PFFT!

Fang Yuan spat out the mouthful of tea he had just taken.

’Are you f*cking kidding me?’

If he hadn’t been a worldly man with vast experience, Gao Neng’s words would have been enough to make him cough up a mouthful of old blood.

To think he was asking for the manufacturing schematics for an Electromagnetic Cannon?!

’You’re a War Academy freshman who doesn’t even have the manufacturing schematics. Who gave you the courage to claim you could build an Electromagnetic Cannon in two and a half days?’

Fang Yuan truly couldn’t wrap his head around it.

It wasn’t just Fang Yuan.

Even Guan San and Uncle Bai, who were standing to the side, were utterly speechless. ’Didn’t this kid seem perfectly honest when he was drinking tea just now?’

’How did the whole vibe suddenly change...’

’You said you could manifest energy, that you didn’t need a month, insisting you could build it in two and a half days.’

’Fine, we went along with it.’

’But what the hell is this about suddenly asking us for the manufacturing schematics?’

The faces of both men were dark.

"Give me the manufacturing schematics, and I really can build it in two and a half days!" Gao Neng had actually guessed that his request was a bit much.

But without the manufacturing schematics...

He really didn’t know how!

"Gao Neng, you are... infuriating!" Fang Tangtang’s face was flushed crimson. ’This is so humiliating! To think I was bragging so much about him on the phone last night.’

’Grandpa, even that Senior Manufacturing Master from your Celestial King Group can’t do it...’

’An Electromagnetic Cannon? My classmate Gao Neng can build one!’

’Don’t believe me?’

’Then let’s make a bet. If I lose, I’ll never mention leaving the military academy again!’

As Fang Tangtang recalled her words from the phone call, she felt as if she had been slapped hard across the face several times, her cheeks burning with a fiery pain.

She had genuinely believed that Gao Neng could build an Electromagnetic Cannon.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have brought Gao Neng directly to Fang Yuan. After all, an hour of Fang Yuan’s time was valued in the hundreds of millions.

Fang Yuan said nothing more, but his expression had clearly soured.

As Fang Yuan’s butler, Guan San naturally saw what was on his mind. There were some things Fang Yuan couldn’t comfortably say, but it was no problem for him to say them.

"Gao Neng, you see, it’s been a while, and the Chairman has another meeting to attend. How about we schedule another time, after you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the manufacturing process for the Electromagnetic Cannon, and then you can come back to build it?" After speaking, Guan San glanced discreetly at Fang Yuan.

"I understand... Grandpa Fang, I’m sorry to have disturbed you!" Gao Neng glanced at Fang Tangtang, then at Fang Yuan and Guan San. He struggled internally for a moment before finally nodding.

"Wait!" Fang Yuan spoke again, his brows knitted so tightly they formed a deep furrow. He seemed to be wrestling with a difficult decision. "Gao Neng, to be honest, your performance today has not been very good. However, for Shen Ning’Er to have taken a liking to you, perhaps you truly possess some talent that I, Fang Yuan, cannot see. I can let you give it a try."

"Let me try?"

This time, it wasn’t just Gao Neng who was surprised.

Guan San, Uncle Bai, and Fang Tangtang were also so stunned they were at a loss for words.

’Letting someone who doesn’t even have the manufacturing schematics try to build an Electromagnetic Cannon? If word of this got out, no one would believe it.’

However, the person who said it was Fang Yuan.

The Chairman of the Celestial King Group.

As such, there could be no questioning his decision.

"Yes. Based on the skill level of our Celestial King Group’s Senior Manufacturing Masters, the success rate for building an Electromagnetic Cannon is generally between 54% and 69%. I will give you three sets of materials in total. As long as you can build one, I’ll give you the 80 million investment. As for the shares, we’ll go with your proposal of 49%. But I have one condition!"

"Please state it, Grandpa Fang!" Gao Neng nodded.

"Before you manufacture the Electromagnetic Cannon, I need you to first create two items: an ’Electric Saber’ and a suit of ’Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor.’ These are both basic pieces of battlefield equipment. At the same time, I will have two Manufacturing Masters create them alongside you. As long as you have the advantage in terms of time, I will give you the chance to build the Electromagnetic Cannon. How about it?"

"Can you provide the manufacturing schematics for these two items?" Gao Neng asked after a moment of thought.

"..." Fang Yuan was speechless.

’You don’t even have the manufacturing schematics for the Electric Saber and Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor either?!’

’Then what in the world have you ever manufactured?!’

’Doesn’t the Manufacturing Academy teach you how to make such basic battlefield equipment? Any third-year student with even a little knowledge should basically know how, right?’

"Gao Neng, if I may be so bold, how many items have you successfully manufactured before? Or rather, what do you specialize in manufacturing?" Guan San couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Well... I’ve never manufactured any items before. As for what I specialize in... I think I’m good at everything," Gao Neng said, once again speaking the honest truth after some thought.

The first-year curriculum at the Manufacturing Academy was all foundational courses. He had only attended a few classes, and they had only covered the structure of blades—long sabers, short sabers, greatswords...

As for schematics, they hadn’t gotten to that part yet.

So, he really hadn’t manufactured anything before.

"Guan San, take him down. Let him look at the manufacturing schematics for the Electric Saber and the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor, and then... just have Zhuo Bing and Zheng Hai compete with him." Fang Yuan waved his hand dismissively. He was mentally exhausted.

"Master... have Zhuo Bing and Zheng Hai compete against him? Is that really necessary?" Guan San thought for a moment. He truly felt this was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"Consider it a ’friendly exchange’." Fang Yuan naturally knew it wasn’t necessary, but he felt that putting some appropriate pressure on Gao Neng might be a good thing.

