Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 267 - 267 47 Transhumanism Inc

267: Chapter 47 Transhumanism, Inc.

267: Chapter 47 Transhumanism, Inc.

After deciding to join the “Transhumanism Company,” Tao Enhai didn’t hesitate much.

He quickly contacted Xiang Shan using the details on the business card and signed an agreement with the company’s HR.

At the same time, he also handed over his pending work to his colleagues at the hospital.

The whole process took less than two days.

This was mainly because he had been recuperating for several months, and most of the patients he was responsible for had been discharged.

The hospital seemed to be quite willing to facilitate this transition.

For one, his hand indeed could no longer perform surgeries.

As the chief of neurosurgery, his value undoubtedly had diminished.

Moreover…

it was, after all, a Vigette!

Without saying anything else, just by proclaiming “Our doctor has furthered his expertise under Mr.

Vigette,” that’s a golden signboard for the hospital.

However, after completing all this, he visited an office building on the outskirts of Beiping once again.

The “Superman Enterprise” [hereinafter referred to as “Superman” or “Superman Enterprise”] did indeed have a department located on the West Third Ring.

That place was full of clerks, with various departments such as finance, legal affairs, and HR all thrown in there.

By the way, that so-called “headquarters” was indeed not very popular, with very few people around.

Tao Enhai had visited it once when he signed the agreement and remembered that it was very spacious, with a nice office environment and decent benefits.

He initially mumbled to himself, questioning how the administrative department of a company could have so few people, and then they told him that the company’s operations were highly automated, and the systems were personally written by the chairman.

After returning, Tao Enhai did some research on the chairman and found that his claim of “being somewhat of a scientist” was not an exaggeration.

The chairman was an alumnus of Tsinghua University in Beiping, from a distinguished lineage, and his mentor was said to be a famous figure in that field.

Before the chairman had even graduated, he had already been leading a laboratory.

But strangely enough, he managed the laboratory at Tsinghua University’s Basic Industrial Training Center for his mentor, and shortly after, the records showed that the lab’s management personnel were changed again.

The chairman left sometime during this period.

According to the records, his mentor also handed over the projects he was working on.

Xiang Shan’s mentor disappeared for two to three years, only to come back and continue managing his previous projects.

The chairman’s story was different, though.

His next entry on his resume was as the “Director of the United Nations Institute for Civilization Studies.”

The “Institute for Civilization Studies” under the United Nations had scant information, and it seemed to have no significant academic output, almost like an organization just mixing funds.

However, after digging a little deeper, everyone would start to respect this institution.

Yawgmoth Voigt made his most important breakthrough—the deciphering of the Enzyme System—while he was at this institution.

Although the official reports attributed the “deciphering of the Enzyme System” to “analyzing the organic materials inside the organisms from a hydrothermal vent on the seabed,” the internet was rife with speculation that the “Institute for Civilization Studies” was studying aliens.

And that many of the accomplishments of the scientists within were due to deciphering alien technology.

In short, there were numerous different opinions on the internet.

But Tao Enhai was very clear about one thing.

Aliens definitely existed.

A few years ago, various countries had confirmed this information.

To avoid social unrest, almost all countries laid the groundwork culturally.

Those years even saw a “science fiction craze,” as every movie related to aliens, whether a classic or trashy, was dug out and remade time and again.

All sorts of science fiction novels were reprinted over and over.

Humanity had finally managed to digest this news without causing major social upheaval.

“The chairman might have gone to study aliens…” Tao Enhai thought in bewilderment, “A hardware engineer…

cracking the computer systems of aliens?”

The image of “human hackers breaking into alien computers” often appears in movies.

Tao Enhai always thought this plot was rather unintelligent.

If a civilization truly could traverse the stars, then their computers should be incomprehensible to humans.

From this perspective, the fact that the chairman was selected to participate in the study of aliens already indicated his extraordinary ability.

Considering this, Tao Enhai indeed felt increased respect for the chairman.

—If only he would openly discuss the salary issues…

That’s what he thought on his way to meet Xiang Shan in the suburbs.

By the time he emerged from the subway station, the sun was already slanting westward.

This was a newly built cluster of buildings.

Some corporate-background labs were situated here.

There was also an office building.

Tao Enhai walked briskly inside.

This office building was rented by Transhumanism, Inc.

The main focus of Superman Enterprise was right here.

Although a desk was reserved for Director Xiang in the West Third Ring, it was clear that the director much preferred this place.

Even the technical department was located here, while the “headquarters” on the West Third Ring only had two technicians who could repair computers.

Tao Enhai arrived at Xiang Shan’s office.

The door automatically opened.

Xiang Shan was standing at his desk, seeming to arrange some paper files.

He heard the noise, turned his head, and saw that it was Tao Enhai.

