Chapter 302: An Insane Test

Williams’ expression changed almost instantly as he exclaimed, “Tai! You wish to put the energy shield booster through a level-5 stress test? Isn’t that a little too harsh?”

The stress test was a unique examination method that the military employed. Its purpose was to test the maximum endurance that any equipment could be under when fully operational while in combat. The test itself ranged five levels of stress, and Tai had requested for the energy-shield booster to go through the toughest.

The military would not normally request auxiliary equipment such as the energy-shield booster to undergo such a high-level stress testing, because such tests were completely devastating! The energy-shield booster would essentially be forced to sustain waves upon waves of attacks non-stop until it was completely destroyed.

The number of equipment that could make it through a level-5 stress test was one in a million. Only the very expensive and high-quality equipment in the Alliance was capable of withstanding such extensive punishment. Seeing as the energy-shield booster had not even been enhanced according to the requirements of the military prior and its fairly low price point, the equipment was clearly more for general use just based on its function.

One top-tier equipment, which cost over a hundred million star coins, would of course be more likely to get through such an extreme test than a single energy-shield booster, which only cost several million star coins. Top-tier equipment required expensive materials to be produced, so it was hardly cost-efficient even if it successfully made it through the level 5 stress test, since it was unlikely for the military to equip such expensive top-tier equipment en masse.

To be precise, the level 5 stress test was reserved for top-tier equipment that special forces would be using. To let Xia Fei’s energy-shield booster, a very obviously universal use equipment, undergo the level 5 stress test, even the most optimistic Williams found it somewhat harsh.

Tai was unperturbed. “The size of this company is pathetically small, and it has neither the experience nor the tradition of supplying the military. If not for you two highly recommending this equipment to me, I wouldn’t even consider it at all. Performance can’t be explained on paper alone; there are plenty of reasons why so many companies are unable to guarantee their products’ consistency. We are the military, so how can we treat what we fit into our ships as child’s play? Performance is very important, but what’s even more important is in knowing if this company can show the consistency over time, sustaining the military’s demand all the way. Being a supplier for the Alliance Military isn’t just a one-time commitment or for the short term. The moment this kind of energy-shield booster goes into the procurement process, it means that, as long the Alliance exists, so will the military. Before a better product replacement becomes available, this company will be servicing the military the entire time, be it a hundred years, a thousand, or even ten thousand years. A company that will not make any mistake across any amount of time—that is the criterion for becoming an A-list supplier of the military.

“Since you two want to have this company enter the A list despite it not meeting the requirements expected, it must means that this company is capable of making a product no other out there can come up with, or else I will most definitely not agree for a recently established company of just over two years to be tested in the first place. For a company that has no funds or power to ensure the combat effectiveness of the military, it will have to prove that it is the best, or else it shan’t even be considered. It’s just that simple!” Tai said decisively.

Both Williams and Layton felt somewhat stifled after hearing Tai speak with such conviction. His demands had always been strict, especially with regard to weaponry which affected the military’s strength, becoming all the more uncompromising with it. Hence, his request to put the energy-shield booster through a level 5 stress test could no longer be described as harsh.

Williams chuckled. “Tai, I already understand why you made such a request. Equipping the fleet with a new product isn’t something trivial. I’ll make the preparations for the level 5 stress test right away, so do we still go ahead with the standard combat engagement test?”

Tai answered, “Of course! Since I’ve come to see just how great this energy-shield booster the two of you have so strongly recommended, we can do the stress test later. How many of these products have you acquired, and how did you get a hold of them?”

Williams replied, “We’ve managed to get hold of six of them, three standard and three enhanced versions in total. The Adjudicator Union bought a batch of these energy-shield boosters several months ago, and these six were the reserves they had in storage. As such, you can be at ease; Quantum Holdings has no clue that we’ve already gotten our hands on these samples, not to mention that we will be doing tests on them.”

Not informing a company that they would be doing tests was a tradition of the military as well. There was a high possibility for companies to hand over better samples intentionally if they were informed of what the military was doing, just so they could pull a fast one and pass the test. That was why the military had always bought any kind of equipment from the market or obtained samples from another organization, like this time when they were conducting an investigation on it.

