322: Chapter 322 The Turning Gears

After hearing Elder Long's clear stance, Lin Yuan's expression remained composed; he simply nodded slightly.

"It is only right."

His tone was calm, devoid of any impatience or frustration over the tedious procedures to follow.

Matters concerning the trajectory of Xia's civilization for the coming decades, or even a total reshuffling of the global social structure, are certainly not things that can be decided on a whim by any single person.

Even with Elder Long's personal promise of "full support," the final decision still requires completing the rigorous established protocols.

It is a matter of protocol, and a bottom line.

It is basic respect for a massive national apparatus, and, more importantly, the necessary attitude of responsibility toward the lives and livelihoods of 1.4 billion citizens.

Lin Yuan understood this better than anyone.

"Elder Long, whenever you reach a final conclusion, just let me know."

Lin Yuan spoke with a relaxed demeanor, as if the things he had just proposed—capable of driving all of human civilization into a frenzy—were merely casual conversation over tea.

Elder Long looked at the remarkably perceptive young man before him, deep satisfaction and admiration flashing in his eyes.

He had laid out every resource to be fought for and every strategic blueprint to be established, missing nothing on the table today.

Yet, when it was time to step back, he was more decisive than anyone, never leveraging his contributions to interfere with administrative decisions.

Such a sense of propriety, in any young man in his early twenties, would seem almost surreal.

But Elder Long had grown accustomed to it.

In less than a year since they first met, what Lin Yuan had shown him had long since transcended the boundaries defined by the dimension of "age."

He leaned back slightly against his chair, his long-tensed shoulders finally relaxing.

The information density of today's conversation was simply immense.

The virtual reality buffer of the second world, combined with the ultimate evolution of the four great ascension systems.

One near, one far—two directions superimposed.

It was equivalent to laying out the entire roadmap for Xia's civilizational evolution over the next thirty to fifty years right before his eyes!

A strategic plan of this magnitude, in the past, would have taken at least half a year just to convene the world's top think tanks for preliminary validation.

Yet Lin Yuan, single-handedly, had explained it all in the time it took to drink a few cups of tea.

Elder Long even had a faint feeling that what Lin Yuan had presented today was still just the tip of the iceberg of the grand blueprint in his mind.

Then, the corners of his mouth twitched, and his usually stern face rarely wore a hint of relaxed, teasing amusement.

"I wonder what kind of priceless expressions those old fellows will have when they find out about the 'grand vision' you came here to paint this morning."

Lin Yuan smiled knowingly at this.

Just sketching that scene in his mind was incredibly amusing.

If those old men, who usually remained unflappable even if Mount Tai were to collapse before them, were to hear the details of this morning's conversation with Elder Long...

The scene would likely be quite something.

A moment later, Lin Yuan stood up from the sofa and straightened his clothes.

"Well then, Elder Long, I won't take up any more of your time."

His demeanor was natural and composed, knowing exactly when to stay and when to leave.

Everything that needed to be said had been said, and the groundwork had been laid; staying any longer would be a waste of the elder's precious time.

Elder Long nodded slightly; he didn't rise to see him out, merely watching him in silence.

At their level of mutual understanding, no superfluous pleasantries or deliberate formalities were necessary.

Both were clear about the other's weight in this grand game of chess, and both understood the true nature of this collaboration.

Lin Yuan stood, his long strides carrying him toward the door at a steady, unhurried pace.

His footsteps were steady and firm, his shoes emitting a faint, muffled sound against the carpet.

Warm sunlight slanted in through the window, briefly gilding his silhouette with a thin layer of light as he passed.

However—

Just as he reached the door, the very second before his fingers touched the brass handle.

Behind him, Elder Long's voice suddenly rang out.

"Oh, and one more thing, Lin Yuan."

Lin Yuan paused, turning halfway to look at the old man still seated behind the desk.

Elder Long's posture hadn't changed, but the glint in his eyes was subtly different from before.

It was not a casual reminder, nor was it the concern of an elder.

It was a signal with clear intent, released after an extremely meticulous weighing of the pros and cons.

"Before the formal conclusion is reached, you… on your end…"

Elder Long spoke slowly, with a deliberate, subtle pause between each word.

"Can begin… to prepare."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan, standing by the door, felt his fingers tighten slightly on the handle, a ripple of emotion flashing in his eyes.

Begin to prepare?

Lin Yuan understood perfectly well what these eight seemingly ordinary, even vague, words truly meant!

The corners of his lips curled upward.

Then, facing Elder Long, he bowed slightly in a respectful and composed manner.

"Understood."

The two words were crisp and decisive.

No further words of gratitude were needed, nor were any redundant declarations of loyalty.

Everything was understood without a word.

Elder Long did not speak again; he merely lifted his gaze and looked at Lin Yuan with profound depth.

In that gaze lay unreserved approval, the trust of entrusting the nation's destiny, and a firm expectation for Xia to reach for the stars and the sea.

Lin Yuan's smile remained as he turned around, his right hand gripping the brass handle and pressing down gently.

"Click."

The lock clicked open.

The heavy wooden door was pushed open silently, and the soft light of the corridor spilled in through the gap.

Lin Yuan stepped out, leaving the office where the fates of countless people were decided.

Outside.

The corridor was quiet and tidy, the air faintly carrying the steady, grounding scent unique to old wooden structures.

Just down the corridor, not far from the door, a figure in a dark jacket was leaning against the wall, waiting on standby—it was Lin Jixian.

Hearing the door open, he quickly turned his head, his face beaming with just the right amount of warmth and attentiveness.

"Academician Lin!"

He hurried over, his steps light, face wreathed in smiles, his tone intimate.

"Finished?"

"Yes, finished."

Lin Yuan nodded slightly, smiling as he acknowledged this "kinsman."

He looked at Lin Jixian, preparing to exchange a few pleasantries.

However, at that moment—

From behind the heavy wooden office door, which had yet to fully close, Elder Long's steady, resonant voice carried clearly through the gap.

"Xiao Lin."

"Come in for a moment."

As soon as the words were spoken, although the smile on Lin Jixian's face remained, his entire body stiffened in a conditioned reflex within a tenth of a second.

At the same time, a smile could not help but appear on Lin Yuan's face.

He knew that with Elder Long's call,

the gears of the national apparatus… had begun to turn.