Technique? Completely unnecessary.

All that mattered was a talent that steamrolled over everything.

But would he ever say that out loud?

"Hahaha, alright. Everyone’s been busy for over an hour, and it’s getting late. Gao Neng, why don’t we take a break?" Guan San spoke up with a smile.

"Of course. Whatever you say, Elder Guan," Gao Neng nodded.

’He knows, of course, that Guan San is going to report to Fang Yuan. After all, Fang Yuan wasn’t present during his competition with Zheng Hai and the others.’

"Hahaha, let’s go, Gao Neng!" Fang Tangtang laughed, skipping gleefully to his side. She grabbed his arm and began to lead him out.

"Take care, Miss. Take care, Mr. Gao!" Zheng Hai said, bowing respectfully.

The surrounding Manufacturing Masters were all equally respectful.

Gao Neng had demonstrated his capabilities.

Even though Gao Neng had shown no intention of explaining anything to them, in the world of technical arts, strength equated to status and respect.

What’s more, Gao Neng was only eighteen. An eighteen-year-old genius Manufacturing Master—the very idea was beyond their comprehension.

Gao Neng didn’t say much else.

He followed Fang Tangtang out of the Third Manufacturing Plant, down a corridor, and back into the research center building. From there, he was led into a private dining room.

’Are they treating me to a meal?’

’If we’re eating, Fang Yuan should be coming, right?’ Gao Neng glanced at the door. He had the patience to wait now.

...

「Twenty minutes later.」

The door to the private room was pushed open.

Fang Yuan walked in with a hearty laugh, followed closely by Guan San, who also wore a faint smile.

’Based on my calculations, it should’ve taken Guan San forty minutes to an hour to make his report, but Fang Yuan showed up in just twenty. So... this is the benefit of being high-profile.’

"Interesting, very interesting... So young and promising. Gao Neng, I hear from Guan San... you put that kid Wang Hai in a rather awkward spot, eh?" Fang Yuan said the moment he walked in.

"Naturally," Gao Neng replied with a serious nod.

"Naturally?" Fang Yuan faltered for a second, apparently not expecting such a reply, but he quickly recovered.

’Looks like this kid isn’t just arrogant; he’s also unpredictable. Shouldn’t you be a little more modest?’

It wasn’t that Gao Neng wasn’t humble.

It was just that he knew if he acted humbly, Fang Yuan would press his advantage and ask him exactly how he had so easily defeated Zheng Hai and the others.

’Could he tell Fang Yuan that? Not a chance!’

"Haha, you remind me of myself back in the day!" Fang Yuan said, finding a new topic after composing himself. He gave Gao Neng a long, meaningful look. "However, there’s something I don’t quite understand."

"Grandpa Fang, everyone has their secrets, don’t they?" Gao Neng knew exactly what Fang Yuan wanted to ask, but with this question, not answering would be more effective than answering.

’A little mystery... Sometimes, you have to put on an act. Otherwise, if you lay all your cards on the table, why would they still invest in you?’

"Secrets, eh? Hahaha... You’re right. Let’s not talk about it, then. Let’s eat," Fang Yuan said, not pressing the matter further. He began to order.

"Dad, Gao Neng has already proven his abilities. You can invest in him now, right?" Fang Tangtang chimed in at the perfect moment.

"Haha, let’s eat first," Fang Yuan said with a wave of his hand.

"No need to rush. Let’s stick to the original agreement: we’ll talk about the investment after I’ve built the Electromagnetic Cannon." Of course, Gao Neng knew exactly what Fang Yuan was thinking.

Since he couldn’t get a verbal answer out of Gao Neng, how could a shrewd businessman like Fang Yuan give up so easily?

If he couldn’t get an answer, the best solution was naturally to watch Gao Neng build an Electromagnetic Cannon with his own eyes. If he still couldn’t figure anything out after that, then no matter how reluctant he was, Fang Yuan would be out of options.

