Chapter Eighteen: Handed Over to the Nation
After reading the information about the gene optimization serum, Liu Yun finally understood the reason.
“It still won’t work!”
“Is it because it involves genetics?”
Liu Yun nodded.
Zhu Lan was not surprised at Liu Yun’s response. The dangers of genetically modified foods had made anything related to genetics extremely difficult to bring to market. More importantly, Liu Yun was worried someone might reverse-engineer a gene enhancement serum from the gene optimization serum.
“I know what you’re worried about. The gene optimization serum and the gene enhancement serum are completely different formulas. You can ask Professor Xu about this.”
Liu Yun turned to look at Professor Xu.
Professor Xu nodded gravely. “He’s right. These are entirely different formulas. It’s impossible to reverse-engineer the gene enhancement serum from the optimization serum. I have to admit, Zhu Lan, you’re truly a genius.”
“It still won’t do. You should understand this is not possible.”
Zhu Lan sighed helplessly. “Besides, as the developer of the gene serum, and since I’m not about to go work for the state, sooner or later, foreigners will come for me. Even if you get the formula for the gene enhancement serum, what difference would it make?”
“The state will assign protection for you, at least until the formula for the gene enhancement serum is fully understood.”
Zhu Lan sneered. Of course, this was the government’s intention.
“No matter what, I am determined to launch the gene optimization serum. Not just for myself, but for another experiment that’s coming up.”
“You...” Liu Yun looked at Zhu Lan in anger.
“I’ll report this matter. It’s up to the higher-ups to decide.”
Zhu Lan nodded, putting the matter of the gene optimization serum aside for now.
“Besides that, I need to develop the northern suburbs—right where we’re standing now. I need to build a factory.”
“That’s no problem!” Liu Yun was well aware of the city’s situation. The northern suburbs weren’t important—purchasing the entire area would only cost several billion, at most. In reality, if they could get even one billion, not to mention the authorities, even the city government would be delighted.
“And one more thing—I need funding.”
“That’s it?”
Zhu Lan shook his head. “That’s all I require. If you agree, you can have the data.”
“I’ll make the call.” With that, Liu Yun left the room.
About ten minutes later, Liu Yun returned. “The higher-ups have agreed to your terms, but the first item will be under supervision. They don’t want such incidents to happen again.”
Zhu Lan nodded indifferently. Although powerful, the gene optimization serum wasn’t anything extraordinary at the national level—they already had similar genetic medicines, though perhaps due to cost, they couldn’t be mass-produced. Moreover, Zhu Lan needed to be appeased, and the gene enhancement serum’s formula had to be fully understood.
Seeing Zhu Lan nod, Liu Yun didn’t hesitate, but sat down again, looking at Zhu Lan.
Zhu Lan handed the memory card to Professor Xu, who nodded, took it, and opened a special computer to start reading the data.
“The state will grant you an interest-free loan of one billion as a reward. The entire northern suburb has been transferred to your name. We’ve informed the city’s municipal committee—they’ll be here shortly.”
Zhu Lan nodded. “In that case, I’ll leave for now. The data is with you—ask me if you have any questions.”
Liu Yun nodded. Zhu Lan said nothing more and turned to leave.
After Zhu Lan left, Liu Yun turned to Professor Xu. “Is the data correct?”
“A genius, truly a genius. I can hardly believe it—what an extraordinary achievement!”
“Professor Xu!” Liu Yun called impatiently.
“Oh! Right, it’s you.”
“Professor Xu, is the data completely accurate? It’s not the gene enhancement serum’s formula, is it?”
Professor Xu nodded. “Judging from the data and formulas, it’s indeed a method for gene expression. Theoretically, it’s feasible, but it needs to be tested.”
Liu Yun nodded. “General Li, I’ll leave the next part to you.”
Li Hongjin nodded. “Rest assured, the car is ready and the plane is on standby. You can leave at any time.”
Liu Yun nodded. “The rest will be handled by others. I need to report to the higher-ups.”
“Boss, they’re gone.”
Zhu Lan looked into the distance and nodded. “What about that group?”
“They’re all taken care of—they can leave immediately.”
“Then let’s go. You’ll have to shoulder more responsibility from now on.”
“Understood, boss.”
The next day, Warehouse Twelve—a large conference room.
Zhu Lan sat at the head of the table, with more than a dozen people seated below.
General Manager Ren Linting, Sales Manager Lan Tianxin, Head of R&D Luo Wuyan, Finance Manager Lan Tianyuan, and Security Chief Yu Dongming.
