"What gives you the right to ask for Level 5 clearance?", Zhao Longfei's voice was full of displeasure, "According to South Glory's rules, even if Li Tianming himself came, he'd only get Level 4 clearance!"
Qin Siyang looked utterly disdainful, "Oh, stop that. Trying to use Old Li to pressure me? You've really picked the wrong guy."
"In the entire Miracle Building, I could take a piss starting from the first room on the first floor and finish in the last room on the sixth, and Old Li would at most compliment me for having good kidneys." [T/N: LMAO!]
"I even have full clearance for their entire lab, let alone the library that just stores some shared data?"
Qin Siyang crossed one leg over the other, "You're only saying this because Old Li's not here. If he and Principal Zhang were asking for Level 5 clearance, I don't believe for a second you'd refuse."
Zhao Longfei was so frustrated by the retort that his face darkened, "Qin Siyang, this is South Glory University, not a street corner. You'd better learn to follow the rules."
"Rules? That's not what you said when you recruited me. You said that here in South Glory, your word was the rule, that if there were any problems, you could handle them."
"You little!"
Zhao Longfei tried to take a cigar from his breast pocket, but his fingers were trembling so hard from anger that he couldn't find it after two or three tries.
Standing nearby, Lin Yaman poured him a cup of tea at just the right moment, then poured one for Qin Siyang as well.
"Principal Zhao, take your time talking."
After that, she quietly stepped aside again.
Zhao Longfei downed the tea in one gulp, took a deep breath, and forced himself to stay calm, "Qin Siyang, Level 5 clearance is something only members of the Board of Directors can have."
"You're right, if Li Tianming or Zhang Kuang came to me asking for Level 5 library access, I would give it to them. But that's because they've already earned broad recognition, so exceptions can be made. Still, that only applies to those two."
"Other than them, if professors like Chang Tianxiang wanted Level 5 access, the most I could give is a one-day temporary entry card, and even that requires Secretary Lin to accompany them. Do you know why?"
Qin Siyang noticed Zhao Longfei's suddenly serious tone and felt a bit thrown off, muttering, "Because of your rules?"
Zhao Longfei shook his head and raised two fingers, "One word: Status."
"After the apocalypse, a school is no less than a miniature society. In this small society, everyone has their corresponding place. Maintaining order and fairness in everyone's status and rights is what keeps the institution running smoothly."
"Level 5 clearance in the library is equivalent to announcing to everyone that this person can join the Board anytime, participate in all major and minor school decisions, and stand on equal footing with me."
"Li Tianming and Zhang Kuang both have long-standing reputations. Giving them Level 5 clearance is no issue at all. In fact, everyone at South Glory University would be glad to have them on the Board. It ties all our interests together on the same ship."
"But people like Chang Tianxiang don't have that kind of qualification. Sure, their research abilities are on par with List(previously Li Si Te) and Harrison, but List and Harrison are founding members of the university. You can't just measure that by academic skill. I can't give them Level 5 clearance outright."
"To put it simply, if I were the commander of a corps, I could let my deputy commander temporarily take charge. But I would never hand command of the corps to a division commander. Understand?"
After he said that, Zhao Longfei's eyes focused again on Qin Siyang's stunned face, "And you, someone who hasn't even enrolled yet, just a freshman. Even if you're the rookie king, at best you're like an acting battalion commander. Between you and my command headquarters, there are still a few mountains in between."
"If I agree to you, all of South Glory University's order and credibility will collapse."
"Principal Zhao, aren't you taking this a bit too far?"
Zhao Longfei's expression stayed firm, "The wind begins at the edge of a tiny blade of grass; the waves rise from the faintest ripple. Matters of order aren't child's play, they have to be treated seriously."
Qin Siyang refused to give up and tried again, "Then what if I refuse to support little Zhao's Chamber of Commerce plan unless you give me Level 5 clearance?"
Zhao Longfei sighed.
"Where you stand determines how you think. You're considering yourself and your circle. I have to consider the entirety of South Glory. We're on different sides, I don't expect you to fully understand me."
"But the Chamber of Commerce is the Chamber of Commerce, and South Glory is South Glory. Even though I'm the one in charge of both, I can't damage South Glory's interests to repay your contributions to the chamber. That'd be no better than drinking poison to quench thirst."
"Little Qin, even if you leave Zhao's Chamber of Commerce today and take everything with you, I still won't agree to give you Level 5 clearance."
When he said that, determination shone in Zhao Longfei's eyes.
Qin Siyang was unpredictable, he couldn't be sure the boy wouldn't actually storm out of the chamber in anger after hearing this.
But this was something he couldn't compromise on.
Seeing how firm Zhao Longfei's stance was, Qin Siyang finally lost his temper.
Usually, if something could be negotiated, he'd make a scene, and Zhao Longfei would eventually give in.
Now, even after such a big fuss, the man still refused, that meant there was no room for discussion at all.
Qin Siyang softened, "Fine, Principal Zhao. Then what level of library access can you give me?"
"Level 3 clearance."
"Not Level 4?"
"Level 3 clearance isn't something even students with over a million merit points can get. Other than a few exceptional geniuses, only senior students who've already qualified to stay on as instructors after graduation can have it."
"Considering your contributions to South Glory, the Crimson Crystal, the Vine Core, and other materials, I do have some room to negotiate. The professors on the Board need your materials for their innovative research. So, if the clearance were for your own use, I could consider Level 4. But it's not, you want to give it to someone outside the school. Using it yourself and giving it to someone else are two completely different things."
"Given how this might affect the university's reputation, Level 3 is the highest I can grant."
Qin Siyang hesitated for a moment and asked, "With Level 3 clearance, how many books can I access?"
Zhao Longfei looked toward Lin Yaman.
She replied, "Level 3 clearance allows you to view books collected by South Glory from before the apocalypse, scientific books and documents compiled after the establishment of the safety zones, data on technologies already in use after the apocalypse, and all publicly released research papers. Altogether, that's over a hundred thousand items."
"A hundred thousand, huh? That should be enough. What do you think, Little Qin?"
Qin Siyang curled his lip, "Would it make any difference if I said it wasn't enough?"
At a glance from Zhao Longfei, Lin Yaman took out a storage box, retrieved a blue card from within, and handed it to Qin Siyang.
He looked it over, the card had "Library Level 3 Clearance" written in several different languages on both sides.
He pocketed the access card and stood up to leave.
As he was walking out, Zhao Longfei called after him, "Little Qin, if you want higher clearance, you need higher status."
Qin Siyang turned back, "You mean in your eyes?"
"In everyone's eyes."
[T/N: In short, display your powers to everyone.]
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