693: Chapter 688 New Partners

Elias slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, all the doubt and shock in his eyes had transformed into clarity.

"What do you want us to do?"

"Very simple."

Shen Yan's gaze swept over the precise instruments and semi-finished products in the workshop.

"I will provide the technology and the platform."

"What I need from the Vanderberg Family is the top-tier craftsmanship accumulated over a century, the strictest quality control, and... you, Mr. Elias, your pair of 'Diamond Eyes'."

"All top-tier jewelry from 'Nirvana' will bear the mark of the 'Elias Workshop'."

"This will be the highest guarantee of quality and credibility."

"I propose establishing a new joint venture company, with 'Nirvana Jewelry' holding a controlling stake of 51% and the Vanderberg Family holding 49%."

"You, Mr. Elias, will serve as the Chief Craftsmanship Officer and Lifetime Honorary Chairman of the new company."

The terms were so generous that Martin couldn't believe his ears.

This was almost equivalent to Shen Yan willingly handing over half his empire.

He only needed the 'name' of the Vanderberg Family.

Yet, this 'name' was precisely what they were most proud of and cherished.

Shen Yan was using supreme benefits to exchange for their family's century-old reputation to lay the foundation for his new empire.

It was an open strategy. Righteous, yet impossible to refuse.

Elias looked at Shen Yan for a very, very long time.

This young man had repaid him the kindness of returning what belonged to him, and now he offered him an undeniable future.

What else could the old man say?

The elderly man stood up unsteadily; this time, he did not bow.

He extended his hand, wrinkled but the one that had carved countless masterpieces.

"Mr. Shen, that new world you spoke of..."

"Please, be sure to take us with you."

Shen Yan also stood up and grasped that hand.

Two hands: one young and strong, the other aged and steady.

The youthful flame that had been dormant in Elias's aged eyes reignited.

Meanwhile, Martin stood aside, his emotions as tangled as a ball of yarn.

Shock, unwillingness, yet a trace of uncontrollable excitement.

He looked at Shen Yan, this young man from the East, as if watching a ghost that had intruded upon an ancient game of Go, ignoring all established rules, walking directly to the center of the board, and telling everyone,

"Now, I set the rules."

The drafting of the contract proceeded faster than imaginable.

Elias immediately halted all work in the workshop, instructing his private legal team to handle the matter with the highest priority.

The clauses followed the exact framework proposed by Shen Yan.

51% versus 49%.

'Nirvana Jewelry' would lead, with the Vanderberg Workshop serving as the cornerstone of core technology and credibility.

When the lawyers placed the printed contracts before them, the thick stack of paper radiated the scent of money and the future on every page.

Elias signed his name almost without hesitation.

That name alone was worth a fortune in the diamond world.

After signing, Shen Yan carefully put away his copy and showed no intention of leaving immediately.

He looked toward Martin, whose brow was still tightly furrowed.

"Mr. Martin, I know you still have reservations."

Martin did not hide it; he met Shen Yan's gaze. "I have no right to interfere with my father's decision. But the century-old reputation of the Vanderberg Family cannot be a chip in a high-stakes gamble."

"I understand."

Shen Yan nodded. He never expected to convince everyone with just a few words.

"Therefore, my trip to Antwerp is temporarily concluded. The next stop is Hong Kong City."

He paused and extended an invitation to Martin.

"I hope you can come with me."

"Go to Hong Kong City?" Martin was taken aback.

"Yes.", Shen Yan's tone was calm. "Seeing is believing. I want you to witness firsthand what 'Nirvana,' your new partner, truly is. After seeing it, if you still feel this is a reckless gamble, this contract will be voided on the spot."

Arrogant.

That was the first word that popped into Martin's mind.

But beneath this arrogance lay a confidence he couldn't refuse.

Elias interjected from the side, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Go, Martin. As the heir to the family, you have a responsibility to understand our new partner."

"Yes, Father."

Martin took a deep breath, knowing he had no way out.

The gulfstream g650 private jet smoothly ascended into the clouds.

Martin sat on the soft leather sofa, watching the city of Antwerp rapidly shrink outside the window, his heart a confusing mix of emotions.

He had expected Shen Yan to travel in first class on a commercial flight, but he hadn't anticipated that the other party would arrange for a top-tier private jet to wait for them at the airport.

This level of wealth could no longer be described simply as 'rich.'

Shen Yan sat opposite him, focused on handling emails on his laptop, as if this journey, deciding a business worth hundreds of millions of US dollars, was just a routine business trip for him.

"Mr. Shen, what is the main business of your company... Shenyan Group?"

Martin couldn't help but ask.

"We started with software, and now we are involved in quite a few fields. Artificial Intelligence, energy technology, and some scattered investments.", Shen Yan replied without lifting his head.

Every word was like a heavy bomb.

These were all the most capital-intensive and cutting-edge fields today.

"Then why did you decide to enter the jewelry business?" Martin pressed, this being the part he found most baffling.

Why would a tech mogul suddenly cross over into such a traditional industry?

Shen Yan finally closed his laptop and looked up at him.

"Because my wife likes it."

His answer was light and understated.

But it caused Martin to freeze completely.

Just because his wife liked it?

He had expected to hear grand discussions about market prospects and profit returns, but instead, he received such a simple, almost capricious answer.

Yet, it was this very answer that sent a chill down his spine.

A person who could spend fortunes and incite an industry revolution just because his 'wife likes it' operated on a logic that could not be judged by common sense.

This person was either a madman or a powerful figure possessing absolute strength.

The journey was silent.

After more than ten hours of flight, the plane landed smoothly at Hong Kong City International Airport.

Stepping out of the private jet corridor, a black rolls-royce phantom was already waiting quietly.

The car door opened, and a capable man dressed in a black suit quickly stepped forward.

"Mr. Shen, thank you for your long journey."

"Guang Ke, how did things go?" Shen Yan asked.

The person who arrived was Chen Guangke.

"Everything went smoothly. Miss An Ran's team has already moved in and is working on the preliminary planning.", Chen Guangke reported concisely.

"Good."

Shen Yan nodded, then introduced him, "This is Mr. Martin Vanderberg from Antwerp, our newest partner."