Chapter 77 78

Chapter 77: A Little Test

A research team of up to thirty people entered in single file, led by two beautiful guides from Solar Corona, into the huge laboratory building, which was the newly completed expansion of the CoBIS1 laboratory. The surrounding scenery and supporting facilities were all very complete, and of course, the most important experimental equipment was absolutely top-notch, costing a considerable amount of money.

Eugene Whitler whistled, his eyes firmly fixed on the perfect curves revealed by the two beautiful guide's tight skirt suits in front of him, murmuring to himself, "Faulk, I'm starting to think it wasn't a bad choice to come here after all. At least Bruce Lee is a real man. It's said that this guy is a super playboy. Do you think he's hooked up with these two hot chicks?"

Faulkner Hawsworth obviously knew Eugene's nature very well and didn't bother to respond to him at all. He was busy looking around, observing the interior of the laboratory. At least from the equipment and research personnel, Solar Corona had put in a lot of effort, which slightly reassured him, but only a little bit.

Apparently, Eugene's voice was a bit loud, so much so that even the guide, who paid special attention to etiquette and appearance, couldn't smile and turned back to glare at him angrily, only to receive this guy's self-perceived charming smile in return, followed by a kiss gesture. The beautiful guide chose to retreat, after all, Solar Corona had very strict requirements for its staff, and she was worried about losing this lucrative job because of her excessive behavior. Otherwise, she would definitely have flipped him the middle finger in response.

Whoever is shameless, I'm not afraid of anyone!

Eugene chuckled with his chewing gum. Just about to boast for a few words, he realized that Faulkner, who had been by his side all along, was nowhere to be seen, feeling dissatisfied that his buddy didn't witness his handsome performance.

"Hey, I'm talking to you, buddy."

Still not getting a response, Eugene turned around in confusion, only to see Faulkner standing dumbfounded not far away, with his mouth wide open, staring at the room inside the glass window on the right, where a tall, muscular man stood naked, wearing only a tight pair of shorts, with many tennis balls in his hands and at his feet.

"Did you see that just now... um..."

Faulkner rubbed his eyes. He couldn't close his mouth for a long time, then turned to look at Eugene, seeming to want confirmation from him.

"See what? The muscle guy playing tennis? I admit that guy looks pretty good and has a decent figure, but we charm and woo with humor and talent; it's just as popular..."

Eugene certainly wouldn't admit that he was a bit jealous of the bulging lump under the guy's crotch. He pretended to be disdainful and patted Faulkner on the shoulder, pulling his buddy forcefully to continue walking inside.

The two of them were the fastest to act, and it wasn't until they entered the main laboratory that the other researchers strolled in leisurely.

"Welcome, gentlemen from Lockheed, I am the head of the laboratory, Gilbert Gordon. You are all elites in your respective fields. Perhaps we will be working together for a long time in the future. In order to facilitate open communication, my colleagues will now distribute the new confidentiality agreement to everyone. After signing it, you can speak freely about anything you want to ask."

Gilbert Gordon walked in from the other end of the door with a few researchers, taking the materials from his subordinates while shaking hands with Carmen Hoson.

Several researchers distributed thick confidentiality agreements to the experts and researchers from Lockheed, and they all turned to look at the legal counsel who had already carefully reviewed them. After receiving affirmative answers, they didn't dwell too much and all signed the agreement. These were all standard procedures, just more stringent and more stringent. Since they came here, they were somewhat mentally prepared.

"Thank you all for your cooperation. So, does anyone have any questions now?"

Gilbert Gordon took off his glasses from the bridge of his nose and habitually wiped them. In fact, he no longer had any vision problems, and his eyesight even surpassed that of everyone present. However, in order to conceal his changes, he continued to wear the glasses he had worn for decades. Thinking about the day when he would finally take off his glasses, he realized it was not far away.

"Dr. Gordon, what do you think about the GIPA project? What are the chances of success?"

Obviously, this question was a common concern among most Lockheed researchers present, so Eugene and the others didn't need to speak up. Naturally, someone raised their hand and asked the question first.

Gilbert Gordon wasn't surprised at all by this question, which carried a hint of skepticism. Instead, he looked at the person asking the question and gave a very direct answer: "I personally believe the success rate is over 85%, especially in terms of our human physical enhancement part. The remaining 15% will rely on all of you to make up for it."

His unreserved and decisive attitude obviously caught Lockheed's employees off guard, immediately sparking a flurry of whispers and murmurs. Someone even expressed strong dissatisfaction on the spot, bluntly refuting, "I admire your confidence, Dr. Gordon, but talking big won't get us anywhere. Otherwise, Tony Stark would have already gone to heaven."

The people from Lockheed all smiled knowingly, but most of them still had some reservations and didn't laugh out loud.

After all, they were just in a cooperative relationship. These Lockheed researchers obviously had great distrust towards the Solar Corona side, and most of them secretly blamed them for wasting time on meaningless projects. Whether it was in terms of hierarchy or salary and bonuses, they still belonged to Lockheed, so they wouldn't be as afraid of Gilbert Gordon, the person in charge on the Solar Corona side.

