Li Mo and Heavenly Dog stood at the foot of Jade City.

This was their first time coming here on their own initiative.

They stepped into the elevator.

The elevator made a faint running sound.

Li Mo couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. He asked the Mountain Dog next to him, "Big Dog, do you think our project will get approved this time?"

Heavenly Dog let out a sound.

"It should be okay, right? Our stuff this time isn't bad, something the company doesn't have yet."

"The stuff is definitely good."

Li Mo was a bit worried, "I mean, the team members we have, their identities are quite sensitive... We've taken in two mutants, and we're only reporting it now. The chairman will definitely be angry."

"If there's punishment, we'll face it together. When the time comes, we'll both plead with the chairman to go easy..."

Heavenly Dog said this, but his eyes also showed some unease.

"Hopefully this can make up for our mistakes,"

Li Mo scratched his head.

The elevator dinged as it reached the top floor.

Li Mo and Heavenly Dog arrived outside the door of room 3101.

The door was open.

The two looked inside, seemingly seeing no one.

Li Mo knocked on the door.

A white-haired woman clad in a nun's outfit emerged from inside.

It was Liang Zi.

"Are you looking for the chairman?"

Li Mo nodded.

"Then you'll have to wait a bit. The chairman went to the school to visit the students. He said that if any of our own came looking for him, to let you come in and have a seat."

Liang Zi explained.

Li Mo and Heavenly Dog exchanged a look, both seeing the other's shock.

Could it be that the chairman had foreseen their visit?

It made sense.

Li Mo thought immediately.

All the company's movements near Yalong Bay, the chairman must be well aware of.

Meaning, the chairman has known about the Qian brothers' situation for a long time.

If that were the case... It should be fine, right? Otherwise, they would have been scolded or even kicked out of the company long ago.

This was what Li Mo thought.

Li Mo then asked, "Miss Liang Zi, has anything been happening at the school recently?"

Liang Zi casually replied, "Recently, we've established a partnership with the three major Sea People Gangs, and they sent some sea children to attend Mushroom Forest Primary School. Maybe that's what it is. The new sea children will need time to integrate into the school environment."

Li Mo was shocked, "Is the company planning to fully enter the Dead Sea?"

"The chairman didn't say."

Liang Zi lowered her voice, "But it seems like it."

The Dead Sea covers ninety percent of the world, an unavoidable major environment.

The company actively contacting the Sea People Gangs who dominate the Dead Sea, to gather their strength, was undoubtedly in preparation for exploring the deep-sea areas.

Various thoughts flashed through Li Mo's mind.

If that were the case.

Then the stuff their team developed would be even more valuable!

About an hour later.

The owner of Jade City appeared at the entrance.

"Oh? It's Li Mo and Heavenly Dog? How have things been progressing with you guys lately?"

The black-haired young man asked in a relaxed tone.

Li Mo immediately stood up and said, properly, "Chairman, we have made some progress. But before that, please allow me to confess to a mistake."

"Let's hear it."

The other party sat on the sofa, looking calm.

"Chairman, we've taken in two mutants."

Li Mo dared not hide anything and recounted the events in detail.

The company's other departments were thriving, and Li Mo and Heavenly Dog did not want to fall behind. They started expanding their team. More hands and minds could generate new things.

Chairman Zhou Yi had approved this application early on.

Li Mo and Heavenly Dog brought in three people.

One was a glass craftsman who had moved to Sand Port, named Zhu Fang. He was thirty years old with over ten years of glassmaking experience.

The second was a C-level material engineer recruited through Recursive City, Anaiso A4. Its main body was a desktop composite material 3D printer.

The last one was a Water Octopus named Yuke, a friend of Bi Qi, the director of the medical and skeletal laboratory. Yuke was also a Silver Seal Alchemist, researching life support systems in the Dead Sea environment.

Yuke had retired from the Alchemist Association due to illness early on.

After an organ repair surgery that required long-term observation and periodic reviews, Yuke simply settled in the Mushroom House District of Jade City. Li Mo asked Bi Qi for help persuading Yuke, and Yuke readily agreed to join.

With sufficient manpower, the Li Mo and Heavenly Dog team significantly improved the existing material application development progress.

"Chairman, we've managed to extend Flame Cup's operating time. The Floating Heart can do it, but it's not portable, and it requires refueling and adding sugar, costing over 10 Light Seeds, which is beyond what an average person can afford."

Li Mo explained his idea, "So we need to find a portable substitute. Both Heavenly Dog and I believe the Stone Shedding from building life is the best."

"Stone Shedding is a renewable resource, releasing radioactive heat that can last for decades. As long as it's cut and encapsulated small enough, it can power the Flame Cup."

"But practical operation is much harder than theory."

"While experimenting in the Dead Sea, we encountered two mutants who sensed the Stone Shedding's radiation and approached, thinking it was another of their kind."

Li Mo cautiously observed Zhou Yi's expression.

His face remained serene.