Tai furrowed his brows. “Why is there a standard version and an enhanced version? What’s the reason for that?”

Williams smiled. “It’s not only the two; Quantum Holdings’ energy-shield boosters have a total of four grades, differing in their rate of recharge, with varying prices as well.

“The economy version provides a twenty-five percent recharge speed increase, the standard thirty percent, enhanced thirty-five percent, and the deluxe version goes up to a thirty-eight percent recharge rate increase. In terms of pricing, the economy version goes for two million star coins, the standard are at four million, enhanced at ten million star coins, while the deluxe can go as high as thirty million star coins a piece.”

Tai laughed out loud. “The person in charge of this business sure knows how to do business! He clearly intends to segment the market according to different client groups. The rich will be able to buy the most powerful products, satisfying their vanity, while the average citizen can opt for the less pricier versions, still beneficial even if it’s not as good as the others.”

Williams mused. “Indeed, that’s quite a good marketing strategy, and the prices are reasonable as well. At present, we’re using the CL5 large energy-shield generators, which cost us somewhere over eight million star coins each. Adding a standardized multiplier device will cost us an additional four million star coins for each warship, though purchasing them in bulk will somewhat lower this cost.”

Tai waved his hand dismissively. “We’ll talk about pricing another time. If this company plans to get into the A-list of military suppliers, they will first have to show us its ability to run with the military, or else there’s nothing to talk about!”

…

The combat engagement test went smoothly. The energy-shield booster increased defensive performance by up to 32.17% in the simulated battle, greatly improving battlefield survivability.

Even the always severe Tai believed that the energy-shield boosters were not a bad addition in terms of its defensive capabilities. It was not often for Tai to praise others, so a ‘not bad’ from his lips was already considered outstanding.

Coming and going like a furious hurricane, Tai left in as much of a hurry as he came. This ultimate overseer of the Alliance’s military affairs was always this busy, and even his wife had left him when she could no longer bear the loneliness. However, he still carried on as he desired, putting his entire heart and soul to the military. It was as if he had married the military, instead, and conflict became his favorite mistress.

Williams and Layton sent him off to the front door, with Tai making a final statement before he boarded the warship, “No matter the case, the level 5 stress test must be conducted. If two out of the six samples you’ve obtained pass the test, I won’t mind considering adding Quantum Holdings to the military supplier A list.”

After watching Tai take off, Williams sighed as he turned to Layton. “That’s already the biggest concession he could’ve done. After all, to be entered into the A list of military suppliers is by no means a small feat; once Quantum Holdings obtains such qualifications, that will also mean he becomes a partner of the entire Alliance Military. The military will not only provide it strong support in terms of technology and funding but also give it plenty of special protections.”

Layton shook his head. “Such good treatment will also have similarly harsh demands. The amount of responsibility an A-list supplier has to bear is so immense that no ordinary man can imagine it. Every component and equipment that the many military warships require will have to be made by these A-list suppliers; that is an old military rule.”

“A level 5 stress test, though… The strength of this test is equivalent to the energy-shield boosters continuously working for five years in a large-scale battle without any interruptions! Regardless of the fact that Tai lowered the requirement down to just one-third, I still don’t think that the energy-shield boosters will be able to pass this test.”

Williams smiled. “I think so, too. In order to pass this harsh level 5 stress test, which allows no room for error, not only do the samples have to be well-made, they will also need a bit of luck.”

Layton rubbed his chin for a moment, as if he had suddenly thought of something.

“Do you think Quantum Holdings will be willing to sell their proprietary technology to other military suppliers we have in the A-list? They have the funds and have worked together with the military over many years. Tai will surely agree if they are the ones providing the goods to us,” Layton said.

Williams patted Layton on his shoulder. “Dear Admiral Layton, suppose you are the one who invented the energy-shield booster, would you sell it off?”

Layton shook his head. “Of course not. The potential for this product is huge. Even if the military doesn’t end up buying it, other powers across the Alliance will be interested in doing so. I heard that the Adjudicator Union is already preparing to buy their second batch; the reason why they’re unable to become an A-list military supplier is all due to the company’s lack of strength. As long as they focus on development, it will only be a matter of time before it becomes a standardized equipment for the Alliance fleet. There’s no way anyone will so easily give up such a product with so much potential.”

