation of star scientists."

"This..."

Wang Shuo was stunned. What was this? Why did it sound so chaotic?

"The news is a mix of truth and falsehood; no one can distinguish it. And you, at this very moment, have entered the Central Academy of Sciences to take a position."

Wang Shuo was speechless: "Um, Uncle Zheng, taking a position at the Central Academy of Sciences wasn't my idea; Dean Qin insisted that I go."

"I know."

The Middle-aged man glanced at Wang Shuo: "But just because I know doesn't mean others do. As long as you take a position at the Central Academy of Sciences, even if this matter wasn't true, it becomes true."

Wang Shuo was depressed: "And then?"

"Once the authenticity of the news is confirmed, all the companies will form a tacit alliance."

Zheng Yi said indifferently from the side. She was a professional in intelligence analysis. After listening to the Middle-aged man explain the cause and effect, she immediately analyzed the general picture of the situation.

"This hypothesis has a logical premise: that you, Wang Shuo, and the technical assets under your name are a hot commodity to these companies and the people behind them. Clearly, this logical premise exists. Whether it's you or the zero egg you created, both have enough value to attract them."

The Middle-aged man stopped talking and watched Zheng Yi's analysis with a faint smile.

"Once this point is confirmed, we can make a basic logical judgment. Judgment one: Do these companies want to obtain you and the assets under your name?"

"The answer is yes."

"Judgment two: Can these companies obtain this value from you?"

"Based on your performance, the answer is no."

"Judgment three: Compared to obtaining this property elsewhere, how difficult is it to obtain it from you?"

"The answer is obviously from you."

"Judgment four: Based on the above reasons, are these companies happy to see you and your company acquired by the state?"

"The answer is yes."

Wang Shuo understood: "Sister Zheng, you mean... the reason these companies are standing by is that they want to wait for Frontier Technology to go bankrupt, so the state will step in to acquire it, along with the company's technical data, and then they can obtain this technical data from the state, such as the zero egg?"

Zheng Yi nodded slightly: "Correct. However, if this is the logic, there is still an important loophole: why are they so sure that Frontier Technology will fail prematurely?"