Chapter 380: Chapter 316: Trying to Play the Righteous Card on Me? You’re Still Too Green
Liang Qi’s gaze was fixed on the fake Gao Neng before him.
Just then, Wu Qingjing also looked over. His expression shifted from relief to astonishment, and finally, to horror.
In a single instant, Wu Qingjing’s expression went through a complex transformation.
The two of them just stared at the fake Gao Neng.
Suddenly, both men took a step back almost in unison.
"Gao Neng, you..."
"How did you do it?!"
The two spoke at nearly the same time.
Wu Qingjing had been too overjoyed to process what was happening, while Liang Qi had been so shocked that he’d overlooked the fundamental properties of a genetic weapon.
But once the two of them came to their senses...
...and looked again at the real and fake Gao Neng, both Wu Qingjing’s and Liang Qi’s eyes filled with an incredulous horror.
Because they had both suddenly realized something.
The fake Gao Neng had just used the real Gao Neng’s fighting style!
A genetic weapon could replicate the ’host’s’ various genes, but it was impossible for it to replicate the host’s memories and combat experience.
That was an undeniable fact.
Of course, with training, a genetic weapon could indeed master some of its host’s combat skills, but the prerequisite was that it had to be trained.
But what about now?
The genetic weapon had only just been completed!
And not only that, the genetic weapon before them clearly possessed an unnaturally advanced ’adaptability.’ It could speak and even display a wide range of expressions.
This was beyond absurd!
The foundational structure of a genetic weapon, at its core, was still an evolution of ’robotics.’ Therefore, in many ways, genetic weapons still retained some robotic characteristics.
Speaking was not an issue.
But its conversation was typically stiff and rigid.
It definitely shouldn’t possess this level of intelligence.
Most importantly, the real Gao Neng had walked out of the demonstration hall, and during that entire process, they had never seen a ’controller’ in his hands.
What did that mean?!
"It seems Teacher Wu and Vice Team Leader Liang have figured it out, hmm?" Gao Neng smiled faintly and took a step forward. At the same time, the fake Gao Neng took a step back.
The distinction between primary and secondary was instantly clear.
"What did you do?!" Wu Qingjing was both shocked and delighted, his feelings a complex mix.
"What are you yelling for? Gao Neng just performed a small operation on the genetic weapon," Lan Ruohua, who knew the reason, replied directly upon hearing Wu Qingjing’s question.
"’A small operation? Gao Neng, what on earth did you do?’" Wu Qingjing’s eyes were about to pop out of his head. ’You say you performed a small operation, and this is the result? The genetic weapon ends up like this?’
’It can hold an intelligent conversation?’
’And instantly master combat skills?’
’What a load of bullshit!’
’What kind of ’small operation’ is this terrifying?’
"Before I answer Teacher Wu’s question, may I ask one of my own?" Gao Neng naturally knew what Wu Qingjing and Liang Qi wanted to know.
But before that, he needed to secure his own interests.
Just as he had thought before performing the operation.
’It’s not in my nature to harm others, but I absolutely have to protect myself.’
"What question? Go ahead!" Wu Qingjing frowned, but after glancing at the surrounding researchers, he nodded.
"It’s about the purchase rights for this genetic weapon. I have a contract with the Federation Government. According to the contract, I have the priority right to purchase. If Teacher Wu and Vice Team Leader Liang can sell this genetic weapon to me right now, then I can naturally..."
"Absolutely not!" Liang Qi didn’t wait for Gao Neng to finish, interrupting him directly. "Since you’ve developed the genetic weapon, the first priority now is obviously to replicate it, continue the research, and then develop the higher Tier Eight, and even Tier Nine!"
"Councillor Liang is right. Gao Neng, you should prioritize the Federation’s interests and not focus so much on personal gain. I hope you will heed Councillor Liang’s advice," the assistant standing beside Liang Qi immediately chimed in.
This was the classic tactic of guilting someone with moral high ground.
No matter the situation, they first put this "high hat" on your head, so that even if you’re in the right, you end up looking like you’re in the wrong.
When he was very young, Gao Neng had heard a story.
An old woman got on a public bus, but she only had a dollar fifty, short of the two-dollar fare.
The old woman naturally begged the bus driver to let her ride for fifty cents less.
As the bus driver was hesitating, a nearby passenger spoke up, essentially saying, "She’s an old woman, how can you, a bus driver, not make an exception of fifty cents to help her out?"
The bus driver’s reply was very direct: "I’m the one who decides whether to waive the fifty cents, not you, a passenger. If you want to be the good guy, then please, step up and pay the fifty cents for the old woman yourself!"
The story was actually very simple.
Its meaning was also very clear: good deeds are meant to be done, not just talked about.
Now...
...the assistant and Liang Qi were trying to put one of those "high hats" on Gao Neng.
’You created the genetic weapon, so if you don’t hand it over to the Federation for further research, then you’re not considering the big picture, not considering the Federation’s interests.’
