745: Chapter 74 has another question

Immense regret and unwillingness instantly drowned her like the pressure of the deep sea. Her body trembled, and she had to lean on the iron cabinet behind her to keep from collapsing to the ground.

She looked up, her cloudy eyes fixed on the man in front of her.

Fear, awe, and doubt intertwined in her eyes.

"Who... exactly are you?"

Her voice was hoarse, as if abraded by sandpaper.

"I am the one offering you an opportunity."

Shen Yan finally walked up to her, looking down at her.

"An opportunity to complete your research and prove to the world that you're not insane."

Alva Jensen shivered violently, as if those words had pierced the deepest part of her soul.

To prove herself.

This was her sole obsession for the past three years, surviving like a trapped spirit in these ruins.

"An opportunity?" She gave a self-mocking laugh. "With what? With this pile of scrap metal? I have no money, no equipment, no team... I have nothing left!"

"You have me."

Shen Yan's answer was simple, direct, yet carried an irresistible power.

"I'll give you money, the best laboratory in the world, and a team completely under your command."

"I will give you everything you need to realize your dream."

Alva Jensen was stunned.

She looked into Shen Yan's eyes, which were as deep as the Nordic night sky, making it impossible for her to see through him even slightly.

She wondered if she was hallucinating due to long-term malnutrition.

"Why... are you doing this?" she asked warily. "What do you want from me?"

"What I want is the same as what you want."

Shen Yan's gaze swept past her, looking out at the desolate fjord outside the window.

"I want the energy behind the helheim stone. I want to use it to usher in a new era."

"And you, Dr. Alva Jensen, you, and only you, can help me open that door."

His words carried a grand narrative, transcending personal interests.

Alva fell silent.

She was a pure scientist; money and power held little appeal for her.

But the phrase "usher in a new era" precisely struck her ambition and pride as a pioneer.

Yet, the shackles of reality prevented her from easily believing.

"Anyone can make empty promises." She shook her head, the light in her eyes dimming. "Why should I believe a stranger who won't even reveal his name?"

Shen Yan didn't argue.

He simply took out his phone and dialed a number in front of Alva.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"Mr. Shen." A steady male voice came from the receiver, speaking fluent Chinese.

Shen Yan also switched to Chinese.

He knew Alva wouldn't understand, and that was precisely what he wanted.

This unknown, this exclusion from information, would create a greater sense of oppression and mystery than any language.

"It's me."

"Begin the asset liquidation and acquisition of 'Polaris Geothermal' company immediately."

"Price is not an issue. I want to see the ownership of this company, including this land, all equipment patents, transferred to a newly registered company within forty-eight hours."

"The company name will be 'Source Energy Technology'."

The person on the other end of the phone had no questions, simply replying, "Understood."

"Also, draft an employment contract."

Shen Yan's gaze returned to Alva's face.

"Employ Dr. Alva Jensen as Chief Scientist of 'Source Energy Technology', with a lifetime contract."

"Grant her five percent of the company's original shares."

"Provide a signing bonus of ten million Euros, effective immediately."

"There is no upper limit for the initial project research and development budget. For the first installment, allocate one billion Euros to the company account."

Although Alva Jensen didn't understand Chinese, she heard those few words clearly.

Ten million... Euros?

One billion... Euros?

Her mind buzzed, a complete blank.

These numbers were astronomical figures she had never dared to imagine in her life.

Yet, spoken by this man, they sounded as casual as discussing what to have for dinner.

"And," Shen Yan continued, speaking into the phone, "immediately contact 'Hector Project' in Germany and 'Quantum Dynamics' in Switzerland. I want their best teams to fly to Nordland at once."

"Tell them I want to build the world's most advanced geothermal energy laboratory here, in Freya Fjord."

"I will send them the design blueprints in twelve hours."

"There is only one requirement: no expense spared, at the fastest speed."

"Received, Mr. Shen."

Shen Yan hung up the phone.

The entire archives room fell silent once more, a deathly quiet.

Alva Jensen stared blankly at Shen Yan, like a petrified statue.

Her brain had been completely overwhelmed by the torrent of information revealed in that phone call.

Hector Project... Quantum Dynamics...

Those were the two top precision laboratory construction companies in the world!

Either one was difficult for even ordinary national-level projects to secure.

Yet this man, in a tone of commanding a subordinate, mobilized both of them simultaneously?

At this moment, she finally understood.

Standing before her was not a swindler, nor a madman.

But a behemoth whose power she could not possibly comprehend or imagine.

Shen Yan put his phone back in his pocket and spoke to her again in English.

"Now, do you still doubt?"

Alva's lips parted several times, but no sound came out.

Doubt?

What reason did she have to doubt?

Reality had become so fantastical that she couldn't comprehend it.

"I..." She spoke with difficulty, her voice dry, "I need to see the contract."

This was a scientist's last, and most helpless, bit of reserve.

"Of course."

Shen Yan nodded, as if he had anticipated her saying that.

"My legal team should be on a plane from Europe by now."

"They will meet you with the contract and your signing bonus no later than tomorrow morning."

He paused, then added.

"Ten million Euros will be directly deposited into your personal account. You can use it to improve your life."

"As for these ruins..."

Shen Yan looked around the dilapidated base.

"Starting tomorrow, this place will be razed and rebuilt."

"Your era, Doctor."

"It officially begins when the sun rises tomorrow."

With that, he said no more, turning and walking towards the door.

The shock he had delivered was sufficient.

Any more words would be superfluous.

He needed to give her some time, one night, to process everything.

"Wait!"

Alva Jensen called out to him from behind.

Shen Yan stopped, not turning back.

"I have one more question."