45: Negotiations begin

The elevator ascended silently. Ms. Emerald stood at the front, her violet trench coat shimmering under the soft lights. Lin Mo then noticed that this elevator had no buttons or floor display; it seemed to be automatically controlled.

"We are about to arrive at the high-level conference room," Ms. Emerald's voice broke the silence. "My boss had an urgent matter to attend to, so I will be representing Titan Group for today's talks."

Lin Mo keenly picked up on this information: the person in charge of Titan Group was deliberately avoiding them. He gently touched the button in his pocket, his slightly restless heart calming down a bit.

Even if he vaguely felt that this button would not be very useful, it was at least a glimmer of hope.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a semicircular conference room. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire Titan Industrial City stretched out before them. In the center of the conference room was a U-shaped black conference table, its surface as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the flowing light patterns on the ceiling.

"Please, have a seat," Ms. Emerald gestured for the delegation to take their places on one side of the U-shaped table, while she gracefully sat down opposite them. She gently tapped the tabletop, and it immediately lit up, displaying everyone's names and positions.

Lin Mo noticed that the information about them on the tabletop was disturbingly detailed. It included not only public records but also their internal assessment reports from the State Security Protection Bureau.

"It seems your company has a very comprehensive understanding of us," Lin Mo maintained a calm demeanor.

Ms. Emerald's lips curved slightly: "Knowing oneself and one's opponent is the foundation of cooperation." She lightly swiped her finger, and a document appeared on the tabletop. "Titan Group doesn't like formalities. Let's skip the meaningless introductions. This is Titan Group's preliminary letter of intent for cooperation."

The contents of the document immediately caught the delegation's attention. Titan Group was willing to transfer some advanced technologies to the Eastern Union, including new composite materials, efficient energy systems, and medical technologies.

Professor Shen Yi pushed up his glasses: "These technologies... under what conditions is your company prepared to transfer them?"

"A very reasonable question," Ms. Emerald clasped her hands on the table. "What we need is not money, but... cooperation."

"Specifically?" Lin Mo pressed.

Ms. Emerald's eyes narrowed slightly: "Firstly, the Eastern Union needs to acknowledge Titan Group's special status in the Emerald Principality. Secondly, in appropriate international forums, you will publicly support Titan Group's commercial activities based on the most fundamental business principles."

Lin Mo exchanged glances with the other members of the delegation. These conditions seemed simple, but clearly had deeper implications.

"I need a more specific explanation," Lin Mo said cautiously.

Ms. Emerald chuckled softly, tapping her finger on the tabletop. A world map unfolded, with several key locations marked: "Titan Group plans to establish branches in multiple locations around the world. We need to ensure the security and autonomy of these centers."

Lin Mo noticed that most of these marked points were in sensitive areas: the Emerald Ocean, central Eastern Ancient Continent, the Oceania City-States Alliance... But strangely, there were no markings for Roma Continent, Europa, and Black Continent regions. The Eastern Union itself was completely clean, with only a gray dot in the desert of the northwest.

"This involves issues of national sovereignty and geopolitics," Professor Shen Yi frowned.

"We respect sovereignty," Ms. Emerald's tone suddenly became firm. "But at the same time, we also need to ensure the security of our investments. After all..." Her gaze swept over everyone, "The technology Titan Group possesses is enough to change the world order."

The conference room fell into a brief silence. Outside the window, a nightingale glided silently, casting a peculiar shadow.

"We can convey your company's wishes to our superiors," Lin Mo finally said, "but we need a more concrete cooperation plan."

Ms. Emerald nodded, lightly swiping her finger again. A detailed list of technology transfers appeared on the tabletop: "As a gesture of goodwill, we are willing to transfer the related technology for ceramic-gold composite materials at a symbolic price of one dong yuan."

Director Zhou almost jumped out of his seat: "Ceramic-gold composite materials? You mean the material you demonstrated in the lab, the one with a density only one percent of titanium alloy but 120 times its hardness?"

"Precisely," a hint of pride flashed in Ms. Emerald's eyes. "If mathematics is the foundation of scientific theory, then materials are the cornerstone of technological application. I can reveal a small piece of information: this building and the main areas of Titan Industrial City are constructed using ceramic-gold composite materials."

Lin Mo noticed Zhao Zhigang's hand trembling slightly; this military equipment expert clearly understood the strategic value of such a material.

"Why this material?" Lin Mo pressed. "Why now?"

Ms. Emerald stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The setting sun cast her silhouette long. "Because this is the technology you are currently most capable of absorbing," she turned around, her face indistinct in the backlight. "More advanced technologies require more mature partners."

The implication in her words made Lin Mo's heart tighten. Titan Group was clearly assessing the "maturity" of the Eastern Union.

"So, what kind of partner does your company consider 'mature'?" Lin Mo asked tentatively.

Ms. Emerald slowly walked back to the table, her finger gently caressing the tabletop: "Prove your sincerity."

"What kind of sincerity?" Professor Shen Yi couldn't help but ask.

Ms. Emerald smiled mysteriously: "Within two months, your superiors will know." She checked the time. "That concludes today's talks. Ains will escort you back to your hotel to rest. I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me."

Lin Mo realized this was a planned abrupt ending. He stood up: "Ms. Emerald, at least give us a direction. What do we need to prepare?"

Ms. Emerald walked up to Lin Mo, her eyes slightly narrowed: "Team Leader Lin, sometimes not preparing is the best preparation." She said meaningfully, "Remember, Titan Group values long-term cooperation."

