55: Chapter 55 I think this weapon is super cool!! Li Yuan's Ambition

Soon, the analysis results were presented one after another before everyone's eyes!

"The effect range... in free space... expands exponentially!" a researcher responsible for data analysis stated calmly. "When the mini-mega particle rifle is fired in the air, the rate at which the 'Existence Erasure' side effect decays with distance will be significantly reduced!"

First to be explained were the measurement results of the side effect's range.

Dr. Wang snatched the data report and scanned it quickly, his face instantly turning pale. If the mini-mega particle rifle were configured according to this range, it would hold no advantage over battleships or vehicle-mounted cannons.

"We've also discovered several other phenomena," the reporting researcher continued.

"First, we detected the effect of Existence Erasure on the ground. In previous ground tests, a layer of deleted matter approximately 5 millimeters thick was produced."

"However, in the drone experiment using the same detection method, only a 1-millimeter layer was deleted on the ground."

"Secondly, the energy index of the Light Guardian holding the mega particle gun decreased by 2%."

The researcher added, "We preliminarily suspect that energy and matter can offset the side effects of Existence Erasure."

The researcher's findings rekindled hope in Dr. Wang.

Subsequently, he had Li Yuan's Light Guardian and Chen Jingyi's robot perform test fires on ground and aerial platforms for quantitative analysis.

It was true; matter and energy could indeed offset the side effect of Existence Erasure.

However, the offsetting effect was inconsistent—sometimes it only provided a few meters of protection, while other times it exceeded several kilometers!

Finally, night fell once more. There was no miracle; a side effect with such massive fluctuations could not be used in military strategy.

Professor Reinhardt finally announced with regret, "The mini-mega particle rifle test has failed; it possesses no military application value."

Disappointment hung over everyone, except for Li Yuan.

At this moment, he thought the weapon was incredibly cool, and he had to get his hands on it!!!!

Engineer Zhao slumped in his chair, his eyes glazed over as he muttered unconsciously, looking as if his very spirit had been drained.

Professor Reinhardt's verdict essentially signed the project's death warrant.

Other researchers either stood dazed or aimlessly performed meaningless data backtracks, though they likely didn't even know what they were trying to find.

At that moment, Li Yuan, who had been assisting on the side, spoke up:

"I don't agree, Professor Reinhardt. This weapon is super cool!"

Li Yuan emphasized his point, then began to analyze with the same focus he used when drafting a product pain point report:

"First, this weapon is positioned as asymmetric ship-grade firepower, with the goal of allowing our forces to obtain ship-grade firepower on the Starfall battlefield."

"To achieve this goal, four elements must first be satisfied: portability, ease of operation, powerful firepower, and multi-mission adaptability."

As a first step, Li Yuan laid out the four core design elements.

"Now, these four requirements were all met in the test we just conducted. From that perspective, it is already a weapon that meets the design requirements. We can always find usable scenarios—for instance, having a drone carry it into a Zerg Swarm to self-destruct. And—"

Li Yuan continued to analyze the usability issues.

"What we are facing next is usability for specific carriers. This is no longer a core problem; we can solve it either by improving suitability for specific carriers or by changing the carrier entirely."

"Only after that do we face the Existence Erasure issue regarding humans as carriers." Li Yuan finally addressed the problem at hand.

But in Li Yuan's description, Existence Erasure didn't seem like a major problem at all—just a final technical detail.

Laya and Aria looked at Li Yuan with faces full of admiration. This guy could really talk his way through anything!

Chen Jingyi and Teacher Yimoku were lost in thought. Professor Reinhardt, on the other hand, was full of appreciation; this student's logical thinking was quite impressive.

"Currently, research has found that matter and energy can offset the effects of Existence Erasure. A solution has already appeared, so what remains is simply a matter of continuous experimentation, not starting over from scratch."

After circling around the topic, Li Yuan finally threw out his main point.

Dr. Wang rubbed his head, realizing that the successive blows had caused him to temporarily lose his capacity for logical thought.

Hearing Li Yuan's analysis, he realized he was right—both the problem and the solution had already surfaced; all that was left was to grind through the experiments. He must have been out of his mind to think about starting from zero...

"Professor, what this student says makes sense," Dr. Wang said to Professor Reinhardt.

"Hmm, not bad. Please continue, young man," Professor Reinhardt said, seemingly in agreement with Li Yuan's words.

Hearing the professor's words, a glint flashed in Li Yuan's eyes; it was time to slip in his personal agenda.

"The mini-mega particle rifle isn't completely without a usable carrier right now."

His gaze swept over the crowd as he continued, "For example, my Light Guardian can use it perfectly!"

As soon as he said this, several researchers slapped their foreheads. That's right! They had been using this student's summoned beast for the tests, yet they had forgotten about it.

"By having the Light Guardian use it on the ground for beyond-visual-range precision strikes—for example, instantly vaporizing Zerg hatcheries or bio-turrets—it would be an excellent application for special operations."

Li Yuan described a tactical scenario with clear value, arguing that the weapon was far from useless!

"Therefore, we can proceed in two steps." Li Yuan shifted the conversation, leading everyone's thoughts deeper. "On one hand, we can research how to neutralize the side effects of Existence Erasure through matter and energy."

"On the other hand, we can have the Light Guardian use the mega particle rifle in more diverse scenarios to uncover more of the weapon's tactical value, or study the Light Guardian itself to find similar tactical units that might be immune to the side effects."

After all that circling, Li Yuan finally revealed his true intentions.

"Good idea!" Dr. Wang chimed in, quite in agreement.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chen Jingyi's mouth as she shook her head slightly, having already seen through Li Yuan's little scheme.

Professor Reinhardt looked at his prize pupil with a helpless smile—sigh, he'd turned into a fool from doing too much research, being sold out while helping the buyer count the money.

Then, turning to Li Yuan, he said, "Young man, tell me what you're thinking."

With the groundwork laid, Li Yuan finally showed his hand. His gaze swept over Professor Reinhardt and Teacher Yimoku before finally landing on the rifle on the isolation platform.

"So," he said, trying his best not to let his voice sound too excited, "rather than letting this prototype be permanently sealed in the deepest part of a warehouse, never to see the light of day because of its uncontrollable side effects..."

"Why don't you... just leave it with me for now?"