Chapter 106: Chapter 104: The Su Family’s Young Lady’s Problem! A Chance for the Recommendation Slot

Han Feng sighed.

He stated his true purpose directly.

"I heard from Captain Zhang Hao of the Sharp Sword Club that the Tier Two Secret Realm, ’Suspended Mountain,’ is set to open in a little over a month."

"I want to go in."

"My Talent hasn’t reached its limit yet, and I need a massive amount of Spirit Plant resources to fuel it."

"So that’s what this is about."

A spark of light flashed in Zhao Yu’s eyes before quickly dimming.

He shook his head.

"You’re a bit late for that, then."

"Our Mechanical Repair Department does have a few recommendation slots."

"But those are hot commodities. The candidates were chosen months ago, and all the slots have long been assigned."

"It’s impossible to just cut in line now."

Zhao Yu paused for a moment before adding,

"Besides, there’s a hard requirement to enter the Secret Realm. Your Cultivation must be at least at the Body Tempering Tenth Layer."

"Right now, you’re..."

"Don’t worry about that, Engineer Zhao."

Han Feng immediately cut in, his tone calm but unyielding.

"In a little over a month, I will definitely break through to the Body Tempering Tenth Layer."

"Hmm?"

Zhao Yu’s eyelid twitched, startled by Han Feng’s confidence.

The gap between the Ninth and Tenth Layer was a massive chasm.

Countless geniuses got stuck at this stage for a year or two, unable to advance even an inch.

And Han Feng was saying he was confident he could do it in just over a month?

’This kid...’

"You’re that certain?"

Zhao Yu stared at him suspiciously.

"It seems your Talent is even more terrifying than I imagined."

"By the way, have you had it tested yet?"

"What’s your Talent rating?"

"Not yet. I was just about to go."

Han Feng answered truthfully.

"Then what are you standing around for? Go, hurry up!"

Zhao Yu slapped his thigh, looking exasperated, like he was scolding a slacker with great potential.

"This is something you should do sooner rather than later!"

"Once your rating is out, your salary, benefits, and resource allocation will all skyrocket!"

"Especially the Spirit Plant allocation! It might not be much, but it’s at least a stable supply. It can solve your most pressing problem!"

Han Feng nodded, but then a trace of hesitation appeared on his face.

"Engineer Zhao, I have a concern about the Talent assessment."

"Captain Zhang Hao warned me that once you’re assessed with a High Level Talent, all sorts of factions will swarm you like sharks that smell blood, offering so-called ’sponsorship agreements.’"

"He said the situation is murky and extremely risky, and that some talented students have even vanished without a trace because of it."

He looked directly at Zhao Yu and asked seriously,

"I’d like to hear your thoughts on this."

The smile on Zhao Yu’s face instantly vanished, his expression turning incredibly solemn.

He was silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly.

"Zhang Hao is right."

"He’s a down-to-earth guy and sees things very clearly."

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch."

"These conglomerates, including our Celestial Craft Group, aren’t running charities."

"Behind every tempting sponsorship agreement, there’s a steep price written in invisible ink."

He looked at Han Feng, explaining word by word,

"Let me lay out the ins and outs for you."

"If you were just a poor student with Talent but no other skills, then under desperate circumstances, I might suggest you accept a relatively legitimate sponsorship."

"From our Celestial Craft Group, for example."

"At least you know what you’re getting into, and the risks are manageable."

"But even then, you’d have to be prepared to become a piece of ’high-value property.’"

"Your personal freedom and future development would all be tied down by the agreement."

"However, you’re different."

Zhao Yu’s tone shifted, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

"You, kid, are an anomaly!"

"Your piloting skills? Calling you an ace would be an understatement!"

"Your mechanical skills? Even I feel inadequate in comparison!"

"You go out on one mission and earn more money with your skills than I make in an entire year!"

"You’re perfectly capable of supporting yourself!"

"Since you can stand on your own two feet and earn your money, why would you kneel and beg for it?"

"Every sponsorship comes with a price."

"One day they’ll have you test new weapons, the next they’ll send you to explore dangerous areas, and the day after that they’ll make you cooperate in genetic experiments..."

"If something happens, it’s just an ’accident.’"

"The agreement states it clearly in black and white: you assume all risks."

"You won’t even have a place to cry!"

Zhao Yu said resolutely,

"Remember, as long as you can stand on your own skills, never accept anyone’s sponsorship!"

"Freedom is more precious than any Spirit Plant!"

To further dissuade Han Feng, Zhao Yu seemed to remember something and added,

"Oh, right. There’s also some good news."

"Your special contribution bonus for the ’Falcon Third Generation’ project has been approved by the higher-ups."

