Chapter 525: A Reckoning of Ambition

Commissioner Yenir! Haven’t you understood what we’re saying!?

“That guy is a fraud!”

Regaining their senses, the crowd became fired up.

One by one, researchers in white uniforms shouted angrily, their words overlapping as spittle flew wildly, nearly drowning Sun Li Cheng.

It was no wonder they were so furious.

They believed they were in no way inferior to Sun Li Cheng. What could Yenir, an outsider, possibly understand!?

Despite their earnest pleas, he paid them no heed at all!

There is nothing more painful than envy in this world.

“Commissioner Yenir! Hand over your previous technical documents and provide sufficient funding! I promise—I promise I’ll deliver results within a year!”

“Exactly! Commissioner Yenir! Why waste your money on that swindler? We are the truly capable ones!”

“With all due respect, Commissioner Yenir, it’s natural to be deceived if you don’t understand technology! But if you can admit your mistake, we’d gladly accept your sponsorship. I noticed a particular technology on your list last time. Give me the documents, and once perfected, it will yield enormous returns! Then we’ll split everything fifty-fifty!”

Among the crowd, an incensed Zhao Yu nearly reached out to grab Yenir’s collar to remind him of his status!

He was formally trained—even if he didn’t compare to those professors and mentors, he was only one breakthrough away!

Just as the Awakeners rely on strength, these researchers make their mark through tangible results!

Ever since Yenir’s visit to the Research Institute shocked everyone, he had realized just how crucial the technical documents were.

Even if he only managed to secure a portion, it would be tantamount to copying answers!

Once success was achieved, fame and fortune would be his, leaving no need to laze around.

And whether the credit would be his? There was no doubt about that!

Look at them—ever since Yenir provided those documents, the Dean and his team have been so engrossed they’ve forgotten to eat or sleep, determined to make it real! Even if they copied the blueprint, his name would still be attached!

“Shut up!”

Boom!

Amid the roar of scrambling voices, Yenir’s cold voice cut through as he unleashed a surge of Third-Stage power like a shockwave that sent a swarm of researchers sprawling to the ground.

It wasn’t that he disrespected them—he knew exactly what these people were scheming.

Connections exist everywhere, and corruption runs rampant.

If any researcher with real ability existed, they would have already teamed up with those professors to develop the new technology he provided.

Those wasting time arguing with him were nothing more than pretenders, obsessed with mundane affairs.

“Hand over the technology? Provide the funding? Share the profits fifty-fifty?”

“Heh, you think that’s clever.”

“Why should I hand it over to you instead of doing it myself!?

He couldn’t be bothered with them.

Yenir knew full well that these researchers, who claimed to worry about him being deceived, were really trying to scam him out of money.

For any project with real promise, why wouldn’t the Military back it? Just like in the past—even if Sun Li Cheng’s reputation was in tatters, once he delivered even modest results, the Military would fully support him, perhaps even more than before!

At present, however, no one really knew what Sun Li Cheng was researching.

Or perhaps their inherent arrogance made them too lazy to care.

Facing Yenir’s icy questioning, Zhao Yu—already knocked to the ground—seethed with anger. Realizing Yenir wasn’t someone he could afford to cross, he forced himself to quell his fury and said:

“Commissioner Yenir! This is an outrage—utter disrespect!”

“Why should it be handed over to us? Of course, because we’re the professionals!”

“I admit, you might be a combat expert, but what do you know about technology? Everything you mentioned last time was gleaned from the tech you acquired, wasn’t it!”

“Exactly! You’re right!”

“Zhao Yu! Which one of us isn’t superior to this fraud? Look at the ruckus he creates every day—people might even think our Research Institute has turned into a Factory!”

Unafraid of authority,

he listened to the cheers of his comrades.

Covering his behind as he got to his feet, an exhilarated Zhao Yu felt he had reached the pinnacle of his life.

Under the approving gaze of his peers, he felt like a warrior battling a thug! So what about the Commissioner? So what about Third-Stage? His research into Spirit Energy far surpassed those brutes who only knew how to clumsily fight with it!