Several deputy managers from various departments were also present.
“Today’s meeting is about the production of Fantasia Technologies’ first product.”
Luo Wuyan stood up and distributed documents to everyone.
“This is our first product. You may already know that some military officials have visited recently, and some incidents have occurred.”
No one spoke; everyone picked up the documents and began to read.
As they read the materials, everyone gasped. Though they had been prepared, the description of the gene optimization serum was still astonishing.
“Our next task is to build the factory for producing the gene optimization serum. The land is all around us; the entire northern suburb now belongs to Fantasia Technologies.”
The city was never a major one, and while the northern suburbs might seem valuable to the city, they were insignificant at the national level.
The existence of the gene enhancement serum had already given the state an enormous advantage. A plot of land and some funding—who would refuse? Only a fool would.
China was not a country that foolishly seized civilian technology without compensation. Demanding people hand over their inventions without giving anything in return was impossible.
No matter how patriotic one might be, there were always other considerations. Perhaps such cases happened once or twice, but never more, and only shortsighted people would do so.
The matter of the gene serum was reported directly by Luo Guoqiang—not step by step, but straight to the top. Orders came directly from central authorities. Could anyone at that level be a fool?
Genetic engineering saw investments of tens of billions every year. Now, for just a few billion, they might acquire a gene enhancement serum that ten years and a trillion in research couldn’t produce. Only an idiot would refuse such a deal.
The government might appear generous, but Zhu Lan knew that he could have asked for more—one hundred billion, perhaps. Given the value of the gene serum, even such a demand would likely have been approved.
“Boss, we might not be able to meet your timeline,” Ren Linting said helplessly.
“I know,” Zhu Lan waved him off.
“Nothing in this world is impossible. You’re just calculating with normal timelines. Pay more, but the factory must be finished by July!”
It was now May 2015. Zhu Lan demanded the factory be completed in two months.
His planned factory complex would comprise five districts. The smallest would be a tightly sealed area with over a thousand square meters; the largest would exceed three thousand. Even if the factories occupied significant land, compared to the northern suburbs, it was nothing. From Fantasia Technologies to the suburban northern city was about two kilometers, and the property extended even further to the sides. Even if Zhu Lan completed all his planned buildings, he’d use less than one-fifth of the area.
The combined area of the factory and company headquarters would make it one of the largest in the country, and the northern suburbs could easily accommodate thirty such factories.
Although abandoned by the city government, some people still built houses there. The part Zhu Lan purchased was just a quarter of the original size, as nine mountain forests to the north hadn’t been cleared for development.
Hearing Zhu Lan’s decision, Ren Linting could only nod. “Understood. In that case, the cost will increase by about seven percent.”
“No matter. The factory must be completed by July.”
Ren Linting nodded.
“Manager Lan, your next task is to accompany me to Europe. Our product needs European certification.”
Lan Tianxin nodded. “Understood, boss.”
“Captain Yu, you’re in charge of security. I don’t want to see a repeat of previous incidents. Hire as many people as you need—I care only for results, not the process.” Speaking of security, Zhu Lan’s tone turned grim.
According to his original plan, development of the gene enhancement serum could have been delayed for another year or two. By then, the Fantasia System could have been upgraded further, allowing him to produce what he truly wanted—for example, the Red Queen.
But due to a security lapse, spies had stolen the prototype gene serum, forcing Zhu Lan to start his plans a year ahead of schedule.
Yu Dongming nodded solemnly. “Rest assured, boss. If anything like that happens again, I’ll resign before you even have to say a word.”
“That’s best.” Zhu Lan gave Yu Dongming a cool look but said no more. He trusted those he employed, and if he doubted someone, he wouldn’t use them—a principle he always followed.
In Fantasia Technologies, apart from the virus, Zhu Lan could not allow any accidents. For everything else, he was indifferent—as long as he had time, he could reproduce everything the company now possessed, tenfold, a hundredfold, even a thousandfold.
On the surface, Fantasia Technologies was nothing more than a sprawling complex, but anyone with knowledge of the field would be stunned by the laboratory equipment inside. Zhu Lan could say with confidence that the company’s equipment surpassed many national-level research institutes—most of it was embargoed by Europe and America. Zhu Lan had manifested it straight from Western films, so there were no restrictions for him. Not just the embargoed gear—if he wanted, he could even build a particle collider like the one buried under Europe, right here in reality.