Chapter 630 - 299: "What is Mr. Li to you?" (Requesting monthly votes)_6

"Develop the Accessory Original Image?"

Chen Mang thoughtfully glanced at the information on the screen. He always wanted to form a research and development team of his own. After all, his team would have the greatest advantage, able to probe the Supermodel Effect infinitely, an absolute advantage that no civilization possesses.

Only, there’s too much lacking to establish it.

Since proposing this idea, hardly any progress has been made.

"Follow him."

Chen Mang looked up at the young man gradually disappearing down the street and softly said, "Follow him and see."

He was a bit curious about this boy.

The middle-aged man’s words earlier had intrigued him: strange and peculiar ideas.

He liked strange and peculiar ideas.

...

In a bustling city, a slum hidden within the city’s sewer system, the most secluded corner of the city.

Not hard to find.

Just unnoticed.

People only look up at those beautifully exterior high-rises, never down at the manhole covers.

A little girl sitting next to the city underground sewer channel, vigorously scrubbing clothes in a basin, kept looking up at a beam of light coming from the surface.

That was the only entrance nearby.

Ordinary sunlight here has already become a luxury item.

Finally—

After countless times of looking up, the girl finally saw a familiar figure. She immediately set down her work and sprinted over excitedly, throwing herself heavily into the boy’s arms.

Her eyes were filled with joy as she looked up at the familiar face.

"Brother, you’re finally back."

"How was it? The boss must have praised you today, right? I just knew you could do it, brother. I found a particularly nice coat today. I’ll wash it clean and you can wear it to the company tomorrow."

"It’s a big company, you should dress in nice clothes."

"After today, you’ll officially be promoted; brother, you’re already close to achieving your nautical dream."

"..."

The young boy silently held his sister in his arms, releasing her after a long time, looking at her foamy hands raised in the air. He took out a folder from his chest and threw it casually into the sewer beside them, his tone carrying a hint of closure and forced courage.

"I lost my job."

"That company was deceiving me; they hired me just for my employment to satisfy the three-month duration to obtain tax subsidies, didn’t genuinely listen to my ideas, and didn’t care whether I could develop the Accessory Original Image."

"During my three months of employment, I didn’t even see the lab or the development factory."

"Everyone sat at their desks, creating one fantastical PPT after another, aiming to demand more research funds from officials."

"They weren’t developing blueprints."

"They were developing PPTs."

"I saw a convenience store hiring on my way back, chatted with the owner for a bit, and was told to try out for seven days tomorrow."

The sister who was just full of smiles felt helpless upon seeing the boy’s disappointment.

"But..."

"But when civilization hadn’t collapsed, Dad was the best scientist in the academy, and you, brother, inherited all of Dad’s skills. This is your most beloved career. Working as a store clerk..."

But soon.

The sister earnestly clenched her little fist and waved: "It’s okay, even as a store clerk, I believe you can do well brother, and in a year, I’ll be 14, and I can go out and earn money to support the family."

"Uh-huh."

The boy forced a smile and took out a small paper cup cake from behind: "Not all bad news, they compensated me for three months’ pay. I’ve calculated, just a bit more saving, we can rent a small house above ground."

"Ah!"

Upon seeing the cake, the girl’s eyes were instantly filled with surprise, but she soon spoke softly: "Brother, aren’t you saving money to build a train? Don’t waste money on snacks for me."

"Today is your birthday, didn’t you forget?"

"Is it.."

The boy walked over to the sewer side, sat on the ground, looked at the wall with various calculations made with chalk, sat absent-minded on the ground silently for a long time before taking out a half-smoked cigarette butt he picked up on the road, lighting it and revealing a bitter smile in the swirling smoke.

He actually particularly hated his sister.

If it wasn’t for his sister.

He wouldn’t have to force a smile and return here, but leave this bewildering world directly. Sometimes, attachments can be painful, having attachments makes dying hard.

Sanshui City is big, accommodating travelers from different civilizations.

Yet it’s so small.

Small enough to have no place for them siblings.

Maybe...

Maybe he was really wrong, all his knowledge came from notes left by his father, his ideas might truly be unrealistic, he hadn’t received systematic education.

He might be more suited to be a convenience store clerk.

The half-cigarette was soon burned out.

Silently, the boy scooped the wet clothes from the washing basin beside him, walked to the wall to prepare to erase all the data on the wall, it’d be better to do some basic work going forward, that person was right.

Just then—

"Wait."

"Don’t move."

The boy was slightly taken aback, tilted his head to look, only to see a man with a cane walking toward him, the man’s attire was obviously not ordinary, followed by several burly men, clearly not people from the slum.

His expression changed slightly, immediately placing his hand into his chest to protect his sister behind him, and took out his employee ID.

"Gentlemen."

"I am a researcher at ’Feiyang Technology Co., Ltd.’, a company partly owned by the Peace-Seeking Civilization, under the protection of the Law Enforcement Bureau. I don’t know what you gentlemen need?"

...

"..."

Chen Mang said nothing, but walked straight to the wall, looking at the words and numerous data on the wall, taking out glasses from his chest used to translate text.

After examining for quite a while.

Only then with a hint of surprise in his eyes did he turn his head to look at the young boy beside him.

"Little brother, who is Mr. Li to you?"

Ideas on the wall were concepts for several components, even involving source extraction, like... directly targeting a certain civilization, highly aggressive.

Many professional terms he didn’t understand.

But he understood one.

"Zombie Creation Cage," now isn’t that coincidental.