Chapter 144: Chapter 140: The New Abilities of a Tier Two Wizard (2)

As Lin Qi had expected, Ding Yang came to visit the Mo University Camp right after the incident in Beining District.

Hardening + Spiritual Vision, activated in tandem.

Instantly, Wang Ziru, sitting in his chair, felt his body grow considerably stiffer.

He tried to stand but found he had no control over his body. Even speaking was now incredibly difficult.

Lin Qi thought, ’As I thought. This Ability can be used with Spiritual Vision to affect other people.’

’In that case, the stiffness from Hardening isn’t just a negative side effect, but another use for the Ability.’

’Using this on an enemy during combat could have unexpected effects.’

With the experiment concluded, Lin Qi stopped messing with Wang Ziru and withdrew his power.

In the conference room, Wang Ziru shot up from his chair as if propelled by a spring, lost his balance, and fell to his knees.

Wang Ziru was dumbfounded.

Ding Yang, his guest, was just as dumbfounded.

’The conversation was going so well. Why did he suddenly leap up and perform such a grand gesture for me?’

’This won’t do!’

’I was the one who came to Mo University Camp to apologize!’

’If Lin Qi were to see this, he’d probably think I came here to throw my weight around.’

"Classmate Wang, what’s wrong? Hurry and get up. The floor is cold."

Terrified that Lin Qi might walk in at any second, Ding Yang quickly rose, squatted beside Wang Ziru, and moved to help him up.

Wang Ziru was panicking too, equally afraid that Lin Qi would arrive and see him disgracing the Mo University Camp.

Taking Ding Yang’s offered support, Wang Ziru stood up while explaining, "I must just be exhausted these days. I spaced out for a moment—it felt like sleep paralysis—and accidentally put too much force into standing up."

"Sigh... managing the camp for Lin Qi is just too much pressure."

Wang Ziru thought his excuse was quite fitting; he even began to suspect it might be the truth.

’Looks like I need to get a proper check-up at the infirmary after Director Ding leaves.’

’I’ll need a brain CT. I can’t be having a stroke.’

While helping Wang Ziru, Ding Yang readily agreed. "Classmate Wang is right, the pressure of managing a camp is enormous."

"From camp security to resource allocation, it’s all one big headache. I swear my hair has gone gray handful by handful since the apocalypse began."

Ding Yang wasn’t just humoring him; he was speaking from the heart.

The gap between the apocalypse and times of peace was just too vast.

The survivors in the camps, in particular, were always coming up with the strangest ideas and doing the strangest things.

If they were just committing crimes, that would be relatively simple to handle.

But some people would get up to promiscuous behavior in the camp, even causing certain infectious diseases to spread.

That was a real headache for Ding Yang.

Medical resources were already the most precious commodity in the apocalypse.

’Spend precious medical resources to pay for the actions of those people?’

’But if left untreated, these people might develop even darker ideas and start spreading the diseases maliciously...’

It was all so stressful, so draining.

As he said this, Ding Yang actually looked at Wang Ziru with envy.

’He’s so young, and he gets to manage a worry-free place like Mo University Camp. It’s enough to make anyone jealous.’

Before long, the two began discussing the problems of camp management.

The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Seeing this, Lin Qi knew it was time for him to make his entrance.

The matter of Beining District needed to be concluded, and he had to have a proper talk with Ding Yang—and the person from Headquarters who had accompanied him.

Beside Ding Yang, Wu Peihe sat silently, not uttering a word.

Lin Qi left the sixth-floor conference room and took the elevator down to the first floor.

Arriving at the door of the first-floor conference room, he pushed it open.

The moment Wang Ziru saw Lin Qi, he immediately rose and came to his side.

He first nodded at Lin Qi, then explained, "They’re here to talk about Beining District. You guys can talk. I’ll get out of your way."

Based on his previous experience, Wang Ziru understood that the Beining District matter was confidential.

Lin Qi didn’t intend for him to participate.

