Trickster Hunter.

Chapter 570 No. 116

“However, this has given me an idea.” Taug calmed down, interlaced his fingers, and stared at the computer screen. “We have tested the meme sequence of G09 countless times. There is no doubt that after so many years of screening and optimization, the meme sequence of G09 should be very stable… So there is only one possibility that could cause it to go out of control…”

Tao Ge looked up at his assistant, Xiao Li, and said, "It has been stimulated by external factors, and this stimulation is very likely to come from No. 116."

"But you just said, even if No. 116 were to contaminate G09's memes, it would only happen after G09 went out of control..." Xiao Li said in astonishment, "The video recording couldn't possibly be wrong..."

“External stimuli and memetic contamination are required. To put it another way, some memetic contamination doesn’t even necessarily require physical contact.” Taoge slowly shook his head. “I think the problem most likely lies with Number 116.”

"So what?" A third voice suddenly broke in. The tall and burly Meng Yunfeng pushed open the laboratory door and strode in. "You've been researching for so long, and you're just going to use this excuse to fool the board of directors?"

“If Number 116 is willing to cooperate with me in the experiment, I will definitely be able to find the problem…” Tao Ge said immediately.

"Why should they cooperate with your experiments? G09 almost killed him once he lost control. He's not one of those freelance hunters without connections; he's a registered hunter at the Kuaiji Mystery Research Institute. If you trace it back, his superior is the Tian Shu Tower. We almost killed one of Tian Shu Tower's men, and you're planning to tell the city defense army and Tian Shu Tower? G09, who almost killed someone, is fine; the problem is with the person who almost got killed?"

Meng Yunfeng grew increasingly angry as he spoke: "Tao Ge, have you been brainwashed by all these colorful reagents? Do you even know what the purpose of forming this hunting team is? At this critical juncture, what you're saying is tantamount to slapping Tian Shu Tower in the face! Let me tell you the truth, even if the entire G09 project is scrapped, even if the group loses hundreds of millions, the board of directors will never allow you to investigate Number 116!"

“It’s not an investigation…” Tagore emphasized, “We just need his cooperation to do some simple tests. I guarantee with my integrity that there is absolutely no danger to his life!”

"Your character? You don't think your character is worth more than your life in other people's eyes, do you?" Meng Yunfeng sneered. "Also, you asked him to cooperate with you on the test, wasn't it just to shift the blame for G09's loss of control onto him? Do you think he's stupid or the board of directors is stupid?"

“I’m not saying that the responsibility for G09’s loss of control lies with No. 116! Instructor Meng, you probably don’t understand because you’re not involved in research. Memes aren’t so clearly defined—G09’s meme is very stable, and No. 116’s meme is also very stable, but when these two come into contact, they may produce a ‘special chemical reaction,’ causing G09 to completely lose control. I believe the researchers at Tian Shu Tower will definitely accept this explanation, because this situation is frequently seen in experiments. We just need to figure out why the two react, and we can ensure the safety of G09 and continue production…” Tao Ge explained, spitting as he spoke—to be honest, he really hoped that the person who came wasn’t Meng Yunfeng but someone else. With a guy like Meng Yunfeng, whose muscles were all in his head, he often felt a sense of helplessness, like “a scholar encountering a soldier, unable to reason with him.”

"Would the people of Tian Shu Tower accept this explanation? Heh, I think they'll just think we're shirking responsibility," Meng Yunfeng said coldly, staring at Tao Ge.

"No, you don't understand the people of Tian Shu Tower. They're a bunch of research fanatics. They don't care about saving face; they're only interested in experimental data. As long as we can produce sufficiently credible data, they won't even need us to continue our research; they'll conduct even more insane tests on Number 116 themselves." Faced with Meng Yunfeng's skepticism, Tao Ge had to speed up his speech. "We just need to..."

"Enough!" Meng Yunfeng interrupted Tao Ge. "Those research fanatics might be interested in your bullshit data, but before they know about it, the city defense army's higher-ups and the managers of the Tian Shu Tower will see it first. Do you think they'll care about their reputation?"

"This is the purest form of academic research. If the Celestial Pivot Tower can even be considered an academic institution, then it shouldn't—"

"Since you know so much about Tian Shu Tower, why didn't you get in? Instead, you came to this desolate border region to work for someone else?" Meng Yunfeng mocked. "Tao Ge, let me tell you the truth, just give up on that idea. Even if Tian Shu Tower and the city defense army were willing to believe you, the board of directors would still reject your proposal—do you know how much effort the board has put in over the years to establish a connection with Tian Shu Tower? G09 is just one of the many research projects of the Bai Group; it's not even considered a core industry of the Bai Group. To keep this project, the board of directors has to risk all their efforts over the years going to waste... What do you think they will choose?"

“Those people on the board of directors…” Tao Ge was stunned. He suddenly realized that Meng Yunfeng was right.

No matter how compelling the evidence he can present, and no matter how many people are willing to believe him, he will first and foremost fail to pass the test of the Bai Group's board of directors.

Capital's only interest in research projects is the profit they can generate. Once the risks involved in a research project far outweigh the potential profits, capital will not hesitate to cut the project.

Given the current situation, if Taug remains "stubborn to the end," the White Group wouldn't mind cutting Taug out along with the project.

"Chopping" in a physical sense.

Tao Ge slumped down, looking dejected.

“Taoge, we’ve known each other for so many years, let me give you some advice.” Meng Yunfeng’s tone softened slightly. “What you need to do now is not to find out the truth behind G09’s loss of control, but to find a reason that the board of directors, the city defense army, and Tian Shu Tower can all accept—you’re a talented person, and as long as you know your limits, the group will naturally find a way to protect you. As for the G09 project, it’s not worth you giving it your all… After G09 is gone, you can continue to research G10 and G11, no one’s stopping you! You have to come up with this reason, even if you have to make it up, understand?”

