Chapter 365: A Clash of Wills

“Cough, cough.”

There was an awkward silence.

Noticing they had been overlooked, the guide cleared his throat to alert the researchers that an important figure had just arrived.

Before he could introduce Yenir, a young man wearing goggles at the workstation on the right furrowed his brow and glared at them impatiently.

“Didn’t I say outsiders aren’t allowed in here?”

“What’s all this about?”

“Please, just leave!”

While speaking, the young researcher casually scanned Yenir’s uniform—his brief surprise giving way to indifference.

After all, in the top-tier official Research Institute, their VIPs had seen it all.

It was only Yenir’s youthful appearance that had caught his eye.

“Cough, cough…”

“Dr. Li, this gentleman didn’t come here on a whim.”

“He’s Yenir—the committee member who once requested The Butcher’s Spine from you. Could you…?”

Before the guide could finish his quiet explanation, the young man known as Dr. Li abruptly stood, his face darkening with suppressed discontent.

He stared at Yenir for several long seconds before, as if holding back his displeasure, he coldly declared:

“Committee member? Yenir?”

“I’ve heard of you, but now, please go back!”

“We’ve been studying that item. Didn’t we decide last time that no one else gets it?”

As the dismissal and refusal rang out, the guide’s face fell. The researchers had briefed him, and as their messenger, he dared not offend Yenir.

He had expected that Yenir’s personal appearance would earn these hot-headed researchers some respect—but they completely ignored him.

After all, in the post-apocalyptic era, the Psychic Weapons had been developed solely by these very people. Over time, the Military had nearly spoiled them.

“Dr. Li! Yenir has already applied to the Military—and secured approval from the Military Department…”

“Don’t you dare mention the Military to me!”

“What do you know about the Military? Once they start talking, nothing you say matters!”

“I’m telling you—get out immediately! Don’t disturb our work!”

With those words, the young man surnamed Li glared at Yenir in clear discontent, letting out a soft snort. In his eyes, Yenir had no real use for that item and was probably just after its rarity—a type he had seen too often.

Facing the researchers’ hostile stares, Yenir furrowed his brow and coldly responded:

“These directives, signed by the Military Department, are to be obeyed by all subordinate units.”

“I am a First Sequence and Honorary Committee Member, with Class A privileges.”

“Hand it over. I won’t repeat myself.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yenir shot a sidelong glance at Liang Lie, his companion. He had no time to quibble—if they stubbornly refused, he wouldn’t stoop to begging.

He didn’t recognize one of these researchers; he might as well enforce it forcefully!

“Too arrogant?!”

He was more than willing to show them what real arrogance looked like!

“What’s all this noise about?”

Before the Li-named researcher could retort, a deep, commanding voice resounded from outside the suddenly opened alloy door.

An elderly man with a head of white hair, dressed in a pristine uniform, strode in confidently. His credentials identified him as one of the Deputy Directors.

Observing the imminent conflict, he couldn’t help but frown.

Beside him, a seemingly earnest researcher hurriedly whispered an explanation. Moments later, the elder nodded slightly and, with a hint of surprise, glanced at Yenir.

“You must be Committee Member Yenir?”

“I’m aware of the situation, but you need to go back.”

“The material you want is one of the core research components for the Psychic Transmission Device. It means nothing to you, but it’s vital to us.”

“Frankly, if you take it and delay the project, the entire Military suffers a loss!”

Unlike the researchers intent on expelling Yenir, the elder seemed somewhat concerned about Yenir’s status.

Although he didn’t keep up with the latest news, he had heard rumors about Yenir—he was the Military’s hottest super genius and notoriously domineering.

After a brief explanation, the elder decided not to press further.

In his view, the reasons he’d given were more than sufficient.

This national key project was critical to the Military’s next-generation equipment overhaul. Refusing the Military wasn’t an option he could afford to discuss further.

“Psychic Transmission Device?”

“Useless to me?”

A soft laugh escaped him.

Contrary to expectations, Yenir didn’t leave when he heard how important the project was.

Instead, he casually walked to the center of the room, his gaze drifting over the researchers’ work.

“I’m afraid this item is far more important to me than it is to you.”

“You want to use The Butcher’s Spine as a template to design a high-pressure, high-conductivity transmission mechanism?”

Speaking calmly, Yenir fixed his eyes on the slightly startled elder, a flash of something unrecognizable gleaming in his gaze.

He knew this project well. In his previous life as a direct Military leader, he had personally taken part in equipment reforms. In his memory, the project the elder mentioned had failed.

“You know about this item?”

“More important than us? Ha, Committee Member Yenir, do you understand what this technology really means?”

The elder looked at Yenir, puzzled. Though surprised that Yenir could speak with such authority, he didn’t dwell on it.

This project had been under research for ages. Most likely, it was the Supplies Department that mentioned it when Yenir demanded the item.

Seeing Yenir’s disregard and his scrutinizing gaze at their work, the deputy director couldn’t help but add impatiently:

“Once this technology succeeds, the agility of our armored vehicles and Psychic Fighters will soar. It will break the confines of previous designs—no exaggeration: this could be the cornerstone of a new era in psychic weaponry!”

“This is a historic breakthrough—its value rivals that of over a dozen Awakener Legions!”

In technical matters, the elder clearly refused to discuss details with someone like Yenir, an outsider. With that, he gestured in clear disapproval.

His words left no doubt, almost warning Yenir not to think that his talent made him untouchable.

In the face of new-era equipment demands, the significance of this technology was equal to—or even greater than—Yenir himself. It was a study to elevate the entire Military’s strength!

“You’re right,”

“but your approach is wrong.”

“Using The Butcher’s Spine as a template will get you nowhere, no matter how long you research.”

Without a trace of courtesy, Yenir calmly stated his point while casually picking up a draft from the workstation. Before anyone could speak, all the researchers in the hall glared at him in unison.

“On what basis do you claim our approach is wrong?!”

“Who do you think you are?! We’ve been researching for years—our Teacher is the chief equipment designer! What do you know?!”

“I’m telling you, I can’t stand you ignorant brutes who think your strength makes you all-knowing!”

“Leave! And apologize to Teacher!”

To them, Yenir seemed supremely arrogant—an outsider belittling their research. What a joke: this so-called Psychic Technology, and this youth probably never even had a proper education!

This country bumpkin was merely parading a few technical terms to show off!

Facing the researchers’ immediate hostility, Yenir remained unfazed.

He had dealt with these kinds of researchers before.

Although not from the same group, he knew many Military researchers had fallen into the trap of imitating mutant traits, foolishly trying to create new weaponry. Lacking fundamentals, success was impossible.

In his previous life, after wasting vast resources, the Military had only made breakthroughs by rethinking their approach.

In other words, the researchers from Institute Two were stubborn old-timers, too entrenched in past successes to heed useful advice.

Without further ado, Yenir scanned the room and swiftly, almost mechanically, sketched a design on a draft paper.

“I told you your approach was wrong—it is.”

“Hand it over. If your IQ is still intact, you should understand this blueprint.”

Smack!

After forcefully displaying one of the thousand technical overviews from the Air-Space Carrier before everyone, Yenir ceased further words.

He had planned to completely overturn these people’s worldviews.

If they still clung to their misguided research, he wouldn’t hesitate to hurl thousands of technical details at them, showing these stubborn fools what cutting-edge technology truly meant!

With his face turning ashen, a Li-surnamed researcher dashed forward, about to shout in anger. But in the next second, the deputy director—who had subconsciously picked up the draft—stared wide-eyed in shock.

“What is this…!?”

“Heavens above!”

“What the heck is this!?”