Chapter 294: Chapter 233: Preparing for a Rainy Day
Stepping out of Conference Room One, the air in the hallway seemed a bit fresher than inside.
Han Feng stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the bustling Celestial Craft Group campus. A playful smirk touched his lips.
’Those so-called experts are probably busy wiping their sweat, fudging the data, or huddled together cursing up a storm right now.’
But he knew these old dogs wouldn’t give in so easily.
People like Wu Zhen had been in this circle for decades. Their greatest talent wasn’t research, but office politics.
He might have cowed them today with his technical skills and Chen Beixuan’s "Imperial Sword," but that was only temporary.
Once the project entered the implementation phase—the deep water—they had ten thousand ways to stall.
They could get component procurement stuck in approvals, find an excuse to report equipment for repairs during debugging, or even fudge some key data so it would be untraceable.
When that happened, they could just blame the delays on excessive technical difficulty or the consultant’s "incompetent leadership."
There’s safety in numbers. Chen Beixuan couldn’t possibly fire all of them.
’So they want to play the long game, do they?’ Han Feng thought, pulling out his communicator and tapping lightly on the screen.
He wasn’t one to pin his hopes on the conscience of others.
Especially not theirs. Their consciences stank worse than a Demon Beast’s droppings.
Since he couldn’t rely on this bunch, he’d have to build his own team.
This was his backup plan.
As long as he held the core technology, he could replace all these experts with recent graduates and the project would still get off the ground.
It might even run faster.
Han Feng scrolled through his contacts, his finger stopping on a name: Lin Xue.
Back on the Night Falcon project, Miss Lin had a bit of a fiery temper, but her technical skills were solid. She was decisive and efficient—a real workhorse.
Most importantly, they had worked together before. He could trust her.
He made the call. It rang three times before someone picked up.
"Hello? Han Feng?"
Lin Xue’s slightly languid voice came through the communicator, punctuated by the noise of a TV show in the background.
Han Feng raised an eyebrow. "Engineer Lin, sounds like you’re living the good life. Binge-watching shows on company time?"
"The good life, my ass."
Lin Xue grumbled, followed by the loud CRUNCH of potato chips.
"I’m so bored I’m going crazy.
So, what brings the man of the hour to call little old me?
Heard you became a consultant for the Celestial Craft Group.
Congrats!"
"Nothing to congratulate me for."
Han Feng chuckled. "But judging by your tone, you’re practically brimming with resentment.
What’s wrong? The design institute not giving you any new projects?"
"Like hell they are!"
Lin Xue’s voice jumped an octave. "Ever since the Night Falcon project ended, that bastard Chen Kai has had me sidelined.
And do you know who the current project director is? Wu Zhen! Chen Kai’s mentor!"
Han Feng was stunned for a moment, then let out a laugh.
’It’s a small world.’
’So, Wu Zhen wasn’t just a roadblock for him on the Shadow project; he was also the boss keeping Lin Xue down.’
’This just got more interesting.’
"Wu Zhen... Yeah, that old guy is a real piece of work."
Han Feng’s tone was light. "Are they planning to just let you rot on the shelf?"
"You’ve got that right."
Lin Xue said indignantly, "I never get the good projects, and I don’t want to do grunt work.
Now all I do every day is clock in and watch TV. I feel like my brain is turning to mush.
And that bastard Chen Kai is going around telling everyone I’ve lost my touch, that I only got by on dumb luck by latching onto the Su Family."
"Perfect."
Han Feng leaned against the window frame, watching transport carriers take off and land in the distance.
"Since you’re so free, I’ve got a side job for you. Interested?"
"A side job?"
Lin Xue paused. "What kind of side job?
I’m a state-rostered employee now. If I get caught taking on side work..."
"It’s an official project. SSS Level clearance."
Han Feng cut her off. "My project team here might be getting a major overhaul.
If you’re interested, I can have you transferred over."
The other end of the line was silent for a full five seconds.
Then came a loud CRASH, as if someone had shot up from the sofa and knocked a bunch of snacks off a coffee table.
"You’re serious!"
Lin Xue’s voice was trembling. "You can really get me transferred? Would that old fossil Wu Zhen ever let me go?"
"Whether he lets you go isn’t important. What’s important is whether you want to come."
Han Feng said calmly, "And it’s not just you.
I want you to contact the old crew from the Night Falcon project—anyone who’s currently idle or being sidelined."
"Holy shit! Han Feng, you’re a true friend!"
Lin Xue shouted, her voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea. After the project ended, the team was broken up.
A few of the best techs got exiled to warehouse duty because they wouldn’t suck up to Chen Kai with gifts."
If they get a chance to work with you again, they’ll be loyal to you for life!"
"I don’t need them to die for me, just work for me."
Han Feng glanced at the time. "Start contacting people and make a list.
I’ll send the official transfer orders to the design institute in a couple of days.
We’ll see who dares to stand in my way then."
"You got it! I’ll start rounding up the troops!"
After hanging up, the smirk on Han Feng’s face widened.
’Oh, Wu Zhen,’ he thought. ’You have no idea that the very people you’ve been suppressing are about to become the knife that unseats you.’
With the core implementation team settled, he still needed to address the issue of high-end technical support.
Lin Xue and her team could handle the peripheral design and systems integration, no problem. But when it came to specialized Rune Architecture and technology from ancient ruins, he would need more specialized talent.
Han Feng had just the person in mind.
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