Chapter 382 How ironic!
Korad stared at it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what was going on.
He wondered, "Why are all the devices being used so haphazardly? What exactly did she do last night?"
From his professional perspective, he couldn't find a single useful piece of information, and he couldn't connect the various devices together.
"Was it because they were afraid we'd figure something out, so they deliberately messed things up? Or was the production process itself complicated?"
Rad couldn't understand it, but the experimental products he had developed were casually displayed on the table.
He picked it up and examined it. It was exactly the same as the bottle that had been delivered yesterday. The purity was sufficient, but the effect was not as good.
After thinking for a long time, Rad asked his assistant, "Where is that team from China?"
The assistant replied, "They're all locked up. We've tried everything to get them involved in the research on the ability-enhancing fluid, including imprisonment, starvation, coercion, and bribery, but they just won't listen."
Rad shook his head. "Chen Bolang is a top-notch scientist. It's no exaggeration to say that if he were willing to join the research, we might have already found a way to make the ability-enhancing fluid. Unfortunately, he's too stubborn and refuses to help us."
"Go and bring them here. Tell them that a lady from China is collaborating with us on research and has already achieved purification, but the results are inconsistent. Please have her take a look and see what the problem is."
The assistant asked, puzzled, "Doctor, he firmly refused to join the research before. Will he come and check on things for us?"
Rad laughed, "There's a saying in China: 'When fellow countrymen meet, their eyes well up with tears.' I've heard that a Chinese person has helped with some significant research; perhaps he'll come and take a look."
The equipment in this lab is a mess; we can't figure it out. Chen Bolang might be able to.
The assistant nodded. "Okay, I understand."
He quickly left the research building and went to another building not far away.
Entering a dimly lit room, the room was bare, with nothing but a few wooden beds and a person hidden in the dim light.
The assistant stared at the person in the corner. "Professor Chen Bolang, are you still unwilling to help us? As long as you help us with our research, we'll treat you to the best food and drinks and the finest treatment. It's much better than staying in this prison-like room."
The figure remained motionless, as if he hadn't seen the person at the door or heard what he said.
The assistant sighed, "Given your knowledge, it's a real waste for you to stay here. If you help us research the ability-enhancing fluid, we'll let you go back to your country. Why waste your time like this?"
The person in the corner remained motionless.
The assistant lost his temper and got straight to the point, "I came here to tell you that it's okay if you don't join our research. Recently, a woman came from China. She has been able to highly purify the power-enhancing fluid. The only drawback is that the energy is unstable, and we haven't found the reason yet. Would you like to come to the lab with me to take a look?"
What's the point of your patriotism? In the end, isn't it your own people from China who helped advance our research by a significant margin?
This time, the person hiding in the dimly lit corner moved. He stood up and slowly walked to his assistant.
The light from outside shone on him, revealing his features.
She wore a thin outer garment, was emaciated, with sunken eyes, and had a few strands of hair mixed with white hair that had grown to her neck. It must have been carefully styled, with each strand neatly tucked behind her ears.
He looked very weak, probably because he hadn't eaten properly in a long time, but his eyes were bright.
He asked, "Who is it? Which professor?"
The assistant said, "He's a businessman."
"merchant?"
This answer surprised Chen Bolang.
What the Zeus have been studying for so long and still haven't figured out, can a businessman possibly understand?
"Take me to see it." This was the first time Chen Bolang had offered to go to the laboratory.
The assistant led the way, somewhat smugly, "Why did you have to do that? In the end, wasn't it you Chinese who helped us a lot? If we can successfully develop this ability-enhancing fluid, you Chinese will deserve a lot of credit."
His words were full of sarcasm.
A year has passed, and Chen Bolang has endured much hardship, yet he remains unwilling to conduct research for the Zeus base.
He held onto his patriotic sentiments, only to have them easily shattered by another Chinese person. How ironic.
When Chen Bolang arrived at the lab, Rad saw his miserable state and sighed, "Why bother?"
Before the apocalypse, they were still having academic exchanges together.
After the apocalypse, these Chinese professors, clinging to their own abilities, refused to serve them under any circumstances.
Even though they are all experts in the same field, Rad still felt a pang of sadness seeing Chen Bolang in his current state.
Chen Bolang didn't even look at him as he entered the laboratory, but he didn't see the Chinese person his assistant had mentioned.
He looked at Rad, "You want me to recreate the experiment?"
Rad nodded. "That Chinese woman went to the commercial district to do business. She said she was a businesswoman and would do anything to make money, so she wouldn't let us see her research process. Now she has left behind a semi-finished product and a bunch of used instruments."
Chen Bolang sneered, "You guys are really good at scheming."
He glanced around the lab and heard Rad continue, "I suspect that woman sabotaged the equipment after using it, just to prevent us from spying on something. Can you help me take a look?"
"Stop being stubborn. We keep our word. If you help us research and develop the ability-enhancing fluid, we'll let you go back home."
China already has the ability-enhancing fluid, so letting them go back wouldn't be a problem.
If China didn't have the ability enhancement fluid, and the Zeus base wanted to prevent China from obtaining the production method, Chen Bolang and his group would definitely never be able to return.
Chen Bolang ignored him.
He carefully observed the state of the instruments and found that there was no sign of damage; the instruments were simply being used haphazardly.
That woman stayed here, but she probably didn't do any experiments at all.
These people from the Zeus base are so desperate for the power-enhancing fluid that they're unwilling to let go of any glimmer of hope.
However, Chen Bolang would not tell these people any of this, because he found a ballpoint pen on the table with a Chinese brand name written on it, which was left by that woman.
Chen Bolang stepped forward, calmly picked up the pen, then a stack of documents beside him, and looked back at Rad, "Make the ability-enhancing fluid, and you'll let us go back?"
Rad said solemnly, "You keep your word. It would be a real shame if a professor like you died."
Chen Bolang took his pen and documents and walked out. "Wait here, I'll go back and calculate the formula."
Rad was surprised. "You're willing to help us?"
Did someone who's been stubborn for a year suddenly have an epiphany?
Chen Bolang smiled bitterly, "You're right. Someone already knows how to purify it. The unstable energy is just a minor problem. Finding the cause is only a matter of time. Whether I help you or not, you're not far from making the superpower enhancement fluid. I might as well do you a favor and let us go back to our country sooner."
Rad was overjoyed and instructed the people next to him, "Quickly, release their people, find them better accommodations, and prepare some good food. With Professor Chen's help, we can make progress faster."
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