Free Web NovelChapter 248: Chapter 193: Useless Academic Exchange, Ding Yang Visits Again
As expected, the contract contained over two hundred clauses regarding "intellectual property leaks."
’Can’t mess with them. Absolutely can’t.’
Lin Qi could only listen quietly until the academic exchange was over.
After saying goodbye to Xiao Gu, Lin Qi left with Brother Green Hair and returned to his residence.
...
With his Spiritual Vision active, Lin Qi once again locked onto Si Ranran.
Although he couldn’t make a move right now, since the Si Clan was the one pulling the strings behind this summit, Si Ranran might prove to be a source of valuable intelligence.
Unfortunately, under Lin Qi’s observation, Si Ranran was clutching that straw doll tightly, her gaze filled with malice.
’Is she crazy? Does she really want to kill me this badly? Is she that certain Si Ying’s death had something to do with me?’
Lin Qi was certain he had left no loose ends when he dealt with Si Ying.
Yet this Si Ranran had latched onto him like a vengeful spirit.
Her two assassination attempts had failed, but she still clutched that straw doll with stubborn persistence. Every so often, she would raise her hand as if about to strike again.
But perhaps it was the backlash from her recent failure that stayed her hand.
’After the summit, I’ll look into the Si Clan’s movements. I have to find a way to get rid of Si Ranran.’
’And if possible, Si Pharmaceutical...’
Lin Qi’s thoughts began to race.
He knew full well that the only reason Guang Ling had advised him against moving on Si Ranran was because of Si Pharmaceutical.
But if the Si Clan were to fall, resolving the corporate warfare crisis in the Asian Administrative Region, Si Ranran’s protective talisman would vanish.
’As just an ordinary researcher attending the summit, can I really influence things at the highest level?’
Lin Qi didn’t know, but he would certainly try if the opportunity presented itself and he could ensure his own safety.
’Power. I need more power.’
Tier Two power was nowhere near enough. Lin Qi watched the clock, and as soon as the Door’s cooldown finished, he opened it and traveled to the Doomsday World.
...
「Doomsday World. Mo University Camp. Club Activity Building, Sixth-Floor Conference Room.」
Lin Qi began his Meditation.
The situation in the Doomsday World was relatively stable for now, and the Mo University Camp had entered a phase of rapid recruitment.
He couldn’t make his next move until the nuclear reactor was built and all combat personnel had been outfitted with Prosthetic Bodies.
In other words, the Mo University Camp in the Doomsday World had entered a period of steady growth.
「Twelve hours later.」
Lin Qi opened his eyes.
’Four days. I need four more days before I can absorb the next Extraordinary Item.’
’The summit in the Cyber World is still in the negotiation phase, and it doesn’t look like it’ll be over in just three or four days.’
He calculated that he should be able to acquire all the abilities of a Tier Two Wizard before the summit began and start his push to become a Tier Three Wizard.
Lin Qi stood up and walked out of the conference room.
Just outside the conference room door, Wang Ziru was waiting.
Wang Ziru seemed to have figured out the timing of Lin Qi’s rest and seclusion, and had begun waiting by the door just as his Meditation was about to end.
"Boss, the first set of the L-Class Prosthetic Body has been manufactured. Testing and calibration have confirmed its performance meets specifications. It’s ready for implantation."
"But the medical bay is still studying the procedure and hasn’t dared to move forward with it."
"Also, I just received a report that Director Ding from Hongshan Camp has arrived. He brought a stranger with him, someone we’ve never seen before."
’What is Ding Yang doing here again?’
’Don’t tell me he’s here for reinforcements again.’
The pressure to survive in the Doomsday World was mounting. Ding Yang had been running to the Mo University Camp for several days straight.
"Let’s go see Ding Yang first, then head to the medical bay."
Wang Ziru nodded, stepped ahead of Lin Qi, and called the elevator to the sixth floor.
Lin Qi followed Wang Ziru and met Director Ding on the first floor.
Behind Director Ding stood a man in camouflage, holding two briefcases that looked very familiar to Lin Qi.
Those briefcases were usually used to transport Extraordinary Items.
A quick scan with his Spiritual Vision confirmed it: they were indeed Extraordinary Items—Crystal Stones from a Tier Two Monster.
