Great, we're doomed now!

The graduate student next to him secretly groaned:

The teacher's temper flared up again!

But this time it's different. The person in front of me isn't the department head, nor the personnel department, nor any of those high-society figures. This is one of the biggest financial backers in all of Japan!

"So, you also think that Zildar Gas will affect your profits? Even someone like me knows that Jiushi Group is a top domestic enterprise. You want to control the energy market, right?"

"..."

Even though Ye Shou had anticipated Dr. Nezu's lack of worldly wisdom, he still couldn't hold back.

The energy market? What does that have to do with Japan's Etsu?

Far Eastern island nations are typical energy importers, extremely dependent on external energy supplies, and have always had no say in international markets, having absolutely no bargaining power.

The energy market is basically dominated by a few giants, and the Japanese government can't afford to offend any of them.

Neither Dr. Nezu nor Dr. Yao realized just how much potential resistance their development—Zelda Gas and Magus Power—had!

If you dare to block someone's path to wealth, even the President of the United States will kill you!

If we really want to promote this new energy source that can change the world, it's best to wait until humanity enters the space age and traditional energy sources can no longer meet our needs.

In other words, we'll have to wait until TPC and the Space Development Agency have enough influence.

But Ye Shou didn't intend to persuade him from that perspective, so he just sighed and said with a serious expression, "Doctor, although I haven't seriously studied the samples yet, I believe in the potential of Zildar gas. But for that reason, I can't let you continue your research."

"I--"

"Don't rush."

Ye Shou gestured, then paused, "Are you aware of the monster attack not long ago?"

Nezu paused for a moment: "Of course... I was in the lab the whole time, but it was too noisy outside. Later, the students came in and tried to pull me away, and that's when I found out there was a monster."

So that's why these documents are piled up—Ye Shou glanced at them, picked up a book, and casually flipped through it.

Nezu frowned, but didn't stop him: "It's surprising that monsters really exist in this world, but does that have anything to do with what we're discussing?"

"Of course."

Ye Shou said solemnly, "Aside from residential houses, the only other place on that monster's route is this factory."

"...You mean it came out of the mountains for my Zelda gas?"

Nezu found it utterly absurd: "How is this possible? My research has never been published, all along—"

"How do you manage the experimental samples?" Ye Shou asked. "And how do you handle the waste generated during the process?"

“Each sample is stored in a temperature-controlled incubator, and the waste is stored and then disposed of using the equipment in this factory.”

That's probably where the mistake occurred—Ye Shou suddenly realized.

Although it's unclear whether the sample was lost or the waste wasn't properly cleaned, it was eventually touched by the tanuki clan and ended up with the great yokai.

"Doctor, did you strictly follow every step without any oversights?"

"……What do you mean?"

"I mean, that monster might have come into contact with low-purity Zelda gas, which is why it turned into that form."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Dr. Nezu's expression changed drastically, and he even felt insulted: "I'm creating clean energy, not some kind of biological weapon. My technology isn't used for that kind of thing!"

"But you haven't conducted any biological experiments either, have you?"

"This is an energy source, as long as environmental pollution is controlled within..."

"What if animals ingest large quantities of it? For example, eat it directly?"

"..."

Nezu was completely puzzled: "This isn't some kind of gourmet food... animals probably wouldn't be interested in it either."

Yes, simple wild animals will seek advantage and avoid harm, but intelligent beings are capable of far more than you can imagine.

The raccoon's own playful and unruly nature was also a major reason for the accident!

"My people collected biological samples on site and will send them to you later. Dr. Nezu, you can analyze them yourself to see if they are related to Zildar gas."

Ye Shou remained polite throughout: "I'll probably be staying here for the next few days. Here's my contact information... Please call me if there are any results."

Dr. Nezu hesitated for a moment, but seeing that Ye Shou's expression did not seem to be deliberately teasing or fooling him, he slowly nodded.

“I will… If Zelda gas really does have the potential to cause biological mutations, then I…”

He hesitated. For scientists, the importance of intellectual achievements is no less than the inheritance of bloodlines. It took extraordinary determination to abandon a research project to which he had devoted so much effort.

"I'll start over!"

He finally spoke up: "In any case, developing new energy sources is for the future of humanity. If it turns out to destroy the ecosystem, then we've put the cart before the horse!"

Ding!

[Fate Coins (Sila, Nezu and her father) +3]

"……it is good!"

A hint of admiration for Nezu flashed in Ye Shou's eyes.

