Chapter 574

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

After studying the Giant Dragon a little, Lin Junren began to regret his rashness today.

The test should have been conducted in a more enclosed location!

He didn't need to look up to know that there were definitely several satellites staring at him from the sky.

Who knows, satellite photos might already be sitting in some analysts' rooms right now.

The "zzzt-zzzt" sound of an electric drill suddenly rang out from the other side of the Giant Dragon; Lin Junren hurriedly called a halt to it — he didn't want to give other countries any more data.

The Giant Dragon swiftly twisted its head around, searching for the bold fellow who wanted to drill into its body.

Opposite, the young man operating the electric drill held up a large hand-drill as long as an arm, looking rather embarrassed, and explained with a foolish grin: "Fixing a machine in place."

Turning to look, his so-called machine was merely another, more powerful drilling rig.

"Put them all away, put them all away." Lin Junren waved his hand angrily.

"Don't, we just got ready."

"No testing today." Lin Junren had not a shred of good temper left.

Most of those he had borrowed were researchers from the Confidential System; the higher the rank, the harder to resign — they'd spent their whole lives inside the system, yet their gossipy hearts still burned fiercely. Seeing Lin Junren like this, they were exceptionally curious, each one hating that they couldn't crowd around and shout: "Just started up, not easy to handle."

"Another half hour."

"Twenty minutes works too, I just applied the color developing agent here."

Chen Yi knew perfectly well in his heart, and asked with a hearty laugh: "Director Lin, not playing anymore?"

"Mr. Chen, you're deliberately leaking intelligence to foreign countries — such a huge target… sigh… pack it all up, I'm talking to you lot!" Lin Junren's mood was extremely bad; he didn't even know how he'd write the report when he got back.

However, the order for the unprotected test was issued by him; thinking back now, it felt more like a trap Chen Yi had set for him. He specifically brought people to such a remote place, letting them misunderstand it as very safe, then easily allowed the test — he had actually prepared to wrangle two or three times before getting a chance to measure.

Yet Chen Yi did not acknowledge Lin Junren's anger; instead he said quite seriously: "Director Lin, you can't speak recklessly. Either accuse me of colluding with foreign powers, or take back your words just now. Otherwise I'll sue you all the way to Hai Zi and drag you down from your post."

Lin Junren's throat bobbed twice; he really wanted to sue Chen Yi big time.

Only, thinking of the other's surname, Director Lin finally wisely apologized: "I was wrong, I was too impatient, please don't blame me."

Chen Yi hmphed through his nose, seemingly still unsatisfied.

Lin Junren, helpless, added: "I take back what I just said, Mr. Chen, look, I got so flustered I lost my head."

"That's much better; any problem can be discussed." Chen Yi adopted an official tone flawlessly, pulling Lin Junren's arm and laughing: "Look, the two demands I raised, you satisfied; the demand you raised to see the Giant Dragon, I also satisfied — that counts as accounts settled. Next time there's anything, we'll discuss next time, alright?"

Saying "alright," Chen Yi didn't have a shred of question in his tone.

"This… Mr. Chen, the test isn't finished yet." Now it was Lin Junren's turn to be anxious; his work wasn't done yet.

Chen Yi waved from the SUV and left in a cloud of dust.

Turning its head, the Giant Dragon also vanished with a "whoosh."

Within a range of over ten kilometers, no matter which spot the little lizard chose to transform, others would find it very hard to locate. As a type of sub-dragon, the Illusion Dragon's ability to change species was its only ability; used well at certain times, it could produce unexpected effects.

Left behind were Lin Junren and the others with a pile of instruments, and no one knew who should test whom.

Several days later, Chen Yi went about his own business in a calm and unhurried manner while simultaneously preparing a new round of large-scale celebration ceremony. Inside Hai Zi, however, things had become a complete uproar.

Chen Zhongguo returned to Xijing; although he only occupied one-ninth of the seats, he had another two-ninths of allies who held pivotal status in foreign policy and Southeast Region affairs, and also had considerable right to speak on Western minority ethnic groups and border issues. However, apart from him, the speaking rights of the other several committee members were equally strong.

Now, the Giant Dragon's photos and a small amount of test results lay on the long conference table; apart from Chen Zhongguo and Tang Yuan, the other seven people's attitudes were all quite ambiguous.

"The demands Chen Yi raised have room for negotiation. The premise is that he hands over the Giant Dragon — such a dangerous, unknown creature is still better monitored by the state." Committee Member Zhou was the most staunch national defense supporter, in fact also the most staunch centralization supporter.

Tang Yuan had recently grown very close to the Chen Family; following the strategy long agreed upon, he immediately spoke up in opposition: "This dragon wasn't born by the state; we have zero understanding of it — better to leave it in Chen Yi's hands for safety. If we drag it to Xijing and suddenly lose control, who'll be responsible for the damage caused? I say, leaving it in Jiangning is plenty safe; if the Central has any requirements, just go to Jiangning to learn about it; wait until the investigation is clear, then decide ownership — not late either."

