Guests were guests, after all.
And these weren't just any guests. These were guests of the highest status.
But that didn't stop Qin Siyang from being furious at them for wrecking people's livelihood right outside the exit of Safety Zone No. 38324.
Especially since the one getting wrecked was himself.
Qin Siyang let out a sigh.
"Respected principals and directors, I truly appreciate that you've traveled such a long way just to discuss special admissions with me."
"I'm also flattered that you chose to stay in the humble inn I arranged, showing your appreciation for me."
"But."
"You are all top-tier Sequence Ability users in the safety zones. Figures of immense influence."
"So why would you resort to burning, killing, and looting at the exit of a shabby place like Safety Zone No. 38324, making the hundreds of Sequence Ability users stationed there suffer?"
"Not to mention, I heard you did it just for fun, and you couldn't even be bothered to claim the round plate armor?"
Their bulging pockets were undoubtedly stuffed with round plate armor.
Qin Siyang looked at them, his words growing more pained as he spoke.
It felt like his carefully cultivated god-hunting paradise was about to turn into a barren wasteland.
The losses were just too devastating.
Once special admissions ended, there would still be two months before school started.
What was he supposed to do in the meantime?
Sit around doing nothing, waiting for death?
That would be an absolute waste of Li Tianming, his [Insurer].
Once they got into university, Li Tianming would be so busy his feet wouldn't touch the ground. He wouldn't have time to go god-hunting with him anymore.
If he didn't squeeze out every last bit of value from this guy now, he'd be taking a huge loss.
The more Qin Siyang thought about it, the angrier he got.
"You guys are just… sigh. 'The rich feast on meat and wine, while the poor freeze to death by the roadside.' Seeing you all behave like this, I can't help but feel disappointed."
Hearing that, Li Tianming instinctively glanced at Qin Siyang.
'This bastard.'
'Quoting classical poetry now? And doing it so smoothly?'
'Isn't this guy an opportunist who took what he could and slacked off whenever possible?'
'Since when did he start acting all righteous, like he is standing up for the people?'
'Something feels off.'
But aside from Li Tianming, no one else really knew Qin Siyang.
Hearing his words, some of them did feel a little ashamed.
And since Qin Siyang's frustration wasn't faked but genuine, their guilt deepened to the point where they wished they could crawl into a hole.
Even so, no one opened their mouth to defend themselves.
It was just too humiliating.
Fine, they lacked manners. They'd just find a way to make it up to the local god-hunting teams.
But if they admitted they didn't even have enough hunting points to claim their loot… that would be the end of them.
Where would they put their faces after that?
None of them had ever been schooled by someone as young as Qin Siyang before.
But in the end, they decided to endure it.
Qin Siyang was frustrated but knew he couldn't push too hard. Complaining a little was fine, but that was enough.
After all, these people were powerful figures.
Even their fart was louder than his name.
Seeing their guilty expressions, Qin Siyang let it slide, "Let's talk about the conditions for special admissions."
As soon as the topic shifted to business, everyone shook off their earlier emotions and returned to their usual state.
"The order will be research institutes first, then universities."
"I believe the director of Heavenly Research Institute might offer the most generous conditions, so I'd like to hear from him first."
director Chu Zhongxiong of Heavenly Research Institute smiled slightly, "Student Qin is correct. Our institute does indeed offer very generous conditions."
"Our special admission offer for Student Qin includes full tuition exemption, a monthly scholarship of two gold coins, and 150 bottles of Sequence Elixirs. Additionally, there are other clauses that will grant extra rewards based on your research achievements."
Then, he turned to Li Tianming, "Professor Li, if you and your team join our Heavenly Research Institute, we will provide you with a relocation allowance of 100 gold coins. Zhang Kuang will receive 80 gold coins, and the other professors will receive 50 gold coins each. As for Sequence Elixirs, you know we have no shortage of those."
"As for salaries, they will follow the standard of Heavenly Research Institute. You and Zhang Kuang are on the same level as me, so your monthly salary will be ten gold coins. The other professors, ranked just below the director and vice director, will receive five gold coins per month."
Upon hearing Heavenly Research Institute's offer, the entire room drew in sharp breaths.
A relocation allowance of 100 gold coins.
That was an insane sum.
None of the university presidents present had that kind of wealth.
For any university outside of the Four Glories and Five Pillars, 100 gold coins exceeded their entire quarterly budget.
Not to mention the relocation allowances for Zhang Kuang and the other professors.
And that ridiculous salary.
No university could match that.
This was precisely why Chu Zhongxiong was so confident.
If Li Tianming valued keeping his technical expertise to himself over money, there was nothing he could do.
But if Li Tianming valued money, then there was no doubt. He would be swayed.
In terms of financial power, Heavenly Research Institute was the undisputed leader in the education sector.
No one could compete.
Chu Zhongxiong had once been the Deputy Minister of Finance for the United Government, weathering countless political storms.
Then, after awakening a top-tier Sequence ability, he was transferred and nurtured by the United Government, ultimately appointed as the director of Heavenly Research Institute.
In reality, he carried the government's mission of technological advancement on his shoulders. His transfer was more of a hidden promotion.
Officially, he was under the jurisdiction of Xiao Zhigang, but in practice, he could completely ignore Xiao Zhigang's directives.
Previously, he had petitioned for early special admissions, only to be rejected by Xiao Zhigang. Since then, he had grown increasingly dissatisfied with the man.
Their conflict was beginning to surface.
Before coming here, Xiao Zhigang had even told him, ("Suppress the offer. Don't let Li Tianming get too comfortable.")
Chu Zhongxiong had scoffed at that.
He had no idea how someone like Xiao Zhigang had become the Minister of Education.
Chu Zhongxiong might not be a researcher, but he understood the game.
He had long heard of Li Tianming and Zhang Kuang's reputations.
Suppress the offer?
Did he think this was a street market where he could haggle over vegetables?
Ridiculous.
He was the vendor, waiting for the customer to pick him.
And there was only one customer.
If the customer picked someone else, he was done for.
So, to recruit Li Tianming's team and secure that Vine Core, Chu Zhongxiong completely disregarded Xiao Zhigang's orders.
He laid out the absolute best offer his research institute could afford, right in front of Li Tianming.
As soon as Heavenly Research Institute made its move, the other research institute directors sighed in resignation.
They had hoped Heavenly would rely on its prestige to offer a harsh contract, giving them an opening.
But Chu Zhongxiong had shattered their expectations.
No arrogance. No underhanded tactics. Just pure sincerity.
So, rather than waste time embarrassing themselves with lower offers, the other research institute directors politely said their goodbyes to Qin Siyang and Li Tianming before leaving.
Even the four directors of Virtue Research Institute departed with heavy hearts.
Still, before they left, Qin Siyang enthusiastically exchanged contact information with them—just in case.
Less than five minutes later.
In the entire hall, only two research institute directors remained:
Chu Zhongxiong of Heavenly Research Institute.
And Wang Bozhong of Earthly Research Institute.
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