Chapter 136: Loss? That Doesn

The "Search Operation" continues globally, consuming vast funds and manpower from the Qin Feng System. The specialized research team's progress in authenticating and studying those dubious ancient texts and strange artifacts is slow, and no substantial returns are visible in the short term. The system remains in its Cooling Period, most functions grayed out, and the weakening effect of Life Enhancement has not fully recovered.

To outsiders and some within the Qin Feng System who don't understand the full picture, Qin Feng's actions appear to be squandering enormous wealth on a high-stakes gamble—with extremely slim odds of winning. Some minor shareholders and partners have privately expressed concern, wondering whether Qin Feng, under recent pressure, has begun acting irrationally.

Yet Qin Feng, at the heart of the storm, remained extraordinarily calm.

In the Ding Ceng Ban Gong Shi of the Luocheng branch office, Qin Feng was listening to Chen Ming's report on the latest progress of the "Search Operation," and… a warning report from the finance department regarding recent expenditures.

"Boss, over the past three weeks, our direct spending on the global Search Operation has exceeded eight billion U. S. dollars. This doesn't include labor costs, research funding, or some… Special Channels expenses." Chen Ming's tone carried a faint hint of concern. "The finance department has flagged that although the group's cash flow remains robust, such massive, short-term investments with no clear return have drawn attention."

Qin Feng sat behind his large desk, idly turning over the Black Fragment from an ancient ruin. The faint chill emanating from the fragment calmed his restless Qi and Blood, weakened by the diminished Life Enhancement.

He raised his eyes to Chen Ming, his gaze deep and piercing: "Do you think we're losing money?"

Chen Ming hesitated, then spoke honestly: "From a short-term and direct financial perspective, yes, Boss. We've poured in massive capital and received mostly things of uncertain value—or possibly junk."

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng didn't grow displeased; instead, he smiled faintly.

He set down the Black Fragment, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Chen Ming with calm, unshakable confidence:

"Chen Ming, you've followed me this long—your vision must be longer-term."

"What is money? For us now, it's merely a number, a resource. Its value lies in what it can acquire."

He gestured toward the mountain of photocopies of ancient texts, photos of strange artifacts, and research reports piled on the desk.

"What we're spending now are these renewable 'numbers' and 'resources.' But what are we trying to acquire?"

Qin Feng's gaze sharpened: "Ancient wisdom that transcends current scientific understanding! Keys to unlocking human potential beyond its limits! Clues to higher-tier power systems! Even… possibly, a trump card against future unknown threats!"

"Can the true value of these things be measured in money?"

Chen Ming froze. He had walked with Qin Feng through too many miracles to doubt his boss's vision and scope—but even now, these words stunned him.

"But… Boss, these things are hard to verify, the risks are too high…" Chen Ming couldn't help but say.

"Risk?" Qin Feng stood, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed down at Luocheng's bustling skyline. "What endeavor is without risk? Is there no risk in steadily growing a business? The Liang Family's sabotage, the rumors of my 'death,' the unknown threats beneath the Deep Sea… which one isn't a risk?"

He turned back, his eyes gleaming with penetrating insight:

"What we're doing now is using controllable, monetary-level risks to hedge against uncontrollable, existential threats that could destroy us at our core!"

"Besides," Qin Feng's lips curved into a cryptic smile, "who told you we're definitely losing money?"

He returned to his desk and picked up a preliminary analysis report submitted by the research team on a special plant extract obtained from an Amazon tribe.

"Look at this. This unremarkable vine extract has shown astonishing cellular activation properties in lab conditions—unstable, yes—but if its mechanism can be deciphered and optimized, it could revolutionize our gene therapy formulations, even lead to new anticancer drugs!"

He pointed to another report on a peculiar mineral: "And this—its energy-conducting properties are uniquely efficient. If applied to Jingyuan Technology's energy core, efficiency could rise by five to eight percent!"

"Aren't these returns?" Qin Feng looked at Chen Ming, his voice firm. "We're like gold prospectors on a vast beach. We might sift up a hundred pebbles, ninety-nine of them ordinary stones—but if just one is real gold, then all prior investment becomes worthwhile. That single gold nugget's value could cover every cost!"

"Moreover," Qin Feng's voice lowered, carrying an air of mystery, "some things hold value beyond direct monetary or technological gain. For instance, this fragment in my hand…"

He picked up the Black Fragment again, feeling the cool energy flow through his body, and said slowly: "It calms my spirit, sharpens my thoughts. A single correct decision made in this state may be worth far more than eight billion U. S. dollars."

Watching Qin Feng's confident, profound gaze and listening to his far-reaching analysis, Chen Ming's doubts and worries vanished instantly, replaced by profound admiration and unwavering resolve.

He understood his boss's vision. His boss wasn't concerned with gains or losses in a single battle, nor with short-term financial statements—he was targeting the strategic high ground hidden behind the fog, the one that would determine the Empire's future!

"I understand, Boss!" Chen Ming straightened his spine. "I'll continue overseeing the Search Operation to ensure its efficiency!"

"Good." Qin Feng nodded. "Remember: don't fear spending—but spend it on the blade's edge. Focus intensely on the regions indicated by those spatial coordinates. And increase efforts to locate ancient Inheritances and reclusive masters. Sometimes, knowledge itself is more valuable than physical objects."

"Yes!"

Chen Ming departed.

The office fell silent once more.

Qin Feng stroked the Black Fragment in his hand, feeling its faint but persistent energy, his gaze growing ever deeper.

Loss?

That doesn't exist.

In Qin Feng's dictionary, there are only "investment" and "return."

Everything he's doing now is a strategic, future-oriented investment for the Empire and himself.

He believed that when these scattered, seemingly insignificant "investments" eventually converged and erupted, the energy unleashed would shock the entire world!

And all of this had only just begun.