Ren Yuanyang smiled and nodded. "That’s right. They’ve completed the trade. The experimental data Dawn Base acquired has raised the success rate of the Evolution Potion to 10%. In exchange, the Aircraft Carrier Base paid one hundred twenty tons of grain and five hundred liters of diesel."
"That much grain? Dawn Base actually had the guts to ask for that much, and the Aircraft Carrier Base actually gave it to them?" Qin Haonan was completely astonished. "From the looks of it, we lost out big time!"
"Going from less than 1% to 10% is definitely a breakthrough. It’s normal for the price to be high. The data we got at the time only offered a 1% success rate, so the Aircraft Carrier Base is still being very cautious about it," Hua Lingfang analyzed.
"Mm, actually, we didn’t really lose out. We weren’t in a position to ask for too much grain back then..." Ren Yuanyang explained their situation at the time.
After listening, Qin Haonan had a moment of realization. "So, asking for seeds really was the most suitable choice. It’s just that we asked for too few varieties at the time!"
"Don’t worry. Once we develop the Evolution Potion, all the Aircraft Carrier Base’s seeds will be in the bag," Ren Yuanyang replied with a smile.
Lu Jiamei nodded excitedly. "Exactly. The Aircraft Carrier Base lost over a hundred tons of grain and all that diesel. Now they’ll know who to trade with in the future!"
She was still bothered by the fact that the Aircraft Carrier Base had traded with Dawn Base.
Qin Haonan agreed. "That’s right. If they want to buy the Evolution Potion from us in the future, they can start by taking down Dawn Base!"
Ren Yuanyang paused for a moment, then shook his head. "The Aircraft Carrier Base can’t just march over here and attack Dawn Base with great fanfare right now. Nobody has much fuel, so they can’t deploy a large number of ships. If they deploy a small number, they might not be able to take down the current Dawn Base. Besides, with external enemies circling, the Aircraft Carrier Base certainly won’t engage in internal conflict."
After hearing Ren Yuanyang’s analysis, Qin Haonan pursed his lips. "Looks like we’ll have to let them keep hopping around for a while longer."
"There’s really no need to focus our attention on Dawn Base. Although they’ve provoked us a few times, they never gained any advantage. We basically beat them back every time, and we even went to their doorstep to mess with them once. You could say we’ve never been on the losing end, so there’s no need to get too hung up on whether they’re still out there causing trouble," Ren Yuanyang continued.
Lu Jiamei nodded in agreement. "The Chief is right. Besides, our offensive capabilities aren’t strong enough yet. We don’t have what it takes to bring them down, especially since they absorbed the United Fleet. We have even less of a chance now. It’s better to wait."
"Alright, let’s not talk about them anymore." Ren Yuanyang deliberately changed the subject. "Jiamei, I need you to select six members with better physical fitness from Si Youqin’s group."
Lu Jiamei was taken aback, and Qin Haonan was also stunned. He blurted out, "Chief, didn’t we agree not to experiment on our own people?"
Ren Yuanyang shot him a look. "When did I say I was going to experiment on them?"
"If not for experiments, then why are you picking these people?" Qin Haonan was confused.
"Your security team is still too small. Their recent performance has been decent, so we can assign them the base’s patrol duties. That way, you and Lu Jiamei will have an easier time," Ren Yuanyang explained.
"Oh, so that’s what it’s for!" Qin Haonan understood.
Lu Jiamei quickly acknowledged the order.
"After you’ve picked them, I want you to train them first. Be strict," Ren Yuanyang instructed.
"Yes, Chief!" Lu Jiamei stood up and saluted.
「After breakfast」
Lu Jiamei went to the workshop where Si Youqin and her group were pressing diesel fuel.
"Minister Lu, you’re here. Is there something I can help you with?" Seeing Lu Jiamei, Si Youqin immediately came out to greet her.
Lu Jiamei gave a slight nod. "The Chief has instructed me to select six people with good physical conditioning from your group to form a patrol team. From now on, they’ll be responsible for all patrols around the base."
Upon hearing this, Si Youqin’s eyes lit up, and she nodded. "Alright, please wait a moment."
Si Youqin went back into the workshop and quickly returned with five people.
