168: Chapter 168: Except for Lu Li, everyone else is prohibited from leaving their residence for three years.

" Are you... certain? "

When Elder Zhang spoke, his voice was a bit hoarser than usual.

Lu Li looked at him, his expression calm.

" I have no reason to joke about something like this. "

Elder Zhang stopped speaking.

When Elder Wu reached out to pick up the storage device, his movements were noticeably slower than usual.

It was as if what he held in his hand was not just a palm-sized gadget, but a key capable of prying open the progression of an entire civilization.

He looked at Lu Li and asked in a deep voice:

" Why are you only bringing this out now? "

Lu Li had been prepared for this.

" Because the conditions weren't right before. "

" It wasn't that the technology itself lacked the conditions, but that the conditions for implementation were insufficient. "

He leaned back in his chair, his tone so calm that it didn't sound like he was discussing a technology capable of driving the whole world crazy.

" Nuclear Fusion isn't something where you get a blueprint, find a lab, light a fire, and get immediate results. "

" It requires a complete system of ultra-high-temperature materials, stable and sufficiently powerful magnetic field control equipment, chip performance, and quantum control algorithms capable of maintaining plasma boundary stability in real-time. "

" Previously, every link was lacking a little bit. "

" Only now is it barely enough. "

Elder Zhang's eyes grew brighter as he listened.

" Barely enough? "

" Yes. " Lu Li nodded.

" At least now, we have the qualifications to push this thing from paper into reality. "

Elder Wu was silent for a long time, then suddenly took a deep look at Lu Li's chest area.

" So, that Battle Armor of yours... "

" It uses a similar concept. " Lu Li did not deny it.

" However, that is a different path of miniaturization; military and laboratory routes cannot be completely conflated. "

Elder Wu let out a slow breath.

He finally understood completely now.

The Steel Battle Suit Lu Li wore on the bridge last time was not simply "looking like Iron Man" as it seemed.

If one were to truly understand it in that direction—then that thing on his chest, in a certain sense, really was a fusion reactor.

Thinking of this, Elder Wu and Elder Zhang exchanged a look.

Both saw the same thing in each other's eyes.

Shock.

And a kind of excitement that could almost be called trembling.

Elder Zhang couldn't help it first.

" Once this thing can be implemented... "

" Not once. " Lu Li interrupted him, his tone remaining calm.

" It must be implemented. "

" And the sooner, the better. "

Elder Wu understood his meaning immediately.

" Are you worried that after the news leaks, foreign countries will stop at nothing to take action? "

" Not worried. " Lu Li raised his eyes, his voice fading slightly.

" They will definitely take action. "

" Therefore, for something like Nuclear Fusion, only when it is completely in our own hands and truly implemented is it in the safest state. "

" Otherwise, it will always be a piece of meat hanging over our heads. "

The conference room was silent for over ten seconds.

Finally, Elder Wu nodded slowly.

" Understood. "

He set down the storage device, his expression sinking for the first time into a cold rigidity bordering on a military state.

" This matter will be established as a project with the highest specifications. "

" The nation's top teams in materials, magnetic fields, chips, and control algorithms will all be directed here. "

Elder Zhang also took a deep breath and added:

" The research institute will be built separately. "

" Highest security alert. "

" All core personnel entering the research institute must not leave for three years. "

As soon as these words came out, the conference room instantly took on the air of an ironclad rule.

But the next second.

Elder Zhang seemed to suddenly remember something, turned his gaze to Lu Li, and added:

" Of course— "

" Except for Lu Li. "

Elder Wu heard this and also nodded.

" Correct. "

" Lu Li, you are not within this restricted scope. "

If anyone else were present at this moment, they would likely be terrified by this scene.

That was the Nuclear Fusion research institute.

It was one of the most core and top-secret projects for the entire country's future.

All core members were not allowed to leave the institute for three years.

Only Lu Li was an exception.

This trust was no longer something that could be described with a word like "valued."

It was almost equivalent to placing him directly into the layer of "one of our own among our own."

Lu Li listened and just smiled lightly.

He certainly knew the weight behind these words.

He also knew what this meant.

At least on this land, as long as he didn't do anything stupid, his security level was already absurdly high.

" Fine. " Lu Li nodded.

" Then I will leave this matter to you. "

" But let's be clear, I don't have to be stationed there permanently, but when I need to provide blueprints, paths, or key engineering details, I will cooperate. "

" Just don't think about fixing me in the research institute for a long time. "

" I have more than just this one thing on my hands. "

" Also, many things require me to watch from the outside for the efficiency to be high. "

This was said very directly.

It also fit Lu Li's consistent style.

Elder Zhang almost couldn't keep his composure.

" You brat! "

" Others dream of entering a project of this level, and you're actually being picky? "

" I have to be picky. " Lu Li's tone was righteous.

" If you really pin me to one place, before the Nuclear Fusion project is even pushed forward, a bunch of things outside will have already stalled. "

" That would be the real loss. "

Elder Zhang was momentarily blocked and couldn't speak.

Because when he thought about it carefully—this kid was actually right.

The current Lu Li was long past being just a project leader.

Virtual Helmet, Skynet system, Robot system, Chengbei District smart city, chip roadmaps, material iterations...

This guy alone had half a new era in his head.

If they really locked him in the research institute to use as manual labor, that wouldn't be valuing him, it would be a waste.

Elder Wu heard this and instead laughed.

" Rest assured. "

" No one intends to weld you into the laboratory. "

" You can participate however you want. "

" What we want is what's in your head, not to schedule you like a regular researcher. "

Lu Li then nodded with satisfaction.

" That's more like it. "

When the meeting ended, Elder Wu stood up personally and put the storage device into a special sealed box.

The moment the lid closed, it made a very faint, crisp sound.

But to the ears of those present, it was as if the gate to an era was also quietly closing halfway.

And the other half—was waiting for it to be completely pushed open.