“The materials for the high-frequency transmission module,” Mingzhao suddenly spoke, without looking up, as if talking to thin air.

Su Xuan was taken aback, then realized that she was talking to him, or... giving him an order?

He instinctively replied, "The institute doesn't have high-frequency power amplifier tubes that meet your specifications, especially high-power ones. I checked the list, and the import channels are also cut off."

Use this.

Mingzhao stopped welding and took out a palm-sized, silver-gray metal object wrapped in oil paper from her magical canvas handbag.

The outer casing was somewhat worn, and it was covered with strange, blurry symbols that were neither English nor Chinese.

Su Xuan took it with a puzzled look.

It feels heavy in your hand, with a cool metallic feel.

He examined the casing and interface closely and had never seen an electronic device with such packaging and markings before.

"What is this? Where did it come from?"

“It’s from old equipment.” Mingzhao said succinctly, clearly not intending to explain its origin. “Power and frequency range meet the requirements. The heat dissipation structure needs to be strengthened.”

"Disassembled? I remember this machine doesn't even have this part, and its functions wouldn't meet your requirements."

"Oh, I made some modifications."

Looking at the mysterious "part" in his hand, and then at Ming Zhao's calm and expressionless face, Su Xuan felt a deep sense of powerlessness and a tremor of being caught in an unknown vortex for the first time.

Who exactly is this Mingzhao?

What she took out was completely beyond his comprehension!

Everything was dismantled, pieced together, and modified?

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, forced himself to calm down, picked up his tools, and began to carefully disassemble the heat dissipation shell of the mysterious "silver box" according to Mingzhao's instructions, preparing to modify and reinforce it.

His movements were imbued with an unprecedented level of caution and focus. Whatever this thing was, it could be the key to the success or failure of the entire project!

Once again, only the sounds of tools clashing and welding filled the laboratory.

Su Xuan occasionally looked up at Ming Zhao, his eyes now completely changed, filled with inquiry, shock, and a hint of... awe that even he himself didn't realize.

---

Office of the Minister of Logistics of the Military Region.

Wang Zhen frowned as he looked at the unsigned but unusually carefully worded letter in his hand.

The text details how Mingzhao was "guaranteed" by Howard to enter the research institute, how he "illegally" obtained independent project leadership, how he possessed "strange" knowledge and insight, and how Howard "abused his power for personal gain" by forcibly intervening in the core laboratory and acting as the so-called "security interface."

At the end of the letter, he subtly raised "reasonable doubts" about Mingzhao's background and "deep concerns" about Howard's motives.

"Questionable background...mysterious abilities...abuse of power for personal gain..."

Wang Zhenshan muttered these keywords to himself, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth mahogany table, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. He picked up the red secure phone on the table and dialed an internal number.

"Hello? Old Chief, it's me, Wang Zhen. There's something I urgently need to report to you about, regarding the communicator project, and also... Comrade Howard..."

A deep, aged voice came from the other end of the phone: "Speak."

Wang Zhenshan took a deep breath and, combining the contents of the letter with some "details" added verbally by Wang Ai, reported the past in the most concise and objective language.

He didn't add any personal judgment, but the information conveyed between the lines was enough to make any experienced leader wary.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then the aged voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable authority:

"We understand the situation. Establish a joint investigation team immediately. First, thoroughly investigate Comrade Mingzhao's entire background, especially her experiences before joining the research institute—leaving no stone unturned! Second, Comrade Huo Hua is suspended from all positions in the communications project and will undergo an interview with the organization! Third, all project materials, drawings, and development progress are immediately sealed! The project is suspended until the investigation is complete!"

"Yes, sir!" Wang Zhenshan replied solemnly.

---

The research institute, Mingzhao's laboratory.

Mingzhao had just soldered the mysterious "silver box" power module into the core of the circuit board. Su Xuan had also completed the reinforcement installation of the heat sink and was watching intently.

Mingzhao picked up the connecting cable, preparing to connect the test power supply and conduct the first power-on test of the key module.

Sudden!

"Bang!"

The laboratory door was suddenly pushed open!

Several soldiers in military uniforms, with serious expressions and armbands indicating they were from the military region's direct security department, strode in, accompanied by Dean Zhang Mingyuan, whose face was pale and anxious!

The lead lieutenant colonel, his face stern and cold, fixed his piercing gaze on Mingzhao in front of the lab table. His voice was icy, carrying an unyielding command:

"Comrade Mingzhao! Immediately cease all your work! Now, please come with us to cooperate with the investigation!"

The lab door was violently flung open, and a chilling command fell like a blade. Mingzhao's hand, holding the connecting wire, froze in mid-air, the residual heat of the welding torch still lingering on his fingertips.

She slowly raised her head, her clear pupils reflecting the cold, hard faces of several security guards and Dean Zhang Mingyuan's anxious, pale appearance.

"Comrade Mingzhao! Please stop work immediately! Cooperate with the investigation!" The lieutenant colonel in the lead left no room for negotiation.

Su Xuan suddenly stood up, blocking the lab bench, his handsome face showing shock and a hint of anger: "What are you doing? The project is in the critical testing phase!"

"Comrade Su Xuan, please move aside! This is an order from the military region!"

The lieutenant colonel's gaze was sharp and unwavering.

Two soldiers stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, effectively blocking Mingzhao's retreat.

Mingzhao's gaze swept over Zhang Mingyuan, whose eyes held a deep sense of powerlessness. She calmly put down the connecting cable, unplugged the welding torch, and performed the action with meticulous precision.

Then, she picked up a clean cloth and carefully wiped the rosin and solder shavings off her fingers, as if she were just about to leave to have a meal.

"Blueprints, documents." She looked at Zhang Mingyuan, her voice still flat.

Zhang Mingyuan's lips trembled slightly: "...They all need to be sealed up."

Mingzhao nodded, no longer glancing at the core board on the table—the culmination of her hard work and about to undergo a crucial test—nor at the mysterious "silver box," and turned to follow the soldier out. Her back was straight, her steps steady, as if she were simply attending an ordinary meeting.

Su Xuan watched her disappear through the door, then looked at the core board on the table, its testing halted and seemingly lifeless, and a strong sense of absurdity and anger welled up inside him.

He slammed his fist on the experimental rack next to him! The impact made the tools rattle and clang.

---

A confidential interview room in a military region.

Howard's face was as cold and hard as iron. He sat upright in the hard wooden chair. Opposite him were two stern-faced investigation officers from a higher level.

"Comrade Huo Hua, please explain why you, as a non-project personnel, frequently enter the core laboratory? What confidentiality regulations are you basing your statement on?"