“I…I understand…” Taug nodded.

Standing to the side, Xiao Li suddenly felt that Tao Ge's tone seemed to have aged more than ten years in an instant.

“You have eight hours left. After eight hours, you must come up with a proposal that will satisfy the board of directors,” Meng Yunfeng said.

"Hmm..." Tao Ge slowly raised his head again, "Um... Number 116, how are his injuries?"

“They’re all superficial injuries, nothing life-threatening,” Meng Yunfeng said. “He’s currently staying in the group’s internal hospital. Actually, given his condition, he could be discharged at any time, but we’re trying to keep him in the ward before this matter escalates… That’s why the board is so eager for an explanation from you. Now you know, right?”

"After this matter is resolved, can I go see him?" Taug asked.

"What, you want to apologize to them in person? Miss Bai will handle this. As the head of the hunting team and the future heir of the Bai Group, she is more suitable for this than you," Meng Yunfeng said. "At this critical juncture, you'd better not appear in the public eye."

“No, I want to speak with him privately,” Taug said. “I want to invite him to participate in the research project on a personal basis…”

"You still won't give up?" Meng Yunfeng's eyes widened, his voice rising several decibels. "Tao Ge, are you tired of living?" "What I mean is, on the surface, I'll find a reason that everyone can accept... but the problem between G09 and Number 116 is real. To resolve this, I need Number 116's cooperation... I think he's definitely short of money. If he weren't, he wouldn't have traveled so far to participate in this hunt, nor would he have joined our hunting party. We believe that if we give him enough reward, he should be willing to cooperate... After all, participating in a hunt is also life-threatening," Tao Ge said.

“You probably don’t need to worry about that. The G09 project will be canceled 100% of the time,” Meng Yunfeng said. “As for those defects and problems, let them sink without a trace.”

"Is the board really going to abandon this project completely? Don't they realize how much potential it has? Even if the reliability of G09 is questioned, we can just rename it... Didn't you just say that I can research G10, G11...? These all have to be done based on the existing G09, so we'll inevitably face this problem. What I need to do isn't to run away or turn a blind eye; this is like planting a time bomb..."

"Alright, stop." Meng Yunfeng stepped forward, pressed down on Tao Ge's shoulder with a little force, and pushed Tao Ge, who was trying to stand up, back into his seat. "Since you know there's a time bomb, what you need to do is completely abandon this project. There will be other research projects, but they won't be based on G09... If you want to continue working for the group, then abandon everything from the past and start from scratch... I'll say it again, you're a talented person, you shouldn't waste your life and talent on a project that's already failed."

“Starting from scratch… Hahahaha.” Tao suddenly laughed. “Do you know how low the probability of successfully developing G09 is? Such a low-probability event, many people might not even encounter it once in their entire lives, and you want me to start from scratch… Hahahaha…”

“If you continue to insist on doing something you’ll never encounter in your entire life, then your life is probably coming to an end very soon.” Meng Yunfeng’s tone already carried a hint of threat. “Alright, that’s enough, I should go now. Oh, by the way, let me remind you of something: before you go to see the board members tonight, take a good shower. The smell on you right now is really too strong.”

After Meng Yunfeng left, only Tao Ge and his assistant Xiao Li remained in the laboratory.

Xiao Li looked at him with some concern and tentatively asked, "Potter... are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Tao leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"That fifteenth experiment..."

“There’s no point in doing it anymore.” Taug sighed. “It’s all over, everything is ruined…”

"Potter...would you like something to drink?" Xiao Li asked in a low voice. "How about I pour you a glass of water? Or, make you a cup of coffee?"

“No eating in the lab,” Tao said casually, completely ignoring his earlier chocolate-eating spree. He stood up, took off his stained white lab coat, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can. “I’m going back to take a shower. What do you want to eat tonight? It’s on me.”

"Huh?" Xiao Li was taken aback. "No, no need for pottery to spend money, I can just eat at the cafeteria..."

“It’s okay. Everyone has worked hard these past two days. Let’s invite the people who worked overtime with me last night, and we’ll go find a nice restaurant… Although I’m a little reluctant, this project is finally over, and everyone should relax a bit,” Tao Ge said.

"Okay...okay, I'll contact them right away." Xiao Li nodded.

……

……

Bai's Group internal hospital.

Ward 001, Special Care Unit.

Cheng Ming, his body covered in bandages, sat on the hospital bed. A sweet-looking nurse with a curvaceous figure was peeling fruit for him, while another mature nurse with a completely different style was holding Cheng Ming's arm and carefully cleaning a wound.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Cheng Ming could clearly feel his arm being squeezed by something soft from time to time.

What is this? A sugar-coated bullet?
Or is it that the Bai Group is worried that they will reveal the truth, so they plan to use this method to shut them up?

Cheng Ming glanced at the serious-looking security guard standing at the door, unsure whether he was there to protect him or to keep an eye on him to prevent him from running away.

To Cheng Ming's surprise, the other party did not take away his phone or directly restrict his personal safety.

The doctor told him this morning that he could be discharged at any time, but they suggested that Cheng Ming stay in the hospital for observation for another week.

The expressionless girl also came to see Cheng Ming. She not only apologized to Cheng Ming, but also offered extremely generous compensation terms. Cheng Ming only learned today that this expressionless girl named Bai Lingqiu was actually the daughter of the Bai family patriarch, the future heir of the Bai Group, and also the leader of this hunting team.

Bai Lingqiu told Cheng Ming that he would be unconditionally accepted into the hunting party and would receive five times the extra reward and authority equivalent to that of a vice-leader.

As for the departure time of the hunting party, it is a week later.

(End of this chapter)