Chapter 1748: Superb Bargaining Power

The New Year was almost here, and of course Jiao Duo hoped to finish the mission and return to base as soon as possible. Staying here meant paying points for lodging, utilities, and food, and their funds weren't that plentiful. "Where did the other side propose to meet?"

The liaison officer replied, "The other side will come visit you."

So eager? Not going to drag things out and charge them sky-high lodging fees to make up for the research funding shortfall in Territory Seven?

Jiao Duo raised his hand to check his watch. "10:35. Give me a detailed file on Yang Jin within fifteen minutes. The more detailed, the better."

"No need to look it up. I have it right here."

As the director of the National Committee for Evolutionary Ability and Security, Mo Huaxi had the authority to access the personal files of all registered top-tier evolvers nationwide. He began briefing Jiao Duo: "Yang Jin, male, twenty-nine this year, top-tier speed evolver. In the second year of the Catastrophe, he and senior brain-domain evolver Xie Yu registered a squad at Hui-One Base, and he served as squad captain. In the early sixth year of the Catastrophe, he led his squad to leave Hui-One and join Hui-Three. The top-tier visual evolver Luo Pei from Hui-One's military department also left Hui-One with them. Their departure from Hui-One was related to Hui-One's underground experiments..."

At the mention of Hui-One's underground experiments, Jiao Duo recalled something. "Xie Yu is the senior brain-domain evolver who volunteered to enter the underground lab as an inside man?"

Mo Huaxi nodded. "Yes."

Jiao Duo had assumed both Xie Yu and Yang Jin had joined Professor Fu Tianfeng's team. "A senior brain-domain evolver like that contributes more in a lab than in a squad. Yang Jin didn't use the codename 'Zhang Yang' because his status inside Territory Seven isn't as a researcher?"

Mo Huaxi shook his head. "I haven't received any information that Yang Jin and Xie Yu formally joined Professor Fu Tianfeng's team. In the early tenth year of the Catastrophe, Luo Pei was poisoned with a synthetic Qiang toxin and needed large quantities of uncontaminated spring water to detoxify. Yang Jin called our department, hoping we could help coordinate water access. Because Luo Pei's required volume far exceeded the regulated water quota for top-tier evolvers in crisis treatment, we could only offer a drop in the bucket."

Uncontaminated spring water was a precious, scarce resource. The state had strict regulations and monitoring on its usage scope and quantities. Even though Luo Pei was a top-tier evolver, within the bounds of Mo Huaxi's authority, he could only help coordinate a small amount of uncontaminated spring water for him.

Fortunately, the Azure Dragon Squad found an uncontaminated water source and obtained Professor Fu Tianfeng's medical aid, which detoxified Luo Pei.

After that incident, Mo Huaxi repeatedly submitted proposals upward, recommending increased R&D investment in enrichment technology for high-quality water.

With state policy support, several base research institutes set up dedicated research groups.

At the end of last year, the research group at Lan-Two Base achieved substantive research progress.

Four days ago, members of that research group, at a seminar chaired by Professor Fu Tianfeng, proposed collaborating with Professor Fu Tianfeng's team on this project—using enriched water to detoxify the experimental tiger on Mountain Fifty, in order to empirically verify the difference in efficacy between enriched water and uncontaminated water in treating synthetic Qiang toxins.

If Guo Qingbin hadn't violated regulations by using his ability to connect with Professor Fu Tianfeng's brain, this collaboration would definitely have already entered the implementation stage!

Mo Huaxi cautioned Jiao Duo, "Yang Jin has extremely high negotiation, mediation, and bargaining ability. Professor Fu Tianfeng sending him here is very likely to seek compensation from Guo Qingbin."

Jiao Duo raised an eyebrow. "Professor Guo's consciousness hasn't fully recovered yet. How is he going to seek compensation?"

Mo Huaxi chuckled. "You listen carefully later and tell me, will you?"

Jiao Duo...

Ten minutes later, a Territory Seven off-road vehicle stopped ten meters outside the main gate of Center Nine.

The car door opened, and Yang Jin got out, leaning on two crutches. Seeing a top-tier combatant from Hui-Three with a knife wound on his face and now in a wheelchair, the guards at Center Nine's hearts skipped a beat.

Security Squad Two captain Dai Yan hurried over, helped the Territory Seven guards unfold a collapsible wheelchair, and then assisted Yang Jin into it.

After confirming that Yang Jin's legs hadn't completely lost sensation, Dai Yan let out a heavy sigh of relief. Yang Jin was not only a top-tier combatant of Hui-Three, but also the captain of Hui-Three's number-one-ranked Azure Dragon Squad. A decline in his combat ability meant a decline in the base's overall combat strength, which would trigger a chain of reactions and bring all kinds of uncertainties.

As long as his legs were still there, Third Brother could get their Hui-Three top-tier combatant back on his feet!

Dai Yan lowered his voice and asked, "Brother Jin, do you need me to notify Sister Qing?"

Yang Jin shook his head. "No need. Xia Qing knows I'm injured. I came here to carry out the mission Third Brother assigned. Once the mission is done, I'll go find her."

"Alright." After using instruments to carefully inspect both the person and the vehicle, Dai Yan helped the Territory Seven brothers deliver Yang Jin back to the car and opened the gate for them.

After watching Yang Jin go inside, the Center Nine security personnel knit their brows into a knot. "Captain, anyone who can wound Brother Jin like this must be no weakling."

Yang Jin was Xia Qing's boyfriend. Her boyfriend wounded like this—knowing Xia Qing's protective temperament, she might fly into a rage for her man and leave the territory to avenge Yang Jin.

Xia Qing was the backbone of Center Nine and even the entire Northern Sector One. If she went out on a risky mission, it would be like pulling the backbone out from under everyone. It would be strange if Center Nine's staff weren't worried.

If they had the combat ability, they'd really want to wipe out Yang Jin's enemies before Xia Qing got to them!

Sitting in the vehicle entering Center Nine, Yang Jin put away his negotiation materials and looked through the car window at Center Nine's construction site.

In just one glance, he spotted Xia Qing carrying building materials.

Just like seven years ago when Yang Jin first saw Xia Qing at the entrance to Hui-Three Base's safe zone, her expression and movements still radiated vigorous vitality. One look at her was enough to kindle hope.

After the car stopped in front of the dormitory building, Yang Jin withdrew his gaze, got out of the car leaning on his two crutches and sat in the wheelchair. Then two guards carried him up to the second floor, arriving at the door of the Red One Investigation Group office.

Zhang San said his hidden bone fractures were severe and that he needed a wheelchair when moving up and down, or there would be lasting effects—which was why Yang Jin was in a wheelchair.

After Jiao Duo opened the door, Yang Jin leaned slightly forward, bracing on the wheelchair armrests. "Hello, Director Jiao. I'm Yang Jin, entrusted by the Lord of Territory Seven to handle the follow-up and compensation matters for the February 4th conference room incident."

Compensation? After inviting Yang Jin inside, Jiao Duo politely asked, "What is your position in Territory Seven?"

Yang Jin replied politely, "I'm untalented and poorly learned—not qualified to hold a position in Territory Seven. Two of my brothers were seriously injured and need the Lord of Territory Seven to treat them. This mission was the exchange condition the Lord of Territory Seven proposed. To save my brothers' lives and give me a chance to stand on my own two feet again to defend base security, I had no choice but to accept."

Jiao Duo...

The moment he stepped inside, the other party had thrown three lives onto the table...