14: SSS-level confidentiality agreement – ​​your security is the responsibility of the nation!

"Please... don't despise me... for my dullness!"

When Academician Li Zhenbang's hoarse yet devout voice echoed in the laboratory, which had fallen silent due to overwhelming joy, everyone was petrified.

The scientists who had been embracing each other froze.

The experts, weeping tears of joy, still had tears on their faces.

Even Long Weiguo, who had just been excitedly cheering for the future of Xia Nation outside the observation window, was now as if doused with a basin of ice water, completely stunned in place.

What did they just witness?

A national treasure, a paramount figure in Xia Nation's engineering field, whose word was law!

A national pillar, over seventy years old, whom even Long Weiguo would respectfully call "Elder Li"!

At this moment, was actually... kneeling on the ground like the humblest primary school student, performing a master-disciple bowing ceremony to an eighteen-year-old boy?!

This world is so damn surreal!

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed it even if they were beaten to death!

Lu Chen was also caught off guard by this sudden scene.

He looked at Li Zhenbang, who was kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down his face, and his mouth couldn't help but twitch violently.

Taking an Academician older than his own grandfather as a disciple?

What kind of situation was this!

"Academician Li, please get up, you mustn't, this is truly improper!"

Lu Chen quickly stepped forward, wanting to help him up.

However, Li Zhenbang was exceptionally stubborn and refused to get up no matter what.

"No! You deserve it!" He looked up at Lu Chen, his cloudy old eyes burning with a nearly瘋狂 flame of "thirst for knowledge"!

"The skilled are teachers! In the face of true science, there is no age, no seniority, only strength!"

"You are the strongest! If you don't accept me, you are looking down on Li Zhenbang's lifelong pursuit!"

"I..."

Lu Chen was completely at a loss.

He found that reasoning with such a stubborn "tech geek" was even harder than building a controllable nuclear fusion reactor.

Just as he was getting a headache, Long Weiguo's steady and powerful voice came through the broadcast.

"Elder Li, please get up first."

"This is not the place to talk."

"Whatever it is, we'll go back to the conference room and discuss it slowly."

Perhaps Long Weiguo's words had an effect, or perhaps he felt that forcing his "teacher" to accept him as a disciple in public was indeed inappropriate.

Supported by others, Li Zhenbang slowly, but finally, stood up unsteadily.

But his eyes, looking at Lu Chen, were still... terrifyingly fervent.

Lu Chen felt as if he was being stared at by a prehistoric beast, completely uncomfortable... Ten minutes later.

It was still the same circular conference room full of futuristic technology.

Only this time, the atmosphere was completely different from three days ago.

If, three days ago, everyone's gaze towards Lu Chen was one of scrutiny, suspicion, and curiosity.

Then now, all that remained was... awe.

A heartfelt awe, as if for a "god."

Lu Chen still sat in his original seat.

Academician Li Zhenbang, however, refused to sit in his original seat, stubbornly moving a chair and sitting behind Lu Chen.

That posture was exactly like... a Guardian King.

Whoever dared to disrespect his "teacher," he would be the first to confront them!

Long Weiguo shook his head helplessly at this absurd scene, then his expression turned serious, and his entire demeanor became sharp!

"Everyone!"

His voice echoed in the conference room.

"Three days ago, I said I would bet the entire future of the Dragon Shield Bureau on a miracle."

"Now, the facts prove..."

He turned his head, his gaze intensely fixed on Lu Chen.

"I bet correctly!"

"Mr. Lu Chen has proven his worth to us with irrefutable facts!"

"So, now, it's our turn to fulfill our promise!"

He pressed a button in front of him.

The lights in the conference room instantly dimmed.

The central holographic projection displayed a golden, top-secret document bearing the national emblem!

The title of the document consisted of only four large characters—[Pangu Project]!

"After careful consideration by the highest levels, the 'Pangu Project' is officially launched!"

Long Weiguo's voice was firm and powerful!

"This project, with Mr. Lu Chen at its core, aims to transform the future technology in Mr. Lu Chen's mind into our nation's absolute strategic advantage!"

"From now on, all of Mr. Lu Chen's requests will be met with the highest priority!"

"First!"

He looked at Lu Chen.

"Regarding funding. Your condition of owning ten percent of the future net profits from graphene battery technology, we agree to it! Here is the contract, please take a look."

An electronic contract appeared on the screen in front of Lu Chen.

Lu Chen merely glanced at it before clicking "Agree."

He knew that the country would not trick him in this regard.

"Second!"

Long Weiguo continued.

"Regarding the team. The first batch of expert teams, led by Academician Li Zhenbang and Academician Zhang Jingtong, has been assembled! From today onwards, they will only obey your command!"

Li Zhenbang and Zhang Jingtong exchanged glances, both seeing excitement and... a sense of course in each other's eyes.

To be able to conduct scientific research with a "god" was the greatest honor of their lives!

"Third!"

Long Weiguo's voice became even more impassioned!

"Regarding the laboratory! The Kunlun Mountain Underground Base in the western suburbs of Jinghai City has begun renovations! We will spare no expense to build you a super laboratory that is a hundred years ahead of this era, in the shortest possible time!"

"And before that..."

His gaze became extremely serious.

"We need to solve the most important problem."

"That is... your safety!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the document on the holographic projection changed again.

This time, a... blood-red agreement appeared!

At the top of the agreement were three shocking characters, as if written in blood—[SSS]!

"Mr. Lu Chen."

Long Weiguo stood up and walked to Lu Chen, his expression extremely solemn.

"This technology, once leaked, is enough to trigger a world war. And you, as the only one who possesses this technology, will become the target that all hostile forces worldwide will spare no effort to obtain, or... destroy!"

"Therefore, from the moment you sign this agreement!"

"Your personal safety will officially be taken over by the state!"

"Your food, clothing, shelter, transportation, everything about you, will be under our highest level of protection!"

"You will become Xia Nation's... highest national secret!"

He looked at Lu Chen, enunciating each word solemnly:

"We have only one request."

"Before you deem the time ripe, do not reveal anything you are doing to anyone, including your parents."

"Can you... do that?"

Lu Chen looked at the blood-red agreement, then at Long Weiguo's face, which was etched with gravity.

He knew that from this moment on, his life as an "ordinary person" would completely end.

He would become a shadow, living between light and shadow...

An existence capable of swaying the entire world, yet unable to be known by the world.

He was silent for a moment, then looked up, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Director Long, I think you might have misunderstood."

"Hmm?" Long Weiguo was taken aback.

"I never even thought about telling them."

Lu Chen shrugged, his tone matter-of-fact.

"After all, a life of being constantly watched by foreign agents and surrounded by gunfire..."

"Doesn't it sound a lot more exciting than being an ordinary high school student...?"

"Isn't it much more stimulating?"