266: Chapter 266 A Living, breathing Xia Kingdom Captain?

Lin Yuan sat on the sofa, leaning forward slightly as he extended a slender finger to point at the black hard drive on the coffee table.

He looked at Yang Tongan opposite him and spoke in a steady tone.

"Elder Yang, this set of selection criteria is not simple, but extremely comprehensive."

"It is not just a cold sheet of routine physical examination data, but a comprehensive evaluation system that integrates gene adaptability, synaptic response thresholds, and subconscious stress tolerance."

"Furthermore, just as the Super Soldier Serum itself is divided into several versions and grades, the subject selection criteria recorded on this hard drive are also categorized into extremely detailed, tiered levels."

Hearing this, Yang Tongan's hand holding the teacup paused slightly. His eyes instantly sharpened, and his gaze locked onto the seemingly unremarkable hard drive.

He was in no hurry to speak, silently processing the sheer volume of information in Lin Yuan's words.

After a moment, he nodded gently, his raspy voice carrying the composure and sharpness of someone who had held a high position for many years.

"Tiered levels..."

"Tailored to the individual and acting within one's capabilities—that is indeed a good approach."

Lin Yuan smiled, nodding as he continued.

"Exactly."

"As long as a subject's physical fitness and mental fortitude can meet the 'minimum standard' set on the hard drive—"

He raised an index finger, his tone resolute.

"They can safely be injected with the basic version of the serum, completing the initial development of human potential."

"Although the enhancement level of the basic version cannot compare to the high-tier versions, for ordinary people, and even for active-duty elite soldiers, it is already a qualitative leap."

"Reaction speed, muscle explosive power, bone strength, impact resistance..."

"Every physical function will be at least doubled on top of their original peak!"

Hearing this, Yang Tongan nodded slightly.

If it had been half a year ago, he would have been deeply moved to hear about "doubling human physical functions."

But now?

The Aerospace Fighter above their heads was already hovering on the Kármán line, and Controlled Nuclear Fusion was already supplying power to the entire country.

In comparison, the twofold increase brought by the basic serum was no longer major news in Yang Tongan's eyes.

Lin Yuan watched Yang Tongan's slight nod, naturally taking his words a step further.

"Of course, the basic version is just the starting point."

"The higher the standard met, the better the quality of the serum the subject can withstand and be injected with."

"The magnitude, depth, and durability of the enhancement will rise accordingly."

Lin Yuan paused slightly here.

"But if—"

"Among the 1.4 billion people of our Xia Nation, someone can meet the highest selection standard in this system."

Lin Yuan lowered his voice by half a tone, pronouncing each word with extreme clarity, carrying an almost hypnotic charm.

"Then, it is not out of the question to inject them with the first-generation perfect-grade serum."

First-generation perfect-grade.

The moment those words were spoken, the office fell silent for two seconds.

Then, Yang Tongan slowly set his teacup down on the coffee table, the porcelain clinking softly against the glass.

He leaned back on the sofa, staring at Lin Yuan in silence for a moment.

Then, he shook his head gently, a mysterious smile appearing on his face.

"First-generation perfect-grade..."

Yang Tongan repeated the phrase, his raspy voice carrying an indistinguishable tone.

"If someone really could meet that standard, then the person we create..."

"Wouldn't they be a living Captain Xia?"

Hearing this somewhat playful banter, Lin Yuan smiled.

He did not chime in or object, simply leaving that imaginative blank space perfectly for Elder Yang to fill in himself.

Seeing this, Elder Yang did not ask any further.

He naturally knew that reaching the standard of the first-generation perfect-grade was by no means an easy task.

Just like in the movies.

Out of millions of candidates, there would ultimately only be one.

This kind of thing could not be forced.

Yang Tongan would not waste his energy on such extreme, once-in-a-blue-moon scenarios.

Even if the soldiers only met the minimum standard, the doubling of physical functions brought by the basic version of the serum was already more than enough.

Moreover, with the Xia Nation's massive population base, there would definitely be no shortage of elites who met the intermediate and high standards!

At this thought, he reached out with his calloused hand, picked up the hard drive from the coffee table, and weighed it in his palm.

"Alright."

"I will arrange the selection immediately."

He looked up at Lin Yuan, his voice steady.

"We will conduct the first round of screening from the entire active-duty special operations forces and the astronaut corps according to the standards."

"I guarantee we'll select the qualified candidates for you in the shortest time possible."

Lin Yuan nodded, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"Then I shall trouble you, Elder Yang."

The official business was concluded.

The groundwork had been laid.

Lin Yuan did not linger.

He rose from the sofa decisively, picked up his backpack from the side, and nodded slightly to Yang Tongan.

"Elder Yang, I will take my leave now."

"Keep in touch if there are any further developments."

Yang Tongan did not try to make him stay. He simply sat on the sofa, nodding slightly as he watched Lin Yuan push open the office door and stride out.

Only when the heavy metal door closed behind Lin Yuan did Yang Tongan slowly retract his gaze.

...

Outside the gates of the Xishan Base.

A black Hongqi sedan with special license plates was parked quietly at the exit.

As Lin Yuan stepped out of the final gate guarded by armed soldiers, Qin Meng's figure was already waiting by the car.

The moment she saw Lin Yuan appear, she swiftly opened the rear door, her right hand habitually blocking the edge of the car roof.

Lin Yuan bent down and sat inside, the leather seat sinking slightly.

Qin Meng closed the door and silently walked around to take her seat in the front passenger side.

The car's heating was ample, forming a sharp contrast with the sub-zero winter weather outside.

Lin Yuan leaned back in his seat and casually pulled out his specially made encrypted phone from his pocket.

The screen lit up, and several unread messages lay quietly in the notification bar.

Lin Yuan glanced at them, a smile flashing deep in eyes.

His thumb slid quickly across the screen a few times, replying briefly to one message before putting the phone back in his pocket.

His movements were seamless, without the slightest hesitation.

The next second, he raised his head and looked straight ahead.

"To the Xia Academy of Sciences."

The driver responded, turning the steering wheel gently as the black Hongqi sedan smoothly drove out of the mountain roads and merged into the city expressway.

The car sped along, completely unobstructed.

In less than an hour, the sedan passed through the final internal checkpoint and slowly stopped in front of the main building in the core area of the Xia Academy of Sciences.

Lin Yuan pushed open the car door, and the night wind, carrying the bone-chilling cold of deep winter, rushed at him, instantly clearing his mind.

He stood up straight and scanned the area ahead.

Below the high steps of the main building, a slightly thin figure stood with his hands behind his back.

He wore a thin grey jacket and reading glasses on the bridge of his nose. His graying hair was slightly disheveled by the cold wind, and his breath turned into puffs of white mist in the cold air.

Chen Jingshan.

This formidable helmsman of the Xia Academy of Sciences, a titan of the Xia Nation's academic world, had actually not stayed in his warm office. Instead, he stood in the cold wind outside, having waited for who knew how long.

And the moment he saw Lin Yuan step out of the car, Chen Jingshan's face lit up with an astonishing glow.

"Academician Lin, you're here!"