Chapter 38: Acceptance Completed

The attendees silently mulled over the two characters.

"Tianji—what a fine name!" Director Li could not help but nod. Although it sounded a bit adolescent, considering it was chosen by a young man who had just graduated from university, it didn't seem out of place.

He had initially thought Zhou Yun was of a reserved nature, but this name revealed a flicker of ambition. As expected of a young man—still possessing a passionate heart. Then again, who hasn't been passionate in their youth? It is only time that wears down one's edges.

He hoped that passion would endure.

"Director Li, do you have any more questions?" Director Zhao asked, looking at him with a smile.

"No, none at all."

"And you?" Director Zhao turned to the others.

"No questions." They all shook their heads.

"Very well!" Director Zhao’s expression turned slightly more solemn. "Then I declare this phase of the project a complete success. It has officially passed inspection!"

He looked at his assistant. "Xiao Zhang, please distribute the inspection confirmation forms to everyone."

Once everyone had finished signing, the atmosphere in the conference room noticeably relaxed.

"Xiao Zhang, please take care of the cleanup," Director Zhao said, then turned to the group. "The inspection is complete, everyone can head back now. Zhou Yun, please stay for a moment."

Once the others had departed, Director Zhao looked at Zhou Yun. "Shall we discuss our future cooperation?"

"Certainly!" As it happened, even if Director Zhao hadn't brought it up, he had been intending to initiate the conversation himself.

"This inspection actually exceeded my expectations. I hadn't expected such significant research breakthroughs in just a few short months."

He left one thing unsaid: their own internal teams were also researching large-scale models, yet their best performers were only on par with current top-tier quantized models—nowhere near the level of Zhou Yun’s. This was precisely why they had prioritized this project from the very beginning.

"Scientific research is like that. Sometimes a moment of 'inspiration' is worth more than any amount of time. I just happened to be a bit lucky."

"Haha, a wonderful 'moment of inspiration' indeed. Let’s not waste words. Although we discussed the follow-up cooperation details previously, it seems we will need to make some modifications. First, regarding the model’s performance: we hope to have a version with slightly lower performance. I know this request sounds strange, but it is truly necessary."

"Lower performance? How much lower? May I know the reason?" From his perspective, surely the higher the performance, the better? That would allow for more capital to be reaped in overseas markets.

"Just slightly stronger than existing top-tier models. Our research department will provide more specific metrics later. As for the reason—I can tell you. First, you must understand that in this world, even in capitalist countries, power always outweighs money, even if that power was obtained through money. This means that no matter how powerful your model is in the market, even if you have done nothing wrong, the moment they discover it, they can sanction you at any time. It may seem unreasonable, but that is the reality."

Zhou Yun felt he understood. He followed Director Zhao’s logic: "So, if a model with performance far exceeding current limits were to enter the market, it would be no different than a sun in the middle of the night. It would be discovered immediately and disabled through other means. This means that no matter how strong my model is, it wouldn't be able to serve its purpose."

Director Zhao nodded. "Exactly."

Zhou Yun looked thoughtful. "Then my research seems to have no practical use other than pushing technological progress."

Director Zhao shook his head. "That is where you are wrong—terribly wrong. Do you think atomic or hydrogen bombs have a 'practical' use? In fact, they don't. Apart from the first two atomic bombs, no country has dared to use such weapons since. Yet, why are they so important? Two words: Deterrence. It is just as people say: you may not need to use it, but you cannot afford to be without it. Your model is the same. If current top-tier quantized models are like standard missiles, your model is no less than an atomic bomb. Even if it is a one-time use, as long as it is deployed once, it serves as a deterrent. That is why I want a weakened version—one with lower performance, yet still superior to what is currently available."

Zhou Yun finally nodded in realization. "I understand."

"Since that is settled, let’s talk about funding. After our first meeting, the company leadership discussed and further refined the investment approach. The joint venture structure remains unchanged, but your shares will need to be held by a nominee. You cannot appear in public yourself. If you have any concerns, feel free to raise them, and I will explain them to you now."

"No problem. That is to be expected." Given the current performance of the model, the security clearance would surely be high, so it was naturally impossible for him to be the public face.

With the success of the preliminary research project, a level of mutual trust had been built between them.

"I’m glad you understand. Although you won't be appearing publicly, the final research funds will reach you through various channels."

...

Afterward, the two discussed other details and finalized the cooperation plan.

"The project launch may need to wait a while. After all, with a project of this scale, we need to make a series of preparations. You can take this time to attend to other matters. If you need anything, feel free to come to me at any time. The country will always be your strongest backing."

Zhou Yun smiled shyly. "Director Zhao, there is actually a small matter I need your help with..."

He explained the situation regarding the air conditioning fees at his school.

Director Zhao frowned slightly. "A thing like that? How do you want to resolve it?"

"Initially, I thought about investing in the school through our joint venture, which would give me a chance to talk to the principal directly. But now, that doesn't seem very realistic." After all, Director Zhao and his colleagues were currently doing their best to hide their identities to protect him; following the original plan would be a bit too reckless.

"Hmm, no need for such trouble. If what you say is true, then this is not just a student matter. Don't worry. Once I return, I will report this to the relevant departments."

"How long will that take?" Zhou Yun was still a bit uneasy about the efficiency of these so-called relevant departments.

Director Zhao chuckled, then said with a serious expression, "Rest assured. Within a week at most, there will be a fair result!"