"Leaving it in Jiangning is indeed not bad, but Xijing has more research institutions, able to more fully utilize resources…" The speaker this time was Committee Member Liu; he represented the Liu Family, under which were minor families like the Xijing Liu Family — a figure of considerable weight.

If not for the West Continent's weight added in, his reputation and power would have been higher than Chen Zhongguo's before the latter's forced retirement. Now he had fallen behind by one position instead.

The situation formed a two-versus-one; Chen Zhongguo looked toward Committee Member Sima.

The latter was the only non-Chen-Clan senior management family to enter the West Continent; if he was unwilling to support, then Chen Zhongguo would have to speak up himself and fight with bare blades.

Two-versus-seven or two-versus-six — neither is a very smart political strategy, especially in a bare-blade fight.

Committee Member Sima did not look at Chen Zhongguo; he lowered his head and pondered for a long time, then stroked the rim of his cup.

His little gesture was familiar to everyone; Committee Member Zhou also immediately looked over.

"I feel both sides' opinions have merit… however, overall, the Giant Dragon still allows us to continue inspection and testing — so let's start the inspection and testing first, alright? The ownership issue can be discussed after the inspection — not late either. After all, what kind of thing it actually is, none of us have seen; rushing to discuss who it belongs to right now, isn't that a bit too impatient?"

His words — looking at the first sentence, they seem like muddying the waters; looking at the latter part, they're practically nailing colors to the mast.

This also fully embodies the Sima Family branch's interest orientation.

They could obtain considerable benefits from the West Continent, and moreover had seized a beautiful time difference, fully capable of becoming a West Continent major family second only to the Chen Family; therefore they consciously safeguarded Chen Yi's interests. As for the previous little friction, it was merely an interlude.

The reason they let Sima Jian and the others probe was precisely to leave room for maneuver.

Committee Member Zhou gave Committee Member Sima a deep look and said blandly: "We're not discussing the attribution of West Continent supplies; we're merely discussing the attribution of this Giant Dragon on a case-by-case basis…"

He felt Committee Member Sima was worried again about his own family's West Continent supplies' property nature.

If the Giant Dragon is confiscated, would other supplies also be confiscated?

One must admit, this indeed has similarity. It's just that everyone currently doesn't want to discuss this problem; Committee Member Zhou also wouldn't go into specifics — he just wanted to pull the Giant Dragon out from the middle.

Two committee members support, two oppose — this was a bit beyond his expectations; he also didn't want to send out another person and end up in a bare-blade fight with Chen Zhongguo.

Removing the born peacemakers, three committee members supporting is already a considerably strong supporting force.

Committee Member Sima heard Committee Member Zhou's meaning, but instead shook his head firmly: "I support testing, but I do not support seizure and monitoring."

Things are done, not spoken.

If today the Giant Dragon is taken because of national defense, tomorrow gold can be taken because of national defense — there's no difference.

Committee Member Zhou sighed regretfully: "Then continue the tests."

"What about Chen Yi's request?" Tang Yuan spared no effort in helping, naturally gaining benefits himself; he didn't care much for West Continent resources, but he was quite envious of the domestic resources others were giving up due to insufficient energy.

Committee Member Zhou fell silent for a moment, then said: "Let him discount at the People's Bank!"

"Fine." Chen Zhongguo agreed immediately.

This was a request Chen Yi had made last time, but several banks had disagreed, and Tang Yuan hadn't been very interested in pushing it that day. Now that it passed at the meeting, it naturally became a resolution, and they had no choice but to execute it.

As long as gold bonds were allowed to be discounted at a major bank, their status received considerable recognition; as to whether discounting was truly convenient, that was another matter.

And this was precisely what Fan Bailu was most unwilling to face.

Two continents, two central banks!

The status of the People's Bank's natural pride would end during his own term.

When the rumor spread, Fan Bailu had scoffed at it, but the document was eventually issued. So he sat all day in his office, as if even giving him a bank president couldn't wake him up...

Lin Junren gathered a group of people again and rushed excitedly toward Xijing.

Arriving at Jiangbei Wharf, what he saw was naturally the giant dragon working like an ox and horse.

If size could reflect strength, the giant dragon's body was at least tens of thousands of times that of a Divine Art Knight.

Its explosive power might not be stronger than the strongest Divine Art Knight, but its endurance must be stronger than the endurance of the Divine Art Knight with the strongest explosive power, and vice versa.

Such comprehensive attributes were quite suitable for hauling work, and would also free a considerable portion of Divine Art Knights from heavy labor.

If they weren't freed soon, even the Divine Art Knight with the best temper would have some complaints.

"Too magnificent." Lin Junren held his breath and stared, watching the giant dragon load a 30,000-ton-class ship into the Magic Subway. Just like watching a child clumsily play with a large cyan worm.

The researchers he brought were also full of praise.

"Feel free to inspect." Chen Yi also wanted to know the dragon's various characteristics, and moreover, to a greater extent more urgently. Who knew if there would be a living giant dragon inside the next three-stage gate opened.

