922: Chapter 917 What's Needed is Qualification

The despair-inducing pale green powder on the surface of the fragment actually began to change color.

They did not fall off but, drawn by some kind of force, rapidly transformed into a deep blackish-brown.

That was the color of copper oxide, the most stable protective layer on bronze ware—the 'patina'!

Even more astonishingly, the originally friable structure visibly began to solidify.

The minute cracks healed amidst a golden stream of light, as if time were flowing backward.

One minute.

Two minutes.

After five minutes.

Shen Yan put away the spray bottle and tossed the fragment to Old Qi, who was sitting opposite him.

The action was so casual that it made everyone nearby flinch.

What if it shattered?

Old Qi instinctively reached out to catch it.

It felt heavy in his hand, possessing the unique texture of metal.

There was no crumbling, no shattering.

Rubbing it with his fingers, the rust that would flake off with a mere touch was now hard as iron.

Old Qi's hands began to tremble.

He quickly pulled out a magnifying glass from his pocket and brought it close to examine it carefully.

The originally rotten crystal structure had been filled and enveloped by a translucent polymer material, merging perfectly with it.

This material not only reinforced the main body but also isolated it from air and moisture, completely cutting off the source of decay.

Moreover, it perfectly preserved the artifact's sense of age; without a microscope, one couldn't see any trace of repair.

"This... how is this possible..."

Old Qi's voice trembled, as if he had seen a ghost.

"What is the principle here? Displacement reaction? Polymer penetration?"

"No... existing chemical materials simply cannot achieve this penetration rate!"

He suddenly looked up, his gaze toward Shen Yan completely changed.

The arrogance and disdain from before were completely gone, replaced by a nearly fanatical longing.

It was the look of someone who would be content to die having heard the Way.

Although Director Sun didn't understand the technical details, seeing Old Qi's reaction, he knew Shen Yan hadn't been bragging.

He had truly solved a problem that had plagued the archaeological community for decades.

"Mr. Shen... can this technology be mass-produced?"

Director Sun leaned forward, his tone tinged with urgency.

Shen Yan leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.

At this moment, the balance of power had shifted.

"The technology is not a problem, and mass production is also not a problem."

"But Shenyan Group is a commercial company; we require a reasonable commercial return."

Shen Yan's words were very direct.

He wasn't talking about sentiment; he was only talking business.

This was also a strategy; dealing with these people in officialdom, putting interests on the table made them feel more at ease.

"What does Mr. Shen want?"

Director Sun, after all, was an old hand and quickly calmed down.

As long as those national treasures could be saved, money wasn't an issue, and policy wasn't an issue either.

"I don't lack money."

Shen Yan said lightly.

Those four words, spoken from his mouth, carried immense persuasiveness.

"What I want is qualification."

"Jinsan Laboratory must become the designated strategic partner of the National Cultural Heritage Administration."

"We must have a fast track for obtaining Grade One Artifact Restoration Qualifications."

"Furthermore, for all artifacts repaired using this technology in the future, the label 'Jinsan Technology Supported' must be affixed during exhibition."

Shen Yan's conditions were stringent.

This was tantamount to forcibly carving out a space within the national cultural preservation system and stuffing Shenyan Group into it.

This was not just reputation; it was also a talisman.

With this status, anyone who wanted to move against Shenyan Group in the future would have to think twice.

An opponent of Zhang Debiao's level wouldn't even be worthy of carrying their shoes in the face of this halo.

The conference room fell into a brief silence.

Director Sun was weighing the pros and cons.

This was an exception, even a risk.

Entrusting national treasures to a private enterprise for restoration carried great risk.

But looking at the fragment in Old Qi's hand that had been brought back from the brink of death, he felt the risk was worth taking.

If they didn't act, the bronzes in the storerooms would truly only rot into dust.

"Director Sun!"

Old Qi suddenly spoke, his voice booming.

"If this technology can save that Shang Dynasty Great Tripod, I am willing to use my reputation as a guarantee!"

Although the old experts were stubborn, when it came to cultural relics, they were purer than anyone else.

As long as the artifacts could be saved, face was meaningless.

With the endorsement of a titan-level expert, Director Sun's concerns were more than half dispelled.

"Good!"

Director Sun made the decision.

"In principle, I agree with Mr. Shen's proposal."

"But we need to conduct a pilot cooperation first."

"The Jinghai Museum recently has a batch of silk fabrics and ceramics awaiting restoration that are very difficult. If Jinsan Laboratory can handle them..."

"No need for such trouble."

Shen Yan interrupted him.

"Just hand over that Shang Dynasty Great Tripod to us."

"Three days."

Shen Yan held up three fingers.

"In three days, I will return to you an intact tripod."

"If I cannot accomplish this, Jinsan Laboratory will unconditionally donate all technical documents, and Shenyan Group will withdraw from the new materials sector permanently."

This statement caused an uproar throughout the room.

Too arrogant!

That was a national treasure-level artifact; three days?

Even routine rust removal and maintenance would take longer than three days!

Wu Ya, standing behind Shen Yan, had palms full of sweat.

The boss was gambling with his life!

But Shen Yan's expression remained calm, as if he were discussing something trivial.

This was because the system had just popped up another mission.

[Random Mission Triggered: Complete the first national treasure-level artifact restoration and shock the industry]

[Reward: Fragment of Advanced Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Core Code]

Seeing the reward, Shen Yan's heartbeat skipped a beat.

Since the system had paved the road right to his feet, he had to walk it beautifully.

"Mr. Shen, a military pledge is not something to be made lightly."

Director Sun stared into Shen Yan's eyes, trying to find a trace of panic.

But he failed.

Those eyes were unfathomably deep, containing only absolute confidence.

"I have already brought the contract."

Shen Yan signaled Wu Ya to distribute the pre-prepared documents.

"Just sign it, and I can make history reappear."

A dozen minutes later.

Shen Yan walked out of the large red door; the sunlight outside was a bit harsh.

Chen Guangke quickly opened the car door, looking curious.

"Brother Yan, how was it? Did those old guys make things difficult for you?"

Shen Yan glanced back at the solemn plaque on the door, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward.

"Make things difficult?"

"From today onward, they will have to beg us."

The car started and slowly merged into the traffic flow.

Shen Yan took out his phone and dialed his sister, Shen Ya.

"Brother, how did it go?"

Shen Ya's voice sounded somewhat anxious.

"Notify the Propaganda Department to prepare a press release."

"Also, have An Ran withdraw all the company's liquid funds."

"Brother, what are you planning to do?"

Shen Ya was startled; was he planning to stop living day-to-day?

"Acquisition."

Shen Yan looked at the streetscape constantly retreating outside the window, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"Those raw material factories under Zhang Debiao's control—their stock prices must be plummeting recently, right?"

"Since they don't want to supply us, we'll just buy the factories and make them our own."

This was Shen Yan's style of operation.

If you don't give me a path to walk, I will tear down your road and build my own bridge.