He asked, somewhat surprised, “Doctor Tao, what brings you here?”

“Ah?” Tao Enhai replied, “I received the company’s ID card at noon.”

“It shouldn’t be ‘noon,’ right?” Xiang Shan said, somewhat puzzled.

“According to the system record, you finished handing over the documents at two-thirty.”

Tao Enhai nodded, “Yes, that’s correct.”

“You can’t drive now…

Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” Xiang Shan said, waving his hand.

Tao Enhai nodded, “I understand.

You didn’t mean any harm.”

“You came here by public transport.

But whether it’s by bus or subway, it’s quite a long way from the West Third Ring to here,” Xiang Shan said.

Tao Enhai nodded, thinking to himself, if the journey weren’t so long, would I have come at this time?

Xiang Shan said, “Conservatively estimated, you should have arrived here around four forty?

Perhaps five minus a quarter?”

Tao Enhai nodded again.

“They’ve all left work,” Xiang Shan pointed to the clock behind Tao Enhai, “Done for the day.”

Stunned, Tao Enhai turned to look at the clock and then turned back to face Xiang Shan, “What did you say?”

“We are off work.

We strictly adhere to a nine-to-five schedule,” Xiang Shan said, “Including a two-hour lunch break.

Strictly speaking, shouldn’t it be a six-hour workday?”

Once more, Tao Enhai was plunged into confusion.

Xiang Shan pointed at himself, “I’m off work too.” He spread his hands, “I thought after you got your ID card, you’d go home and rest on your own.

That’s why I didn’t arrange a company car for you—if I’d known you wanted to come, I should have had someone from the West Third Ring prepare one for you.”

Tao Enhai’s lips trembled, unsure what to say.

Too strange.

Seriously, too strange.

He had never heard of such a company.

Nine-to-five?

A two-hour lunch break in between?

No overtime?

What kind of research institution doesn’t require overtime?

Every tutor tries to make the students study in the labs as much as possible!

This…

this…

He recalled his wife’s repeated reminders that morning, telling him to report to the Chairman’s office after he settled the archives.

His wife also mentioned that he was personally headhunted by the Chairman, so he should learn to curry favor…

When he found out that there was no business car arranged at West Third Ring after he handed over the files, he felt he might be getting the cold shoulder…

Who could have imagined this crazy company would finish work so early?

“You might not be familiar with our company’s corporate culture yet,” Xiang Shan said, “My comrades and I all detest the culture of overwork…”

But…

Gathering his courage, Tao Enhai asked, “We are a research institution, after all…

what if inspiration strikes…”

“Ah, that,” Xiang Shan replied, “That’s easy to handle.

If you do have a true burst of inspiration, you can apply to work overtime.

However, there’s a monthly cap on overtime, and subsequently, you must take double the time off in lieu.

Everyone must consider, before applying for overtime, whether their ‘inspiration’ is truly worth the precious overtime quota.”

“Ah…” Tao Enhai opened his mouth but said nothing before finally asking, “Is this really a company?”

Xiang Shan nodded, “It certainly is.”

“And we can make money like this?”

“Why not?” Xiang Shan countered, “As long as the research institution operates, there will be a continuous flow of funds here.

Why couldn’t we make money?”

“But other companies always work overtime…”

“Ah, that’s because their management departments are too inefficient, assigning to employees the work that can’t be finished within eight hours, reducing the company’s efficiency,” Xiang Shan said with a straight face, “Please trust the power of science.

I built the company’s management system myself, and it’s very scientific and reasonable.”

Tao Enhai even felt that there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Several minutes passed before Tao Enhai said, “This…

indeed reflects my own lack of experience…”

—What am I even upset about…

Tao Enhai was dissatisfied with his own behavior.

He felt he might have made a fool of himself in front of his boss?

But who could have expected that this company…

no, “our company” was this insane?

“Doctor Tao, you need to change your way of thinking,” Xiang Shan pondered for a moment and asked, “Do you know why a master’s degree is called ‘master’?”

“Why…” Tao Enhai blurted out the question.

“In Western Europe’s guilds, apprentices had a kind of personal dependence on their mentors.

Apprentices would call the skilled craftsman ‘master,’ as in a lord.

It’s a truly foul feudal remnant!” Xiang Shan waved his hand dismissively, “All those academic practices you’ve seen are poisonous residues of feudalism!

We need a change—Ugh!

Those guys didn’t wait for me!”

This last twist truly startled Tao Enhai.

Xiang Shan grabbed Tao Enhai, “If you’re not going home for dinner, come join us.

The Chairman will personally introduce you to the company culture.

However…”

Xiang Shan smiled, “Looks like we’ll have to take the subway.

That bunch of animals took all the company cars.”