Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1116 571: Fabricated Civilization (Part 2)

Guan Zhengyang was displeased, feeling that Shen Jingye was merely making excuses: "Dark Star Bureau personnel attending an academic exchange during work hours? Do you think such a thing is reasonable? Do you think this is the outcome we want?"

Shen Jingye's tone intensified: "Li Qi attended the academic exchange with the proper leave procedures in place. He has the right to acquire knowledge during his leave. I find this entirely reasonable. If you find it unreasonable, please tell me what he should have done during his leave to be reasonable?"

Furthermore, if you feel that our investigation results aren't what you want, kindly inform me of the desired results, and we'll investigate according to your guidance. Would that be appropriate?"

Guan Zhengyang was silent for quite a while, unable to utter a single word. People often praised him as young and promising, learned, and eloquent.

Shen Jingye was acutely aware that his prominence was due to the scarcity of people who could stand up to him.

Guan Zhengyang raised his voice: "Director Shen, please mind your attitude. The Dark Star Bureau has shown obvious issues in many recent projects, and there are many unresolved problems!"

Is this supposed to scare me?

Shen Jingye remained unscared: "Whether it's the Bureau's issues or my own, if they are factual, I am willing to accept criticism and face the consequences."

"Your issues will certainly be dealt with; this case is now immediately handed over to the Dark Matter Research Room."

The Dark Matter Research Room, an institution that sounds scientific, actually has a nature quite similar to that of the Dark Star Bureau, and it's highly likely to replace the Dark Star Bureau over time.

This is standard procedure since the Dark Star Bureau itself doesn't have a long history.

Shen Jingye wouldn't blame himself for losing higher-up trust, nor would he feel anxious due to the Dark Star Bureau's changing status,

"I'm aware of this. I received the document the day before yesterday."

Guan Zhengyang said: "Since you've received the document, act quickly. Handover the suspects and related materials promptly."

"The handover was completed yesterday morning—suspects, related materials, witness testimonies, and physical evidence. All handover procedures are complete."

Shen Jingye understood very well that rehashing what happened the day before was a method of anxious management and an old routine aimed at making Shen Jingye feel anxious in his self-reproach.

In the past, this tactic indeed worked, but Guan Zhengyang didn't know how much Shen Jingye had changed, drastically.

Today's Shen Jingye would not feel guilty about losing trust from above, nor anxious about the Dark Star Bureau's status change; he only needed to confirm one thing: "Among the handed-over suspects, is Li Qi included?"

"That is still under study; wait for the document." Guan Zhengyang couldn't respond. Li Qi is a Balancer, a very powerful Balancer. Such a person given to the Dark Matter Research Room, the Room simply cannot handle.

Shen Jingye hung up the phone and picked up his notebook, going through the notes he just made.

Since starting work, Shen Jingye has lost count of how many notebooks he's used—taking notes in meetings, on phone calls, and especially during face-to-face work reports; every directive, every task required note-taking.

How important were these notes to him?

Not at all, actually.

Most of Shen Jingye's notes were scribbles; the actual content wasn't important. What's important was the act of note-taking—the larger the motion, the more serious the expression, indicating higher levels of attention.

Of course, there were some important things in the notebook as well. He sifted through a pile of random notes and found a page of matrices, then pulled out a stack of white paper from the printer and began solving problems at lightning speed.

This was part of his cultivation.

His pen moved like the wind, using more than a dozen sheets of scratch paper; the matrices were rapidly being solved more than halfway. Li Banfeng watched for a while and asked, "What level of Arithmetic Cultivator are you?"

Shen Jingye was neither surprised nor flustered; he was used to it. He organized the scratch paper slightly and looked up, "I'm a solver, which in Puluo State is often referred to as an Arithmetic Cultivator."

Li Banfeng chuckled; there is a significant difference between a solver and an Arithmetic Cultivator. Recently, Li Banfeng discovered the essential difference between the two through some material.

A train passing before your eyes—an Arithmetic Cultivator can, through the environment and their conditions, calculate the best way and time to stop the train and even work out the entire sequence of robbing goods and selling them post-factum. Li Banfeng experienced this at Loess Bridge.

But a solver doesn't possess similar abilities. They don't know how to stop the train. Given a ready-made plan, if all known conditions are given, then asked to verify if the plan is feasible, a solver can indeed provide an answer. Their ability and core revolve around problems; without a problem, a solver's ability can't be utilized.

Whether Shen Jingye is an Arithmetic Cultivator or a solver still needs verification.

Li Banfeng came to see him because he wanted to meet someone: "Is Professor Yu Yaoming still in the Bureau?"

Shen Jingye shook his head: "No, yesterday he was taken by the Dark Matter Research Room's people. If you want to see him, you'll need to coordinate and communicate with that side, though I doubt they'll cooperate with you."

Li Banfeng didn't think so: "We're all comrades on the same front; don't assume the worst in people. Give me the Research Room's address, and I'll go have a chat with them."

"I don't know their address yet, but as soon as I find out, I'll definitely let you know." Shen Jingye wasn't joking; he was serious. His temperament had undergone a profound change, and this change seemed irreversible.