You want me to take out a loan to practice cultivation? I'll just pay off the debt physically.

Despite investing such a massive amount of manpower, resources, and computing power, the research institute has consistently failed to produce any groundbreaking results.

Within the research institute, papers on cutting-edge theories of divine power military weaponry are pouring in like snowflakes.

The project applications filled the approval process, and countless technical feasibility study meetings were held to demonstrate various seemingly profound and disruptive technologies.

On the surface, the entire research institute appears to be bustling with activity and yielding remarkable results.

But when Agrus's enormous eyes, burning with the fires of the abyss, pierced through this facade of prosperity, seeking tangible objects or mature technologies that could truly be applied to the battlefield and form combat power, all he saw was a suffocating void.

The blueprints depicted in those papers are incredibly beautiful, and the prospects promised in those project applications are incredibly enticing, but where are the ultimately verifiable results?

He invested astronomical sums of resources, only to receive piles of fancy academic papers and castles in the air of future visions in return?

[A group of top talents buy all sorts of rare resources on the market, in exchange for project reimbursements that are hundreds or even thousands of times higher than the market standard?]

Just as this confusion and anger reached a breaking point, a long-buried memory flashed through Agris's mind like lightning.

That was a solemn entrustment from the Star Demon God to Him when the branch's resources were still scarce.

[Agrius, as the de facto leader of the Star Abyss branch, you must maintain the highest level of control and vigilance over all organizations and institutions under your command at all times.]

[Especially in the core areas of resource allocation and project supervision, an independent, efficient, and deeply ingrained anti-corruption oversight system must be established.]

Otherwise, in the absence of effective external checks and balances, with highly centralized internal power and massive resource investment sufficient to distort all rules, the malignant tumors of greed and corruption will inevitably emerge.

Ultimately, this leads to inefficiency, decay, and even collapse of the entire system!

This is not an exaggeration, and you shouldn't completely imitate the system the founders had during their lifetime.

Two eras!

[The situation is completely different!]

Members of the Red Heart Society have their own understanding of themselves, the Red Heart Society, and the development of the Star Abyss branch.

As the leader of the Star Abyss branch, you need to understand these situations and be clearly aware of what you are doing.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish!

One problem, and the whole game is lost!

At the time, resources were scarce, and Agris didn't take the matter entirely to heart.

He believed that since the branch was newly established and everyone was working together, there wouldn't be many problems.

Especially after experiencing tragedies like the destruction of a sincere heart and the fall of a pioneer, we should have even greater expectations and passion for a prosperous future.

However, given the research institute's appallingly low return on investment and near-zero results, the Star Demon God's warning resounded like a wake-up call in Agris's ears.

He suddenly realized that after so many years of development, the branch was no longer the small, united group it once was.

The massive organizational structure, deeply entrenched interests, and the allure of vast resources have long since led to the formation of numerous overt and covert factions and cliques within the branch.

[As for the research institute's self-regulatory system and oversight department?]

[After so many years of development, the various organizations and institutions within the Xingyuan branch have long been intertwined and interconnected.]

Self-monitoring sounds like a good idea.

Is it possible to let a group of living beings investigate themselves and cut off their own flesh?

That result is most likely just a show for others.

However, just as Agris gave the order to conduct a top-down investigation to root out the corrupt elements within the research institute, he was met with opposition from the God of Rules and the God of Light.

Lord Agris, please think carefully before you act!

The voice of the Spirit of Rules flowed like a clear spring, yet it now clearly penetrated into the depths of the souls of every participant.

Your actions are tantamount to casting a blinding searchlight of doubt and distrust upon the entire research institute and those top geniuses who have devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the advancement of Chixin Society's science and technology!

This light is too cold, too hurtful!

Have you ever considered how these researchers immerse themselves day and night in complex and obscure rule deductions and dangerous experiments involving supernatural powers?

How much effort, wisdom, and even health and soul did they sacrifice that is unimaginable to ordinary people?

Technological innovation is never a smooth, overnight process!

This path is like groping for a divine flame in boundless darkness; it requires time, patience, and countless failures to accumulate experience.

Forcing growth and seeking quick results will only backfire and may even stifle true genius!

