Super Island Tycoon

Chapter 1206: Chapter 1205: Elites

"No, I’m not particularly talented. You’re too kind." Jiang Cheng smiled and said, "By the way, Mr. Lin, which institution were you affiliated with before?" Li Pu appeared out of nowhere, holding a microphone and asking.

Jiang Cheng suddenly realized that during the commotion, he was so focused on resolving the crisis that he forgot about Li Pu, but his intuition told him that Li Pu might be involved in the matter.

"He is a scholar from our institute, haha. I’ve always thought highly of him." The director, appearing beside them again, was laughing joyously.

"And who are you? It’s laughable. Jiang Cheng has been conducting research alone in the desert under very harsh conditions, and all his accomplishments are a result of his own hard work." Zhao Shuai, annoyed by the director’s opportunism, retorted angrily.

The director’s face turned red and white with embarrassment, and those around whispered that he was merely trying to share Jiang Cheng’s spotlight.

Jiang Cheng always thought that the director was just greedy and opportunistic, but he didn’t expect him to be so shameless as to talk like this even now.

The director awkwardly stopped talking, and Li Pu quickly asked, "Desert? Then how did you sustain your living in the desert?"

"Ah, you’re so annoying. Refusing to answer, let’s go, Lin." Zhao Shuai said irritably.

Jiang Cheng didn’t say much, but followed Zhao Shuai to the second floor. Sometimes, Jiang Cheng felt that Zhao Shuai seemed to know everything, like how any answer to the previous question could be dug out by the media, which would make it a real hassle if they found out his identity wasn’t clear.

The media saw Jiang Cheng going upstairs and realized he wouldn’t be answering any more questions, so they also returned to their seats. The seminar resumed, but due to Jiang Cheng’s earlier performance, everyone seemed disinterested, with many eyes glued to Jiang Cheng instead of focusing on the seminar.

"Hey, Lin, I’ve always known you were impressive, but I didn’t expect you to be this extraordinary. You spent less time unlocking that virus compared to Mr. Zhao, and completely resolved it," Zhao Shuai said excitedly as he sat down.

"Yeah, Lin, I’ve been researching electronic technology for quite a while, and it’s my specialty, but I still couldn’t make heads or tails of it," Qi Feng said, filled with admiration for Jiang Cheng.

"Well, I am a bit older than you guys, having more experience is only normal." Jiang Cheng replied.

"Hey, Lin, how old are you exactly? You never mentioned it," Zhao Shuai asked.

"I’m 23," Jiang Cheng answered.

"What? I thought you weren’t much older. You’re only a year older than me!" Zhao Shuai exclaimed, incredulous.

Qi Rongfeng was also surprised, "I’m the same age as you, Lin."

The leader who had come up was also amazed at Jiang Cheng’s age, "Truly a hero at a young age, haha," he laughed, delighted.

"I didn’t really do much," Jiang Cheng said modestly.

"Ah, if it weren’t for you today, postponing the seminar would be a minor issue, but if the virus wasn’t contained and spread, the consequences could have been unimaginable," the leader said.

"Yes, Lin, you’re much better than those old scholars at the Imperial Capital Science Academy. When something really happens, you can’t rely on any of them. They always ask my father for funding under the guise of research," Zhao Shuai said angrily.

"If you’re interested, how about becoming the Chief Scientist at the Imperial Capital Science Academy?" the leader offered.

Jiang Cheng hadn’t expected the leader to offer him a job, "No thanks, I’m too laid-back for a position like that," Jiang Cheng declined.

"Ah, Dad, the Imperial Capital Science Academy is filled with old scholars. What’s the point of Lin being there? Besides, in such an environment, what if Lin ends up being unable to research anything?" Zhao Shuai said to the leader.

Jiang Cheng felt Zhao Shuai often spoke his mind.

"Then forget it. Lin, if you need anything, feel free to contact the Imperial Capital Science Academy. Here, take this." The leader handed Jiang Cheng a pen identical to one Zhao Shuai had shown him in Dark Cosmos.

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but wonder if the leader condoned operations like the Dark Cosmos’s underground tech lab. Jiang Cheng put away the pen and thanked the leader.

"But Lin, do you know who caused this virus incident?" Qi Rongfeng asked Jiang Cheng after the leader left.

"I can’t trace it, but when I was eliminating the virus, I suspected that the culprit is someone within our venue," Jiang Cheng said.

"You can tell just from that?" Cloud, who had come to Jiang Cheng’s side at some point, asked.

"Yes, I noticed that the intruders accessed our venue’s equipment in a way that would be impossible from outside the research hall," Jiang Cheng explained. "Precisely, the entire research hall has been guarded since earlier, and no one has left. Lin, we should seize this chance to uncover the mastermind," Zhao Shuai proposed.

"Easier said than done, do you know how to investigate?" Cloud asked Zhao Shuai.

"I don’t, but Lin definitely does," Zhao Shuai said, glancing at Cloud before turning to Jiang Cheng. "Right?"

"I really don’t know how to find them, but I do have a suspicion about one person," Jiang Cheng replied.

"Suspicion about who? Is it Li Pu?" Zhao Shuai asked.

"Yes, if we can check Li Ying’s phone or computer, it could confirm things. No matter how well he cleans it, I could find traces. I’m just worried there might be his accomplices here, and acting would alert them," Jiang Cheng explained.

"Who’s Li Pu?" Cloud inquired.

Jiang Cheng remembered that Cloud didn’t know about Li Pu, but wasn’t sure how to explain it here.

"He’s a bad guy," Zhao Shuai said, ruffling Cloud’s hair.

Cloud glanced at Zhao Shuai and said nothing more.

Just then, Jiang Cheng’s phone suddenly rang with a text from an unknown number, "Come to the bathroom, Li Pu." Jiang Cheng found it amusing; why is it always places like bathrooms?

Jiang Cheng made an excuse to go to the bathroom alone, not wanting to involve Zhao Shuai with someone as dangerous as Li Pu.

He found Li Pu waiting there alone, "You’re here," Li Pu remarked upon seeing Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng said nothing.

"Ha, do you really think it’s me?" Li Pu asked with a smirk, "Are you suspecting me? Is it you?" Jiang Cheng inquired.

"It’s not me. Do you have any guesses? You’ll never guess it," Li Pu replied.

Jiang Cheng didn’t think Li Pu was lying, but he genuinely couldn’t figure out who else it might be.

"Besides, have you considered going to Li Country?" Li Pu suggested, "To Li Country? What, to catch me?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Catch you? Of course not. Have you thought about how, in such a venue with so many guards, a virus was easily implanted, and not one of the so-called ’elite’ from Kai Ao Country could resolve it? This incident is indeed ours, but doesn’t this just prove there are many from Qi Country among us here?" Li Pu elaborated.

"You truly have a journalist’s flair with words," Jiang Cheng acknowledged.