Chapter 179

Chapter 179

At the same time, in the palace.

The young monarch sat in a garden full of red roses, fiddling with a cockatiel perched on his hand. After hearing the report from his man below, he gave a faint smile. "That cocky, huh?"

"Yes, he flew his private aircraft back to Sector γ-3 at excessive speed, parked directly in front of Chinusta Tower, swaggered in, and didn't acknowledge a single person." Serrick's face was tight, his eyes downcast, fixed on the stone tiles at his feet. "He wore the medal you awarded him the whole time."

Asuer ran his fingertip over the red spot on the parrot's cheek, scooping up a thick layer of feather dust. He wiped it off carelessly, his mind flashing back to the black-haired, black-eyed man he'd met recently.

Putting aside his good looks and stiff wardrobe, the man was calm, daring, and cold—that was Asuer's impression of him.

Three months back, this guy who came out of nowhere was a complete nobody. Maybe he'd been top of his class or stood out elsewhere, but in this imperial star teeming with elites, this guy with no power or connections was totally insignificant.

Asuer was sure no one three months ago would've guessed this greenhorn who'd only graduated a few years back would land the empire's hottest position just on Merlian's say-so, because even Asuer couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Because he's neutral, Your Majesty," the elderly wise man had said. "He's got no backing from any nobles, tycoons, or political cliques. I've been watching him since his time at the Imperial Academy. His background's unknown, but it's safe to say he's got no family or friends. He doesn't care about current events, keeps to himself, doesn't form cliques, and isn't even affected by pheromones. He seems totally uninterested in anyone but himself, spending almost all his time buried in his studies."

Asuer had just snorted. "Sounds like a nerd."

"You won't think that once you meet him," Merlian had said with a mysterious smile. "He's clean, and his research skills are practically genius-level. You couldn't find a better fit in the whole γ-3 sector."

Asuer looked at Merlian like he was a wily old fox.

Half the empire had their eyes on Merlian's seat, just waiting for him to step down so they could slip their own people in to get a grip on the empire's whole research apparatus. But this old fox pulled a sneaky move, quietly propped up some nobody from the grassroots to take the spot.

Asuer could only silently pray that this nerd he'd never met wouldn't get torn to shreds by the empire's wolves.

"He could be your man, Your Majesty," Merlian had said, meeting Asuer's puzzled gaze. "As long as you give him what he's after."

"What could a nerd possibly want?" Asuer shrugged dismissively. "A room made of gold, stuffed with books?"

"Beats me," Merlian had laughed again. "But I can tell you for sure, Your Majesty, there's no such thing as a person without desires."

*

The talks with Guiliwu had ended badly, leaving Xue Ji so annoyed he hadn't slept well in days. At the same time, he had to handle the basic duties of his role as Chief of the Joint Academy of Sciences, so people wouldn't storm his office over projects stalled for lack of his signature.

If being Chief had any perks, it was having absolute authority and top-dog status across the whole administrative district. No matter how dissatisfied his subordinates were, they had to put on a show of respect when they saw him. There was also the luxury of ample personal space—the entire top floor of the tower was his office, and the four floors below were his laboratories.

Xue Ji spent a few days renovating the lab, moving his research work from the Military Weapons Academy, and then quickly organizing and clarifying the research projects and progress that had nearly been forgotten in the corners of his memory.

In this world, his main focus was on combat starships and mechs. Alongside studying offensive functions, he also dabbled in weapons and defensive devices—none of which were easy. Fortunately, his mind was still sharp, and picking up his old trade wasn't too difficult.

But he was so busy that when he signed his first document, he instinctively reached for the pen clipped to his left chest pocket, only to realize he had never taken off the medal.

No wonder people had been giving him strange looks these past few days.

Xue Ji paused briefly, brushed the cold surface of the medal, pulled out the pen, scanned the document quickly, and signed his name in the Chief's approval section.

The researcher waiting at the desk quickly retrieved the document and handed over the next one. It was slightly thicker than the previous one. Xue Ji took some time to read it, then raised an eyebrow. "Twenty million star coins?"