Lu Jiamei was a bit confused. "There are only five?"
"It’s enough with me included." Si Youqin stood in a line with the other five.
Lu Jiamei finally understood, then frowned slightly. "If you join the patrol team, will it interfere with managing the yacht?"
"Please rest assured, Chief and Minister Lu. The management of the yacht is already on the right track, and there isn’t much to do. The work now barely requires me to assign tasks, so my management duties are minimal, just like any other member’s," Si Youqin explained. "Besides, my physical fitness is genuinely good."
Lu Jiamei nodded slightly. "Alright then. The six of you, come with me."
"Yes!" Si Youqin and the others responded in unison.
Lu Jiamei began the special training for Si Youqin and the five others, while Ren Yuanyang and Hua Lingfang returned to the laboratory.
Ren Yuanyang once again checked on the other groups of lab mice; they were still in the process of evolving.
Hua Lingfang recorded the conclusions Ren Yuanyang reported, then asked, "Chief, do you think the Aircraft Carrier Base will be able to successfully develop the Evolution Potion based on the Han Jin Association Fleet’s experimental data?"
Ren Yuanyang pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "It’s unlikely. After all, the Han Jin Association Fleet only raised the success rate to ten percent. That’s still a long way from one hundred percent. I’m sure Wang Jun wouldn’t joke around with the lives of his own men."
Hua Lingfang nodded slightly, then another question suddenly occurred to him. "Chief, shouldn’t you give the Aircraft Carrier Base a heads-up? Tell them not to use up all the captives?"
Ren Yuanyang froze for a second, then replied, "You’re right, I should tell them in advance. Good thing you reminded me."
"Okay. Have you already developed it?" A reply came back from Wang Jun’s side almost immediately.
"Not yet, but we’ve had another major breakthrough. It’ll probably be in the next few days," Ren Yuanyang said vaguely, but he still gave a rough timeline.
"The next few days?" Wang Jun’s eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Ren Yuanyang retorted with a smile.
"No, no, it’s just... it seems incredible. We’ve been struggling for so long with no progress, and you’re about to figure it out so quickly!" Wang Jun explained hastily.
"Didn’t you guys also get the updated experimental data? Maybe your research will start advancing by leaps and bounds too," Ren Yuanyang replied.
"Don’t even mention it. Our researchers have confirmed that the synthetic agent used by the Han Jin Association Fleet requires a synthesis technology that only the Sea Eagle Country currently possesses. We can’t synthesize it right now," Wang Jun sighed helplessly.
Hearing this, Ren Yuanyang was stunned. "So, you’re saying those hundred-plus tons of grain went down the drain?"
"You could say that," Wang Jun said with a wry smile. "Of course, our researchers are also trying to figure out how to synthesize that agent, but our conditions are rudimentary right now. A breakthrough will be very difficult."
"I see. Well, I hope you have a breakthrough soon," Ren Yuanyang nodded. "Don’t forget to save us some captives!"
"Don’t worry. The Evolution Potion experiments have been halted recently, so we won’t be using up any more captives," Wang Jun promised.
"Alright, I’ll let you get back to it. I’ll contact you again when I have results on my end," Ren Yuanyang replied, ending the chat right there.
Staring at the chat screen, Wang Jun was still utterly shocked, and a hint of regret crept in.
"Maybe we really shouldn’t have made that trade with Dawn Base," Wang Jun muttered to himself.
Then he immediately posted a screenshot of his chat with Ren Yuanyang in the captains’ group chat.
"Hahaha, I knew Peach Blossom Base wouldn’t disappoint me!" Long Zhan burst out laughing.
Ji Yizhi was equally shocked but still found it hard to believe. "Have they really had a major breakthrough?"
"Why else would he ask us to save captives for him?" Long Zhan shot back. "It’s obvious their research on the Evolution Potion is nearly complete!"
"Based on Ren Yuanyang’s message, that’s a real possibility," Wang Jun said helplessly. "Perhaps Captain Long’s decision was the right one."
Ji Yizhi was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Could it be that Peach Blossom Base knows we obtained the updated experimental data and is worried we’ll use up all the captives, so they’re just telling us this in advance?"
"Maybe their experiment hasn’t had any major breakthrough at all?"

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