Sure enough, he still admired scientists with normal thinking more—Kayaba Akihiko's standing with him was getting lower and lower!

"Even if Zildar gas is eventually found to have hidden dangers, it may not be without value. Just like nitroglycerin is a dangerous explosive, it can also be used to treat diseases and save patients' lives under certain conditions."

As time flows, the properties of things also change.

I believe that as long as technology continues to advance, one day humanity will be able to master more means of obtaining energy, and Zilda Gas may be among them.

Thank you for your kind words.

Ye Shou spoke earnestly, and Dr. Nezu couldn't help but be moved. It was rare to encounter someone who understood him, even if he had some doubts about his research results... But after he finished speaking, he felt something was off.

Ye Shou seemed to have made these remarks based on two premises: "Zirda Gas Energy has been successfully developed" and "There must be hidden dangers."

But Nezu hadn't demonstrated it to him, hadn't even looked at the sample carefully, and the creator himself wasn't sure when high-concentration purification could be achieved... Where did Ye Shou's confidence come from?

“If you don’t mind, I would like to extend an invitation to you on behalf of the Kuze Group and TPC to sponsor the Nezu Research Institute from now on.”

This is the main event!

Nezu exclaimed "Ah!" He hadn't expected Ye Shou to go to such lengths, implying that he no longer expected the Zildar gas to be of any use in the short term, yet he still wanted to be Ye Shou's sugar daddy.

This is very unusual!

Because capitalists tend to reap the rewards more often than they are willing to nurture saplings from the ground up!

"This……"

Nezu hesitated for only a moment before his two disciples immediately took over the conversation.

"Of course you're welcome! It's our honor to cooperate with Kuze!"

"Is that what Mr. Nezu thinks too?"

"Ah, I..."

"Professor! You haven't been home for a long time, have you?" the student pleaded earnestly. "We both think you are an amazing person, so we don't mind if the treatment isn't good, but your family... at least move the lab back to Tokyo."

"Yeah~"

Thinking of his lovely daughter and his wife, who was always very unhappy with his obsession with research, he nodded slowly but firmly in agreement.

"Thank you, Mr. Kuze... but if there's a problem with Zildar Gas, I'm not sure how long it will take to come up with a second viable project."

teacher!

The graduate students were in despair, but then they were filled with renewed energy.

"It's okay, waiting a little while is worthwhile."

Ye Shou stepped forward, took the initiative to extend his hand, and grasped Dr. Nezu's hand with great care and respect—completely different from his previous perfunctory attitude towards the manager.

"For the future of humanity!"

This person... although he questioned my research right from the start, his attitude and stance were impeccable!

Dr. Nezu opened his mouth, feeling the warmth of his hand, but ultimately couldn't say anything, only exerting force forcefully.

"For the future of humanity!"

I've fooled another one. Uncle Sawai should have a statue erected for me at TPC headquarters!

-

The two graduate students felt that their lives had suddenly become bright!

They are the kind of pure, ambitious young people who wouldn't follow a marginalized scholar, especially one who is quite capable.

While ideals are beautiful, they can't fill one's stomach; both teachers and students face their own difficulties in life.

Frankly, if things don't improve, they might leave the lab within the next year or two, and Nezu can't blame them; he can only blame himself for not being able to secure sponsorship.

But things change once you get involved with the Kuze Group!

From apartments to labs to company cars to social insurance and housing fund, no procedures are required; the company can handle everything!

They can even change to a larger residence by simply submitting an application, allowing them to bring their family members to live with them.

As for project funding, that's not a problem at all. Ye Shou has always been generous in this regard, since he always earns back the money he spends in other ways in no time.

Moreover, this is a scientist from the Ao system, who deserves all of Ye Shou's respect!

After receiving the biological samples sent by Ye Shou, Dr. Nezu immediately began analyzing them, and ended up staying up all night...

The next day, with bloodshot eyes, the doctor found Ye Shou and admitted that Zildar gas did indeed have unknown risks.

But he also said that if given enough time and resources, he is confident he can find the problem and improve it.

Ye Shou did not object to this, and reminded him that "the monster can spew out special flames with extremely high temperatures," and that if the Zildar gas underwent some kind of change, it might become extremely flammable and explosive.

This made Dr. Nezu seem thoughtful.

“If that’s the case, then every sample in future experiments must be strictly controlled to ‘trace amounts’.” Dr. Nezu frowned. “Considering the energy density, the safety measures must be even more stringent than those for nuclear facilities!”

2. That's exactly how it should be.

"But the cost..."