Seeing that some of the researchers had already expressed some dissatisfaction, Gilbert Gordon didn't rush to refute. Instead, he put his glasses back on, then looked satisfied as he glanced at the agreement that had been signed and returned, before asking, as if confirming, "It seems that this is the most concerning issue for everyone, right? Did I get it wrong?"

The people from Lockheed didn't deny it. Their attitude was very obvious: they highly doubted what Gilbert had said and lacked confidence in this project. This was a big problem; even before things started, people's minds were already divided, and the future looked somewhat bleak.

However, the researchers from Gilbert's side, including several men and women around him, didn't show any signs of embarrassment. Instead, they exchanged knowing glances and wore expressions that seemed to say they were waiting for a show, with smiles that were somewhat ambiguous. This undoubtedly annoyed Eugene and the others even more—this guy had laughed the most heartily when he heard the joke about Tony Stark just now, almost grinning from ear to ear.

"Please be patient, everyone. I also believe that empty talk is meaningless, so let's speak with facts. Next, we will specially showcase the latest achievements of the CoBIS1 laboratory. Please follow us."

Gilbert turned and gestured, leading everyone to a computer that had been opened. A small program was already running on the desktop. "This is a very simple test of comprehensive reaction ability. The test mainly includes reaction speed, agility, and hand-eye coordination."

Eugene and Faulkner stood among the crowd, neither forward nor backward, but they could still see the content on the screen. After a brief explanation from the researcher, they quickly understood the rules of the test, which were indeed very simple.

The screen displayed a simple and brisk 3D forward image, with a small airplane icon in the middle below. Participants controlled the airplane to move left and right using the "←, →" keys on the keyboard, avoiding randomly appearing cubes of various sizes on the forward path. If they collided with a cube, the test would end. As the airplane moved forward, it gradually accelerated, becoming faster and more challenging, until it exceeded the reaction capability of the test subject. Therefore, the longer they persisted, the better their score would be.

"Hey, this test is somewhat similar to one of the tests for Air Force pilots, which really tests a person's attention, reaction, and judgment abilities." Eugene Whitler murmured to Faulkner Hawsworth.

"As you all know, there are limits to human reaction speed and sensitivity. The reaction time of an average person generally ranges from 0.15 seconds to 0.4 seconds. Most physiological research institutes around the world have a common understanding: the human reaction time limit should be around 100 milliseconds. Without any thinking, the most basic reflexive reaction—this instinctive reaction time is approximately 100 milliseconds and usually does not fall below 100 milliseconds. And the testing software you see here leaves less than 100 milliseconds for the test subject's reaction after 3 minutes. In other words—normal people are absolutely impossible to persist for more than 3 minutes. In fact, our laboratory has had many gamers participate in the test, and the best result was 2 minutes and 13 seconds. So, does anyone here have confidence in their reaction ability and is willing to participate in the test?"

Gilbert Gordon stood beside the computer and made further explanations, looking at the people from Lockheed.

It was just a small test, and trying it out wouldn't hurt. These people were all waiting to see how Gilbert would prove it, and of course, some people vaguely guessed his intention and immediately volunteered to participate in the test.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Man Up for 3 Minutes

The first one to step up was a robust young researcher who seemed to prioritize exercise and fitness. He exuded confidence as he sat in front of the screen.

"Bolt, don't give up before 2 minutes!"

The test wasn't nerve-wracking, so a friend of the researcher joked around, hinting at something that caused everyone to burst into laughter. Even the few female researchers, mature women, didn't seem embarrassed and joined in on the banter, while Bolt shot them an angry look.

Gilbert watched with a smile, unperturbed by their antics, not suggesting they tone it down.

"Press any key on the keyboard to start the test, sir, whenever you're ready," Gilbert said.

Bolt nodded and pressed a key. The screen, initially static, came to life, simulating a plane's view. At first, the plane moved slowly, and there weren't many cube obstacles, so it wasn't particularly challenging. However, to everyone's surprise, less than 10 seconds in, Bolt's plane collided with a cube.

The screen froze!

Test over!

Your results: Total time taken 9.782 seconds, average reaction time 367 milliseconds!

Seeing the displayed results, Bolt was dumbfounded, hastily explaining, "No, no, it was just an accident! I wasn't used to it for a moment. The keyboard's sensitivity was much higher than I imagined, and I pressed too hard. Let me try again."

Even those who had teased him didn't expect this outcome. However, they realized it was because Bolt had been too casual during the test. His movements were too extreme while dodging the cubes, leading to another collision, not reflecting his true reaction capability.

"Hey! Bolt, didn't expect you to last shorter than I imagined. 10 seconds, a new record," someone taunted him, taking advantage of the opportunity to mock the person sharing the name with the famous sprinter.

"Shut up! Let me try again!"

Bolt's face flushed, turning what was originally just a game-like test into something that seemed to carry some masculine connotation, leaving him feeling displeased.

Damn it! If I take this test seriously, I can shut these guys up.