Williams laughed. “You’ve already met the boss of Quantum Holdings, Xia Fei. That rascal’s really sharp, so what you can think of he must’ve already considered. That’s why we don’t need to propose that suggestion to him. He’s most definitely not gonna give up the technology easily.”

Layton nodded, a little disappointed. “That’s true. Come to think of it; that rascal’s really crafty. Best if we wait for the stress test result.

……

Xia Fei was wearing a freshly tailored black suit, standing in the middle of the living room helplessly. He was facing a huge mirror, turning his body at the behest of Avril’s tailor, getting into all sorts of motion.

Avril had one hand under her chin like a very focused little fox. “Yes, his sleeves are a little long. You’ll still need to shorten it by about five centimeters. The pants legs are a little wide, too; gotta make them tighter…”

The tailor was hurriedly recording Avril’s requests so that it would be more convenient for him to make the alteration later.

Avril nodded. “This is pretty okay. Now let’s try the day suit.”

Xia Fei pursed his lips, “Isn’t one suit enough? Why is there a need for day and night?”

Avril smiled as she approached Xia Fei. “Suits are supposed to be split between day and night. In case of an emergency, I even have three sets of daysuit and nightsuit prepared.”

Xia Fei was left speechless. He only had a few sets of clothes regularly, and to think he would now be having six more suits just to attend Avril’s grandfather’s birthday banquet. This made Xia Fei, someone who did not usually care about how he dressed, tongue-tied. A high-society banquet gave Xia Fei the sense that it was cumbersome, where everything had to be carefully prepared.

Xia Fei suddenly had an epiphany, seeing how serious Avril looked; what was a bit of hassle if he could make the lady he loved happy?

Who would have thought that, after trying on the daysuit, Avril would call someone to push in a whole trolley of shirts, bow ties, cufflinks, leather shoes… White, black, green, gold—a rainbow range of colors and even styles to choose from, leaving Xia Fei dazzled by what he was seeing.

“Are you going to open a mall or something?” Xia Fei asked, frowning.

Avril giggled. “These are all things that you’ll need, and you need to try them all.”

Xia Fei had black lines forming across his forehead. There were several things that Xia Fei had not seen before on display. He originally thought that a suit was enough in the clothing department, but after seeing all these things that Avril had prepared for him, he could not help but come to the realization that it was far from enough.

It just so happened that the communicator latched on his wrist rang, and Xia Fei fled to the balcony as if his life depended on it. He undid the buttons to his shirt and pulled out a stick of Hongtashan from his pocket. He took a deep puff as if he was putting down a heavy burden.

Thuram eyed Xia Fei’s clothes and nodded. “Did Avril get that for you? It’s not bad; you seem to be roaring with vigor, though your white hair seems to have increased, making you look somewhat old.”

Xia Fei shrugged. “Uncle, do you also go through so much trouble when you attend a banquet?”

Thuram burst out laughing. “I just wear my Adjudication Union’s uniform; where would I have need of all these accouterments?”

Xia Fei was slightly stunned, abruptly envious of Thuram.

“I have two messages for you, one’s good and the other’s bad. Which would you like to hear first?” Thuram asked.

Xia Fei thought for a moment. “Give me the good news first.”

“The good news is that the military has begun confidential experiments on your energy-shield booster. The process has been successful, and the military triumvirate has all seen it. Even the draconian Tai had nothing to fault.”

“And what’s the bad news?”

Thuram revealed a very sinister smile. “The bad news is that you’ve got really bad luck. Tai is of the belief that Quantum Holdings doesn’t have what it takes to provide the military’s needs and has requested that the energy-shield boosters be put through the level 5 stress test.”

“Level 5 stress test?” Xia Fei was puzzled. “What’s that?”

Thuram answered, “All I know is that it’s the military’s highest level test. Their standard is harsh, and most equipment is hardly able to get through such an extreme test. The military and the Adjudicator Union are two completely different systems, so that’s all I know. I heard from people there that it’s very hard for the energy-shield boosters to pass the test, so you’d better mentally prepare yourself for that. It’s not that easy to get an agreement with the military.”