It was a pity. Lin Qi had already finalized his selection of Tier Two Abilities and had a sufficient number of Extraordinary Items.
More Tier Two Extraordinary Items were of little use to him now.
’Still,’ he thought, ’one can never have too many.’
Lin Qi walked up to Director Ding and spoke. "Director Ding, I’d have thought things at Hongshan Camp were busy. How did you find the time to visit the Mo University Camp? Don’t tell me another difficult monster has shown up?"
Director Ding quickly waved his hands. "Although things are more dangerous now, the monsters haven’t been appearing that frequently. I’m mainly here today to bring Director Jiang Shangyang from Changpu Camp. He wanted to thank you in person, Lin Qi, for lending them a hand."
After Director Ding finished, Jiang Shangyang, who was standing behind him, immediately stepped forward. "Lin Qi, I’ve heard Old Ding talk about the true genius at Mo University Camp. I’m here today specifically to thank you for saving the 2,831 survivors of my Changpu Camp. I’ve brought two Tier Two Extraordinary Items. I hope you will accept this small token of our gratitude."
Jiang Shangyang had already been briefed by Ding Yang on the key figures at the Mo University Camp.
He tactfully handed the briefcases directly to Wang Ziru.
Wang Ziru accepted them immediately. This was a strategic resource the boss needed; there was no way they would refuse it.
Lin Qi watched this unfold without a word, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on Director Ding.
Director Ding asked nervously, "Lin Qi, why are you looking at me like that?"
Lin Qi’s expression was strange as he replied, "Director Ding, you’re not one to pay a visit without a purpose. I doubt you came all this way just to drop off a gift, right?"
Hearing this, Director Ding’s expression immediately turned awkward.
Even Jiang Shangyang, standing beside him, felt second-hand embarrassment for Director Ding.
...
Lin Qi’s guess was right. Just half an hour earlier, Director Ding and Jiang Shangyang had been in a vehicle on their way to the Mo University Camp.
Jiang Shangyang: "Old Ding, this won’t be an easy thing to ask, will it?"
Director Ding: "What’s so hard about it? Do you want to keep your camp or not? With that shoddy equipment you have, you can barely hold the line as it is. Not to mention the Zombies are getting stronger. Soon enough, the pressure on my own camp will be off the charts."
Jiang Shangyang: "So how should we approach this?"
Director Ding: "Just watch me. I’ve dealt with that guy at the Mo University Camp plenty of times. I know the playbook by heart!"
...
Jiang Shangyang thought to himself. freewebnøvel.com
’He sure knows the playbook, all right!’
’The moment you bend over, he already knows you’re going to fart...’
’How damn embarrassing is this?’
Thankfully, Director Ding was thick-skinned and an old acquaintance of Lin Qi’s. Besides, the last time they’d met, Director Ding had all but knelt before him.
"Lin Qi, I did indeed come to the Mo University Camp with a request. This time, it’s on behalf of Changpu Camp."
As he spoke, Director Ding pulled Jiang Shangyang closer.
Lin Qi didn’t need Director Ding to continue; he had already guessed what was coming.
"Director Ding, let me guess. You’re going to say that Changpu Camp is short on weapons and equipment, that they’re on the verge of collapse, and that you want support from the Mo University Camp, right?"
’What other purpose could Director Ding possibly have?’
’Every time, when his true intentions were revealed, it was always about something like this.’
Director Ding and Jiang Shangyang both looked even more embarrassed.
Jiang Shangyang quickly interjected, "To be frank with you, Lin Qi, the weapons support from Headquarters for Changpu Camp—or rather, for the entire Modu Region—is extremely limited. We’re not a key industrial zone, after all, so our priority isn’t very high."
"On top of that, the Zombies are growing stronger too quickly. Even though the Tier Three Monster was dealt with, Changpu Camp is still at risk of collapsing."
"We desperately need weapons and equipment."
In the apocalypse, survival was the number one priority. Pride and face could be set aside.
With the conversation having reached this point, it wasn’t convenient for Lin Qi to respond directly. So, naturally...
...it was Wang Ziru’s turn to speak.
"Our Mo University Camp has an extremely high demand for resources at the moment. We have a severe shortage of all kinds of metals. What’s more, the production line for Electromagnetic Weapons has already been dismantled and retrofitted for a specialized purpose. We can no longer mass-produce them."