"Yes, after the project team carefully calculated the costs of experimental equipment and other inputs," the researcher emphasized the word "carefully," "twenty million star coins is the minimum research fund required to ensure the smooth progress of the experiment."

"As far as I know, this project has been under research for three years," Xue Ji said, tossing the document aside and leaning back in his chair. "In the first year, you were granted ten million, six million the next, and eight million last year. That's a total of twenty-four million. Still not enough to start the second phase?"

The researcher was caught off guard by Xue Ji's familiarity with the project's annual funding. After a moment of surprise, he regained his composure. "The causes of pheromone disorder are varied and complex. To this day, no research has identified all the potential factors that ultimately trigger the symptoms. Conquering this disease and finding a cure has been a challenge for imperial scientists since the empire's founding. Such projects have always required substantial funding."

"Twenty million is no small amount," Xue Ji said, unmoved. "Call Aliwen here, or have your project team submit a report detailing what you've studied over the years and how you've conducted your research. Focus on analyzing why, with the highest funding in the entire scientific establishment, you've achieved a progress rate of a delightful zero percent over three years."

"What do you know!" The researcher's face flushed red. "This is a problem that has remained unsolved for centuries. We've only been studying it for three years. How could we possibly have results?"

"In three years, even ants could dig an underground castle," Xue Ji said coldly. "What was the level of technology a hundred years ago, and what is it now? You have the best research resources in the entire empire, yet you've accomplished nothing in three years. That only proves you lack the capability to conduct this research. If my twenty million star coins are going to be used to purchase a large number of precious experimental subjects, only to produce a pile of failed products and a few pages of useless conclusions, why should I approve this fund?"

The researcher glared at him angrily. "You have no right to do this! The entire empire knows how important this research is. You can't afford the consequences of halting this project."

"Of course I have the right," Xue Ji said, tapping the medal on his chest. "And let me correct you: I'm not halting the research on pheromone disorder. I'm urging the researchers taking over this project to do their job. After all, I'm not the kind of person who squanders imperial resources without a second thought."

"Even Merlian never questioned us!"

Xue Ji looked at him in surprise. "What makes you think I look anything like that old man with graying hair?"

The researcher snatched the document and stormed off in a huff.

Xue Ji clipped the pen back into his pocket and took off the medal. Under the bright overhead light, he examined the golden piece that made him a king crab in the entire γ-3 district.

The medal was a common shield shape, with a clock as the background. On the front, two eagles stood facing each other, their feet on a scale and their heads above a ruler. On the back, Xue Ji's name and the date of the award were engraved, signifying that the medal belonged exclusively to him.

Xue Ji stared at the medal for a moment, then picked it up and sniffed it lightly.

A faint scent of flames and roses wafted into his nose.

He wondered how long Asuer Pulambaigo Carter had held it in his hands, leaving traces of pheromones even now. Or perhaps...

"Visitor arriving," the mechanical female voice announced. "Visitor: Aliel Williams, current Dean of the Falken Empire's Academy of Biology and Medicine."

That was fast.

Xue Ji pinned the medal back on his chest, turned his chair to glance at the reflective stone on the wall, adjusted the medal, and turned back. "Enter."

The office door was equipped with voice recognition. As soon as Xue Ji spoke, Aliwen's stern face appeared.

Xue Ji had already put on a smile, sitting steadily in his chair. "Dean Williams, long time no see. You came so quickly—it seems you are well-versed in the progress of the project you oversee."

Aliwen glanced at him darkly, walked straight to the guest chair in front of the desk, and pushed the unsigned document back to Xue Ji.

Xue Ji relaxed his hands on the armrests, maintaining his smile.

Aliwen's face darkened further, but he seemed determined not to speak. A faint scent of rotten cherries began to spread around the desk. This nearly fifty-year-old Alpha subtly released his pheromones to pressure the new leader, miscalculating that the new leader was a Beta immune to such effects.

Xue Ji's expression remained unchanged, but he cursed inwardly at the disgusting smell.

After a moment, Aliwen finally lost his composure. "Xue Ji—"

"Chief Xue, thank you."

Aliwen gritted his teeth. "Chief... Xue."

Xue Ji raised an eyebrow and made a gesture for him to continue.

