For the next two days, the project team worked without rest.
Based on their data analysis, they proposed three possible improvement plans.
They replaced the conductive materials with higher-grade ones.
They rewrote the redundant code in the flight control system.
They even installed a small flow-stabilizing Rune array around the problematic node.
On the third day, Li Wei boarded the aircraft once again.
The arrogance in his eyes was gone, replaced by the grim gravity of a professional soldier.
Takeoff, ascent, basic tests.
Everything went smoothly.
"Preparing to enter extreme testing."
Li Wei's calm voice came through the public channel.
In the main control room, the hearts of all the engineers were in their throats.
WHIRRR—
The same "J-turn," the same 11G overload.
That shrill alarm blared through the room once more!
This time, Li Wei was prepared.
The moment he lost control, he forcibly cut off part of the Spiritual Power supply.
He narrowly managed to correct his course and once again performed a harrowing emergency landing.
Failure.
Another failure.
The entire project team was completely engulfed in an atmosphere of despair.
When Li Wei walked back into the technical analysis room, he slammed his helmet onto the table with a BANG.
"Engineer Zhao! Are you guys even capable of doing this?"
For the first time, he used an almost roaring, accusatory tone with Zhao Yu.
"This is the second time! Your improvement plans are nothing but shots in the dark!"
"I'm flying in the sky, not playing in your simulator! If this keeps up, I'm going to end up losing my life in this damn plane!"
The engineers all flushed red, lowering their heads in shame.
They couldn't refute him.
Because what Li Wei said was the truth.
They really were just guessing, using the ace pilot's life for trial and error.
"Unless..."
Chen Gang stared at the meaningless data on the screen, running his hands through his hair in frustration as he roared in a fit of desperation.
"Unless we can move the entire lab into the sky and monitor the data flow of that node in real-time the moment it loses control!"
"Otherwise, this problem is impossible to solve!"
This bitter complaint made the already oppressive air in the room even heavier.
'Right, how could that be possible?'
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, under an overload of more than ten Gs.
Forget moving the instruments up there; even if they could, no engineer could operate them under those conditions.
It was utterly impossible nonsense.
However, in the midst of this frozen silence, someone was the first to realize something.
Then a second, and a third...
Inside the conference room, everyone's gaze slowly began to turn toward a corner.
There stood a figure who had remained silent from beginning to end.
The "Perception Genius" who, during the promotion assessment, had repaired a fighter jet with his bare hands, faster than any instrument.
The "prodigy" on the project team who had solved the engine resonance problem with an almost 'metaphysical' inspiration.
Han Feng.
In an instant, the look in everyone's eyes changed.
Their eyes held shock and hesitation, but more than that, they held the flickering flames of hope, rekindled.
'That's right!'
'How could they have forgotten!'
They didn't have a mobile laboratory, but they had a living, breathing, human detection instrument!
"Han Feng..."
The project's deputy lead, Liu Wenbo, was the first to break the silence.
He looked at Han Feng, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, yet feeling the idea was too insane.
A terrifying light suddenly erupted from Zhao Yu's bloodshot eyes.
He stared intently at Han Feng, his gaze scorching.
"Han Feng, your Perception... can you maintain it during extreme flight conditions?"
"For example, under a ten G overload?"
This question was what everyone was thinking.
Han Feng met everyone's gaze and nodded calmly.
"I can."
Those two simple words made the air in the entire conference room freeze.
A ten G overload.
Even for a Martial Artist at the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm, their body would be crushed to the point of immobility, their consciousness blurring.
And he was saying he could maintain a clear Perception?
'This kid's body is that tough?'
"No way!"
The test pilot, Li Wei, was the first to stand up and object.
He had just survived a life-or-death ordeal, and his face was still a little pale.
"Engineer Zhao, this is too risky! He's a genius technician, not a pilot! Sending him up there is no different from sending him to his death!"
Li Wei's tone was agitated.
It wasn't jealousy. It stemmed from a professional pilot's reverence for life and a basic professional judgment of a layman.
"Flying a plane isn't like playing a video game. In the sky, any mistake, even for a tenth of a second, can be fatal!"
The other engineers nodded one after another, agreeing that Li Wei had a point.
Han Feng was their only hope of solving the problem.
But if that hope was extinguished in the sky, they would be well and truly finished.
Zhao Yu also frowned and looked at Han Feng.
"What's your skill level as a pilot?"
This was the most critical question.
Under everyone's tense gaze, Han Feng didn't answer directly.
He brought up his personal terminal and projected a stream of information into the air.
[East Sea Fortress City Auxiliary Defense Personnel Certification]
[Name: Han Feng]
[Certification Level: Pilot · Bronze One-Star]
[...]
The conference room once again fell into a strange silence.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the certification info, their expressions frozen.
A guy who fixes planes, and a genius engineer at that.
And now you're telling me he actually has a pilot's license?
Even though it was only the lowest Bronze Level, it was still an officially certified pilot!
The corner of Chen Gang's mouth twitched violently. He silently turned his head away, not wanting to look at Han Feng anymore.
He felt that if he kept looking, his hard-won scientific worldview would collapse.
'How can someone who so completely defies logic exist in this world?'
Li Wei was also stunned.
He pointed at the projection, then at Han Feng, his tone filled with disbelief.
"You... you're actually a pilot?"
"An amateur."
Han Feng retracted the projection and said modestly.
But no one present would take that "amateur" seriously.
This guy's "amateur" was probably more terrifying than other people's "professional."
"Just Bronze Level. It's not enough."
Li Wei came to his senses and still shook his head.
"The piloting threshold for the Falcon fighter is extremely high. You need at least a Silver Level rating to barely handle it."
"Extreme maneuvers require someone like me, at the Gold Level. Bronze Level... you'd have trouble just taking off."
Han Feng smiled.
He knew a certificate alone wouldn't convince these professionals.
"I know my rating isn't high enough."
He looked at Zhao Yu, his gaze open and honest.
"But that rating doesn't represent my true skill. Instead of all this talk, it's better to fly once and show everyone."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a confidence that no one present dared to question.
"I don't need to fly the prototype directly. That would be too risky."
"The project team should have a standard second-generation Hunting Falcon, right? Let me fly one. After everyone has seen it, you can decide if this plan is feasible."
Zhao Yu stared at Han Feng for a full ten seconds.
He saw a pair of calm eyes, devoid of recklessness or arrogance, containing only absolute control over his own abilities.
"Alright!"
Zhao Yu slapped his hand on the table, having made his decision.
"Old Liu, go arrange for a second-generation Hunting Falcon in top condition!"
"Everyone to the hangar! I want to see just how big of a surprise you can give us, kid!"