"It will be deposited next month along with your salary and subsidies."

"I took a look. Your personal share is at least one hundred thousand Contribution Points!"

’Another huge sum of money in a month!’

The last trace of hesitation in Han Feng’s heart vanished like smoke.

With his current earning potential, there was truly no need to take such an unknown risk.

"I understand. Thank you for the advice, Engineer Zhao."

"Good that you understand."

Zhao Yu nodded in relief, but his brows quickly furrowed again.

"But that makes the slot for ’Suspended Mountain’ even more troublesome..."

"Getting one of those is harder than securing project funding. The favors and interests involved are too complex."

"Every year, plenty of B Level Students practically break their heads fighting for a slot."

He looked at Han Feng’s expectant gaze and changed the subject.

"However... there might actually be one way."

"I just don’t know if you can pull it off."

Han Feng’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"Please, Engineer Zhao, show me the way!"

"Do you know of the Su Family?"

Zhao Yu asked.

"The Su Family Conglomerate?"

Of course Han Feng knew.

One of the three great conglomerates of East Sea Fortress City.

On par with Star Sea Technology and the Celestial Craft Group.

A true behemoth in this city of steel.

It was said that the Su Family Conglomerate’s businesses covered everything from bio-genetics and Spiritual Power medicine to high-end material science.

They possessed immense financial power, with enough influence to sway the decisions of the council.

"Yes, that Su Family."

Zhao Yu nodded.

"The current Patriarch of the Su Family has a daughter named Su Muxue."

"This young lady is the true chosen one of our East Sea City."

"She currently has a custom-built fighter jet, project code name: ’Night Falcon.’"

"This jet has run into a bit of a technical bottleneck."

"The entire project team is stuck, and all progress has ground to a halt."

"What’s the problem?"

Han Feng was immediately interested.

"It’s a bit like the engine problem you solved with the ’Falcon Third Generation.’"

"But it’s infinitely more complex."

Zhao Yu explained,

"The ’Falcon Third Generation’ issue was just resonance inside the engine."

"With the ’Night Falcon,’ however, there’s a system-wide Energy conflict between the jet’s Energy Core, its conduction circuits, the Flight Control System, and its special external weapon systems."

"It’s a case of one slight change affecting the entire system."

"Modifying any single part triggers a new chain reaction."

Han Feng understood instantly.

’It’s like a peerless master suffering from cultivation deviation.’

’Their True Qi is running rampant, and their meridians are shattering.’

’It’s not something you can solve just by clearing one or two meridians.’

"The person in charge of this project is a friend of mine named Lin Xue."

"She has a very good relationship with Su Muxue, which is how she was able to land this private contract."

A hint of helplessness crept into Zhao Yu’s voice.

"But now she can’t solve the problem, and Miss Su is pressing her hard, apparently because she needs it urgently."

"If Lin Xue can’t produce a solution soon, the project will likely be snatched away by someone else."

"What about her mentor?"

Han Feng recalled that engineers who could independently manage projects of this level usually had a backer.

"That’s where the problem lies."

Zhao Yu sighed.

"Lin Xue’s mentor was originally the top expert in engine dynamics at our academy."

"But shortly after the project started, a transfer order came down, and he was sent to garrison the western Fourth Level Fortress City, ’Panshi Town,’ to serve as the chief technical engineer."

"A Fourth Level Fortress City?"

Han Feng was a bit surprised.

That place was far from the core region. Calling him a chief engineer was more like he was being exiled.

"Yeah, it’s very far away."

Zhao Yu spread his hands.

"As you know, after the Great Cataclysm, global communications were basically wiped out."

"Long-distance communication between Fortress Cities relies entirely on a few high-powered Spiritual Energy Communication Towers."

"The cost of a single call is exorbitant, and it’s reserved exclusively for the council and high-ranking military officials."

"People at our level can’t even apply to use it."

"If you want to contact someone privately, you have to rely on passing airships to carry messages."

"A round trip takes over half a month. How can you explain a complex technical problem in a letter? Distant water can’t quench a nearby thirst."

"As soon as her mentor left, the new department head, who never got along with her mentor, came in."

"Now he’s just waiting for Lin Xue to screw up so he can put his own people in her place."

"He only holds back from doing anything too obvious out of respect for the Su Family. Otherwise, the project would’ve been long gone."

Zhao Yu continued,

"Lin Xue is under a lot of pressure right now."

"This is her first major project that she’s independently responsible for."

"If she messes this up, it’ll be a huge stain on her record, and it’ll be difficult for her to get any core projects in the future."

"Her entire career could be affected."

Han Feng listened quietly, a rough outline of the situation already forming in his mind.