In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

After saying goodbye to Chen Changhe, Su Ran did not go straight back to the command post, but instead went into a temporarily empty rest room.

"Click".

He lit a cigarette, and the communicator on his wrist had been vibrating incessantly since earlier.

"This Minister Qian, he's more urgent than anyone else, even when it comes to pressing for our lives."

Su Ran shook her head helplessly. "These crystal cores are lying on the account. I think Minister Qian is more anxious than I am, the account holder."

The numbers on the Awakeners headquarters' public account are alarmingly long.

Previously, Lu Yuan had been granted 100,000 crystal cores in two consecutive approvals, and another 200,000 were used to mass-produce crystal core converters, totaling 400,000.

As it turned out, the front lines were so effective that the crystal cores he earned in the past two days exceeded the amount he spent.

The crystal core seemed to have the ability to reproduce, and the more it was used, the more there was.

At this moment, hundreds of thousands of first-order crystal cores lay quietly on the tent surface.

No wonder that old fox Qian Liye couldn't sit still.

Su Ran swiped open the screen and clicked on the "List of Applicants for Top-Tier Resources" sent by Minister Qian.

The projects were densely packed, all marked with red "urgent" labels.

"Improvement of the high-energy pulse rifle heat dissipation module; application for 10,000 first-order crystal cores..."

"Development of crystal-energy detonation landmines; application for 8,000 first-order crystal cores..."

"Design of a second-order pulse tool, application for fifty second-order crystal nuclei..."

Su Ran's fingers swiped quickly, and her gaze finally settled on a large item at the bottom of the list.

[Exoskeleton Armor Power Core Phase II Modification]

[Application Quota: 100,000 Tier 1 Crystal Cores]

[Note: This project is related to the preliminary technology accumulation for the 'Cheng Ying' mecha!]

Su Ran paused, her fingers holding the cigarette.

"Upgrading the exoskeleton armor—wasn't that something I personally approved in the three-step plan?"

Su Ran raised an eyebrow and muttered to herself, "Logically speaking, this kind of strategic project should have the highest priority. Why haven't the crystal cores been allocated yet? Even if the Strategic Reserve Department is broke, shouldn't they be willing to sell everything they own to fund this?"

Looking at the other side, all the various routine items have already shown "approved".

This core project, however, is still listed as "pending review".

"Money-grubbing fox," Su Ran cursed under his breath.

Logically speaking, the Strategic Reserves Department should approve such a priority project even with their eyes closed.

As a result, it has been delayed until now.

The meaning couldn't be clearer.

Minister Qian had calculated that Su Ran wouldn't just watch his plan fall through, and was waiting for him to foot the bill himself.

This saved the national treasury from its meager inventory while also advancing the project.

The abacus beads even hit Su Ran's face.

"They've got me cornered."

He wasn't annoyed; in fact, he felt like laughing and was too lazy to argue.

Besides, this is indeed a favor done in a convenient way.

The Awakeners' headquarters has too many crystal cores, which makes it easy for others to be envious. Only money spent on the project is considered a resource.

"Approved."

Su Ran pointed her finger.

[Approved: A special allocation of 100,000 Tier 1 Crystal Cores from the Awakened Headquarters, to be disbursed immediately.]

He then scrolled down, his eyes scanning each application project with keen insight.

"Portable Crystal Energy Shield Generator for Individual Soldiers..."

"Long-range heavy sniper cannon core rifling..."

"Improved technology for crystal energy converters..."

……

Su Ran gave the green light to any project that could improve combat power or increase survival rate without even blinking.

In just five minutes.

Another 200,000 crystal cores were scattered out.

In addition, there's the exoskeleton costing 100,000.

Three hundred thousand crystal cores were poured out like water.

Seeing her account balance shrink by a large margin in an instant, Su Ran actually felt a sense of relief.

"That's making the best use of resources."

Stubbornly putting out her cigarette, Su Ran stretched her stiff wrists. "Now it's peaceful, and I won't be constantly being targeted by people."

At the same time.

Strategic Reserves Department, Minister's Office.

The air was thick with the smell of secondhand smoke and a sense of unease.

Qian Liye's hair was a mess, and his bloodshot eyes were fixed on the reports in front of him, the red pen in his hand almost piercing the paper.

"Cut it! This absolutely has to be cut! Regular batteries are fine for drone formations, why bother applying for crystalline energy batteries?"

"Cut this too! They want sophisticated equipment before the lab is even built? Let them do the data calculations in their tents first! They'll be lucky if it's even useful!"

"No crystal cores! No supplies! Do they all think I'm a rich landlord?!"

Qian Liye slammed his fist on the table and roared, spittle flying everywhere.

The project managers sitting opposite him shrank back, not daring to breathe.

There's nothing you can do; even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice.

Even the landlords didn't have any surplus grain.

"Bang!"

Just then, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

"minister!"

The young confidential secretary looked flustered, holding a tablet computer in her hands.

"What's the panic! Even if the sky falls, there are always taller people to hold it up!"

Qian Liye roared angrily, "Which department is here to collect debts again? Tell them, we have no supplies, but you can take our lives!"

"No, we don't need supplies!"

The secretary, panting heavily and her face flushed, handed the tablet to Qian Liye.

"Yes, it's Advisor Su!"

"Consultant Su? What happened to Consultant Su?"

Qian Liye's heart skipped a beat, and he muttered to himself, "Did he set conditions? Or is he eyeing some project and wants to get involved?"

He muttered to himself as he grabbed the tablet.

however.

When he saw the string of green "Passed" messages on the screen, the old man froze.

[The exoskeleton armor project, requiring 100,000 crystal cores, has been approved.]

The Crystal Energy Shield project, with 30,000 crystal cores, has been approved.

[Heavy Sniper Cannon Project...]

……

The series of numbers adds up to over 300,000!

Qian Liye rubbed his eyes, took off his reading glasses, wiped them, and put them back on.

Three seconds later.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Qian Liye suddenly burst into wild laughter, his face crinkling with laughter.

"Advisor Su... Ah, I knew it! Advisor Su is a man who considers the big picture! He truly understands our difficulties!"

He let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and felt as if the heavy weight on his chest had been lifted away in an instant.

With these 300,000 crystal cores as a foundation, many projects that were stuck in bottlenecks can immediately get running again.

Qian Liye slammed the tablet on the table, waved his hand, and exuded an air of great pride.

"Quickly! Notify all project teams that the materials are on time. We'll work through the night to catch up on the schedule!"

"Also, reinstate those projects I just cut! Immediately! Right now!"