"Kyoto?" Qin Chuan was taken aback. "A new project?"

"Establish an electronics technology company." Han Feng's gaze swept over the invitation letter from the Dragon Abyss Selection on the table. "Registered capital of 1 billion, business scope including chip design, semiconductor equipment, and artificial intelligence."

The sound of a pen falling to the ground came from the other end of the phone. Qin Chuan stammered, "Ten...ten billion? Mr. Han, this means..."

"If we're going to do it, let's go all out." Han Feng's voice was calm yet undeniably firm. "First, set up the framework. Recruit the core team from Silicon Crystal Technology, triple their salaries."

Qin Chuan gasped. This level of poaching was practically a direct challenge to international semiconductor giants!

"I...I'm flying to Kyoto tomorrow." Qin Chuan tried to calm his breathing. "Are there any requirements for the company name?"

"Keep it simple." Han Feng thought for a moment, "Let's call it 'Spark Technology'."

A single spark can start a prairie fire. Qin Chuan instantly understood the meaning: "Great name! I'll get on with the registration right away."

After hanging up the phone, Han Feng checked the global semiconductor industry chain map through the system, mentally circling several key nodes—lithography machines, wafer fabs, EdA software... each of which is a technological barrier monopolized by foreign countries.

"Zero," he suddenly began, "Let's simulate this: if I were to build a completely independent 28nm chip production line within three years, what would my success rate be?"

"The success rate is 12.7% with current resources," the system quickly responded, "but if you acquire the 'Industrial Mastery' skill, it will increase to 58.3%."

"Then give me a simple task so I can acquire this skill?"

"Host, you're dreaming." Zero transformed into a chibi cartoon character. "All skills are random, and you have to trigger the missions yourself. Did you forget what I told you? Want to cause more trouble?" Zero chewed on some digital potato chips while looking at Han Feng as if he were an idiot.

Han Feng was speechless for a moment.

---

In the days that followed, Han Feng went to class on time every day. Ever since Su Wanwan changed Han Feng's dressing last time, she stopped coming to school with him for some reason. Han Feng didn't pay much attention to it.

These past two days, he noticed that Liu Mengran had been staring at him from time to time at school, which made Han Feng feel a little embarrassed. Coupled with Liu Mengran's hesitant expression, Han Feng was even more confused.

Three days passed in a flash. When Liu Mengran found Han Feng after class, her tone was still icy: "I heard you're going to ask for leave again?"

"Yes, I have something to take care of. What's wrong?"

Liu Mengran was furious: "Isn't it you who asked to be in the same group as me? Every time the professor assigns a group modeling assignment, you ask for leave and run away."

Han Feng then remembered that he had approached Principal Zhou Mingyuan to ask him to arrange the academic work group, and he felt a little embarrassed: "I'm really sorry, I'm really busy this time. Thank you for your help. I'll treat you to dinner when I get back." After saying that, Han Feng ran away in a flash.

Liu Mengran stood there, stunned: "Just what kind of person is Han Feng?"

---

At 5:30 a.m., the Ryugen base on the outskirts of Kyoto was still shrouded in a thin mist. A black military jeep silently glided past three checkpoints, and at each checkpoint, the soldiers on duty would stand at attention and salute—the vehicle's license plate had already been entered into the highest-level access system.

The corridor of the main building of the base was empty and silent. Han Feng's military boots clicked rhythmically on the metal floor. Reaching the unmarked black door at the end, he straightened the collar of his brand-new combat uniform and knocked gently.

"Come in." Lin Zhengguo's deep voice came through the door.

Inside the office, Lin Zhengguo stood with his back to the door in front of the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, outside which the training ground was gradually awakening. He turned around, the stars on his epaulets gleaming in the morning light.

"Half an hour early, not bad." Lin Zhengguo nodded slightly, gesturing for Han Feng to sit down. "Coffee?"

"No need, sir." Han Feng straightened his back and sat in the armchair, his gaze sweeping over the file bag marked "Top Secret" on the table.

Following his gaze, Lin Zhengguo pushed the file folder towards him: "Look at this first."

Han Feng untied the encrypted rope and pulled out the document inside. The first page was a satellite photo showing several blurry figures testing some kind of equipment at a training base in Siberia. Most striking was the caption at the edge of the photo: "Target demonstrates strength and speed three times greater than that of ordinary people."

"R Country's 'Aurora Borealis' project," Lin Zhengguo sipped his coffee, "genetically modified warriors... it seems M Country has already started experimenting on humans with their gene-modified drugs. While the results aren't as outrageous as Blood Wolf's strength increase after taking the drug, they're still far beyond the reach of ordinary warriors."

Han Feng quickly scanned the follow-up information, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. According to intelligence, Country R had infiltrated China under various aliases, targeting research institutions, military enterprises, and key government departments.

"In three months, we lost seven field agents," Lin Zhengguo's voice turned cold. "Ordinary special forces soldiers are like children in front of them."

Han Feng closed the file: "So, this selection..."

"The goal is to form a special operations team specifically to deal with them." Lin Zhengguo stood up and walked to the electronic map on the wall. "You will be fully responsible for the selection and training."

Han Feng's pupils contracted slightly. This meant that his authority would be greatly enhanced, allowing him to directly decide who could enter the core action group of Longyuan.

"Why me again this time?" He looked directly into Lin Zhengguo's eyes.

Lin Zhengguo suddenly laughed: "Because you're the only one who has ever directly killed a gene-engineered warrior." He pressed a button on the remote control, and the screen on the wall displayed a recap of the Northern Mission. "The drug Blood Wolf was injected with was probably the first batch of undiluted drugs. That's why, although his strength increased dozens of times, his entire body exploded after you killed him."

The image freezes on the moment Han Feng plunges his tactical dagger into Blood Wolf's throat. Even now, recalling that battle, the danger remains vivid in Han Feng's mind.

"And also," Lin Zhengguo took a dark blue velvet box from the drawer, "I almost forgot about this."

The box was opened, revealing a gleaming officer's epaulettes and a second-class merit medal. Han Feng was uncharacteristically stunned.

"Given your outstanding performance in the Northern Frontier mission, the Central Military Commission has granted you special permission to be promoted to lieutenant colonel." Lin Zhengguo personally changed Han Feng's shoulder insignia. "There should have been a formal ceremony, but..." He pointed to the top-secret documents on the table, "...the circumstances are special."

Han Feng stroked the brand-new epaulets; the cool touch of the metal felt strangely real. He had originally come to Longyuan just to observe, but now he had risen to the ranks of mid-level officers.

"The selection process begins today. There are 87 candidates from various war zones and special departments," Lin Zhengguo returned to the main topic. "Ultimately, only 8 will be selected; we will not accept unqualified candidates."

Han Feng nodded: "What are the standards?"

"To survive against genetically engineered warriors," Lin Zhengguo's eyes were sharp as knives, "and to kill them."