55: Chapter 55 The real show has only just begun!

Hearing this, Long Zhenguo, sitting behind his desk, did not speak immediately.

He simply placed his palm flat on the desk, his index finger tapping rhythmically, producing a series of "thud, thud, thud" sounds.

Yang Tongan, who was sitting on the sofa leaning slightly forward, suddenly sat up straight upon hearing Lin Yuan's words, a sharp glint flashing briefly in his half-closed eyes.

The vast office fell into an atmosphere that was extremely quiet yet surging with undercurrents.

Just these few days?

If these words were spoken on the street or in any top-tier research institute, anyone who heard them would have unhesitatingly dismissed Lin Yuan as a lunatic.

But at this moment, the three people sitting in this office felt it was only natural.

The reason was simple.

There was a precedent.

They all knew very well how that first lie of a "major theoretical breakthrough" had been forcibly transformed into reality under the watchful eyes of the entire internet.

Through the endorsement of the state machine and the overwhelming media hype, the hearts and minds of hundreds of millions were gathered into a torrent powerful enough to warp reality.

And then, the lie was made true.

That entire set of subversive theoretical systems was born out of thin air, its completeness and sophistication leaving even top scientists in the field in awe.

And today's globally anticipated press conference was even more effective than the first.

With a simultaneous global broadcast, tens of millions of real-time viewers, and major media outlets scrambling to repost, the heat of public opinion was still fermenting at a geometric rate.

As long as the state propaganda machine added a little more fuel to the fire later on.

The result was entirely predictable.

"Of course,"

Lin Yuan's gentle yet penetrating voice pulled the two elders back from their thoughts.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his hands casually on his knees with his fingers naturally interlaced, his fingertips tapping lightly and unconsciously.

"Even if the lie becomes completely true in just a few days, and all technical data, blueprints, and engineering plans are fully manifested."

"It doesn't mean that Xia Country's first domestically produced Photolithography Machine has truly materialized."

He spoke very candidly, his deep eyes reflecting a clarity and calmness far beyond his years.

"From blueprint to physical object, from theory to a fully automated production line, time is needed to digest and refine the process in between."

"Technology absorption, mold manufacturing for components, system installation and debugging, process yield fine-tuning..."

With every step he mentioned, it was like placing a piece on a chessboard—clear and precise.

"These are all hurdles that cannot be bypassed."

At this point, Lin Yuan held up a slender finger and gave a more precise estimate.

"So, I estimate that the subsequent engineering implementation cycle will take about another month."

It suddenly stretched from "a few days" to "a month."

The time span had suddenly increased several times over.

However, this increase in time span, far from disappointing the two elders, caused Long Zhenguo's eyes to suddenly light up, and the rhythmic tapping on the desk stopped.

"A little over a month... that is still quite extraordinary."

Long Zhenguo sighed, speaking from the bottom of his heart.

"In just a few months, you can finish a journey that others haven't completed in ten or twenty years."

"Moreover..."

He tapped his finger lightly on the desk; this time, the sound was a bit heavier than before.

"What you have brought is knowledge."

"It is a knowledge system capable of cultivating a whole batch of top talents and allowing us to build a complete industrial chain from scratch."

"This is worth thousands, even tens of thousands of times more than conjuring a Photolithography Machine out of thin air!"

It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

Long Zhenguo understood this simple truth better than anyone.

A machine can only quench thirst for a moment; once it breaks, it's gone.

But a complete, replicable, and inheritable knowledge system can incubate a massive upstream and downstream industrial chain and cultivate a continuous talent echelon belonging to Xia Country itself!

This means that after this "break-in period" of over a month, Xia Country will have its own Photolithography Machine assembly engineers, its own precision optical manufacturing experts, and its own atomic-level process debugging team!

From nothing to something, from weak to strong, taking root and sprouting solidly on this land!

This is the most important aspect of knowledge; it is the cornerstone for a major power to truly achieve technological independence.

Compared to this, what does a mere wait of a little over a month matter?

Besides, this month or so is much faster than the six months Lin Yuan announced at the conference.

Hearing this, Lin Yuan nodded slightly, his expression remaining calm and unhurried.

Everything that needed to be said had been said, and all the cards had been laid on the table.

Long Zhenguo picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down again.

His movements were leisurely, but his next words carried the weight of concluding the matter.

"Alright, I called you here today mainly to introduce you to Tongan."

"The goal has now been achieved!"

He turned his head to look at Yang Tongan on the sofa.

"Tongan, you've seen how important Lin Yuan is."

Yang Tongan wasted no words; his face was full of stern resolve as he gave a crisp, decisive nod.

Long Zhenguo raised his hand from the desk and pointed vaguely toward Lin Yuan.

"Then, I'm entrusting his safety to you from now on."

Yang Tongan slowly straightened up from the sofa.

"Rest assured!"

"I'll make the arrangements as soon as I get back."

His voice was low and raspy, with the characteristic roughness of a long-time smoker.

"I'll pick the personnel myself; I guarantee they'll be in place within three days."

No extra embellishments, no chest-thumping promises.

But the words "pick personally" coming from Yang Tongan's mouth carried more weight than any promise.

Lin Yuan nodded slightly, without any feigned refusal or polite formalities.

"Then, thank you for your trouble, Elder Yang."

The matter was now completely settled.

Long Zhenguo's gaze fell back on Lin Yuan, and the lines on his steady face relaxed a bit.

"Lin Yuan."

He called his name, his tone much more relaxed than before.

"Today's press conference was handled beautifully."

"The results of the three major components, the six-month timetable, the foreshadowing of the south heaven gate... every step was spot on."

He paused for a beat, his tone suddenly becoming more emphatic.

"The country will not mistreat those who have served it, let alone a young man willing to tie his destiny to the nation."

"Whatever support you need, feel free to ask; don't have any reservations."

These words were spoken plainly, but Lin Yuan could hear the weight behind them.

This was not a mere pleasantry; it was a top-level commitment from the state.

"Elder Long, you're too kind."

Lin Yuan smiled; his posture remained unchanged, his back still ramrod straight.

"In the end, it is the country that trusts me, providing me with a platform and willing to back me up."

"Without this trust from the country, no matter how great my abilities, I wouldn't be able to make any waves on my own."

He paused and looked up.

A heart-stopping sharpness flashed through those deep eyes.

"And now..."

"The show has just begun."