Chapter Ninety-Five: Cheated by Zhu Lan Once More

Zhu Lan left the airport without incident. Still fearing that he might be attacked again, Qin Jun sent people to escort him there. Even the equipment was not questioned; only the pistol was taken from him. The three sets of gear, however, were left alone. Zhu Lan said nothing. After all, the weapon was standard American-made equipment, nothing worth arguing over. He handed it over, asked for a few cases, and took the three combat units away.

Kong Yan did not leave with Zhu Lan. This matter had to be investigated to the end, and Kong Yan stayed behind in S to look into it. Zhu Lan took Kang Nuo and Yu Dangdang back to the province.

As soon as he arrived in S, Luo Guoqiang sent someone to meet him.

Zhu Lan said nothing and got into the car at once.

"Well now," Luo Guoqiang said when he saw Zhu Lan, noting the lingering anger on his face. He could only point at him helplessly.

Zhu Lan rubbed the bridge of his nose, said nothing, and followed Luo Guoqiang inside.

Once inside the room, Li Hongjin and another very young woman were sitting there.

"Back already?" Li Hongjin looked at Zhu Lan faintly.

Zhu Lan nodded and answered, then looked at the woman. "And this is?"

"From the National Security Bureau, sent here specifically for you."

"Mr. Zhu, hello. I am Su Mei from the South China Sea branch of the National Security Bureau. I am taking over your assault case now."

"Hello, Miss Su." Zhu Lan shook her hand, then went over and sat down.

"Has there been any progress?" Zhu Lan asked as soon as he was seated. Although only a few hours had passed, he believed the military had already uncovered quite a bit.

Li Hongjin nodded. "The time was short, but we did find some things."

Zhu Lan straightened in his chair and listened closely.

"The people who attacked you came from an African mercenary outfit called the Black Scorpion Group. They slipped into S by illegal means. Their weapons were smuggled in by a local gang together with people from Taiwan. And they did not land in S at first; instead, they chose to come ashore at Leqing, several hundred kilometers away. With the help of an insider, they took inland back roads toward S rather than the main highways. In that regard, supervision was lax, and they were not discovered."

"And then?" Zhu Lan had by now cooled down considerably, and he did not say anything more to Li Hongjin.

"The rest has not been found out yet. That is why the case was handed over to the National Security Bureau. They will take over your investigation."

Zhu Lan frowned but said nothing.

"What I find strange," he said at last, "is how they knew exactly where I was staying."

Neither Luo Guoqiang nor Li Hongjin could say much to that.

"Zhu Lan, this is not the time to think about that. For the next while, you'd best stay inside Fantasy Technology and go out as little as possible. We will investigate it as quickly as we can."

Zhu Lan nodded in resignation. "Understood."

"Oh, and I heard you used some kind of device? What exactly was it? Qin Jun's explanation was not very clear."

Luo Guoqiang changed the subject, turning to the thing Zhu Lan had used.

Zhu Lan thought for a moment. "Nothing much. Didn't I once see one of your military's new devices? After coming back, I thought about developing something similar."

"A new device?" Luo Guoqiang frowned and turned to Li Hongjin.

Li Hongjin thought it over and seemed to understand something.

"Zhu Lan, do you mean the one from your previous trip to the base?"

Luo Guoqiang frowned; he did not know much about that.

Zhu Lan nodded. "Yes, that one. The people from Black Scorpion used a brand-new combat unit then, something like an exoskeleton device, I suppose. I was curious, so after I came back I started developing one."

"Started developing one?" Li Hongjin shook his head with a苦笑. Zhu Lan really did dare to think big.

"How did you develop that thing?"

Zhu Lan naturally knew what he was asking.

"There are similar applications of that kind of device in virtual technology, so I developed it from there."

"I remember you did not have the technology for that," Luo Guoqiang said, and he understood what Zhu Lan meant as well.

Even though Luo Guoqiang did not know the upper levels were researching such devices, since that was outside his jurisdiction, he could still tell from Zhu Lan and Li Hongjin's conversation. Exoskeleton devices were not unfamiliar to him.

"Of course I did. Aren't model robots the same kind of thing?"

"You know I am not talking about that."

Li Hongjin glared at Zhu Lan.

"Well, it is nothing. I am still studying that project. I just added my own research to it, and that was enough."

"Gene serum? You are still researching it?"

Li Hongjin looked at Zhu Lan in surprise.

"Of course. Why would I stop? It's not as though you have any rule saying I cannot continue."

Li Hongjin nodded. That was true. Back then, the state had indeed never said Zhu Lan could not keep researching. On the contrary, they had hoped he would develop even better things. Gene serum itself had huge flaws, and while the state was not fond of that, it had never said so openly.

"You should have told us."

"Tell you? What was there to tell? That research was something I originally developed for virtual technology. I have already created so many technologies out of my work on virtual systems. If I were to tell you, where would I even begin?"

"So many?" Luo Guoqiang smiled at him. If Zhu Lan could not produce a decent explanation today, Luo Guoqiang would certainly make things difficult for him. The higher-ups had already called him personally and told him to rein Zhu Lan in. At this rate, Zhu Lan was nothing but a source of trouble, constantly creating headaches for everyone above.

"Quantum communications, gene serum, robots, light-source compensation technology. Do I need to say more?"

Luo Guoqiang nodded.

"Actually, there is much more you do not know. A lot of it is just a vague idea of mine. The exoskeleton device is one of them. I originally developed it while researching a new generation of commercial robots. Since you banned my robots, I had no choice but to think of other kinds."

Luo Guoqiang nodded as well. In that case, the exoskeleton device made sense.

