I manage female characters in all the heavens.

He fully understood Gao Jiyuan's reluctance to waste national resources, as well as the pressure and guilt he felt for not being able to produce results worthy of the country's trust.

This generation of scientists, who came through the Great Rebirth period, had an incredibly heavy sense of responsibility.

The survival of humanity, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the expectations of the people all rest on our shoulders. This is a tremendous honor, but also a heavy responsibility.

Faced with a loss that could potentially be recovered, truly, no one would choose to give up.

They always feel that since they have taken the country's resources and the people's support, they must produce results worthy of it.

If you can't produce it, that's your dereliction of duty, and that's a debt you owe to the country and the people.

This sense of responsibility is so heavy that they are willing to give their lives to repay it.

Yao Weiwu stood there in silence for a long time.

He is a planetary-level powerhouse, and many of the things he can do are unimaginable to ordinary people.

But he cannot bring the dead back to life, nor can he turn back time.

Gao Jiyuan is dead. No matter how angry or grieving he is, he cannot change that fact.

He was, after all, a planetary-level powerhouse, and quickly composed himself.

During the conversation, he vaguely sensed that the other party was trying to blame Gao Jiyuan for the experimental accident.

This is probably what most people think after the news spreads.

It's not your fault, so why are you desperately trying to salvage the situation? Besides, as the person in charge, if something goes wrong, it's your responsibility!

This is unacceptable. He would never allow Gao Jiyuan to sacrifice himself and then bear such a bad reputation for no reason, unless it was truly his responsibility.

A thorough investigation is necessary!

After a long silence, he took a deep breath and said in a still somewhat hoarse voice, "Investigate thoroughly."

"I will send a special investigation team to thoroughly investigate all the causes of this experimental accident."

"Whether it's a technical issue, an operational issue, or any other issue, it must be thoroughly investigated and understood."

"Before my investigation team arrived, the site of the No. 26 ancient civilization site was immediately sealed off. No one was allowed to enter without authorization or touch any experimental remains. All personnel on site were to remain in place and were not allowed to leave without authorization."

His voice deepened, carrying an undeniable chill: "I will mobilize a military's War God Squad, which will arrive at Ruins 26 within six hours at the latest to take over the defense and protection of the site."

"Before the investigation team reaches a conclusion, anyone who dares to tamper with the scene will face consequences, and I, Yao, will show no mercy."

"Yes! Don't worry, Mr. Yao, we will definitely protect the scene!"

After the call ended, Yao Weiwu stood there for a while before slowly picking up the phone that was still connected.

He leaned close to his ear, wanting to say something, but found that he didn't know how to start.

Gao Jiyuan was Liu Ting's teacher, and it is said that he cared for this student even more than his own daughter.

Gao Jiyuan had mentioned this student to him more than once on the phone, saying that she was as smart as a little monster, that her mind was as active as a burning fire, and that every time he talked to her on the phone, she could bring him new inspiration and ideas.

He even said that after living most of his life, he had finally met a true successor, and that when he retired, he would hand over everything to this student.

Now that Gao Jiyuan has suddenly sacrificed himself, Yao Weiwu himself has not yet fully recovered from the shock and really can't think of how to explain this to Liu Ting.

Yao Weiwu opened his mouth, wanting to say something to comfort the girl opposite him, but found that he had no idea what to say.

He was a powerful figure standing at the pinnacle of humanity, a revered scientific giant, but at this moment, he was just an old man who didn't know how to deliver the bad news to the younger generation.

However, before he could speak, Liu Ting's calm voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I heard you."

Yao Weiwu was taken aback.

“I heard your conversation with that person just now.”

Liu Ting's tone was very calm, as calm as a stagnant pool of water, without any ripples or waves.

“Xiao Liu…” Yao Weiwu’s voice was a little hoarse.

"Mr. Yao, I want to go to the No. 26 ancient civilization site. Please approve my request. If you do not agree, I will go in my own way."

She did not display the grief, anger, or despair that Yao Weiwu had imagined, but Yao Weiwu keenly sensed the danger lurking beneath her calm words.

"I want to join the investigation into this accident."

Yao Weiwu frowned: "Xiao Liu, I know you and Lao Gao have a very deep relationship, but you're emotionally unstable right now. You can wait until the investigation team has released their results before considering anything else—"

"I am very stable."

"Liu Ting" interrupted him, her tone still calm, "I just need a fact, a truth."

"If, after investigation, it turns out that this was just an accident, caused by technical negligence or force majeure, then I will respect the objective reality and hold a proper funeral for the teacher to let this matter pass."

Her voice paused, then lowered slightly, carrying a hint of coldness that Yao Weiwu had never felt from her before.

"But if this wasn't an accident, but rather the result of human error..."

"Then I must find out who or what people did this, and use their blood to commemorate the teacher's sacrifice and the unnecessary loss of national resources."

Yao Weiwu remained silent for a few seconds.

