Chapter 10: Reconfirmation

The off‑road vehicle drove inside the Canglong Military Region for about ten minutes before stopping in front of a three‑story office building.

Two armed sentries stood at the door, eyes alert.

Cheng Haitang was the first to get out, and a soldier bearing a staff officer's rank on his shoulder hurried forward, offering a standard military salute:

"You must be Director Cheng of the Guo'an Fifth Branch; Commander Liu is already waiting in the office,"

"That's me," Cheng Haitang nodded, then turned aside to indicate, "This is comrade Qin Hao."

Zheng Kai's gaze lingered on Qin Hao for a moment, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, but he quickly resumed a professional expression and gave a slight nod:

"Comrade Qin Hao, please."

Qin Hao followed Cheng Haitang, while Zhou Wei and the others stood slightly back.

The group was led to a second‑floor office marked with a sign reading "Commander's Office."

Zheng Kai knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," a deep, steady voice called from within.

Zheng Kai pushed the door open and made a "please" gesture.

Qin Hao and the others entered the office in turn.

The office was spacious yet simply arranged: a large desk, a bright red national flag behind it, and a military flag standing nearby.

Behind the desk sat an elderly man in a dark‑green regular uniform, a golden star insignia gleaming on his shoulder.

He appeared to be around sixty, his hair tinged with gray yet meticulously groomed, his face resolute, exuding authority without anger, his eyes sharp.

He was the Supreme Commander of the Canglong Military Region, Commander Liu.

"Director Cheng, you finally made it," Commander Liu stood, a hint of a smile on his face, and extended his hand.

"Commander Liu, sorry for the intrusion," Cheng Haitang shook his hand; the two seemed acquainted.

Commander Liu's gaze then shifted to Qin Hao, his sharp eyes scanning him from head to toe, trying to see the young man through and through.

Qin Hao felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, the aura naturally emitted by someone seasoned in battle and wielding great authority.

He involuntarily straightened his back, trying to appear less cramped.

"I suppose this is comrade Xiao Qin, right?" Commander Liu's tone was calm.

"Good day, Commander," Qin Hao replied quickly, a little nervous.

"Don't be so tense, relax, treat it like your own home," Commander Liu said with a smile, noticing Qin Hao's unease.

He then turned to his subordinate and said, "You go handle your business first."

"Yes!" Zheng Kai responded and left.

The conference room door was closed as well.

"Everyone, take a seat and let's talk!" Commander Liu casually pulled out a chair, sat down, and gestured for Cheng, Qin Hao and the others to sit.

"Before you arrived, Lao Yang called me saying you have something extremely important concerning the nation's future. What exactly is it? You can tell me now, right?"

Commander Liu was the first to speak, his gaze fixed on Qin Hao.

The Lao Yang he mentioned is the chief of the Guo'an Bureau.

Qin Hao steadied himself and briefly restated what he had told Cheng Haitang earlier, emphasizing the ability to duplicate matter and the currently known method of electrical energy charging.

Commander Liu listened quietly, his fingers subconsciously tapping the tabletop, his eyes deep.

When Qin Hao finished, Liu remained silent for a few seconds, then spoke slowly:

"So, in theory, as long as the energy is sufficient, you can duplicate anything you touch, from a grain of sand to an aircraft carrier?"

"In theory, yes," Qin Hao nodded,

"But the energy required to duplicate a carrier is unknown, and I need to touch the actual object first."

Commander Liu gave a slight nod, his eyes scanning the table before settling on a cup.

He picked up the cup and handed it to Qin Hao: "Then, Comrade Xiao Qin, show me. Can you duplicate this cup?"

Although Cheng Haitang, Zhou Wei and the others had already witnessed it, they still held their breath, knowing the upcoming demonstration

would directly determine the general's attitude and the nation's subsequent level of investment.

Qin Hao took the cup, holding it in his right hand while spreading his left palm upward, silently chanting "duplicate" in his mind.

The conference room was so silent that a pin could be heard dropping.

Almost the instant the thought formed, under the incredulous gazes of Commander Liu and Cheng Haitang, a perfectly identical cup materialized out of thin air in Qin Hao's left palm!

Commander Liu sat up sharply, his pupils suddenly contracting!

He almost lunged forward, taking the two cups from Qin Hao's hand and placing them side by side on the conference table.