Besides, for Gao Neng to have come this far, regardless of his talent, his ability to learn must be extremely strong. Perhaps he could pick up a few techniques from Zhuo Bing and Zheng Hai.

That way, this trip wouldn’t have been a complete waste for him.

Hearing this, Guan San said no more. Fang Yuan had made it very clear: this ’exchange’ was to give Gao Neng a learning opportunity.

"Gao Neng, come with me."

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa Fang." Gao Neng nodded, but he stopped at the door and turned back. "Grandpa Fang, I think you only need to prepare one set of materials for the Electromagnetic Cannon."

PFFT! Fang Yuan sprayed out the tea he had just sipped. This time, he was so exasperated he actually laughed. ’Are you sure you’re not here just to be a clown?’

Of course, he didn’t say this out loud, merely giving Gao Neng a cordial wave.

"Show us what you’ve got, young man!"

...

Gao Neng and Fang Tangtang followed Guan San out.

As they entered the Third Manufacturing Plant, he seemed to understand the purpose of that metal corridor. It was a heavily guarded security checkpoint.

It was likely designed to prevent Manufacturing Masters from bringing in or taking out materials without authorization.

However, Gao Neng, Fang Tangtang, and the others didn’t need to be inspected. The corridor’s door opened directly, and the three of them entered the Third Manufacturing Plant.

Immediately, two men came out to greet them.

One was in his thirties, the other in his forties, and both had a gleam in their eyes.

Zhuo Bing, the number one Intermediate Manufacturing Master in the Celestial King Group. His skill was comparable to that of an average Senior Manufacturing Master, and coupled with his youth, his potential was limitless.

Zheng Hai, a Senior Manufacturing Master in the Celestial King Group and the concurrent Technical Director of the Eastern Capital’s Third Manufacturing Plant. He had been Zhuo Bing’s sponsor when he joined the company and was also considered his master.

Both men had already received their orders.

The young miss of the Fang Family had arrived with a classmate of hers. The two of them were responsible for receiving them and engaging in a ’deep exchange’ with this classmate.

’This is a heaven-sent opportunity.’

’Not only is the Chairman personally paying attention, but it’s also a chance to make a good impression on the Fang Family’s young miss. She’s the future heir to the Celestial King Group!’

"Director Zheng, did you bring the manufacturing schematics for the Electric Saber and the Anti-Magnetic Battle Armor?" Guan San asked in a low voice upon seeing the two men.

"I did," Zheng Hai nodded, glancing at Zhuo Bing.

Zhuo Bing immediately stepped forward and handed two stacks of manufacturing schematics to Guan San, while also stealing a glance at Fang Tangtang and Gao Neng.

’This kid is really handsome!’ That was Zhuo Bing’s first impression of Gao Neng. But he quickly added another thought: ’Too bad he’s all show and no go.’

"The manufacturing schematics... there’s no problem with them, right?" Guan San’s eyes narrowed.

"Rest assured, President Guan. I, Zheng Hai, may not be the best at other things, but I have some confidence in my technical skills. I wouldn’t stoop to tampering with something like this," Zheng Hai said in a serious tone.

’A guy who has never even seen the manufacturing schematics...’

’...comes here to compete with us.’

’If I still needed to tamper with the schematics to win, then I, the Technical Director, should really just resign.’

"Good. Are the materials ready? If they are, let’s begin!" Guan San nodded. He had already called Zheng Hai on the way over and told him that although this was called an ’exchange,’ it was primarily meant to be a teaching session.

That being the case, the likelihood of Zheng Hai tampering with the schematics was indeed low.

After all, these kinds of schematics...

Zheng Hai could probably draw them with his eyes closed.

"Everything is ready. In fact, we’ve prepared two extra sets of materials for Mr. Gao. Miss Fang, President Guan, Mr. Gao, this way, please!" Zheng Hai said with a smile.

...

「Fifteen minutes later.」

A crowd had gathered around the manufacturing table in the Third Manufacturing Plant.

At the table, Zhuo Bing and Gao Neng stood facing each other. In front of both of them were piles of ores and tools needed for manufacturing.

Gao Neng actually had slightly more materials than Zhuo Bing.

The Electric Saber!

The concept actually originated from surgical procedures.

It used high-frequency vibrations to generate an electric arc, which in turn produced a sharp cutting edge.

The principle of a battlefield Electric Saber was quite similar to that of a surgical one, but the area of the arc on the blade’s edge was larger. Not by much, though. It was usually about the length of a palm and was mainly made into a short weapon for close-quarters combat, as the high-frequency vibrations consumed a great deal of energy.

As for its use on the battlefield...

There were two methods.

One was for ordinary people to pre-charge it with electrical energy. This allowed them to wield considerable power in a crisis, which led to its widespread promotion within the Military Department.

The other method was for Energy Warriors to supply the energy themselves. However, short weapons were generally only suitable for combat between low-rank individuals. Once a Warrior reached the mid-ranks or higher, the energy from their magnetic core could be projected outward, forming an energy field around their body and greatly reducing opportunities for close combat.

Therefore, Electric Sabers were not a common sight in the military academies.

Gao Neng was now carefully studying the manufacturing schematics. As his eyes scanned the pages, a series of constantly shifting and assembling images seemed to form in his mind.

’The second attribute...’

’It really is powerful!’

Zheng Hai had been standing by his side for five minutes already.

But he wasn’t anxious at all. Although the Electric Saber was an ordinary short weapon, its manufacturing requirements were extremely precise. It was impossible to understand the schematics in less than an hour.

Just as he was thinking this...

He saw Gao Neng look over at him and give a slight nod.

"Alright, I’m done reading. We can start now."