Chapter Twelve: To Gamble, or Not to Gamble?

Zhu Lan departed, and Qin Min reviewed the data once more. "Is it possible?" The information was incomplete, offering only a rough outline, but Qin Min was certain that such data could not exist without real experimentation. Even if the gene serum described within did not truly exist, with half of its efficacy, it would still surpass any current stimulants. Qin Min understood the implications, so he accepted Zhu Lan's terms without a hint of doubt, agreeing immediately. He needed to keep Zhu Lan steady, awaiting the response from above.

What Qin Min did not know was that the data was completely derived from several stimulants used to develop the gene serum. As for the manufacturing methods, Zhu Lan was no miracle worker; it was impossible to reverse-engineer the formula from the finished product in less than two weeks.

Gene engineering is a vast undertaking, something even ordinary people know.

What Zhu Lan required was merely a pretext for the company's development, and that pretext was the gene serum. If the authorities agreed, Zhu Lan could recruit a large number of biological specialists to reverse-engineer the gene serum, then use the existing genetic codes to develop a genuine product.

Even if the project failed, Zhu Lan was unconcerned. What his company needed now was an excuse for growth.

Originally, Zhu Lan intended to proceed cautiously, avoiding any contact or association with the state or the military, and ensuring their product would escape the notice of either. But the joint investigation by several departments made him realize that his steps could no longer follow the original plan, for one reason: the virus.

The threat of the virus compelled Zhu Lan to ensure his company would not be subject to further scrutiny. More importantly, he needed sufficient advancement to allow the fantasy system to produce more items to safeguard everything.

Thus, gene engineering became his chosen excuse. The field had been pursued for over a decade in China, with little success. So long as the authorities agreed to his request, Zhu Lan never mentioned when the gene serum would be developed.

Half a year? A year? Or three?

By Zhu Lan's estimate, if the military was interested, he could secure a period of stability lasting one to three years. By then, Zhu Lan would have enough strength to protect all his interests.

Yalong Bay, China's second naval base, harbored the nation's most formidable naval forces, rivaled only by the base defending the capital. In recent years, with frequent incidents in the South China Sea, new warships were added annually, with more than a dozen 056-class vessels delivered each year. More importantly, it was China’s most powerful and mysterious submarine base, home to a third of the country’s strategic nuclear submarines. Rumor had it that this would become the first aircraft carrier base in China.

After passing through numerous security checks, Qin Min arrived at a house built into the mountainside. The structure seemed embedded in the mountain, surrounded by towering trees that cast a thick shade, utterly obscuring the house from aerial view.

Fewer than a hundred people in all of China knew what this place was. It was one of the most secretive locations within the Yalong Bay naval base, with defensive measures equal to those guarding the nuclear submarines.

Clad in military uniform, with a special pass pinned to his chest, Qin Min entered. Several spherical devices rotated, emitting laser scans over him.

Qin Min appeared quite familiar with the process, standing calmly within a marked circle as the scan completed.

"Identity verification complete. Welcome, Colonel Qin!" A digital voice announced. Qin Min said nothing, picked up his document folder, and proceeded inside.

His rank and identity in S City were known to fewer than five people.

Knock, knock~~

"Come in!"

Qin Min entered, finding a sizable conference room with several men already seated inside.

"Qin, you’re here? Sit down!" Qin Min nodded and took his seat. "Uncle Luo, I really must apologize for disturbing you at this hour," he said to the sixty-year-old general leading the group.

"Enough formality, Qin. Just tell us—what matter requires the four of us to gather?"

Anyone who knew the identities of these four would be astonished. They were: Luo Guoqiang, commander of Yalong Bay naval base, one of China’s three naval admirals, among the few in the country to reach that rank; Qin Fang, commander of the Yalong Bay air force base, a lieutenant general, and more importantly, Qin Min’s uncle; Li Hongjin, director of the intelligence department at Yalong Bay, also commander of the South Sea command, wielding authority greater than Luo Guoqiang’s, able to mobilize any military force at will. Though his rank was lieutenant general, only three people in the entire southern military district were more powerful than he, and that district encompassed everything south of the Yangtze River; Li Changsheng, S City’s political commissar, officially a commissar but in reality a central government appointee responsible for civil matters, controlling the city’s armed police forces and much of the peripheral defense of Yalong Bay.

Qin Min handed out four copies of the dossier.

