11: An academician's questioning? Does this kid even understand anything?!

"Move into the Dragon Shield Bureau headquarters?"

Lu Chen paused slightly, then burst into a silent laugh.

This Director Long really is a meticulous individual.

He agreed so readily earlier, only to have been waiting for me right here.

This condition appears to be "protection," but in reality, it is "supervision."

Before establishing his exclusive "Technology Kingdom," he would be completely under the nation's strict surveillance.

However, Lu Chen didn't mind this.

In fact, it could be said that it suited him perfectly.

Living at the Dragon Shield Bureau headquarters meant absolute safety.

It meant he no longer had to worry about whether his next meal would be steamed buns or mantou.

Furthermore, it meant he could immediately access the nation's most core resources and... talent!

"I can."

Lu Chen agreed decisively, without any hesitation.

"However, I have one small request."

"Speak." Long Weiguo, on the other end of the phone, seemed slightly surprised by Lu Chen's straightforwardness.

"I'm hungry."

Lu Chen pointed to the cold instant noodles on the table, then rubbed his rumbling stomach, saying earnestly:

"Before getting into the car, could you... first fulfill your promise and treat me to a steaming bowl of egg noodles, with two eggs added?"

...

On the other end of the line, there was a silence lasting five seconds.

Immediately after, Long Weiguo's voice, carrying a hint of irrepressible laughter, came through.

"Qin Feng!"

"Present!" Qin Feng immediately stood at attention.

"Satisfy him!"

"Yes, sir!"

...Half an hour later.

A black, unmarked Red Flag sedan silently drove into the mysterious military restricted area in the suburbs of Jinghai City.

Inside the car, Lu Chen was contentedly burping.

It had to be said that the Dragon Shield Bureau's "hospitality" was quite good.

Not only were there egg noodles, but they were personally prepared by a five-star hotel chef, and the eggs added were not ordinary ones, but top-grade Imperial Orchid sterile eggs.

Full and satisfied, Lu Chen leaned back on the soft rear seat, observing the scenery flashing past the window.

Along both sides of the road, there was a guard post every three steps and a sentry every five, creating an atmosphere of severity. Various advanced defensive weapons, which he had only seen in movies, were faintly visible.

This was the headquarters of the Dragon Shield Bureau—one of Xia Nation's most mysterious core departments.

A place that... would soon become even more mysterious because of him.

The vehicle finally stopped in front of a white building that looked unremarkable on the outside but was a world unto itself inside.

Qin Feng personally opened the car door for him.

"Mr. Lu Chen... please."

His address had changed from "classmate" to "Mister."

Lu Chen calmly accepted this respect and followed Qin Feng into a brightly lit, massive circular conference room filled with a sense of futuristic technology.

The conference room was already packed with people.

To the left were the leading figures of the physics community, headed by Academician Zhang Jingtong. Every one of them was staring intently at him with expressions as if looking at an "alien."

To the right were the high-ranking officials of the Dragon Shield Bureau, led by Long Weiguo. Their gazes were more complex, filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and a hint of... anticipation.

"Lu Chen, let me introduce you..."

Long Weiguo was about to stand up to give a formalized introduction when he was interrupted by a hurried voice.

"Director Long, wait a moment!"

The speaker was an elderly man wearing glasses, with gray hair, who appeared somewhat stubborn and rigid.

His name was Li Zhenbang, an Academician of the Xia Nation Academy of Engineering, and the country's foremost expert in precision manufacturing and engineering.

At this moment, he was holding a newly printed preliminary document regarding "graphene batteries," his face flushed red and his emotions agitated.

"I don't care what he has in his head!"

Academician Li Zhenbang ignored the warning look cast by Long Weiguo, pointed his finger directly at Lu Chen, who had just entered, and questioned him unceremoniously:

"I just want to ask this... young student!"

"An energy density of 1000 Wh/kg? Do you know what concept this is? This completely violates the underlying physical logic of existing battery technology!"

"And the thickness of this 'ion membrane,' you actually demand it be controlled within 3 nanometers? Do you know that this is simply fantasy under the current level of industrial manufacturing?"

"And this 'carbon nanotube' weaving process... it's simply nonsense! Utter absurdity!"

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became. He slammed the document in his hand onto the table, pointed at Lu Chen, and demanded angrily:

"I admit your ideas are bold and creative! But science isn't based on wild fantasies!"

"You lack even the most basic knowledge of materials science and engineering! I find it hard to believe you can produce anything of value!"

"Kid, tell me honestly, where did you hear these things through the grapevine?!"

His voice echoed throughout the huge conference room.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Lu Chen.

Physicists like Zhang Jingtong, although they believed in Lu Chen's theoretical genius, were laymen when it came to practical engineering manufacturing, and they now showed expressions of worry.

Meanwhile, Long Weiguo and the high-level officials of the Dragon Shield Bureau remained composed.

They knew this was Academician Li Zhenbang's way of "testing" and "examining" him.

If Lu Chen couldn't pass this hurdle, then the previous "cooperation" would likely need to be reassessed.

However, facing the direct reprimand from this national treasure level Academician, Lu Chen showed no sign of panic.

He didn't even raise his eyelids.

He just listened quietly, and only after Academician Li Zhenbang finished speaking did he slowly raise his head, meeting his gaze calmly.

Then, he asked a question that caught everyone completely off guard.

"Academician Li, correct?"

"May I ask, when was the last time you personally visited a frontline laboratory?"

Li Zhenbang was stunned, seemingly not expecting Lu Chen to ask this. He subconsciously replied, "Roughly... half a year ago? Why?"

"Oh."

Lu Chen nodded and asked a second question.

"Then do you know what level of precision the current international frontier 'Laser-Induced Self-Assembly Technology' can control the arrangement of carbon nanotubes to?"

Li Zhenbang's brow furrowed.

This question was too niche and too detailed. Although he was an Academician, it was impossible for him to keep track of the cutting-edge developments in every single field.

"Perhaps... the 10-nanometer level?" he said, sounding uncertain.

Lu Chen smiled.

It was a smile laced with a hint of pity, like looking at an "ancient person."

"That data is three months old."

He held up one finger, his tone calm, yet seemingly possessing a power that saw through everything.

"Last week, the Western Alliance's 'Eagle of Freedom' Laboratory just achieved a breakthrough."

"The latest data is 1.7 nanometers."

"Although they are still in the confidential stage, this data is already sufficient to manufacture the 'ion membrane' I require."

Li Zhenbang's face instantly turned extremely grim!

He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that he couldn't utter a single word!

Because he had no way of knowing whether what Lu Chen said was true or false!

"As for what you said about violating the underlying physical logic..."

Lu Chen didn't give him a chance to catch his breath, continuing in that tone, which was calm yet almost cruel:

"That only proves..."

"The set of 'underlying logic' in your mind is already... obsolete."

"Academician Li."

Lu Chen looked at him and articulated clearly, word by word:

"The times have changed."

"You are still using the guide from the previous version to fight this version's new boss."

"Do you think... that's appropriate?"