Under the lights, the two cups were indistinguishable in color, texture, or size.

He began to examine them closely.

"This..."

Even Commander Liu, who had spent his life on the battlefield and was accustomed to great turmoil, couldn't help but gasp sharply, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

He turned his head toward Cheng Haitang, his eyes filled with shock.

Cheng Haitang, though he had seen it before, was still thrilled, and he nodded heavily: "Commander Liu, absolutely true."

Zhou Wei and the others also showed excitement; they knew this Yanhuang Guo general had been completely subdued!

Commander Liu set the cup down, leaned back slightly against the chair, closed his eyes, as if calming the turbulent waves within.

After more than half a minute, he slowly opened his eyes, a terrifying gleam flashing in his gaze.

"Comrade Xiao Qin, how much energy did it take to duplicate this cup?" he asked again, his voice much more solemn than before.

"If we were to duplicate something... um, like aircraft engine blades that our current technology cannot fully master, or some special alloy, as long as you can obtain a sample and have enough energy, you could perfectly replicate it, right?"

"Yes, Commander Liu. Duplicating the cup just now only used three units of energy; the item isn't valuable, so the energy consumption was low."

Yes, Commander Liu. Copying the water cup just now only used 3 points of energy; this thing is not valuable, so the energy consumption is low.

Qin Hao answered affirmatively.

"As long as the system can scan and has sufficient energy, the replicated items will be completely identical to the originals in all physical and chemical properties."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Commander Liu said "good" three times in a row, then slammed his palm on the table and stood up, pacing back and forth a few steps in the meeting room, his excitement evident on his face.

He stopped pacing, his eyes piercing as he looked at Qin Hao:

"You said the system can still be upgraded, needing a hundred billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, right?"

"Xiao Qin, comrade, rest assured! Even if it's not a hundred billion but ten trillion kilowatt-hours, as long as it lets your system upgrade and play a greater role, the state will scrape together the funds, even if it has to sell the iron pots!"

This commander now shows no trace of his usual composure, his face flushed with excitement!

Countless thoughts surged through his mind.

Those core technologies blockaded by Western nations, those cutting-edge devices longed for but unattainable—if they could all be replicated…

Wouldn't the long‑standing aircraft engine problem plaguing Yanhuang Guo be easily solved?

As long as we obtain one piece of the most advanced blade, we can replicate countless copies!

And those lithography machines that restrict our high‑end chip production—if we could get hold of one… even just a sample of its core components…

Not to mention various new materials, precision instruments, and special equipment…

This is practically a super cheat tailor‑made for Yanhuang Guo!

Any technological barriers, any patent blockades—before the Replication System, they'll become a joke!

Yanhuang Guo will completely break free from being constrained in many high‑tech fields and achieve genuine technological leap!

Thinking this, Commander Liu felt his blood boil.

He took a deep breath, tried to calm his excitement, then looked again at Qin Hao, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Comrade Xiao Qin, you have rendered immense service to the nation and the people!" Liu Zhijun said sincerely.

"Rest assured, the state will never shortchange anyone who has rendered service, especially a hero like you who selflessly contributed such a national treasure!"

Qin Hao, despite his improved mental fortitude, couldn't help but blush and feel his ears burn under such lavish praise from a commander.

He scratched his head: "Commander Liu, you flatter me. I am also a descendant of Yanhuang; when the nation grows strong, we common folk can stand tall and not be bullied. I merely did what I ought to do."

"Well said! Well said!" He slapped Qin Hao's shoulder hard, saying, "With young people like you, what do we have to fear for Yanhuang's prosperity?"

He turned to Director Cheng: "Director Cheng, you handled this matter extremely promptly and well! You and Comrade Qin Hao are both great contributors!"

Cheng Haitang smiled faintly: "Commander Liu, this is just what we ought to do."

Commander Liu nodded, his expression turning exceedingly solemn:

"From now on, Comrade Qin Hao's security will be raised to the highest level. Moreover, regarding the system, aside from those present here,"

"and an extremely small number of core senior leaders, no one else must be allowed to know! This concerns the nation's fate and admits no mistake!"

"Yes!"

Cheng Haitang, Zhou Wei, and the three of them replied in unison.

Qin Hao looked at the imposing commander before him; the slight anxiety he felt from handing over the system had now vanished.