Outside the Academy of Sciences' cold alloy gate, the atmosphere was as heavy as frozen ice.
The elite troops Qin Weiguo brought had not fully withdrawn; instead, they had retreated to a safe distance, constructing temporary defensive fortifications, with countless muzzles and gun barrels still vaguely pointing towards the Academy of Sciences, forming a tense standoff with the Intellect Mechanicus defense line controlled by Lin Mo.
Chu Hang stood beside Qin Weiguo, his Rule Judgment ability poised and ready. He could clearly feel the strange energy fields circulating within the new mechs and weapon platforms; their interference with abilities was even stronger than expected.
A frontal assault would incur immeasurable costs.
Qin Weiguo’s face was ashen. He stood beside the armored command vehicle, his gaze, like an eagle's, fixed on the tightly shut gate.
Lin Mo's declaration about "Quadruple Ascension," especially the vague "fourth path," echoed in his mind like a curse, bringing unprecedented shock and… an indescribable sense of alarm.
His initial fury, under absolute rational thought (the rationality of a Commander, not a scientist), was gradually replaced by deeper worry.
He could not stand by and watch The Boulder split internally, nor could he bear the consequences of an all-out war with the Academy of Sciences.
But similarly, he absolutely could not allow an uncontrolled independent force, possessing dangerous technology and insane ideas, to fester within The Boulder.
In this suffocating stalemate, Lin Mo's calm voice once again sounded from the loudspeaker above the Academy of Sciences' gate, but this time, the tone had a little less of the previous fanatical provocation and a little more… of negotiation.
"Commander Qin," Lin Mo's voice came, "I think we both need to calm down and avoid unnecessary losses. Perhaps we can communicate in a different way."
As soon as he finished speaking, a small airtight door on the side of the Academy of Sciences, usually used for transporting supplies, slowly opened, but no personnel or machinery appeared, clearly just an invitation.
Qin Weiguo and Chu Hang exchanged glances, and Chu Hang nodded slightly, indicating the risk was controllable.
"I'll go in and talk to him," Qin Weiguo said in a deep voice, stopping Chu Hang, who wanted to accompany him. "You stay outside and command, just in case."
He needed to face Lin Mo personally to figure out what this former "national treasure" had become and where his bottom line lay.
Under the vigilant escort of several elite soldiers, Qin Weiguo stepped through the small door.
Behind the door was a clean, dust-free corridor with soft lighting, as if it were a different world from the smoke-filled battlefield outside.
At the end of the corridor was a simple yet technologically advanced conference room. Lin Mo was already sitting there alone, a holographic projection in front of him displaying a three-dimensional structural map of The Boulder.
At this moment, Lin Mo looked no different from his usual self, a researcher engrossed in his work, but his eyes were deeper, more… unfathomable.
"Commander, please sit," Lin Mo gestured.
Qin Weiguo did not sit. He stood at the table, his sharp gaze fixed on Lin Mo: "Lin Mo, what exactly do you want to do? Do you really want to split The Boulder?"
Lin Mo gently pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the blue light of the holographic projection: "Split? No, Commander. I never thought of splitting. I just hope that the Academy of Sciences can obtain the autonomy and research freedom it deserves, so that it can more efficiently and undisturbed advance projects crucial to the future of humanity."
"Autonomy? Research freedom?" Qin Weiguo snorted coldly, "Is that the freedom to point weapons at your own people, like just now?"
"That was a necessary demonstration, Commander," Lin Mo's tone was unruffled, as if stating experimental data, "intended to give you a more intuitive understanding of our current capabilities and our confidence in seeking equal dialogue. It's far more convincing than lengthy reports, isn't it?"
Qin Weiguo stared at him, trying to find any trace of madness or hypocrisy on that calm face, but he only saw absolute composure and… an almost inhuman rationality.
"The mechanical ascension you spoke of, and that fourth path…" Qin Weiguo took a deep breath, lowering his voice. "These things, once made public, do you know how much turmoil they will cause within The Boulder, or even in the Central Special Operations Bureau?"
Hearing the words "Central Special Operations Bureau," a very subtle ripple finally flickered in the depths of Lin Mo's calm eyes—that was apprehension.
"So," Lin Mo's voice also lowered, carrying a cold understanding. "We need to reach a consensus, Commander. The details of what happened today, and the information I revealed… must be known only to a very small number of us. It absolutely cannot be reported to the Central Special Operations Bureau."
Qin Weiguo's heart stirred; he had grasped the key point!
Lin Mo, he was afraid of the Central Special Operations Bureau interfering! His power was not yet strong enough, his research was still in its early stages, he needed time!
He didn't want to become a branch project under the Central Academy of Sciences; what he wanted was… to monopolize the fruits of this path to ascension!
"Conceal it? Lin Mo, you're asking me to deceive the Central Special Operations Bureau with you!" Qin Weiguo feigned severity.