Gao Neng’s gaze turned to Liang Qi’s assistant. "So, if I want to purchase this genetic weapon, that means I’m not prioritizing the Federation’s interests?"
"Don’t be so selfish, Gao Neng!" the assistant sneered.
"Am I being selfish? My purchasing this genetic weapon is what’s *truly* considering the big picture for the Federation, what’s *truly* looking out for the Federation’s interests!" Gao Neng retorted casually.
"Ridiculous! If you buy this genetic weapon and take it away, how is the Federation supposed to conduct research? Are you planning to fight the great war a year from now all by yourself, Gao Neng?" the assistant’s tone was sharp.
"So what you’re saying is, leaving this genetic weapon in the laboratory is the only way to research it properly?" Gao Neng asked with a smile instead of anger.
"Of course!" The assistant nodded.
"You idiot, are you a pig?! For Vice Team Leader Liang to have an assistant like you is a testament to cosmic stupidity! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? You’re harming the nation! You’re wasting the most valuable research and development time! You want to doom the Federation’s future!" Gao Neng suddenly let loose a torrent of curses.
"You... What did you say?!"
"I said you’re an idiot, a pig! Understand now?"
"Damn you! Councillor Liang, Speaker Wu, Gao Neng is getting arrogant because of his achievements! He’s..."
"Arrogant because of my achievements? You fool, your stupidity has reached a new level. Take a good look around you. Who are the people standing here?" Gao Neng interrupted.
"They’re... naturally the Federation’s most..."
"The most elite scientific researchers, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Then open your damn eyes and take a good hard look! Among this group of elites, who is the one who created the Tier Seven Genetic Weapon!" Gao Neng spoke again.
"Naturally, it’s..." As the assistant spoke, his expression suddenly changed.
"Looks like you finally get it. I am the only one who can create a Tier Seven Genetic Weapon in fifteen days. And now, you actually want to give it to other people to research? If your brain isn’t filled with shit, what is it? The Federation’s foremost expert on genetic weapons is standing right in front of you, but you, you fucking idiot, want to ignore the expert right here and search for one far away? Are you as stupid as a pig? Vice Team Leader Liang, wouldn’t you say I have a point?" Gao Neng turned to Liang Qi.
"..." Liang Qi didn’t speak, but his palm clenched subconsciously.
Gao Neng’s words were blunt.
One could even say they were outrageously arrogant.
And yet...
He couldn’t refute them.
"If this genetic weapon is entrusted to me, I can continue to research it, continue to produce more, and perhaps even create higher-tiered genetic weapons in the shortest possible time. But if it’s handed over to the laboratory now, that would be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. It would jeopardize the war effort a year and a half from now. Is that a responsibility Vice Team Leader Liang can bear?" Gao Neng continued.
"Hahaha..." Liang Qi laughed. His eyes glinted as he looked at Gao Neng, his fist clenched so tight his knuckles were nearly white. Yet, he forced a smile. "Vice Team Leader Gao, your words are a true wake-up call. We nearly made a grave mistake. Teacher Wu, you’ve really taken on a fine student this time!"
"Heh... hehe." Wu Qingjing chuckled, but a slight chill ran down his spine. Because for a moment there, he’d had a similar thought to Liang Qi.
’Keep the genetic weapon here.’
’Continue to research and produce it.’
’Or, at least delay things a bit, give the research center some time to replicate it.’
But now, hearing Gao Neng’s words, Wu Qingjing was suddenly wide awake. In the entire Federation, who was the foremost expert on genetic weapon research?
It was Gao Neng!
Only this monster of a talent could create a Tier Seven Genetic Weapon in a mere fifteen days.
Meanwhile, he himself couldn’t even lend a hand.
"Sigh... Teacher Wu, Vice Team Leader Liang, Vice Team Leader Lan, I’m truly disappointed right now. For the past fifteen days, I’ve worked my heart out for the Federation. For the sake of the war a year from now, I even sacrificed my time to go to the Underground City. I just wanted to make a small contribution to the Federation. For fifteen days, I’ve clocked in at eight in the morning and not left until midnight. What was it all for? Vice Team Leader Liang, Teacher Wu, you tell me?" Gao Neng said, his face a mask of dejection.
"You did it for the Federation!" Liang Qi said through gritted teeth.
"But some people don’t understand, do they? They even borrow Vice Team Leader Liang’s name to throw their weight around... I’m very hurt. Truly, Vice Team Leader Liang!"
"Yes, you’re right. That kind of person has no place here!" Liang Qi nodded.
"Councillor Liang, I..."
"Still not getting out? From now on, don’t you ever appear before me again. As for your work, I’ll arrange for someone to take over," Liang Qi handled the matter with decisive finality.
"Yes..." The assistant was unwilling to accept this. He was truly unwilling. He had only said a few words on Liang Qi’s behalf, and it wasn’t like he hadn’t done this sort of thing plenty of times before.
So why didn’t it work this time?!
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