"Of course, as long as everyone agrees, you can have a few adaptation attempts," Gilbert nodded, signaling him to continue.

This time, Bolt seemed more serious. He deliberately swung his arms a few times, relaxed his posture, then pressed the keyboard again to start the test.

The screen started moving, and under Bolt's focused control, the plane dodged the cubes appearing in front of it. The speed increased gradually, becoming almost overwhelming, making the spectators nervous. However, Bolt exerted himself, and this time, he performed at a normal level.

Test over!

Your results: Total time taken 107.63 seconds, average reaction time 168 milliseconds!

A score of approximately 1 minute and 48 seconds seemed decent, and Bolt managed to salvage some pride. The researchers watching became interested, and one after another, they volunteered to try.

After most people had taken their turns, the best result surprisingly came from Eugene Whitler. This carefree guy, who always had a grin on his face, lasted for 2 minutes and 19 seconds, with an average reaction time of 132 milliseconds!

"Ha ha, I am indeed the strongest."

Eugene Whitler deliberately flexed his almost shapeless biceps, taking a victory lap around his seat, proudly demonstrating his unparalleled ability in some aspect.

"Clap clap clap!"

Gilbert Gordon applauded, "Excellent result, surpassing all of our researchers. Now I believe everyone understands the theoretical limit of reaction speed. It's practically impossible to achieve, let alone maintain, for a long time due to various factors like loss of concentration leading to mistakes and premature test termination. Perhaps, after countless attempts, someone might approach the 3-minute mark, but I think we can all agree on the accuracy of this test, right?"

The Lockheed researchers, who had just treated it as a little game, now realized they were curious. Carmen Hoson, as the person in charge, should come forward and discuss the matter. His opinion was evidently agreed upon by most of the researchers, who nodded and looked towards Gilbert Gordon, now intrigued. After experiencing the test firsthand, they understood its persuasive power and its ability to intuitively reflect the data of the test subjects.

"Dr. Gordon, can we understand it this way: through your enhanced experimental subjects, you can break the 3-minute barrier? If that's possible, then I admit it's indeed a remarkable achievement!" Carmen Hoson, now stepping in, clearly voiced the thoughts of most researchers, earning nods of agreement. They had been successfully aroused by curiosity. After experiencing the test procedures themselves, they found them convincing and able to intuitively reflect the data of the test subjects.

"Let's stick to the facts," Gilbert didn't directly answer but made a gesture to a nearby researcher, who picked up the walkie-talkie and transmitted a message to another area.

A few seconds later, a tall and agile man walked in from the entrance, standing beside him.

"This is our test subject, Wagner. Let's see how he performs in

 this test."

Eugene Whitler and others turned their gaze to this man. Apart from being muscular and handsome, he seemed nothing special. Only Faulkner Hawsworth widened his eyes, murmuring to himself, unknown to others.

"What did you see? Is the muscle guy good at tennis? I only saw him standing there," Eugene Whitler said discontentedly, looking away.

"Stop talking, both of you, and be quiet."

Carmen Hoson walked over and reprimanded them softly, casting a stern glance at the two restless fellows. The researchers had only experienced the test procedures, and joking around wasn't harmful. But now, the participants were obviously arranged by Solar Corona, and distractions could affect the test, leading to a lack of rigor. As the person in charge on Lockheed's side, he had to maintain a balance.

"It's okay, let's begin."

Gilbert, unperturbed by the constant whispering among the researchers, made a casual glance in their direction and gestured to the seated man, Wagner, to start.

Although the rules seemed simple, each cube's position and quantity were randomly controlled by the computer program, progressively increasing and accelerating. The appearance of all cubes was confusing, and despite the increasing difficulty, Wagner's arms remained steady, his posture relaxed, and his breathing steady. The only sound was the clear tapping of the keyboard keys.

1 minute...

2 minutes...

3 minutes...

Wagner's expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of nervousness. He seemed as relaxed as when the test began. In reality, as the speed increased, the screen became almost dizzying, and the keyboard clacking sounded like a constant stream. Wagner's finger movements were almost impossible to discern, yet every tap was precise and controlled, dodging the cubes without any overreactions.

The Lockheed researchers, who had initially been skeptical and curious, were now astonished and stunned. From lazy spectators, they became fully absorbed, holding their breaths, even more nervous than Wagner, who was undergoing the test.

Because this tall man had shown no signs of change from start to finish, and now seemed just as relaxed. However, most of them had personally experienced the test procedure and understood how terrifying it was to achieve this. If it weren't for their eyes unable to keep up with the screen, almost turning into a blur, they would have thought Wagner was not taking the same test!

Gilbert Gordon, on the other hand, became the most indifferent person. He knew well that Wagner wouldn't be affected by the distractions, and gently clapped his hands to remind, "Gentlemen, I believe this test result is enough to demonstrate Mr. Wagner's amazing reaction capability, don't you think?"

As he finished speaking, Wagner stood up, ending the test. The screen instantly froze as he did so, displaying a line of startling words:

Test over!

Total time taken 479.88 seconds, average reaction time 31 milliseconds!