2431 Strange Movements of the Reclusive Families

Zhou Zhou watched him leave.

She waited until they were far away before saying to Shi Fu, "Deputy Director, can we talk in private?"

Shi Fu knew Zhou Zhou's achievements in the field of physics. He had a good impression of her among the few laboratory heads.

Hence, he readily agreed and asked Zhou Zhou to follow him to his office.

…

Arriving at the office, Shi Fu opened the door and let Zhou Zhou find a place to sit.

He went to the water dispenser to get two glasses of water and handed one to Zhou Zhou. Then, he returned to his desk, sat down, and said with a relaxed expression, "Team Leader Zhou, why did you ask to speak in private? Just say it."

Zhou Zhou lowered her head and took a sip of water. Placing the cup on her lap, she raised her head and said with a slightly serious expression, "Deputy Director, I've received news that the reclusive families have been acting strangely… Someone has come to the independent continent."

"You said the reclusive families?"

Zhou Zhou nodded. "Yes."

Surprised, Shi Fu put his teacup down on the table a little too forcefully. He frowned. "But… hasn't Mr. Martin been the bridge between the reclusive families and us? Why did they suddenly send someone else?"

"I don't know." Zhou Zhou then asked, "Deputy Director, do you think they're dissatisfied with our successor selection this time?"

Shi Fu pursed his lips and remained silent. He was starting to think about the possibility.

"The reclusive families have maintained a good cooperative relationship with the First Research Institute for so many years. It has always been Mr. Martin who dealt with us. Now, they suddenly sent someone else to the independent continent, and this person didn't contact us after arriving. I'm worried that they're dissatisfied with the dean and the First Research Institute.

"In addition, I'm worried that they're here for Qiao Nian!" Zhou Zhou was most worried about this.

Shi Fu comforted her. "The dean didn't mention this. You don't have to worry too much."

Zhou Zhou took a deep breath. "I'm not imagining things… Deputy Director, have you heard about the explosion at Victoria Harbor?"

Shi Fu looked at her.

Zhou Zhou took a sip of water to ease her nerves and looked up again. "Someone blew up a submarine with a new weapon. This new weapon has never appeared in our First Research Institute. I'm worried that it was the reclusive families…"

Shi Fu pondered for a moment. "You're saying that the people from the reclusive families attacked on the high seas of the independent continent?"

Zhou Zhou shook her head. Her expression became more serious. "This is not about the location. What I mean is that it's very likely that they have new weapons that did not come from us! That's the most important thing! I'm worried that they found someone else to develop new weapons of mass destruction."

Shi Fu's gaze turned a little intense.

Zhou Zhou did not avoid his gaze. "I know that you and the dean don't want the First Research Institute to become a weapon in the hands of the reclusive families. It's the same for me! I also don't want the research institute to become a place for various forces to compete. That's why I'm especially worried about this matter… Ji Ziyin…"

Shi Fu roughly understood it now.

What Zhou Zhou meant was that the explosion at Victoria Harbor was Ji Ziyin's doing. Ji Ziyin had developed a new weapon for the reclusive families that even the First Research Institute could not control. She was worried that this new weapon would be used by someone with ulterior motives to stir up trouble…

Shi Fu's expression softened and he interrupted her. "It's not Ji Ziyin. She can't do it!"