Chapter 168
One of the silver-haired professors rushed forward first. "Ms. Wipere, last time we personally observed your experimental process, and it absolutely blew us away. Since you've finally returned from your business trip, we came right over. We just wanted to ask—about that project last time, would you reconsider?"
"As long as you're willing to join our research center, name your terms. The lab is yours to run, unlimited funding, and you pick your own team."
The director beside him immediately panicked. "Now that's just not fair."
He turned to Lucinda. "Ms. Wipere, our Academy of Sciences is equally sincere. Whatever you need, just say the word. The moment you agree, we'll arrange everything."
The others crowded forward too.
"Ms. Wipere, our institute as well—come work with us, and all resources go to you first. You decide the projects. No cap on funding."
Niamh fell silent.
Now she finally understood what a talent war looked like.
She'd only seen it on the news before. Now she was witnessing it firsthand.
And these weren't just any institutions. Any single one of them could drive countless researchers wild.
Yet here they all were, circling her master like hawks.
Lucinda's expression remained calm throughout, as if she'd grown used to scenes like this.
She nodded slightly, her tone firm. "Thank you all for your kindness, but I have no plans to leave the Starlight City Research Institute at this time."
One sentence. Instant disappointment all around—though they seemed to have expected it.
After all, this wasn't the first time they'd tried to poach her.
One of the older professors couldn't help sighing. "Failed again."
The person beside him shook his head. "I knew it. Ms. Wipere isn't that easy to recruit. Forget it, forget it. We'll come back next month."
Niamh fell silent again.
They could do that? Fail now, try again next month?
A group of normally untouchable bigshots now looked like kids who didn't get candy. The scene was oddly hilarious.
Lucinda smiled helplessly. "Safe travels, everyone."
Only then did they reluctantly leave.
It wasn't until the crowd dispersed that Niamh finally snapped out of it.
She stared at the towering building before her, eyes full of admiration. "Master, you're absolutely incredible."
Lucinda raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden compliment?"
Niamh was dead serious. "Those people—any one of them is a major player out in the world. And they all came here to fight over you. If I were them, I'd fight for you too!"
Lucinda laughed and ruffled her hair. "Come on, let's go inside."
Once inside the institute, Niamh was stunned all over again.
Cutting-edge lab equipment everywhere. The most advanced research instruments. Researchers hurrying past with passion burning in their eyes.
Niamh's eyes darted around, unable to take it all in. "No wonder you're my master. You're so cool."
Up on the top floor in the office, Lucinda began tackling the mountain of work that had piled up.
One document after another. One meeting after another. She quickly fell into busy mode.
Niamh sat on the couch nearby, munching snacks while watching her master work. The more she watched, the prouder she felt.
Just then, her phone rang.
Caller ID: Reginald.
Niamh wrinkled her nose and answered. "What?"
On the other end, Reginald's voice was low. "Where's your sister-in-law?"
Niamh fell silent.
She rolled her eyes. "What sister-in-law? That's my master."
Reginald didn't bother arguing. "Cut the crap. Did you really go off with her?"
Niamh sighed. "Yeah. She's rarely back, so I wanted to spend more time with her."
The moment she finished speaking, silence stretched for two seconds. Then came the man's sullen voice. "Then you might as well not come home at all."
Niamh laughed in disbelief. "Reginald! Are you even my real brother? I just got home and you're already sick of me?"
Reginald didn't miss a beat. "You come back just to steal her from me. What good are you?"
Niamh nearly jumped up in outrage. "I'm telling Master! You're bullying me!"
Instant silence on the other end. A few seconds later, the man cleared his throat, his tone noticeably softer. "I was joking. Don't be mad."
Niamh let out a cold laugh.
Reginald quickly added, "Take good care of your sister-in-law for me. I'm transferring ten million dollars to your account as spending money."
As soon as he finished, her phone pinged with a deposit notification.
Niamh's eyes lit up instantly.
Ten million dollars! Her brother was being this generous!
She immediately switched to a cheerful tone. "Don't worry, mission accepted. I'll definitely take great care of my sister-in-law for you!"
Only then was Reginald satisfied. "Good. Behave yourself."
After hanging up, Niamh clutched her phone with a beaming smile, then looked up at Lucinda working diligently behind her desk.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling across her delicate profile. She looked dazzling.
Niamh propped her chin in her hands, eyes full of admiration and affection.
She couldn't help thinking to herself.
This sister-in-law really was the best in the whole world.
Besides her master, no one else was good enough for her brother.
And besides her brother, probably no one else was good enough for her master.
At that thought, Niamh smiled.
From now on, she'd definitely help her brother hold onto his wife!
Just then, a knock came at the office door.
Lucinda set down the document in her hand and looked toward the entrance. "Come in."
Technical Director Sawyer Carter pushed the door open, holding a thick stack of reports, his brow furrowed into a knot.
His face was etched with exhaustion, bloodshot eyes betraying several sleepless nights.
"Ms. Wipere." He walked to the desk and set the stack of reports on the surface. "The new material development hit another wall."
His voice was hoarse. "The core parameters still aren't meeting expectations. We've tried over a dozen formulas, switched technical routes three times—nothing's working."
He paused and sighed. "Without that particular raw material, this project might have to be shelved. But that material..."
He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
That raw material had no distribution channels on the market.
The entire technical team had been tearing their hair out over it, pulling all-nighters for days, but the problem remained stuck.
Lucinda leaned back in her chair. After listening, she narrowed her eyes slightly. "The material issue—don't worry about it."
Her voice was unhurried. She pulled a folder from the drawer, opened it, and slid it across to him. "That's exactly what I went to handle on this trip."
Sawyer froze, then looked down at the document.
It was a raw material testing report, dense with data tables, every single indicator clearly marked.
His eyes scanned from the first line, and his pupils contracted. "This... this is..."
His voice trembled as he looked up at Lucinda, disbelief flooding his eyes. "Crimson Star Crystal, ninety-nine point nine seven percent purity? How is that even possible?"
He'd been in this field for nearly twenty years, had seen countless material samples, but he'd never encountered purity at this level.
Something like this was top-tier even on the international market. Money alone couldn't buy it.