Chapter 91: Research
After leaving the climate systems lab, Richard passed through the central corridor of the Bytebull’s Research Building Innovation Wing—his footsteps echoing against the polished floors. Glass walls framed each sector, revealing glowing servers, and teams of scientists immersed in their respective domains.
Now, his destination was different.
Mechanical. Energetic. Industrial.
He entered the Engineering Research Division, where the air was tinged with the scent of coolant, ionized particles, and the lingering hum of active prototype forges.
Sparks flew from a fabrication rig to his right. A technician raised a welding visor and nodded at him in awe. Richard returned the gesture, barely pausing.
Inside Lab 3E, the heart of Bytebull’s Energy Propulsion Initiative, stood a man in a grease-streaked lab coat, goggles atop his forehead, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, gesturing animatedly over a half-dismantled battery module encased in smart gel panels.
Dr. Dmitri Sidorov—Ukrainian by blood, but a twenty-year resident of the Philippines. A beloved engineering vlogger turned visionary researcher, his channel had inspired millions with deep dives into EV design, futurism, and sustainable energy theory.
The man turned at the sound of the automatic door.
"Richard!" Dmitri beamed, thick accent curling his words warmly. "You came!"
Richard smiled as he approached. "Wouldn’t miss it. You’re practically preaching the future here. How’s your research coming along?"
Dmitri’s eyes lit with passion. "We’re so close. So close," he said, clapping his hands together. "The solid-state electrolyte layers—we’ve optimized a multi-phase lattice that doesn’t degrade under charge cycling anymore."