Aliwen's chest heaved, a flash of anger in his eyes. After suppressing it, he spoke in a measured tone. "The research on pheromone disorder cannot be halted. You are a Beta who studies machinery. You don't know how many people in the empire suffer from this disease, nor do you understand how uncontrollable pheromones can drive Alphas and Omegas to madness. I can understand that. But as basic physiological knowledge known to all in the empire, you should know that severe pheromone disorder significantly shortens the lifespan of Alphas and Omegas."

"Of course," Xue Ji said. "But I must correct you. Although I am merely a Beta who studies machinery, I am aware that approximately 7% of the empire's population suffers from this disease, and the prevalence is increasing year by year. Some patients become mentally unstable, and their lifespans are notably reduced—I am familiar with these phenomena reported on the Star Network."

"Since you know this, you should understand that halting this project is equivalent to extinguishing the hope of saving these people's lives. The loss is far greater than twenty million star coins," Aliwen said coldly, leaning slightly forward to stare at Xue Ji. "More importantly, outside the empire, others are also researching this disease. Whoever develops a treatment first will have more strong Alphas to deploy into military forces."

Xue Ji sighed. "I thought your assistant had accurately conveyed my meaning."

"What difference is there between halting the research fund and stopping the entire project?" Aliwen sneered. "Xue Ji, if you and I have a personal grudge, that's a private matter. This research is a public affair concerning the entire empire, both within and beyond its borders. You've just taken office and need to assert your authority, but you should carefully choose your target. This project isn't mine—it belongs to the Senate, and to the empire. As a courtesy for our years of working together, I advise you: don't take your personal vendetta too far."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xue Ji took off his glasses, wiped them with the corner of his clothes, and spoke slowly: "What are you saying? Dean Williams, we've worked together peacefully over the years, at most with minor disagreements in work opinions. If that counts as a grudge or personal vendetta, then everyone in the entire United Academy of Sciences would have a chance to wait for me to boss them around—that's no small task, is it?"

Aliwen's forehead vein twitched.

"I know this research is a huge part of your work, the most time-consuming and heavily funded." Xue Ji put his glasses back on, leaned forward slightly, and clasped his hands under his chin. "But I have my difficulties too. As the Chief, I have to consider the big picture. In the entire γ-3 district, there are about 518,400 research topics, of which roughly 92,500 are approved for public funding. Each project goes through layers of review, reports are repeatedly rejected and revised, and only then do they reach me. Annual funding is limited, so I have to constantly compare and evaluate to determine the final allocation. Oh, you might not understand this since you've never done this job. Let me give you a simple example.

"The production cost of a strong tranquilizer is about five thousand star coins, a special inhibitor about fifty thousand, a gland removal surgery about two hundred thousand, post-surgery recovery, rehabilitation, and training to achieve physical strength costs about one hundred thousand, euthanasia thirty thousand, and a treatment pod that can alleviate pheromone disorder three million.

"So, how many tranquilizers, inhibitors, and treatment pods can twenty million produce? How many Alphas and Omegas can it free from the root of their affliction and send into war? Of course, that's a bit inhumane, but faced with a long-term disability with a clear mind versus intermittent insanity from severe illness, Dean Williams, how many do you think would choose the former, and how many the latter? For those who have suffered long and see no escape, isn't euthanasia a way to preserve their dignity and decency?"

Xue Ji took a sip of water. "Of course, I don't wish to see any of this happen. If it can be avoided, why not spend twenty million? But Dean Williams, can you prove to the Senate and the Empire that you have the ability to prevent such outcomes?"

With that, Aliwen had nothing left to say. He stared at Xue Ji for a long moment and said, "Chief Xue, you're quite the talker. I hope you can argue just as forcefully before His Majesty, since this project has been closely watched by the Emperor."

Xue Ji smiled: "That's not something you need to worry about."

Aliwen, his face dark, grabbed the documents and left.

As soon as the door closed, Xue Ji pushed off from the chair and slammed the ventilation and air-freshening button on the wall behind him.

Ventilation would take a moment. Xue Ji grabbed his medal, took a deep sniff, and after covering up the rotten cherry smell, shuddered slightly, then put the medal down as if nothing had happened.