124: Transferred again? So you are also a sleepover instructor.

Chapter 124: Transferred Again? So, Professor, You're an Undercover Agent Too!

Sunday.

After nearly another day and night of long-haul flights and a direct shuttle bus, he finally returned to Livermore.

It was already past eight in the evening.

Even Lu Ze, who was usually full of energy, felt exceptionally tired and sleepy from the two-day journey back, his eyelids heavy.

As for Lucy, the one thing she wanted most right now was to go home, lie on her bed, and get a good night's sleep.

As for gourmet food and desserts, her groggy mind couldn't recall a single bit.

Inside the employee dormitory at LLNL Laboratory.

After taking a twenty-minute cold shower, Lu Ze lay on his freshly made bed, his drowsiness somewhat dissipated.

He recalled what Lucy had told him yesterday: “There will be a Navy Summer Open House at the San Francisco port this weekend.”

This was a date she had noted down when she last looked up Navy open house dates in the Bay Area.

Immediately, Lu Ze frowned slightly, thinking to himself, 'Do I really have to wait until next week's weekend?'

If he had to wait another seven days before he could replicate something.

By then, his accumulated replication attempts would probably reach three, and this progress was simply too slow.

Thinking of this.

Lu Ze shook his head and closed his eyes: 'Tomorrow, I'll go to the laboratory first and see what can be replicated.'

Although he was very eager to reach ten replication attempts and unlock the purple lottery privilege.

But if he casually wasted replication attempts on items with very low achievement points, even if he unlocked it early, it would be meaningless, considering that the blue lottery already required ten thousand achievement points.

The purple lottery would at least require tens of thousands or even a hundred thousand achievement points.

If he wasted replication attempts at will, even if he unlocked the purple lottery, he wouldn't have enough achievement points to draw, and its only purpose might be to satisfy his curiosity in advance.

He didn't want to do such a losing business.

The next day, nine in the morning.

Monday was the busiest day in the entire laboratory.

Whether it was people from various sub-departments coming to submit proposals, or various sub-laboratories needing to report progress, everyone crowded into this main building, coming and going.

Lu Ze glanced at the familiar sofa in the lounge area, and sure enough, the familiar figure wasn't there.

'That girl, as expected, didn't come to work.'

He was quite familiar with Lucy's habits.

After such a long journey, she definitely wouldn't wake up until noon.

A moment later.

Lu Ze sat on the sofa with a sweetened and iced Americano latte, planning to slack off and finish his last paper here.

The several papers he had submitted earlier had all been approved by SCI Zone 2, and the laboratory had already credited him with employee points, putting him not far from C-level access.

However.

Just then, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar back out of the corner of his eye.

Lu Ze's eyes lit up, and he greeted, “Professor Hassen, have you just returned from vacation too?”

This was indeed his and Lucy's mentor, Professor Michael Hassen.

As a professor who was always elusive in the laboratory, when was Professor Hassen not on vacation?

He and Lucy were only on summer vacation for less than two weeks, while this professor was on summer vacation every day, sometimes not even returning to LLNL Laboratory once a week, all working remotely.

However.

Upon hearing Lu Ze's teasing remark, Michael Hassen uncharacteristically straightened his face.

He sat down on the sofa next to him, crossed his arms, and asked solemnly, “Lu, do you want to be promoted to LLNL Laboratory employee access?”

“Yes, Professor,” Lu Ze nodded.

He had never tried to hide this matter; let alone Professor Hassen, his mentor, anyone with a little attention could figure it out.

After all, he had continuously published several SCI Zone 2 papers in a short period, covering areas such as 'hydrogen energy,' 'new future technology,' and 'aerospace.'

Although the papers offered unique insights into future foresight, they did not involve any 'core' aspects, nor did they focus on journal impact factors; he was entirely focused on publishing a large number of papers to increase his laboratory points.

What was the purpose? Naturally, it was to quickly get promoted to a C-level Employee through this method.

Hearing this, Michael Hassen's expression became even more serious, and the deep worry was evident on his face.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Professor, is there a problem with this method?” Lu Ze raised an eyebrow, asking somewhat puzzled.

Wasn't this method and pathway an open secret at LLNL Laboratory? What could be the problem?

Previously, there was an endless stream of people in the entire laboratory using this method; if one didn't want to obediently rely on years of service to get promoted in 'employee rank,' then publishing SCI Zone 1 or Zone 2 papers was the only way.

And the laboratory's senior management wouldn't have any objections, because even if you published a 'filler journal' in SCI Zone 2, you still needed the ability to do so.

This threshold alone was by no means a shortcut that ordinary 'mediocre talents' could take.

However.

Professor Hassen wasn't here for this matter; he shook his head and said, “This method can indeed rapidly advance 'employee rank,' and there's no problem with it.”

“But you need to know, once you reach C-level or even B-level employee rank... what will that mean?”

