“Hahaha! My boss, you’ve got to be the most outstanding young man I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.”
Half an hour later, as Wynn walked out of Samuel’s house, he embraced Chen Chen at the front gate. “Rest easy, I’ll see to it that this matter you speak of is handled properly.”
“I’m counting on you, Mr. Wynn.”
Chen Chen nodded earnestly and watched silently as Wynn took his leave.
Chen Chen waited until Wynn had gotten into his car and driven out of sight before returning inside the room.
Chen Chen sat himself up on the sofa comfortably and turned to Samuel standing nearby. “Sit, no need to keep standing around.”
Only then did Samuel take his seat. He asked hesitantly, “Boss, so the reason you came is to…”
“No big deal, it’s just to import some high-precision equipment.”
Chen Chen lifted a glass of wine on the coffee table and took a gentle sip. “Other than that, I’m also going to find a way to acquire several tech companies. I figured I might as well come to ask if you’re interested in helping me in Africa.”
“Africa? How about things in Switzerland? Are we abandoning it?”
Samuel was bewildered.
“God’s Forbidden Zone has more than 300 laboratories in Africa now.”
Chen Chen turned the question around on him. “Among them, there are six highest-graded ‘Level Four Biosafety Protection Laboratory’. We even have an offshore research center that we’ve invested 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in. How important do you see the small research center in Switzerland to be in the grand scheme of things?”
Samuel very quickly understood the full picture but his expression turned dark again as he shook his head. “I didn’t think that things would develop this quickly in God’s Forbidden Zone over the last two years. But I’m sorry, I still have Annie here, I can’t be separated from her…”
“Never mind then.”
Chen Chen waved him away and set down the glass before getting back up. “Since you’re not willing to come to Africa, you can spend the rest of your days here.”
Each man could do as he willed. Since Samuel chose to stay in Switzerland to manage the small laboratory, Chen Chen was not going to press the issue.
There was no way around forcing research progress. Though the God chip may be able to ensure a person’s loyalty, there was no way to manipulate aspects such as a person’s attitude and commitment.
Sure, Samuel could be forced to go to Africa against his will, but what good was it if he was not going to be committed to his work?
This was the reason Chen Chen had refrained from resorting to violent or oppressive methods to implant the chip. Unless it was in cases where the subject was expandable and could be disposed of after fulfilling their purpose.
Since Samuel decided to remain idle in his corner, that meant he had given up on any chances of rising through the ranks. In that case, if he ever found himself needing anything from God’s Forbidden Zone, he would have to dig into his wallet for it.
After all, there was no such thing as a free meal and God’s Forbidden Zone had no need for dawdlers either.
Chen Chen patted Samuel on his shoulder to let him realize what he had done before he walked out the door.
When Samuel saw Chen Chen’s departing figure, he opened his mouth and tried to say something.
At that very moment, he was suddenly struck with a hint of remorse. As if it had just dawned on him that he had just decided that he would regret for the rest of his days…
However, when Samuel thought of his daughter’s gentle smile, he made himself sit back down after just getting up from his seat.
Some things were worth losing for his daughter’s sake. What more was there to complain about so long as he got to be with his daughter?
Samuel sat by the coffee table and lit a cigarette, reflecting silently as he smoked.
…
After exiting Samuel’s villa, Chen Chen looked at the pale blue sky of Switzerland. He appeared to be immersed in deep thought.
All things considered, Samuel was only slightly competent. Chen Chen only wanted to enlist him since he was one of the earliest followers.
Since the other party was not willing to accept the offer, there was not much Chen Chen could do about it. At most, he only felt a little disappointment.
The good thing was that Blacklight Biotechnology had already found a strong foothold in the Earth Federation in the biological science department. Right now, Chen Chen was going to dedicate his efforts to the industrial and electronic technology sector.
Chen Chen had even played around with the idea that in addition to the “Black Knight” cloned soldier troops, he could add a clone engineering department that would specialize in training cloned engineers.
However, just having clones alone was not going to suffice.
These clones could only boost the production line efficiency at best. Since the clones did not possess a conscience of their own, they were able to achieve a higher level of concentration compared to regular workers. This way, they were able to manufacture parts at higher accuracy and efficiency.
With that said, these clones provided zero benefits whatsoever when it came to research work that relied on inspiration and natural talents.
After all, it would not do to have these clones which did not even possess a brain to perform scientific work.
Therefore, it was still crucial to have talented researchers.
Apart from that, to further examine sophisticated machinery like the T-800, facilities such as material laboratories and high-precision equipment were all but mandatory. This also included industrial ultra-high precision machine tools.
In the ultra-high precision machine tool sector, the industry leader was none other than Germany while other countries such as Switzerland and Italy trailed closely behind.
The most advanced ultra-high precision machine tool in the world was able to achieve an accuracy of 0.01 to 0.001 microns. This precision was close to 1 nanometer, hence earning it labels such as the mother of high-precision machining or simply known as the mother machine.
Wynn could only get his hands on one or two such types of machinery at most. To obtain the certified first-rate German machine tools, they were going to need to rely on the Disciple Council.
The reason Chen Chen came to Switzerland this time was so that he could survey several materials companies and try to acquire as many as possible. If it turned out that he was not able to acquire them due to Blacklight Biotechnology being a company based in the Mainland, then he would have the plutocrats of the Disciple Council to do it for him.
Of course, Chen Chen would see to it that they were paid appropriately in return for having them go through all the hassle.
Up till now, the primary form of trade currency in God’s Forbidden Zone was information credits. Whenever Chen Chen issued similar tasks, the reward was always in the form of information credits.
The reception was surprisingly favorable. Since Little X was able to traverse across every facet of the Internet, all sorts of information could be easily attained. Whenever the members wanted to get their hands on certain information, they would pay with the corresponding amount of information credit.
Little X had devised a specific algorithm to calculate the price of intel based on the difficulty of acquisition and how valuable it was. The price could range from anywhere between 10 information credits to 10,000 information credits.
Abstract subjects such as intel could be dirt-cheap at times while incredibly expensive at other times. It all depended on who was acquiring the intel.
The plutocrats fervently used the information credits they possessed to purchase all sorts of intel of different industries. With the help of the intel attained, they were able to make informed and rarely unfavorable investments and business decisions.
For artificial intelligence like Little X, it was relatively easy to acquire intel. The plutocrats, on the other hand, were able to reap their rewards as well. It was a classic win-win situation for both sides.
These information credits were not available for purchase. A hundred thousand such credit points were credited upon being enlisted as a member of the Disciple Council. The only other way of acquiring them was by way of payment upon completing missions issued by others.
Unfortunately, even when the plutocrats issued missions, they held onto their information credit like their lives depended on it. They only offered cash rewards in USD or GBP.
Chen Chen was the only one who posted missions with information credit as payment.
After all, so long as the plutocrats continued purchasing intel, these information credits would find their way back to Chen Chen one way or another. There was no need to be worried about market inflation.
Chen Chen selected a software on Little X and logged in to the dark web only accessible to God’s Forbidden Zone. He then posted a mission under the alias of a Sigma class disciple, “Judas”.
sigma05Judas: [Does anybody have connections to highly regarded field talents of the material science and industrial sector? Give me a few names. I also need German ultra-high precision machine tools, 1000 information credits each. Waiting on the line, urgent!]