"A research result from one of my students. Though it’s not yet complete, I thought it best to let the nation see it."

"Oh? What kind of research could possibly warrant the four of us?" Li Hongjin asked curiously, picking up the file.

The other three read as well, knowing Qin Min’s character; if it weren’t important, he would never have summoned them.

"What? Impossible!" Less than two minutes later, Li Hongjin cried out, suddenly remembering where he was, looking up at the others.

His exclamation drew their attention.

The data Qin Min presented was not only Zhu Lan’s, but included his own explanations. Not everyone could decipher what the raw data signified.

"Qin, are you certain about this?" Luo Guoqiang asked gravely.

The other three set down their papers, awaiting Qin Min’s answer.

Qin Min nodded. "Although the data is incomplete, my expertise allows me to judge that this experiment is real. The numbers cannot be falsified. I know my student well—he had good analytical skills in university. If this weren’t so important, I’d surely have asked Uncle Li to investigate before reporting it."

Luo Guoqiang pondered. "What do you all think?"

"This matter is of utmost importance, especially now. If it leaks—even incomplete—the consequences..." Li Hongjin shook his head.

"These days, the trouble with America is bad enough, and intelligence shows that American and Japanese spies have recently increased their infiltration of S City. This matter..."

"Qin, what’s your view?" Luo Guoqiang, weary, tossed the question back to Qin Min.

Rather than ask the others, he asked Qin Min, knowing that none understood the subject better, and that he could trust Qin Min not to leak anything—his prompt delivery of the dossier was proof.

"The best outcome for this research is to hand it over to the state. With national research capabilities, it won’t be long before a complete gene serum is developed."

All four nodded. China lagged in many areas, but its research strength could not be denied, especially in the mysterious institutes known only by code names, which pursued globally significant topics. Each year, trillions were poured into these institutions, with the best equipment provided and the military guarding them closely.

"But..." Qin Min’s tone shifted.

"Our situation is clear. If we hand this over, and certain people shelve it, then..."

"They wouldn’t dare!" Qin Fang, quick-tempered, slapped the table at Qin Min’s words.

"Enough, Qin. You need to curb that temper." Luo Guoqiang shook his head at his colleague.

Qin Min looked helplessly at his uncle—though a decade older, their familial status was fixed.

"If we hand it over, will we benefit? The army will have priority, right?" Qin Min raised the critical issue.

The four fell silent. The military was united, but there was constant rivalry, and the annual allocation among the three branches always ended in shouting matches.

Gene serum, no matter what, would not go to the navy. At best, it would be claimed by the army.

China’s greatest strength lay not in its navy or air force, but its army. The Chinese army was globally acknowledged as second in power—no nation dared claim first—and China possessed the largest army in the world, powerful both at home and abroad.

More importantly, everyone present was essentially navy personnel. If this technology were handed over, even ten years later, it might never reach naval hands.

"What’s your plan?"

Qin Min exhaled, his heart pounding as he spoke.

"My student disagrees with submitting this research. It’s his life’s work, and national compensation in this area is never satisfactory—the result is only disappointment."

Luo Guoqiang gestured for Qin Min to continue.

"My student’s request is for the military to apply for a loan from the bank, then, as a company, recruit specialists to refine this research. The gene serum is already a semi-finished product. If completed, it would benefit everyone—individuals and the nation. Even if it fails, the incomplete data can be handed over, leaving the authorities to deal with it."

The four were silent. Qin Min’s meaning was clear.

First, pursue the research as a civilian project for a period. If successful, the credit would belong to the group; if it failed, even the semi-finished data would be a significant achievement when handed over.

All four understood gene engineering to some degree—it was a distant science, perhaps unattainable in their lifetimes.

Now, someone had made a breakthrough, developing a semi-finished product. The dossier Qin Min provided explained clearly that the gene serum could temporarily enhance physical strength, speed, and power, though it risked genetic collapse. However, the probability of such collapse was low, and Qin Min’s analysis suggested that after trials, a portion of genetic potential would be released.

In other words, this imperfect gene serum, if the genes didn’t collapse after the first use, would increase bodily strength. With repeated use, strength could be further enhanced, depending on individual potential.

The later documents were less clear; Qin Min offered only a vague answer, explaining that the further one proceeded, the higher the risk of genetic collapse.

Now, it was up to the group: would they gamble on advancing this research, or hand it over to the authorities?