Xia Fei was somewhat dejected. He lowered his head. “Thank you for telling me the news. Actually, there have been plenty of businesses that wish to buy our products in bulk recently, so I’m not exactly worried about sales. Still, the military is the largest purchaser of military hardware, so not becoming a supplier for them is still a quite regretful event.”

Thuram responded, “You don’t have to be sad, either. The results aren’t out yet. General Tai is someone who values tradition. He believes that only those businesses that have been servicing the military for years are trustworthy, and the reason why he has his reservations is that your Quantum Holdings isn’t of scale yet, and it hasn’t been long since your company was listed, but it doesn’t mean that your energy-shield booster isn’t good. In any case, not becoming a supplier of the military this time isn’t a bad thing. Concentrate on developing your company first. By the time Quantum Holdings has power to stand on the Alliance stage, it isn’t too late to head over to the military and get this gargantuan purchase order.”

Xia Fei laughed and nodded as if his mood had not been affected by what he just learned.

Time spent together with Avril was always happy, though short. He would have to take off and fly off into the stars after quite some time, heading toward the distant Black Abyss. It had already turned into a war zone, and there was no telling what might be waiting for him there, which was why Xia Fei really cherished these rare moments of relaxation. He was not about to be upset over the military not using his energy-shield boosters.

Besides, the military opting against using the product did not mean that others would do the same; there was no lack of products to be sold, and it would merely be Quantum Holdings’ door plaque missing the golden plate, which would read: An A-list supplier of the military.

Avril’s careful voice came from inside the room. “Xia Fei, can you come over and take a look at this shirt? I feel that it’s best if you use smooth alloy cufflinks with it; do you like this color?”

Thuram laughed uproariously. “Punk! How I envy you! With a girlfriend like Avril, I’m afraid every single man in the entire universe will be dying of jealousy. Alright, get back to your business; I’ll be sure to give you a ring if I hear anything else.”

Xia Fei scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly. Saying goodbye to Thuram, he turned around and returned to Avril’s side.

“You can choose.” Xia Fei told Avril as he affectionately looked at her.

…

In the military secret laboratory, the rigorous level 5 stress test was underway. The results of the test would directly decide if Xia Fei’s energy-shield boosters could become a standardized equipment used by the Alliance Military’s fleets.

Though Xia Fei had said so very easily, anyone would also understand that the military was the largest firearms and military hardware purchaser in the entire Alliance. It would be impossible not to be on the path paved to riches once anyone obtained the military’s purchase order.

Moreover, the value of the plaque that officially recognized a company to be the military’s A-list supplier already exceeded the scope of money. It was akin to a protective amulet; the military would always favor the companies that supplied them out of their interest, since the said company’s rise and fall would have a direct relation to their fleets’ combat effectiveness.

What was the most important thing to a businessman?

Trust!

What would be the level of trust of a company that provided standardized equipment for the Alliance Military be?

Supreme levels!

What line of loan would a bank be willing to extend to a company, which had been recognized as an A-list supplier of the military?

Limitless!

It could, thus, be seen that, in order to become a top business in the Alliance, producing equipment for the military was the fastest shortcut any company could take!

Right now, whether this shortcut could lead Quantum Holdings to the finish line or not all depended on the level 5 stress test, the so-called extreme test, that was being conducted in some unknown military planet!

Layton had taken a trip to the laboratory every day these last two days, personally witnessing the progress of the level 5 stress test. He stood in front of these full length windows, his gaze somewhat worried. His soldier intuition was telling him that the fleet needed these energy-shield boosters in order to further improve their combat capabilities, but what Tai said was very reasonable as well. A huge purchase order like that from the military could not simply be handed to some no-name small company.

Williams walked over without making a sound as he chuckled. “You’re back here again?”

Layton pouted. “Aren’t you here as well?”

Pine Williams did not say a word. The two of them shared the same sentiment. Both were convinced that this energy-shield booster would be an epoch-defining new product.

“Which is this?” Williams asked lightly.

“The fourth. Four of these energy-shield boosters have already fallen under the insane stress tests they were put under, and there are now just two left.”