77: Chapter 77 Honorary Professor of Dragon Science Academy, Underground Research Institute!

"Hello, little Xu!" Professor Zhou Xuemin called out affectionately as the phone connected.

"Professor Zhou? How do you have time to call me?" Xu Hao said with a smile, listening to Professor Zhou Xuemin's familiar voice.

He always held Professor Zhou Xuemin in high respect.

He was the backbone of the Dragon Kingdom; if it weren't for this old man fighting on the front lines of scientific research all these years, the Dragon Kingdom today would likely still be suffering from the ravages of war.

"Haha... I heard the mecha development was successful, so I had to call and congratulate you."

Professor Zhou Xuemin seemed very happy, his laughter coming through the phone from time to time.

"Yes, I was just about to call and tell you. I didn't expect you to call first, haha..."

Xu Hao said.

The successful development of the mecha was an unprecedented event for the Dragon Kingdom.

Such a major event definitely needed to be reported to the Dragon Academy of Sciences.

Xu Hao hadn't expected Professor Zhou Xuemin to have received the news beforehand and called him first.

"You have all worked hard during this time. The superiors have explicitly stated that they will grant you special honors. The specific time hasn't been determined yet, but once it is, I will notify you personally," Professor Zhou Xuemin said.

Xu Hao played an indispensable role in the successful development of the mecha, and the other professors and interns also deserved significant credit.

The honors they were due could not be lacking; this was a reward for the scientific researchers.

The promise the old man had just made to Xu Hao counted as an additional reward.

Over this period, they had all seen Xu Hao's performance.

The old man was particularly fond of such capable and patriotic young people, which was why he agreed to grant Xu's Heavy Industry a military production license and even invited Xu Hao to visit Longdu when he had time.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Professor Zhou Xuemin told Xu Hao about some of the rewards the superiors intended to grant him.

When he heard that they were going to provide a military production license, his face immediately lit up with joy.

"A military production license? Professor Zhou, this..."

This was an unexpected surprise.

Xu Hao had never mentioned this to anyone before, but Professor Zhou Xuemin actually knew his intentions.

One had to say, the old man was truly shrewd and observed things more carefully than the average person.

Thinking about Xu's Heavy Industry soon possessing a military production license, it would be a lie to say Xu Hao wasn't excited.

With a military production license, he could legally design and build various weapons and equipment.

Furthermore, after being inspected by the relevant national departments, he could even sell equipment abroad and earn foreign exchange!

This was a huge business!

Look at the Beautiful Country; they started by making a fortune from war and are now thriving.

Even now, they continue to hawk weapons and ammunition to various countries.

Xu Hao naturally wouldn't give up such an opportunity.

Listening to Xu Hao's tone, which held some joy and a hint of surprise, Professor Zhou Xuemin smiled with satisfaction.

He knew that giving this military production license was the right choice.

At this moment, a thought occurred to him.

"Little Xu, I have a presumptuous request. I wonder if you would be willing?"

"Professor Zhou, please feel free to speak. As long as it is within my power, I will definitely do my best," Xu Hao promised, patting his chest.

He understood that being able to obtain the military production license so easily must have involved Professor Zhou Xuemin's efforts.

Xu Hao was moved, and since Professor Zhou Xuemin was now asking for his help, he naturally agreed without hesitation.

"Take a position as an Honorary Professor at the Dragon Academy of Sciences! Don't worry, you don't need to teach students; just hold the title," Professor Zhou Xuemin said, his tone carrying a hint of expectation.

"This..." Xu Hao hesitated.

He hadn't expected that the presumptuous request Professor Zhou Xuemin mentioned would be this.

While feeling surprised, he also felt a bit helpless.

Professor Zhou Xuemin was trying every trick to get him to join the Dragon Academy of Sciences!

Unable to resist Professor Zhou Xuemin's persistence, Xu Hao finally agreed.

Upon receiving Xu Hao's definitive response, Professor Zhou Xuemin was very happy.

After chatting for a few more sentences, he hung up the phone.

...

The mecha's comprehensive tests were completed. Xu Hao discussed it with Professor Shen Hongcai and several other professors from the Dragon Academy of Sciences, and they planned to transport all these modules to Longdu.

They would let the professors and researchers in Longdu secretly upgrade and reorganize them, as well as perfect the armor and more.

Longdu had professional equipment and a Research Institute, which was much better than the temporarily built workshop at Xu's Heavy Industry.