He was undoubtedly certain that after the wyvern swallowed the giant dragon, at least in the short term, it would not possess the giant dragon's full power, let alone the skill to use it.

Therefore, if there were a living giant dragon, relying on the Illusory Dragon definitely could not defeat it.

A group of researchers rushed toward the giant dragon as if rushing toward a culture medium, fearlessly charging ahead, completely unaware that their own size was more like bacteria.

"Hardness, report numbers."

"Live-fire shooting, prepare!"

The Illusory Dragon guiltily covered its eyes with its hand, allowing humans to do as they pleased.

The test items had long been decided, including tests of three types of anti-tank missiles and two types of anti-tank shells. Scientific instruments were not few either; this was both to examine the giant dragon's endurance and to examine the weapons.

Perhaps one day Chen Yi could also make use of this data.

The tests lasted three days, and the Illusory Dragon was as exhausted as the researchers.

The giant dragon's recovery ability was surprising; occasionally special weapons or laboratory equipment broke the skin, and within at most three or five seconds there would be signs of healing. The trauma from a depleted uranium shell causing a gap between scales less than 20 centimeters deep would fully recover within 30 seconds.

Except for failing to test speed, the researchers Lin Junren brought were almost at a loss.

Chen Yi, however, saw something else.

Unlike a scientific perspective, when he analyzed the giant dragon's body tissue defense from the angle of Source Energy, he found that when using certain alloy cutters, the giant dragon suffered noticeably more trauma.

Since it wasn't purely trauma to body tissue, a rough examination could not discover the true extent of the damage...

"Give me a copy of your test data." Chen Yi came to Lin Junren's side and directly ordered.

"This... Mr. Chen, these are all classified materials; if you want to see them, it's best to wait until we archive them before accessing them?"

Chen Yi ignored him, pushed aside the person in charge of the files, and flipped through them on his own.

"Director Lin?" Yi Ran, the bodyguard from Hai Zi, was unafraid, her hand pressing on her waist.

Lin Junren shook his head slightly.

This was Jiangning!

Having the thought of retreat, speaking again was not difficult; he smiled self-mockingly: "If Mr. Chen wants to see them, you'll have to sign something first anyway."

Chen Yi made him go through a procedure, and after getting the materials, he began to slowly read them while recalling the fluctuations of Source Energy, comparing them with the dates in the materials.

"Heavy metal poisoning?" Chen Yi quickly drew a basic conclusion from the alloy's composition.

The personnel in charge of supervising the materials stared at Chen Yi with tiger-like eyes, clearly wanting to get some information.

Unfortunately, Chen Yi revealed not a bit on his face, and soon ordered the Martial Arts Hall people to expel them.

After everyone left, he obtained a batch of heavy metals and secretly began testing. Except for a few radioactive elements that were hard to obtain, other heavy metals were easy to find at schools, factories, and research institutions.

The test subject was naturally the transformation-system giant dragon.

The giant dragon, just freed from the clutches of many researchers, hadn't been happy for five minutes before encountering Chen Yi's various increasingly harsh torment.

He didn't need to look at anyone's expression, naturally doing whatever was convenient.

After balanced Shenjia was released through different metals or alloys, the effect was far better than equipment like drills.

Each time Chen Yi used an alloy, he asked the giant dragon: "Does it hurt? From 1 to 10, 10 is the most painful, pick a number."

By the time it was nearly the silver arrowhead, the giant dragon started choosing 10.

Until the gold weapon came out.

"11, no, 12!"

"You chose 10 too early, right?" Chen Yi understood tacitly and continued increasing the amount of heavy metal.

"Platinum?"

"14."

"Platinum-Osmium Alloy?"

"20!"

Each time Chen Yi used the same degree of Shenjia, but the efficacy became increasingly significant.

Fortunately, each time he only used a finger-thick metal to prick the scales on the foot; otherwise the giant dragon would surely have run away in pain.

Testing to the Platinum-Osmium Alloy, Chen Yi paused for a moment.

Osmium was the heaviest metal element known to humanity; as a member of the platinum group metals, it occasionally existed in platinum ore deposits, with low content and stable elemental form, and West Continent people might not have discovered it yet.

"The most commonly used osmium alloy is the Iridium-Osmium Alloy..." Chen Yi, from the White Metal Briefcase, following the name, found a small piece of iridium-osmium, used Shenjia to shape it into an arrowhead, and casually stuck it onto the Giant Dragon's foot skin.

The Giant Dragon let out an "Ao" cry, its eyes turning red.

"Does it hurt?" Chen Yi's voice was as flat as ever.

The Giant Dragon mournfully replied: "250!"

Chen Yi solemnly nodded, saying: "It seems, slaying dragons and such, will have to rely on the Iridium-Osmium Alloy; let's now try the effects produced by mechanical transmission..."

The Illusory Dragon began the first reflection of its dragon life: Why was I so gluttonous?

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to come to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)