"Fine. Then we’ll do as we said: you have two and a half days to build one Electromagnetic Cannon." Fang Yuan nodded. If it hadn’t been for today’s display, he might have just given Gao Neng the money and sent him on his way.

But now that things had come to this, he couldn’t just hand it over.

"That won’t be necessary. I’ve just warmed up, so two days will be plenty," Gao Neng said, shaking his head. After all, half a day had already gone by.

"Two days..." The corner of Guan San’s mouth twitched.

’You’ve got some nerve! This is the Celestial King Group, one of the top arsenals in the City of Hope, and you’re just a first-year military academy cadet. Not an ounce of humility in you.’

Then again, Gao Neng really did have the right to be arrogant.

On this point, even Guan San couldn’t say much.

...

The meal took an hour.

After the meal, Fang Yuan left immediately, dragging Fang Tangtang along with him.

Guan San, meanwhile, led Gao Neng to the third floor of the research center. This was the core area of the Celestial King Group: the Manufacturing Blueprint Research, Development, and Storage Center.

"President Guan, Mr. Gao."

"Yes. Get a copy of the manufacturing blueprints for the Number 3 Electromagnetic Cannon for Mr. Gao."

"Of course. Mr. Gao, please follow me." The beautiful receptionist nodded and led Gao Neng toward the blueprint storage area.

Guan San, however, didn’t follow them.

As the two of them walked, one in front of the other, a flicker of curiosity sparked in Gao Neng’s mind.

"Electromagnetic Cannons have different models?"

"Yes. Depending on the caliber, the Electromagnetic Cannons are divided into Special No. 1, Special No. 2... as well as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. The Number 3 is suited for personal combat; it’s lightweight and portable," the receptionist explained, sneaking another glance at Gao Neng. ’He’s so handsome,’ she thought with admiration. ’Way more handsome than those tech nerds... It would be wonderful if I could see Mr. Gao all the time.’

"Could you give me a more detailed breakdown?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"If you’re interested in the Electromagnetic Cannons, Mr. Gao, I can give you a detailed explanation, but... I’d need to make a phone call first," the receptionist said, hesitating slightly.

"That’s fine," Gao Neng nodded. ’It makes sense that she’d need to get approval from a superior for something involving technical details.’

Instead of making the call immediately, the receptionist first led Gao Neng to the file storage room and retrieved a copy of the manufacturing blueprints for the Number 3 Electromagnetic Cannon.

Gao Neng took a quick look...

’Holy cow!’

At least 200 pages of schematics.

It was a thick stack, almost like a book.

However, these were all manufacturing blueprints, so they were a bit different from a book.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Gao. I’m going to make a call." The receptionist had no intention of rushing him out; after all, she’d already heard that he was Fang Tangtang’s classmate.

Furthermore, word of what happened at the Third Manufacturing Plant this morning—about a genius Manufacturing Master—had already spread throughout the Celestial King Group.

She saw no need for excessive caution.

However, the receptionist didn’t go far.

Bored, Gao Neng let his gaze wander over the shelves, which were labeled with all sorts of manufacturing blueprints for Electromagnetic Cannons.

An entire cabinet full.

’Huh? A Number 4 Electromagnetic Cannon?’ Gao Neng recalled that the receptionist hadn’t mentioned this model in her introduction. ’Wasn’t Number 3 supposed to be the smallest? Why is there a Number 4?’

Curious, he picked it up for a look.

This set of blueprints was noticeably thinner, with probably fewer than 100 pages. The design also looked much more compact.

Gao Neng remembered the Electromagnetic Cannon Fang Tangtang had was very big and bulky...

But this one was much more streamlined.

’This one looks a bit simpler. Two days... wouldn’t I have a better chance of success if I build an easier one?’ Gao Neng mused. ’Either way, I’m building an Electromagnetic Cannon. I never specified it had to be the Number 3, right? Since there’s a simpler Number 4 right here, why not build that one instead?’