"To improve the research, I even had people use certain devices to offset the pull of gravity."

"Anti-gravity devices?" Li Hongjin frowned.

Zhu Lan nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Of course I could not possibly research something that advanced all at once. It has to be done step by step. As for virtual technology, I have already begun to change my approach."

"Those vegetative patients?"

Zhu Lan nodded. "The electrical activity of vegetative patients is three to five times higher than that of ordinary people. They are the best choice for my virtual implantation research. The first batch of test subjects has already signed the agreement and is in transit. In a few days, the experiment can begin. But to make sure this experiment does not come to nothing, I have decided to increase my research efforts and make full use of that power."

Li Hongjin and Luo Guoqiang both shook their heads. They did not quite understand Zhu Lan's thinking.

"Zhu Lan, we are not concerned with your research. The problem now is that you have gone too far."

"Too far? How so?" Zhu Lan asked with a frown.

"How else? Zhu Lan, are you pretending not to understand, or do you really not understand? Do you think exoskeleton devices are something you should be researching?"

"And those weapons, what exactly is going on there? Why were you carrying weapons around?"

Zhu Lan froze, then shook his head with a wry smile. "The exoskeleton device is not really crossing any line, is it? After all, it is only a robot shell. As for the weapons, I was simply not at ease with your side."

"Not at ease or not, you have to be at ease. This is a serious warning, Zhu Lan. I am telling you, if there is a next time, you will be in real trouble."

Luo Guoqiang's tone was harsher than ever before.

Zhu Lan nodded gloomily. "There was nothing I could do. My safety is not guaranteed."

"You do not need to say that. Your safety is not guaranteed? Zhu Lan, you may be able to fool others, but do you think you can fool me? Do you really think I do not know about the gear used by the security staff at Fantasy Technology?"

"Gear? What gear?"

"Hmph. Zhu Lan, you are really good at hiding things. You even managed to come up with pulse pistols. It seems I underestimated you."

"Did I?" Zhu Lan looked at Luo Guoqiang with an innocent expression.

Luo Guoqiang waved a hand in irritation. "Zhu Lan, do you know how serious your current situation is? And this is a crucial moment. If the people above truly take a dislike to you, you will be in danger."

"Commander Luo, let me ask you this. Commander Luo, have the people above ever really looked kindly on me?"

Luo Guoqiang paused, then shook his head helplessly. "Are you still hung up on that?"

"Of course. That sword is hanging over my head at all times. Wouldn't I be hung up on it?"

"Zhu Lan, you know that is only the case for a few individuals. Overall, the state remains very tolerant of people like you who have made tremendous contributions."

"Tolerant? I do not think so. Is that one up there really so petty? I have not seen any tolerance from the state."

Luo Guoqiang could not answer that question. Matters above his level were no longer something he could influence.

"Zhu Lan, you..."

Luo Guoqiang began, then did not know where to continue.

"Commander Luo, you need not say any more. If your military truly hopes for the quantum communications satellite project to succeed smoothly, you should persuade that person above to make fewer moves. They only distract me."

"Are you going to start?" Li Hongjin cut in, looking at Zhu Lan in surprise.

"Of course. This is a long-term project. Naturally, the sooner the better. I have already bought the first batch of equipment, and it is already on the way back to China."

Li Hongjin's expression changed. "Zhu Lan, where do you plan to put it?"

"I am still considering that. The manpower is not yet in place, so I am still thinking it over."

"Zhu Lan, how about S?" Li Hongjin suggested, trying to negotiate.

Zhu Lan shook his head. "Not here. There is no technical reserve, so it cannot meet my requirements."

"You want to put it in your Fantasy District?"

Zhu Lan nodded. "Of course."

"I remember your conditions were even worse than here," Li Hongjin said, puzzled.

Zhu Lan shook his head. "No, my conditions are better than anyone else's."

"The War Club's manufacturing plant is in the southern corner of Fantasy District. There will be a complete manufacturing industry there. The projected investment is seventeen billion to build an entire factory complex. No other place is better than there."

"Zhu Lan, the War Club has not agreed to that at all. Pulling stunts like this..."

Li Hongjin looked at Zhu Lan helplessly.

Zhu Lan smiled and shook his head. "No, the War Club has already agreed."

"Agreed?" Li Hongjin looked at Luo Guoqiang, but Luo Guoqiang only shook his head.

"Zhu Lan, how come I never received any news about this?"

Zhu Lan smiled with a mysterious air. "You will receive news soon. I am only making preparations."

Zhu Lan left. He still had many matters to deal with back at Fantasy Technology, and when he asked to go, Luo Guoqiang did not say anything.

"Damn it, he fooled me again!" Li Hongjin said with a laugh once he had come to himself.

"Only just noticed?" Luo Guoqiang looked at him helplessly.

"You noticed already?" Li Hongjin asked in surprise.

"How often have you dealt with him? Zhu Lan always likes to veer off the subject and lead you toward whatever he wants you to notice. Before you know it, he has taken you along with him."

"That bastard."

"All right, curse less. Zhu Lan cannot hear you anyway. Follow up on the investigation. I need to go to the meeting upstairs."

"Is it time already? I can't believe a year has gone by."

"Enough. There may be major developments this year, so prepare yourself. Do not lose your bearings later on. The South China Sea military district has already fallen far behind."

Postscript: The pace here has been a little messy. I have been preparing for spring planting, so the writing has felt somewhat rushed, and my train of thought is not very clear. There are still two days left, so hang in there. Back then, Little Citizen said that if you are going to charge forward in a burst, then charge forward. Little Citizen has obsessive-compulsive tendencies: if he says it, he has to do it.