He's not stupid.

As soon as Liu Ting said that, he immediately realized a problem.

Why did he so urgently order the site to be sealed off and send out the War God Squad to take over and protect it? It was because he subconsciously felt that this matter might not be so simple.

Now, even Liu Ting, a student who has just lost her teacher, is showing the same doubts.

Moreover, her suspicions did not seem to come from nowhere.

He asked in a deep voice, "Xiao Liu, why are you so sure this wasn't an accident?"

Liu Ting answered quickly and without hesitation: "I often talk to my teacher on the phone to discuss the technical details of the railgun. I know more about his research and development progress than anyone under him."

"Technically speaking, I can confirm that his electromagnetic railgun is already very mature. Every aspect, from theory to practice, has been repeatedly examined countless times, and the experimental attitude has been extremely rigorous."

"Let alone a major accident like an explosion, even a minor flaw like missing by one centimeter should not have occurred in this test."

Liu Ting's voice deepened slightly: "But it did appear, Elder Yao, aren't you puzzled?"

That was a technique she personally "taught" to Gao Jiyuan bit by bit over two months. It was a technique that had already been put into use in the Ling Cage world. You think it would explode?

From the perspective of technological maturity and rigorous experimental approach, she simply couldn't believe this was an accident.

There has to be a conspiracy!

Chapter 256 Someone Must Pay the Price

Yao Weiwu remained silent.

He remained silent because he already knew the answer in his heart.

He was so immersed in grief over his old friend's sacrifice that he hadn't thought about it deeply, but Liu Ting's words made his vague doubts clear.

How could a well-established plan, a test that had been repeatedly simulated, suddenly explode and cause the world to collapse?

Gao Jiyuan is not the kind of clumsy novice. He is one of the most outstanding senior academicians in the world, with a wealth of experience. It is impossible for such a low-level mistake to occur in a project he is in charge of.

Therefore, there is only one possibility left.

“You’re right.” Yao Weiwu’s voice deepened, carrying a cold, hard, and forceful quality. “This matter is very likely not an accident.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I agree to your request to go to Ruins No. 26. I will dispatch a smart fighter jet from the Jiangnan Military Region to pick you up and take you to the ruins."

"Your expertise in electromagnetic railguns is no less than Lao Gao's. Your joining the investigation team as a professional could be a huge help to the entire investigation."

"I hope you can clear Lao Gao's name."

"Thank you, Elder Yao." Liu Ting's voice remained calm, but there seemed to be something suppressed within that calmness. "I will prepare to depart as soon as possible."

"You don't need to prepare too much. The fighter jet has a complete life support system and professional equipment. You just need to show up."

Yao Weiwu paused, his voice softening slightly, "Xiao Liu... take care. I can't get away, but you must find out the truth about Lao Gao's matter."

"I will."

After hanging up the phone, "Liu Ting" stood up from the sofa, in a bad mood.

She walked to the window and looked up at the distant sky.

That was the direction of the No. 26 ancient civilization site, more than two thousand kilometers away in the wilderness, where Gao Jiyuan remained forever.

She never actually met Gao Jiyuan in person; all their communication existed only through phone calls and video chats.

But that person, that teacher she had never met, was the first person who truly opened his heart to her after she came into this world.

Liu Wentao was very good to her, but that was the kind of kindness he showed to his daughter; it was out of blood ties.

Gao Jiyuan's kindness towards her was the kindness one would show to a student and confidant; that kind of pure appreciation, trust, and care, devoid of any utilitarian motives, was something she had rarely experienced in her past and present lives.

And now, that person is dead, killed in an experiment accident that should never have happened.

If it really was an accident, then she accepts it; but if it wasn't...

A cold, sharp glint flashed in those calm eyes.

She changed into a clean white lab coat, put her glasses back on, and walked out of the lounge.

As soon as I stepped out of the corridor, I ran into Yu Qiaoqiao, who was carrying a pile of documents.

Every time I run into her, she always seems to be carrying a huge pile of documents; she's definitely destined to be a document carrier.

When Yu Qiaoqiao saw her, she was about to complain, "Junior sister, you're slacking off again," but when she saw the expression on "Liu Ting's" face, she immediately swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

From the first day I met "Liu Ting," this junior sister always had a smile on her face, sometimes faint, sometimes bright. It was proof of her cheerful and lively personality, sunny and healthy.

But now, the smile is gone, not even a trace of it can be seen.

"Junior sister... what's wrong?" Yu Qiaoqiao subconsciously lowered her voice.

"I'm going on a long trip."

"Liu Ting" walked past her without stopping. "Keep an eye on things in the lab. Make your own decisions if anything happens. If you can't solve it, just leave it and we'll talk about it when I get back."

"……it is good."

Without saying a word, Yu Qiaoqiao nodded in agreement, stepped aside, and watched "Liu Ting's" figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

She stood there blankly, holding a pile of materials, somewhat dazed.