"This isn't deception, Commander. This is for the greatest good of Panshi Fortress, and also for… your interests," Lin Mo responded calmly, his Intellect Mechanicus beginning to precisely lay out its chips.
"My interests?"
"Yes." Lin Mo tapped a finger, and the holographic projection switched, displaying a series of complex design diagrams and energy models. "Firstly, the Academy of Sciences will continue, and will prioritize and fully guarantee all technical support required by the military. This includes, but is not limited to: upgrades to Energy Shields, enhanced anti-interference for communication equipment, and… what you care about most—the subsequent research and mass production of 'Dragon Blood' weapons."
Qin Weiguo's pupils contracted slightly.
Dragon Blood weapons!
These were new biological energy weapons developed using the dragon-like creatures accidentally obtained and created by Ling Chen, possessing immense power and serving as one of the trump cards against high-level mutated entities!
Their core technology was entirely in Lin Mo's hands.
"You need powerful military force to deal with external threats and stabilize your rule," Lin Mo's voice was like the most precise surgical knife, dissecting the interests at play. "And I can provide these. In exchange, I need your principle of non-essential non-interference in the internal affairs of the Academy of Sciences, and confidentiality regarding some of our… 'unconventional' research projects."
He paused, then added: "Furthermore, the military will have priority use and internal procurement preferential rights for all research results of the Academy of Sciences. We can become The Boulder's strongest technological backing, but this requires a relatively independent and lenient environment. What you get is a stronger army and a more stable position. What I need is simply a space where I can safely explore truth. This is a win-win deal, Commander."
Qin Weiguo fell silent.
He paced the room with his hands behind his back. Lin Mo's words, like a devil's whisper, were full of temptation.
He needed Dragon Blood weapons, he needed advanced technology to arm the military and cope with the increasingly severe external situation.
If he completely broke with Lin Mo now, he would not only lose these but also trigger civil war, consuming The Boulder's already limited strength.
And if he agreed… he could indeed gain huge benefits in the short term.
As for mechanical ascension… that path was too distant and ethereal; at least for now, it seemed far less important than tangible weapons and equipment.
And that fourth path was even more of a mirage.
Stabilize him first, use his technology to strengthen military power, and at the same time secretly strengthen surveillance and control over him… this was the choice most in line with current interests.
As for the Central Special Operations Bureau… Qin Weiguo's eyes flickered.
Indeed, it couldn't be reported. Once those guys from the Central Special Operations Bureau intervened, things would completely spiral out of his control, and Panshi Fortress's independence would be greatly compromised.
Lin Mo and his technology must be firmly held in Panshi Fortress's own hands, or rather… in Commander Qin's hands!
After a long while, Qin Weiguo stopped pacing, turned around, and looked deeply at Lin Mo: "Lin Mo, remember what you said today."
"The Academy of Sciences can have a certain degree of autonomy, but it must be within the overall framework of The Boulder! Your research results must prioritize the military's needs!"
"If I find you making any moves that endanger The Boulder's safety, or secretly colluding with external forces, I will not hesitate to use all my power to completely erase you and your laboratory!"
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Lin Mo's face, a calm smile of a plan succeeding:
"Of course, Commander. Our goals are consistent—both for the survival and revitalization of human civilization; it's just that the chosen paths are different."
A silent deal was struck in this quiet conference room.
There were no written agreements, no sworn promises, only mutual compromise and temporary binding based on cold calculations of interest.
Qin Weiguo obtained the much-needed technical support and confidentiality assurances, maintained superficial stability, and temporarily held a dangerous bomb in his hand.
Lin Mo, on the other hand, gained valuable time and space for development.
He could continue his mechanical ascension research without worrying about immediate military purges or Central Special Operations Bureau intervention.
He could continue to secretly accumulate power, step by step moving towards the "godhood" in his mind.
The two shook hands, a brief touch and release.
Qin Weiguo's hand was warm and strong, with the roughness of a soldier.
Lin Mo's hand was cold and steady, like precise machinery.
Leaving the Academy of Sciences, Qin Weiguo felt no relief; instead, his heart grew heavier. He knew he had released a potential beast, only temporarily chained.
As for Lin Mo, after Qin Weiguo left, he once again turned his gaze to the complex design diagrams. The holographic projection's light reflected on his glasses, flickering.
"Dragon Blood weapons… heh heh…" He muttered softly, a cold arc forming at the corner of his mouth. "Using that mutated, accidentally created contaminated creature to make weapons… how ironic. But, merely a useful tool for now."
His gaze finally fell on the deepest part of the laboratory, on a complex, self-iterating core code sealed by multiple energy fields.
That was his true pursuit.
Mechanical ascension… and even, the possibility of glimpsing that fourth path.
The deal was merely a means.
Becoming a god was the goal.