Professor Shen Hongcai and the others agreed.

That day.

The mecha was loaded onto vehicles, and Xu Hao had the military personnel fly the A-225 to personally escort it to Longdu.

Watching the Transport Aircraft rise into the wind, Xu Hao let out a long sigh of relief.

Coming back to his senses, he turned to look at the workshop that had completed its mission, filled with many thoughts.

"I still need a higher-spec Research Institute to support more designs!" Xu Hao sighed.

The existing workshops were still a bit too crude.

The research equipment was not advanced enough, and the internal structure was not perfect, making it difficult to conduct research.

"No, I have to build an ultra-large-scale Research Institute, preferably an Underground Research Institute!" Xu Hao's eyes lit up, and a look of determination appeared on his face.

He returned to his office and called Professor Zhou Xuemin directly to state his request.

"You want to build a high-spec Research Institute?" Professor Zhou Xuemin asked after hearing Xu Hao's words.

"That's right, Professor Zhou. The current workshops are too crude and cannot support the research and development of some of my upcoming large-scale, cutting-edge products," Xu Hao replied.

To build a professional Research Institute, the factory workers definitely wouldn't suffice; it had to be built by professionals.

Xu Hao would find it hard to find such people, but Professor Zhou Xuemin certainly had them, which was why he thought to call Professor Zhou Xuemin.

Professor Zhou Xuemin frowned, deep in thought.

Xu Hao suddenly wanted to upgrade and build an ultra-high-spec Research Institute; did he have a new project again?

Thinking of this, his eyes immediately lit up.

That's right! It must be so.

He immediately stopped hesitating.

"I approve your request! The Dragon Academy of Sciences will take full responsibility for your Research Institute construction plan. We will acquire all one hundred acres of land surrounding Xu's Heavy Industry and equip it with professional technical personnel for the construction," Professor Zhou Xuemin promised.

Xu Hao was overjoyed, "Thank you, Professor Zhou. Then I will wait for your good news!"

He hadn't expected Professor Zhou Xuemin to agree so quickly.

After discussing the Research Institute, Xu Hao also briefly mentioned the matter concerning Zhu Deze to Professor Zhou Xuemin.

Originally, Professor Zhou Xuemin would not have agreed, as the deployment of the Exoskeleton Mecha had to follow a specific order.

But since Xu Hao had asked personally, he didn't think too much about it and agreed.

"No problem, I will prioritize equipping Zhu Deze's troops!"

With the matter settled, Xu Hao hung up the phone.

Then, he asked Professor Shen Hongcai's Research Institute to produce 500 units of the highest-performance Powered Exoskeleton Mecha in the shortest possible time.

Although Professor Shen Hongcai didn't know what Xu Hao was planning to do, he didn't hesitate too much and started production immediately.

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Deze's face instantly lit up with joy, "It seems the higher-ups have agreed!"

Thinking this, he hurriedly ran to Xu Hao's office to express his gratitude.

"Brother Xu, thank you so much!" Zhu Deze ran up and gripped Xu Hao's hand tightly, "From now on, you are my own brother. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll beat them to death!"

Zhu Deze said heartily.

"Haha, it's a small matter, a small matter!"

Xu Hao said with a smile, pulling his hand out of Zhu Deze's grip.

This soldier's grip strength was truly immense; his bones were almost crushed!

He sat on the sofa with Zhu Deze and then said to him:

"After the Powered Exoskeleton Mecha is built, you are responsible for delivering it to Longdu yourself!"

"Understood!" Zhu Deze nodded heavily, his face full of expectation.

"Additionally, when heading to Longdu, I need you to do me a favor!"

Xu Hao said solemnly.

Hearing this, Zhu Deze immediately stood up, "Don't mention just one favor; even if it's a hundred or a thousand, I won't say a word against it—I guarantee I'll help!"

Zhu Deze patted his chest, promising Xu Hao.

"Alright, alright, don't be so serious. It's just a small favor; I'll tell you when the time comes."

Xu Hao hurriedly pulled him back down to sit on the sofa, feeling quite helpless.

He had come to realize that while Zhu Deze looked iron-blooded and ruthless on the surface, like a block of cold ice, after getting to know him, he was actually a hearty and generous iron-willed man.

To be honest, making friends with such a person was very comfortable.

Zhu Deze was also puzzled:

"What exactly is the favor Xu Hao wants me to help with? And judging by the looks of it, it seems to be related to Longdu..."