In the living room.
The morning sunlight, streaming through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, spilled into the room, casting several square patches of golden area on the gleaming floor tiles.
Sun Cheng, his eyes bloodshot, found it somewhat dazzling and squinted involuntarily before finding Lin Chuan's recent remarks somewhat unbelievable. "You have more?" he said.
Even the two staff members beside him were startled.
The 'Remote Box-type Rocket Launcher' was still a subject of intense study by many rocket launcher experts at the research institute.
You say you have more?
Lin Chuan seemed to anticipate the reactions of Sun Cheng and the others, smiling as he nodded his head.
Hiss—
After Lin Chuan confirmed, Sun Cheng's back, slightly hunched from last night's exhaustion, immediately straightened up, and his whole demeanor became more spirited, though his speech was somewhat stumbling, "Lin, you... I... this..."
"Old Sun, have some water first."
Lin Chuan poured a glass of water for Old Sun and pushed it towards him.
Old Sun grinned awkwardly, took a big gulp of water, exhaled a long breath, and then felt somewhat relieved. "Lin, what other technologies do you have?" he asked.
Lin Chuan pondered briefly before saying, "For example, 'Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles'."
"Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles?"
Old Sun's eyes widened, and his bushy eyebrows rose, his breath growing heavier. "Lin, this is no joking matter!" he exclaimed.
"I'm not joking."
Lin Chuan said earnestly.
Old Sun fell silent, once again sizing up Lin Chuan from head to toe.
Lin Chuan's simple and unpretentious attire revealed no secrets, and his mid-twenties face seemed somewhat youthful in Old Sun's eyes.
He searched for any traits that might associate Lin Chuan with the term 'genius.'
At the same time, he was also recalling details about Lin Chuan.
On the flight from Capital City to Anling, he had already looked up Lin Chuan's information.
The files showed—
From childhood to adulthood, Lin Chuan had nothing to do with the words 'genius' or 'prodigy.' He was very low-profile; it wasn't until he entered society that he began to show his exceptional talents.
Therefore, Old Sun concluded that this was a young man who knew how to bide his time.
To sum it up with an idiom—
If he did not speak, it was as if he didn't exist; but when he did, he shocked everyone.
Having met him, Old Sun affirmed this thought from Lin Chuan's behavior and speech.
Only.
Just the development of the 'Remote Box-type Rocket Launcher' was shocking enough, but now there was also the development of the 'Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile.' Old Sun found it hard to come up with a reasonable explanation.
The Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile is a missile capable of high-speed flight, usually traveling faster than the speed of sound, and is primarily used to attack surface vessels, especially large watercraft like aircraft carriers.
You must know that global powers place significant emphasis on naval strength.
This type of anti-ship ballistic missile has the powerful ability to strike aircraft carrier fleets and is a top priority in the military development of maritime powers.
The National Institute was also researching this, consuming large amounts of human and material resources.
Now, Lin Chuan claimed to have developed a 'Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile.' If it weren't for the blueprints of the 'Remote Box-type Rocket Launcher' he'd seen earlier, Sun Cheng would certainly have cursed—
What bullsh*t are you spouting?
That is not like the 'Hand-cranked Lithography Machine' or 'Two-dimensional foil' depicted in novels.
In the real world.
All these require genuine investment of copious resources for research before any breakthrough can be achieved.
Sun Cheng pondered for a long time.
He looked up, gazing through the balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, seeing the deep blue sky dotted with cotton-like clouds, and the dazzling golden light hurting his eyes.
He felt somewhat unreal.
—The world has gone mad!
The world must have gone mad!
How could a single person possibly develop a 'Remote Box-type Rocket Launcher' with a range of up to 600 kilometers and a 'Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile'?
After a whole minute of silence.
Sun Cheng decided to give Lin Chuan a chance to explain and himself a chance to dream—what if it was true?
"Lin, your 'Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile'..."
He trailed off, but the implication was clear.
Lin Chuan understood what he meant and continued, "Old Sun, I know you have your doubts, but you should have investigated me and be aware of some of my technologies."
Sun Cheng nodded, "I'm aware, the... criminal skills you possess are quite extensive."
Lin Chuan went on, "You should know that I am a hacker."
"Yes, I'm aware—you once helped Han River Province defeat the foreign hacker organization AW in a cyber war, emerging victorious. Using your hacking skills, you even counterattacked the Morgan Group, eventually capturing two of Morgan Group's companies operating in Han River," replied Sun Cheng, recounting with familiarity.
"So, it would make sense that I could access some information on military weaponry, wouldn't it?" Lin Chuan asked, looking at Sun Cheng.
Sun Cheng met Lin Chuan's clear and sincere gaze, mulling it over for a while, "It makes sense, but your rocket launcher seems to be a cut above the current state of the art."
The reasoning was somewhat far-fetched.
But indeed, it could explain some part of it.
Most hackers are active on the dark web, interfacing with all sorts of information.
Weapons and arms are also traded on the dark web.
Information about weapons and arms is naturally commonplace there as well.
Lin Chuan had already prepared an excuse, and with a smile said, "You've read my profile, so you should know that I am a person with very strong learning abilities, and in the field of weapons development, I seem to have even more talent."
