The news that Graces had become a Gene Fusion Expert was announced that very day by Admiral Snop throughout the First Military District.

The moment the news broke, everyone began to look at Graces differently. Their gazes were filled with shock, jealousy, and envy.

From that moment on, many of them understood that the shackles binding Graces had been broken. As long as he didn’t make a misstep, his future would be limitless.

Suddenly, everyone, whether they knew him or not, couldn’t help but crowd around Graces, asking him how he had done it.

’Didn’t everyone say that a male who failed gene fusion could never have another chance to awaken?’

So why could Graces do it? What on earth had happened to him? This was the answer everyone wanted to know.

But even Graces, the man at the center of it all, had no idea, so how could he possibly give them an answer?

Regardless, the news of Graces becoming a Gene Fusion Expert had already spread like wildfire through all the major military districts. After all, who wouldn’t be curious about something so incredibly rare?

Even the military district chief personally sent Admiral Snop a voice call request to ask about the matter. When he heard that the Gene Research Institute had approached Admiral Snop, wanting Graces to participate in their "voluntary" research, he flew into a rage and praised Snop for doing the right thing.

Snop had done the right thing.

Hadn’t their military district provided the Gene Research Institute with enough research subjects over the years?

And what had the institute managed to research? Not only had they made zero progress, but the officers sent to participate in the studies all had their health ruined and were forced into regrettable early retirements. And now they had the nerve to ask their military district for more!

Seeing that the military district chief wasn’t reprimanding him, Admiral Snop stood a little taller.

After ending the call with Admiral Snop, the military district chief sent a message directly to the inspection department, ordering them to audit the Gene Research Institute’s accounts.

He couldn’t just swallow his anger without causing some trouble for them.

However, the military district chief didn’t inform anyone after he had done this, so Graces remained completely unaware.

Even if he had known, he wouldn’t have thought the chief was truly doing it for his sake.

An action like that could only stem from a long-held grudge.

After leaving the First Military District, Lu Xia went straight to the No.2 Institute. After so many days, its construction was finally complete.

It was now ready for research operations to begin, and all the recently hired genetics researchers had arrived.

It was the perfect time to get started.

Lu Xia already had some research data on the gene fusion agent. The next step was to incorporate the Spiritual Spring Water and see if it could increase the fusion success rate.

Additionally, research on the Fire Spirit Gene could also commence.

There was a lot to do, so Lu Xia split the work into two teams: one for the gene fusion agent and one for the Fire Spirit Gene.

After appointing team leaders and issuing her orders, it was already the end of the workday.

She had no intention of working overtime. As soon as the clock struck, she announced to everyone, "That’s all for today. When you come in tomorrow, proceed with what we discussed. All right, you’re all dismissed."

Finishing her work for the day, Lu Xia walked out of the No.2 Institute and saw Graces waiting for her by a hovercar, having come specifically to pick her up.

They exchanged a smile, and after Graces opened the car door for her, Lu Xia got in and they drove away.

Meanwhile, the researchers leaving the No.2 Institute had complex feelings after their first day working with Duke Lu Xia.

They had all originally assumed that while Duke Lu Xia had founded the Gene Research Institute, she was merely an investor who wouldn’t interfere with their research. They were even certain that, as a female, she wouldn’t understand any of it. But after interacting with her, they found that not only did Lu Xia understand the science, but her thinking was exceptionally clear and her management style was decisive and efficient, in no way inferior to the long-established titans of the field.

This came as something of a shock to them. It turned out that not all females were spoiled and willful; some were this

incredibly capable.

Lu Xia had no idea what a deep impression she had made on the researchers. Sitting in the car now, she asked Graces what had happened at the First Military District after she left.

When she learned that Admiral Snop had publicly revealed his status as a Gene Fusion Expert, she smiled. "It sounds like Admiral Snop is paving the way for you. This way, your promotion is just a matter of time. Your identity won’t be an obstacle anymore."

Graces took Lu Xia’s hand and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "This way, I can fulfill my promise to you. Only by becoming an admiral can I be worthy of you."

"..." Lu Xia was momentarily speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She hadn’t expected Graces to still remember what she had said back then. She nodded lightly. "As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn’t want to be a general isn’t a good soldier. Regardless of your reasons, the desire to become an admiral is a good thing."

*

Just as Smelian stepped out of his consultation room, three people in the uniforms of the Male Management Agency appeared before him.

"Are you Smelian?"

"I am. How can I help you?" Smelian’s face was expressionless, his tone cold.

The person’s gaze swept over him, just as devoid of warmth. They spoke in a business-like tone, "We’ve received a report suspecting that after confirming your relationship with Duke Lu Xia, you have not received her favor. We now need to conduct a physical examination."

Smelian’s heart tightened at their words. ’I can’t believe someone reported me,’ he thought. ’Who was it?’

The appearance of people from the Male Management Agency had already started to draw occasional glances from others in the wide corridor. The department head, hearing the news, rushed over. "What’s going on? What is all this? Why are people from the Male Management Agency here? Hello, I wonder what our Doctor Smelian has done to make you come all the way over here during your busy schedules?"

He put on a pleasant demeanor, appearing as if he were concerned for Smelian’s well-being.

"Are you his superior? It’s like this: we’ve received a report, and we now suspect that after confirming his relationship with his Female Master, Smelian has not received her favor. We need to conduct a physical examination. As his superior, are you aware of the state of his relationship with his Female Master?"

"Oh, so it’s about that. Actually, I’ve spoken with Doctor Smelian about this before. Although his current status as a husband is a bit lowly, what can you do? The most important thing is to find a way to earn his Female Master’s favor, otherwise life is just impossible. But our Doctor Smelian is proud and arrogant. For a long time after confirming his relationship with his Female Master, he never once went home, living in the hospital dorms the entire time. I heard he went home recently, but I really don’t know if he’s repaired his relationship with his Female Master or received her favor." At this, the department head gave a helpless little laugh. "After all, I’m just his superior. I can’t manage that much of his life."