Li Mo felt a bit relieved; it seemed the chairman was aware.

"These two mutants are brothers. The older one is Qian Ping, the younger one is Qian An. They escaped from the Freedom Army."

"Mutant rebels?" The chairman frowned.

"Yes."

Li Mo quickly added, "But they are both ordinary E-level mutants, serving as engineers in the Freedom Army. They were originally blacksmiths, but due to poor business management and debt accumulation, they were caught to undergo mutant experiments to pay off the debt."

"When the Freedom Army passed through their city, they received help and joined them. However, after their unit was defeated in battle, they deserted and wandered to the Floating Island, hiding close to us."

"They had used Stone Shedding before and said the Freedom Army has been using it for a while, having mastered the cutting and usage techniques. The Qian brothers taught us this technology."

"When you were out on a trip, I saw their outstanding abilities and boldly decided to temporarily keep them in our team, forbidding them from leaving the Yalong Bay workspace."

The chairman drank his tea, listening quietly.

Li Mo took an item out of Heavenly Dog's backpack and placed it on the table.

"Chairman, this is the Stone Shedding Flame Cup we created."

The chairman turned his attention to the new tool.

Li Mo introduced, "It's a small stove built with Light Soot, holding a piece of Stone Shedding, measuring 22*22*23mm."

He opened the two outer covers of the stove, revealing the small square Stone Shedding fixed in a metal slot embedded within the Light Soot.

"By activating the Stone Shedding through Light Soot, it can emit heat when uncovered."

"This simple and effective structure has been used by the Freedom Army for heating. They typically place it in a lead box for a furnace-like effect."

Li Mo noticed a trace of interest in the chairman's eyes.

He promptly continued, "With a growing stock of Stone Shedding, our Stone Shedding Flame Cup can become a useful tool for fieldwork."

"It's lightweight and portable, and even if constantly on, it can burn for at least five years, enough for heating and boiling water."

The chairman's gaze suddenly sharpened, "Does it have any environmental requirements?"

"No requirements, it doesn't need to be in the Dead Sea, external environments don't affect it."

"What about Mars and the Moon?"

Li Mo was taken aback.

He initially wanted to say there wouldn't be a problem.

But he held back cautiously, "Regarding extraterrestrial environments, this needs practical tests on-site. But because its mechanism is simple, using Stone Shedding for heat radiation, the Light Soot layer as a heat transfer medium, and an outer shell for protection to avoid improper handling burns."

"Ultimately achieving the Flame Cup's heating effect through a changed power-supply process."

The chairman's expression turned serious, "What about the costs?"

"With the Stone Shedding sizes we need, even the smallest pieces produced in Jade City can each be cut to yield 40 Stone Shedding heat sources."

"Good."

The chairman showed a gratifying smile, "So, you want to keep the Qian brothers?"

"If possible…"

Li Mo said, "Without them, we wouldn't have these Stone Shedding cutting techniques. Although energy utilization drops after cutting, it becomes safer to use. These Stone Shedding heat sources have a wide range of applications."

"Let them work with your team."

The chairman readily agreed, "Managing them will be your and Heavenly Dog's responsibility. Keep them in Yalong Bay to avoid radiation affecting others until the decoupling surgery is complete."

"Understood!"

Li Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He glanced at Heavenly Dog beside him.

This partner had been spaced out since they came in, not knowing if he was dazing off or playing dumb.

Damn it!

I still had to face the chairman's pressure on my own.

They agreed to face it together, but seeing the chairman had this mutt completely speechless!

Li Mo felt somewhat disappointed.

Fine, fine, you started this!

He devised a plan, "Chairman, Heavenly Dog has something to report to you too."

"Oh?"

The chairman turned to Heavenly Dog.

He trembled all over, panic-stricken, "Uh... I... I..."

He stuttered for a while without completing a sentence.

Finally, he said with gritted teeth, "Chairman, let me wish you a Happy New Year!"

"..."

Even the chairman was left awkward, his face stiffened.

"..."

Yuan Xiao stayed silent.

Liang Zi stayed silent.

Li Mo also felt a bit overwhelmed.

He had to muster up courage, "Actually, besides this, we have other breakthroughs. Though currently not as mature as the Stone Shedding Flame Cup, we've undergone several rounds of testing."

This project was originally to be reported after the technology matured, to obtain resource allocation.

But given the current situation… it was the only way to salvage.

Li Mo paused, "We've developed the 'Dead Sea Work Uniform' that allows even normal humans to work in the Dead Sea, whether walking, digging, carrying, measuring, or surveying, without issues."

The chairman's eyes suddenly became sharp.

"Are you certain it's usable?"

"Yes."

Li Mo nodded, "Although complex in technique, and costly."

"Then go test it in the Dead Sea now."

The chairman's tone was unquestionable, "Let's see its actual effect."

"Understood."

Li Mo glanced at Heavenly Dog beside him.

Heavenly Dog looked dejected, not daring to make eye contact with him.

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