After saying this, he paused, his gaze fixed on Agris's burning pupils.

We can't simply assume the research institute is rotten to the core and suffers from systemic corruption just because researchers haven't produced groundbreaking, expected results in the short term, can we?

This matter absolutely cannot be handled in such a simplistic and crude manner!

The very method of conducting such a radical and high-profile investigation is flawed!

A crackdown of this scale could easily trigger widespread panic and turmoil within the research institute if not handled carefully.

This could lead to demoralization and even disrupt ongoing critical research. Its chain reaction would ultimately severely hinder or even cripple the overall development of the Red Heart Society.

Not far away, the God of Light, surrounded by holy light, took over the conversation.

【What Lord Spirit God says is absolutely right!】

Academic exploration has its own inherent laws; forcing growth will only lead to disaster.

We should maintain basic trust and tolerance towards the research institute's efforts and difficulties.

[Aglius sat in the main seat, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at the new generation of True Gods of Rules who opposed his proposal.]

What are these two up to?

Are we going to fight for power and profit within the Red Heart Society?

There's really no need for that!

[As long as they can prove to Him their capabilities and the means to improve the Red Heart Society, He will hand over the power of the Red Heart Society to them without Him even having to ask.]

But what are we doing now?

With its founder no longer in charge, is the Star Abyss Branch about to begin its self-destruction?

Or is it possible that the corruption within the Red Heart Society Research Institute is somehow related to these two True Gods of Rules?

What is the significance of the True God taking away the Red Heart Society's development resources?

Surely they're not being so narrow-minded as to want to seize these public resources for their own private use?

These two new-age gods seemed to have discerned Agrelius's thoughts, so they changed the subject.

【certainly. 】

The Spirit of Rules spoke in a slightly gentler tone, conveying a sense of profound understanding and righteousness.

[We do not completely dismiss Lord Agris's concerns; in fact, we share his deep concern regarding the Institute's recent performance.]

The database is overflowing with all sorts of impressive-sounding, cutting-edge theoretical papers, and the data charts are dazzling.

Project applications flooded the approval process, each outlining a grand vision capable of revolutionizing the world.

Countless technical feasibility study meetings were held, each seemingly profound and capable of altering the power structure.

On the surface, the entire research institute appears to be bustling with activity and yielding fruitful results.

But when we peel back these superficial and noisy bubbles, trying to find mature technologies or reliable products that can truly be applied to the battlefield and transformed into actual combat power, all we see is a suffocating void.

This return on investment is unacceptably low!

Therefore, on this point, we generally agree with Lord Aglios's view that an investigation and rectification are necessary.

But then again...

The methods used in this thorough investigation are of utmost importance!

We must not act recklessly, like a bull barging into a china shop!

It requires strategy, meticulous planning, and the ability to precisely target the lesion like the most exquisite scalpel, without causing drastic disruption.

In short, never act recklessly!

Hearing these words, the Star Demon God, seated on his Star Throne not far away, raised his left eyebrow slightly.

These two are truly masters of political rhetoric.

His words expressed both support and opposition.

[While agreeing with the Argyris Institute's initial intentions, they rejected Argyris's plan for a large-scale, in-depth investigation.]

[A lengthy and meticulously crafted piece, sounding grand and insightful, but in reality, it's all just empty talk.]

The core stance is vague, key solutions are lacking, and no constructive or alternative operational plans have been proposed.

They skillfully positioned themselves on the moral high ground of protecting morale and respecting the laws of scientific research, while also addressing the practical concerns of avoiding instability, thus portraying themselves as a prudent and thoughtful leader who considered the big picture.

How long did the Star Demon God live?

How many worlds have He witnessed collapsing and being destroyed? How much betrayal and death has He seen?

Therefore, He saw all of this very clearly.

Behind these seemingly well-reasoned but ultimately meaningless statements lies a shrewd political calculation.

[If Agris insists on pushing for a thorough investigation, any setbacks that occur during the process will immediately turn their far-sighted warning into an excellent weapon.]

[This, in turn, gives them more say in high-level meetings.]

They even considered using these tactics to sow discord between Agris, Yu Xiao, and the God of Rules of Pain.

[If they can win over even one person, they'll make a fortune!] (End of Chapter)