He stared intently into Lu Ze's eyes, gritting his teeth as he whispered the question.

“What does that mean?” Lu Ze feigned ignorance, “If I want to access higher-level projects... I can only get promoted in employee access.”

“But that means you will never be able to return to your homeland; you will forever be confined to Da Xia, to LLNL Laboratory,” Michael Hassen sighed helplessly. “Think of your predecessors; this path is infinitely more difficult than you imagine.”

“You shouldn't choose this method, unless you don't want to return home.”

He knew that his student was never someone willing to die for Da Xia.

Although promotion to higher access could bring many benefits, such as exposure to more top-tier projects and technologies.

But in contrast, Da Xia's restrictions would also be greater, just like Lu Ze's predecessors, eventually even leading to detention, arrest, travel restrictions, and all sorts of measures; Da Xia would never allow such a 'C-level Employee' or even 'B-level' talent to return to their home country.

“Professor Hassen, what should I do?”

“I can't possibly stay at LLNL Laboratory for a few years and then return home having achieved nothing, can I?”

Lu Ze's eyes narrowed slightly; for a moment, he couldn't guess Michael Hassen's intention.

His mentor didn't seem like the type to meddle in others' affairs, so why was he so concerned about him having to stay at LLNL Laboratory?

And more importantly.

Aside from the fact that Lu Ze possessed the Glamour Mask and therefore didn't need to worry about being unable to return home through conventional means.

As his mentor, Professor Hassen absolutely knew how high Lucy's status was in the laboratory; for him to be promoted to a 'C-level Employee' and want to return to Da Xia, it wouldn't be too difficult for Lucy.

It wasn't an A-level Employee, a national treasure-level talent equivalent to an academician; what could be such a big deal?

So... his mentor must have another motive.

Seemingly sensing the 'doubt' in Lu Ze's eyes.

Michael Hassen finally revealed his ultimate goal: “Listen to me, I have an opening that can transfer you out of LLNL Laboratory and assign you to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.”

“Over there, my old friend can guarantee that you will be 'safe and sound' even after participating in major projects.”

“He has much more influence than I do at LLNL Laboratory, and there will be many projects you can participate in...”

Professor Hassen explained in a few words what he intended to do this time.

That was to transfer Lu Ze to another national laboratory, allowing him to follow another professor who was more valued and capable than him, participate in major projects under his guidance, and thus receive 'protection.'

He was unable to protect his student, so he would let his friend do it.

However.

Lu Ze looked even more puzzled: “Professor Hassen, why is this?? ”

“Why would you give me such a valuable slot?”

Oak Ridge National Laboratory, this abbreviation might not be recognized by many, but its other name was well-known.

Da Xia's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a laboratory a notch higher than LLNL.

Currently Da Xia's largest, most comprehensive, and most heavily funded national laboratory, where projects such as the Manhattan Project were born; in fields like materials science and energy science, it was the world's TOP1.

Many intern graduate students or ordinary employees in the laboratory would be willing to offer a lot of money or benefits to exchange for this slot with Professor Hassen.

Why would such a slot be given to him?

“Lu, my old friend is also a Slav,” Michael Hassen whispered in his ear, “You and I are of the same kind, but Lucy is not.”

Upon hearing this, although Professor Hassen did not reveal too many secrets.

Lu Ze had a pretty good guess.

Professor Hassen's true goal was very simple: to get him out of this dangerous environment and send him to a safer place where he would be protected, allowing him to return home smoothly after completing his studies.

If what the LLNL Laboratory's senior management did was to use various 'temptations' to keep top talents when they discovered them.

Then what Professor Hassen did was to 'hide' these talents through various means before the laboratory discovered them, making it impossible for the laboratory to 'tempt' them.

Lu Ze was the 'top talent' he believed had great potential.

All his previous teachings were also based on this logic.

'First, he told me to keep a low profile, and now that he sees me wanting to be promoted to a C-level Employee, he wants me to transfer to another laboratory,' Lu Ze muttered.

'It seems my mentor isn't so willingly loyal to Da Xia.'

Lu Ze even suspected that behind Professor Hassen, there was a large group of scientists who had come from various countries during previous turmoils.

Over these past ten-plus years, they either weren't given important roles or simply disliked Da Xia's style, so they secretly formed a considerable force.

Their objective was also very simple: to simply cause trouble for Da Xia, or to prevent others from following in their old footsteps.

Moreover, all their actions were reasonable and legal; it was merely transferring his student to another laboratory, and all these methods complied with procedures.

As for why Da Xia didn't discover such talents, that should be a question for their administrators about how they conduct their business.

After figuring this out.

Lu Ze stroked his chin: 'This force... needs to be put to good use.'

These scientists involved in Da Xia's elite circles were an invaluable asset, of great help to future plans.

But, did he really want to transfer to Oak Ridge National Laboratory?

(First update! Please give monthly votes and recommendation votes)