In today’s world, it’s the mind that truly matters!

You, Yenir—no matter how gifted you are, isn’t it all just luck in the end!?

I even kindly warned this kid not to be fooled, yet these fools I exposed ended up taking their anger out on me!

At that thought, Zhao Yu’s mind raced and, wearing a look of bitter indignation, he shouted at Yenir:

“Tragedy! Injustice!”

“There are too many like you—wasting the nation’s resources, which is why our technological progress has stalled!”

“Poor souls like us, full of passion yet with no stage for heroism!”

“Cursed thugs! What else can they do besides threaten us!”

“They get deceived and still won’t admit it! They’re just too scared to lose face! Utter fools! Unredeemable fools!!”

After his impassioned tirade, a large group of passing workers stopped in their tracks.

But as soon as his words died away, the faces of those who had expected Zhao Yu to step up froze in shock.

Indeed, though they secretly felt the same.

But…

His words had gone too far…

Was he not just calling Yenir an idiot right to his face?

The entire room fell silent.

After a moment, Zhao Yu suddenly realized he had overstepped and spoken out of turn.

Seeing everyone fixed on him, he found no graceful way to retreat.

Almost as if trying to make amends,

he stared into Yenir’s cold, unyielding gaze, shivered all over, and hurriedly spoke again:

“Um, Commissioner Yenir! If you could reflect and admit your mistake, I’d still be willing to help you!”

“Please, do take care not to become a laughingstock! I only want to help you so you won’t be deceived again!”

With his weak attempt at redemption, Zhao Yu noticed that as more onlookers gathered, his tension eased just a bit.

Normally, he wouldn’t dare speak up—he had heard that Yenir was notoriously arrogant and quick to resort to violence! But now…

With so many people around, they probably wouldn’t dare get physical.

Maybe, if they realized Yenir truly was at fault, he might even apologize—after all, he did have some guts.

Sure enough, as Zhao Yu anxiously waited with his mind racing, Yenir suddenly smiled at him.

“You have courage.”

His tone brimmed with approval, laced with genuine admiration in Zhao Yu’s ears.

Was this straight out of a novel? My fearlessness in the face of authority… being admired?!

But before he could bask in his triumph and modestly wave it off, an invisible force suddenly struck him in the lower abdomen.

Bang!!

“Idiot! Enough with the nonsense.”

“Tell the Dean—get rid of this idiot! Otherwise, none of you will ever see the next phase of our technology!”

He was nearly kicked away with violent force.

Yenir sent Zhao Yu flying for over a dozen meters with a single, violent kick, then sneered coldly as he watched Zhao Yu arc foolishly through the air.

He had come looking for Sun Li Cheng to check on progress, not to listen to a bunch of idiots jabbering.

“Thugs? No grasp of technology? Wasting money?”

Glancing around, his eyes swept over everyone present.

Yenir snorted and waved his hand, signaling for Uncle Liang to accompany him in finding the Dean.

“I’ll spend my money however I damn well please! Mind your own business!”

“Uncle Liang, allocate another 10 billion for Sun Li Cheng!”

“I refuse to believe it can’t be done!”

As his words fell, the room turned deathly silent, every face etched with shock.

Mentioning 10 billion nearly left them all dumbfounded.

“Ten… 10 billion!!?”

Ignoring the shocked and even envious stares, Yenir turned to the equally stunned Sun Li Cheng and patted his shoulder gently.

“Burn it all! Burn as much as needed!”

“Don’t worry about spending—if these 10 billion are burned up, I’ll top it up with another 100 billion!”

“I told you, trust me—and I’ll see it through to the end!”

Stunned in place, Sun Li Cheng gazed at Yenir’s smiling face, his head spinning as an indescribable excitement nearly overwhelmed him.

Never before had he felt so trusted and supported—he even felt an urge to kneel.

If, in his world…

this world had gods,

then at this very moment…

their name would be…

undoubtedly Yenir.