"The Moon, huh?"
"Didn't they say there wouldn't be any construction bases?"
"True, but to monitor Earth's situation, it seems they want to set up an enhanced radar station on the Moon."
"But Earth has neutron jammers, right?"
"I have a plan for that."
"Were you working on this during your recent overtime?"
"Exactly. There haven't been any units to research lately, so what else would I be doing here?"
Sule continued with a hint of resignation.
"I initially planned not to take you, but this time the Hailan Design Bureau issued a direct order, stating your previous contributions on the battlefield were substantial, and they need your expertise. They flattered you with all sorts of nice words, but it's likely some people are afraid you might develop the beam weapon before they do, and they want to undermine your research environment."
Now that there was a beginning, many felt that the remaining work could be completed by themselves, so they naturally wanted to get rid of He Kui's presence.
"Is it really to that extent?"
"Excluding rivals is common practice."
"Especially after the incident at Clark Design Bureau."
"There's nothing they can do; they're operating within the system, and it's hard to find fault."
It was true that they praised He Kui's capabilities, and now that he had proven himself, the design bureau was utilizing him more frequently, offering adequate compensation. He had no grounds to refuse.
Under Sule's concerned gaze, He Kui took a deep breath, thinking of Shi He, who had been eagerly anticipating his research progress since the beginning, as well as his own goals. He felt a pang in his heart; this would only prolong his path.
But as Sule had said, their approach was dictated by institutional rules, and he lacked the power or connections to resist. Idealistic notions were merely brushed aside by the higher-ups.
"When do we leave? How long will we be there?"
"We're departing next week. If the research plan goes smoothly, it should take about a month. Once the radar station is stable, we can operate it remotely through PLANT's terminals."
"And if it doesn't go well?"
"If things don't go well, it will likely still take about a month. There's no need to stay there indefinitely."
The decision had been made. Unless he wanted to be labeled a traitor, He Kui had to accept the situation, no matter how frustrating it became. He had witnessed the consequences of betrayal, especially with his parents still residing here.
However, he was aware that even now, the Moon wasn't peaceful. The two sides were currently locked in conflict around the Grimardi Crater, engaging in numerous skirmishes.
Though Sule had indicated that they likely wouldn't see combat, the proximity to the battlefield still posed a danger.
If the enemy launched a surprise attack while they were setting up the radar, it could become a reality.
After finishing his assessment, He Kui walked along the wide avenue of the design bureau, still preoccupied with his thoughts, when he bumped into a kind-looking middle-aged man.
"You must be He Kui?"
The man's smile was warm and inviting.
"And you are?"
"I'm the director of Shi He's research group."
"Nice to meet you."
He Kui couldn't read the man's intentions and only offered a polite reply.
"I heard you're being transferred to the Moon?"
"Yes."
"The Moon isn't a good place. How is your research progressing?"
"It's going okay."
The man's overly friendly demeanor and the sensitivity of the topic made He Kui cautious.
"If your power component shows any progress, let me know, and I can help you complete it here. You'd be at ease, of course, you could also join our team. A husband-and-wife duo would be wonderful. Otherwise, I foresee difficulties in your current research."
"What do you mean?"
As the man's friendly demeanor turned frosty, He Kui maintained his politeness.
"What do you think? I have a thousand ways to make your research impossible. Of course, if you give me first authorship, I might consider it."
"…Alright, I'll think about it."
He Kui clenched his fists and lowered his head.
"Okay, let's go. I'll give you some time to consider."
Hearing the director's condescending words, He Kui nodded and didn't linger.
This director was clearly the instigator. With a mix of frustration and disdain for his hypocrisy, He Kui gritted his teeth but chose to endure. He had no way to change the situation at present; it was better to remain hidden for now.
The director watched He Kui's retreating figure, his smile slowly fading into a gloomy expression.
---
"Moon."
"He Kui, do you want to go to the Moon?"
Shi He, hearing He Kui's murmurs from the documents in front of her, looked up in confusion.
"Not exactly. I need to go to the Moon to help set up the radar station."
He Kui tried to calmly repeat Sule's words.
"No wonder the director has been inquiring about you lately!"
Shi He exclaimed with indignation. Although she was a member of the Sara faction, her loyalty was to the idea of defending their homeland through armed means, not engaging in internal power struggles.
Hearing Shi He's words, He Kui sighed. It seemed the director, who had previously remained neutral, was now taking action. However, there was no avoiding the experiment; although he had no legitimate reason to prevent Shi He from entering, even without face-to-face contact, a single word from the director could easily put them at a disadvantage.
"We should be able to conduct the experiments directly on the Moon!"
Shi He looked over the materials and contemplated for a moment, her expression turning serious instead of exhibiting the defeat or impulse to lash out at the director that He Kui had expected.
"Experiment? Testing the beam weapon?"
He Kui, who had been worried, felt a surge of excitement at Shi He's words.
"Yes! The power component is already complete. Although it hasn't undergone data testing yet, it seems to be functioning without major issues. I'll strive to gather more data and publish the paper soon, which should allow us to conduct real-world verification."
Shi He's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
"What about the cooling component? Can we test it now?"
He Kui maintained his calm and cautious demeanor while inquiring.
"Based on my experience, as long as the cooling system is a bit larger, it shouldn't be a problem. With your ability, He Kui, I believe you'll find a way to tackle it in due time! Currently, the only beam weapon we can use in actual combat is the M69 'Elephant' model mounted on the Kinn D equipment type, and it can only fire three shots. However, it has already played a crucial role in siege warfare. Now that we can test it, the Hailan Design Bureau won't have a reason to stop us."
"What if the experiment fails?"
He Kui asked cautiously, knowing that without a cooling system, many uncertainties remained.
"The cost won't be too high; we might just lose some bonuses."
"And what about the test machine?"
"I'll aim to get the latest model, the Sig."
The Sig was an improved model of the Kinn, with overall performance superior to that of the Kinn.
"Then let's give it a shot!"
After weighing the pros and cons, He Kui slowly nodded.
He had conducted on-site tests in battle before, and with Shi He's Adjuster abilities and the Sig's superior performance, their test machine wouldn't be at the forefront, ensuring a level of safety.
With this thought, He Kui stood up and gently wrapped his arms around Shi He's soft form.
"Thank you."
He whispered.
"We're a couple."
Shi He's face flushed as she replied.
At that moment, the shadow that had been hanging over He Kui's heart lifted, replaced by an excitement that was hard to contain.
As long as he could become part of the director's team, their lives would gain more security, allowing them to bid farewell to this precarious existence.
It wasn't until Shi He nuzzled against his chest that He Kui's excitement gradually calmed down.
"Let go for now; we have plenty to prepare tonight."
Shi He playfully chided.
With so much to handle within a week, the two would be kept busy.
"Okay!"
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