"No need. You can stay and listen. The matter is pretty much resolved."

Similar incidents would arise in the future, and Lin Qi couldn’t possibly handle each one personally.

By having Wang Ziru involved, he could have Ding Yang liaise directly with him in the future.

Wang Ziru nodded and stood beside Lin Qi.

Just as before, Lin Qi took the seat next to Ding Yang.

His gaze turned to Wu Peihe as he spoke. "Director Ding, how should I address this gentleman? We saw each other in Beining District, but we weren’t formally introduced."

Lin Qi went straight to the point, directing the conversation toward Wu Peihe.

The two of them had clashed in Beining District.

Ding Yang quickly made the introduction. "Classmate Lin Qi, this is Coach Wu from Headquarters. He was dispatched to Modu to help handle the Tier Three Aggregated Monster and the Moon Worshiper incidents."

Moon Worshiper?

Standing behind Lin Qi, Wang Ziru felt a flicker of confusion.

He knew about the monster, but he had never heard of anything called a Moon Worshiper.

’It sounds like some kind of evil cult.’

Lin Qi’s gaze remained fixed on Wu Peihe. "I seem to remember Director Ding promising me two days to handle the monster."

Hearing this, Ding Yang grew instantly awkward.

Ding Yang said at once, "Classmate Lin Qi, I sincerely apologize. It was a failure on my part. I didn’t brief Coach Wu properly."

Lin Qi couldn’t muster any real dislike for Ding Yang.

The man was methodical; though he could be shameless at times, his every word and action was calculated.

Lin Qi shot Wu Peihe a deep, meaningful look before turning his gaze back to Ding Yang, a smile spreading across his face.

"Director Ding, please. How could I be upset? The two-day delay was just a request on my part. In the end, the official decision is what counts."

Although Lin Qi didn’t blow up, his words were still laced with subtle dissatisfaction.

Both Ding Yang and Wu Peihe could discern the subtext in Lin Qi’s statement.

He was unhappy, but he wouldn’t go against the authorities.

A worried expression instantly clouded Ding Yang’s face.

He was worried this would affect their future cooperation.

His gaze fell on Wu Peihe.

The meaning was clear.

’I already took the fall for you, now say something!’

’You’re so quiet, anyone would think you were dead!’

’What, you think you’re superior just because you’re from Headquarters?’

Feeling the weight of Ding Yang’s resentment, Wu Peihe could finally no longer keep his composure.

"Classmate Lin Qi, I was in the wrong. I underestimated the scientific research capabilities of your Mo University Camp. I offer you my sincere apology."

Although Ding Yang had just taken the blame for him, Wu Peihe was, after all, the one who had clashed with Lin Qi and insisted on bringing a nuclear bomb to Beining District.

If Wu Peihe didn’t apologize, even if they moved past this incident, it would create bad blood that would affect future cooperation.

A basic level of trust was the foundation of any partnership.

Seeing Wu Peihe finally speak, Lin Qi’s dissatisfaction faded slightly.

’His heart isn’t in the wrong place,’ Lin Qi thought. ’He’s just stubborn and a little foolish.’

But it was precisely Wu Peihe’s actions that gave Lin Qi the opening he needed to make his next move.

"An apology isn’t necessary. Let’s talk about how we can cooperate moving forward."

"Coach Ding should be aware that while Mo University Camp’s research capabilities are solid and we have plenty of specialists, we constantly face one major problem: a severe lack of resources."

"We’re not just short on materials; we’re even shorter on power."

"Our original plan was to build a large-scale solar farm to power the Mo University Camp, but we could never solve the material procurement problem."

"Therefore, we’re preparing to move forward with building the planned nuclear reactor."

"Cold fusion reactors still present technological and material bottlenecks for now."

"So, we want to build a thermal fission reactor for temporary power generation."

"We’ll need certain materials... and I was thinking that nuclear bomb you have looks pretty good..."