"Indeed, quite talented," Sun Cheng's facial muscles twitched.
His words were impeccable.
There are always geniuses in the world that people cannot understand.
"Old Sun, the 'Hypersonic Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile' I developed flies at six times the speed of sound throughout the journey, and at the terminal attack stage it can reach speeds of up to Mach 10," Lin Chuan brought the topic back to the supersonic missile.
"Mach 10, that's equivalent to 3.4 kilometers per second..."
Sun Cheng muttered to himself thoughtfully, "With this terminal velocity, at the current stage, there's no missile defense system that can't intercept it. How did you achieve this speed?"
Lin Chuan offered a smile and began discussing with Sun Cheng.
To be precise, Lin Chuan was like a supersonic missile expert, teaching student Sun Cheng by explaining difficulties and some technical bottlenecks.
Sun Cheng, as the head of the Statistics Office, was renowned as a weapons all-rounder.
However, the deeper Lin Chuan's explanations went, the more confused Sun Cheng became, almost as if he was hearing something as obscure as an arcane text.
At first, he was still able to pick out some issues and ask some technical questions.
As time went on, the questions he asked became fewer and fewer.
Not because he understood.
But because he didn't know what to ask anymore.
Only then did he realize—
He was an all-rounder, not a specialist.
Especially in front of a 'Rocket Launcher' and 'Supersonic Missile' specialist like Lin Chuan, his own knowledge base was somewhat limited.
About an hour later.
Lin Chuan stopped his explanations, for if he continued, this head of the Weapons Research Institute's Statistics Office would be completely baffled.
"Lin, you've seen me make a fool of myself,"
Sun Cheng laughed somewhat sheepishly and took a sip of water.
Lin Chuan did not point this out and simply replied with a smile, "Everyone has their own specialty, Old Sun, you're an authority on data statistics after all!"
"Hahaha," Sun Cheng chuckled in agreement.
"Old Sun, speaking of the transformation of Anling Iron and Steel Factory into a military factory..." Lin Chuan steered the conversation toward Anling Iron and Steel Factory.
Seizing the opportunity while Old Sun was present, he decided to settle the matter then and there.
It would save the hassle of going through a heap of procedures later on, running back and forth, being bounced around by various parties, and possibly even ending up with nothing.
Sun Cheng looked at this young man he had met less than half a day ago and silently marveled at Lin Chuan's efficiency, then said with a smile, "It's easier said than done. As long as it meets the qualifications for transformation into a military factory, the National Weapons Research Institute can directly issue approval. However, I must remind you that even if you have the qualifications and technology for a military factory, you're still missing one thing."
"Please enlighten me."
Lin Chuan said humbly.
Sun Cheng slowly uttered two words: "Funds."
The transformation of Anling Iron and Steel Factory into a military factory is an endeavor for a local military enterprise, funded by local finance to manage the transformation.
Transforming into a military factory requires the purchase of a large batch of new equipment.
From large machinery to small molds, as well as a bulk of raw materials, all require substantial funds.
What's more important is—
Local military enterprises also face market competition, survival of the fittest, and they need substantial support from local finance.
This could potentially conflict with the development direction of a city.
For instance, if a certain city vigorously supports tourism and service industries with the aim to build a tourist city, then fiscal expenditures will be largely tilted toward the main supported local industries.
As one grows, the other wanes, and naturally, other local industries can only settle for less.
Thus, the transformation of a steel factory into a military factory isn't as simple as one might think.
"Understood."
Lin Chuan nodded, and after the conversation, he had become better acquainted with Old Sun, "Old Sun, I hadn't slept all of last night, how about resting here for a while?"
Old Sun glanced at his wristwatch and said with a laugh, "There's no need for a nap, it isn't even time for a noon break yet. I know what you're thinking, kid. Let's go, we'll visit Anling Iron and Steel Factory."
"Alright then,"
Lin Chuan grinned.
To obtain the military factory qualification for Anling Iron and Steel Factory, a site visit was a necessary step.
Sun Cheng propped himself up with his hands on his thighs and slowly rose to his feet, smiling, "Chief Designer Lin, please lead the way."
"Old Sun, it hasn't been settled yet," Lin Chuan helped Old Sun up.
"I have a feeling it won't be long. Once your 'Remote Box-type Rocket Launcher' passes the assessment and manufacturing begins, it will take only about two months. If we're quick, it could be done in just a month. Then you'll be the chief designer, and the sole designer at that. However, for security reasons, we didn't advance your rocket launcher to the final round. I hope you understand,"
Old Sun said seriously.
Lin Chuan nodded, signaling his understanding.
Since he couldn't complete the 'gain the recognition of 100,000 people' task through the competition route, he would have to find another way.
If the steel factory successfully transformed into a military factory and began producing weapons, it should also be able to gain recognition.
Although it might be delayed by a month or two, in the end, it could be accomplished.
All good things come to those who wait!
"By the way, Lin,"
Old Sun suddenly thought of something and said while walking, "Would you be interested in joining the Weapons Research Institute? Or perhaps, hold a position there?"

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