Returning to his own refuge, Chen Xin settled into a peaceful life here. The life inside the refuge was orderly, and the construction site outside was also proceeding smoothly, as if everything had temporarily calmed down.

However, Chen Xin did not idle, and he even felt a certain impulse to find things to do. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As a newly appointed academician, although Chen Xin had not formally started work, he still needed to handle the research projects previously assigned to him. Despite these projects becoming fewer after the country adjusted its cooperation model with him, they still took up some of his time.

In addition, Chen Xin needed to establish some research topics for himself.

This is one of the things Chen Xin needs to do after becoming an academician, since, as an academician, he couldn’t just upgrade the research projects assigned to him by the country.

Although the research base has not been completed, and research work cannot begin immediately, first setting the topics is still possible and necessary.

The main topics Chen Xin currently established include ecological agriculture, geothermal heating, controlled nuclear fusion, and military equipment research, which are also the primary research projects once the research base is built.

Among these four projects, however, the military equipment research does not have specific weapon or equipment types. Instead, they research whatever Chen Xin creates, so it can only be considered a big topic rather than a specific study.

Just like the heavy mecha and mobile camps provided by Chen Xin to protect his special forces, these could already be divided into two completely different research topics, establishing two research groups.

As for geothermal heating and controlled nuclear fusion, these two are crucial energy topics for the country. But after Chen Xin provided the related equipment and blueprints to the country, he actually no longer needed to do much in this area.

The country has already sent more specialized researchers to take over the relevant research, and also does not require Chen Xin to do anything further.

After all, be it openly or on paper, all he could do was directly upgrade the equipment without considering the theoretical basis, and any related theoretical research could only be left to others.

As for ecological agriculture, it is even more complex. Trying to create a self-sustaining ecosystem is not something someone like Chen Xin, who couldn’t even set up a water cycle in the refuge, could handle. The related knowledge involved is such that no one could learn it all in a lifetime.

Researching ecosystems inevitably requires a large group of people working together.

Although Chen Xin just wanted to create a small self-sustaining ecological circle, not study the entire ecosystem, this is still not an easy task.

Moreover, with the Ecological Dome not yet completed and related work unable to proceed, this topic is merely a topic at the moment, and even relevant researchers are in the process of being dispatched and recruited.

So, for the short term, Chen Xin genuinely does not know what he can do or wants to do.

Continue upgrading his equipment, upgrading the Nanomech Armor and Power Armor?

Chen Xin shook his head to dismiss this thought. In terms of defense, power, or mobility, he already had enough. With the existence of the Nanomech Armor, he could completely act like Iron Man in the movies, flying and tackling evil.

Even though there is currently no occasion for Chen Xin to play the superhero, he doesn’t want to do something that’s akin to wearing underwear outside.

Moreover, the key is that individual might, no matter how strong, is useless without an enemy.

If a bullet can kill the enemy, what’s the big difference in using a missile to blow them up?

After giving it serious consideration, Chen Xin firmly gave up the idea of upgrading his equipment in the short term, despite planning to build something like a Gundam or Titan for fun, but that is not now.

However, while his own equipment doesn’t need upgrading, the army’s equipment is another matter. For Chen Xin, not only can the army’s equipment be upgraded, but also the soldiers themselves.

"Second Lieutenant Deng, I’d like to know, as a special force soldier, what do you think about body modification?" Chen Xin asked while walking along the construction site, questioning Second Lieutenant Deng beside him.

"Body modification? Isn’t that kind of thing evil?" Second Lieutenant Deng did not know much about it but was influenced by movies and TV set on evil scientists conducting body modifications, naturally feeling that this is not good.

However, Chen Xin doesn’t see it that way and wasn’t seeking this answer.

"You know the Master Chief from the Halo series, right? Do you want to be strong like him?" Chen Xin changed the way he asked.

"Master Chief? Spartan Warrior? Academician Chen, can you achieve this level?" Second Lieutenant Deng was quite young, even younger than Chen Xin, and naturally aware of this hot sci-fi game: "But Spartan Warriors require modification from childhood? Academician Chen, do you..."

"That’s not your concern, just answer my question, do you want that kind of power?" Chen Xin disregarded Second Lieutenant Deng’s wild imagination, requiring only his response.

Pressed by Chen Xin’s questioning, Second Lieutenant Deng thought carefully and replied, "If I could, of course, I’d want such power, but if it’s based on modifying children, it would seem too cruel."

"Spartan Warrior technology is indeed somewhat brutal, and its mortality and cost are too high. If it were up to me, I’d choose adults willing to undergo modification and reduce the risks and costs of surgery." Chen Xin shook his head, obviously not very optimistic about the Spartan modification technology in the game.

In actual fact, although the Spartan Warriors in the Halo series are indeed very strong—especially the Master Chief who can face heaven and earth, seemingly invincible—when compared to macho men in other sci-fi works, the Master Chief seems somewhat lacking.

Speaking solely of physical prowess, Space Marines from the Warhammer 40K series, who can live for hundreds or even thousands of years, are undoubtedly much stronger than the Master Chief.

Thinking of this, Chen Xin suddenly recalled a thought that had popped into his head earlier and asked Second Lieutenant Deng, "If you could gain stronger power and physique, but the cost might be significant changes in your body, even developing some animal characteristics, do you think this is acceptable?"

"Animal characteristics? Changes in the body? What specific characteristics and changes are you talking about? Academician Chen, can you elaborate?" Second Lieutenant Deng did not reject immediately but wanted to evaluate. If the impact is minimal, he doesn’t find it unacceptable.