She turned elegantly, the hem of her trench coat describing a graceful arc: "Oh, and the preliminary technical data for the ceramic-gold material has already been sent to your encrypted email. Consider it a welcome gift."

The delegation members exchanged bewildered glances. Their encrypted email system was independently developed by the Eastern Union; theoretically, it was impossible to be externally breached.

"No need to be surprised," Ms. Emerald said without looking back. "In the field of information technology, Titan Group stands alone."

Ains had appeared at the conference room door at some point: "Gentlemen, please follow me."

In the car on the way back, the delegation fell silent. Everyone was processing the massive amount of information they had received today. Lin Mo gazed out at the rapidly receding industrial city landscape, his mind racing.

"That Ms. Emerald..." Director Zhou finally broke the silence. "Who exactly is she? There's no surname 'Fei' in the Hundred Family Surnames."

"A dangerous individual skilled at reading people's minds," Zhao Zhigang murmured, his eyes still shining. "Titan Group's technological level is at least 20 years ahead of ours. It's incredible."

Professor Shen Yi frowned: "Did you notice? Her tone was very subtle when she mentioned 'sincerity'. I feel it's not just referring to political support."

Lin Mo nodded: "I think so too. Titan Group seems to be waiting for a specific event."

Just then, Lin Mo's phone vibrated twice in his pocket. He pretended to adjust his clothes and secretly glanced at it.

"Call a small group meeting immediately after we return to the hotel," Lin Mo whispered. "We need to analyze what we saw and heard today."

The motorcade drove into the city of Mandala, and the surrounding scenery suddenly transitioned from a futuristic world back to reality. Dilapidated buildings and crowded streets stood in stark contrast to Titan Industrial City.

"Two worlds..." Professor Shen Yi sighed.

Ains glanced at them in the rearview mirror: "This is the meaning of Titan Group's existence." His tone carried an unquestionable confidence.

The hotel was the most luxurious in Mandala, but compared to the technological sophistication of Titan Industrial City, it seemed remarkably ordinary. Ains escorted the delegation to the lobby: "I will pick you up at nine tomorrow morning for continued touring. Good night, everyone."

After Ains left, the delegation immediately gathered in Lin Mo's room. Lin Mo took out a miniature device and scanned the entire room.

Lin Mo's miniature scanner emitted a faint hum, made a pass around the room, and then lit up green. He nodded: "Safe."

Director Zhou immediately took out a black metal box from his briefcase and pressed the fingerprint lock. The lid slid open, revealing several miniature computers and communication devices. He skillfully assembled them, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"First, let's confirm," Lin Mo looked around at everyone, "based on your professional judgment, are the technologies we saw today real?"

Zhao Zhigang was the first to speak, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement: "Absolutely real! I personally tried on that Xingtian Armor. The power amplification effect far exceeded our most advanced experimental models, and..." He pulled out his phone and brought up a blurry video. "I secretly filmed a section of its internal structure."

In the video, the armor's lining was covered with intricate sensors, and the precision of the transmission mechanisms at the joints was astonishing.

"The electromagnetic rifle is also real," Director Zhou brought up a set of data. "I secretly scanned it with a spectrometer; the barrel material is an unknown alloy. Judging solely from the firing effect, the energy transfer efficiency definitely exceeds existing materials..."

Professor Shen Yi pushed up his glasses: "What I'm more interested in is their organizational structure. That Ms. Emerald, and those researchers, are clearly not locals of the Emerald Principality. And..." He paused. "Did you notice that throughout the entire headquarters building, we didn't see a single employee with an Emerald Ocean face?"

The room suddenly fell silent. Lin Mo frowned, recalling every detail of the day. From entering Titan Industrial City to what they saw in the underground equipment center. Shen Yi was right; all the technical staff, security personnel, and even service personnel had Western or East Asian faces.

"There's an even stranger point," Lin Mo said slowly. "Those researchers are almost all top talents from various countries. Judging by their accents, they most likely come from the Rhine Empire, the Northern Steel Federation, and the Bull Kingdom. But why would they gather in the Emerald Principality?"

Director Zhou suddenly looked up: "I just hacked into the Emerald Principality's immigration database." He brought up a list. "These are the records of high-level technical personnel who entered the Emerald Principality in the past three years. Look at this."

The screen showed dozens of names, each annotated with "Employed by Titan Group." But strangely, these individuals only had entry records, with no exit records whatsoever. Most incomprehensible was the time information: they seemed to have departed from the same place, arrived in the Emerald Principality simultaneously, and processed their entry procedures at the same time.

"They all arrived at the same time and just stayed here?" Zhao Zhigang asked.

"No," Director Zhou shook his head. "More accurately, after arriving in Mandala, almost none of them ever left Titan Industrial City. According to cell phone signal records, all of these individuals' activities were confined to within the industrial city."

Lin Mo felt a chill crawl up his spine: "Like... they're under house arrest?"

"Not necessarily," Professor Shen Yi mused. "It could also be voluntary. Did you notice the expressions on those researchers' faces? When they talked about their research, there was a fanaticism in their eyes."

"Wait," Director Zhou suddenly brought up another set of data. "I found an even more crucial clue. I categorized the staff who appeared in the video recordings along the way and found that the employees in Titan Industrial City are divided into two types. One type is these foreign personnel, and the other is locally recruited. But the activity areas of the two are completely isolated!"

The screen displayed a floor plan of Titan Industrial City. The blue area marked the activity range of foreign employees, and the red was for local employees. There was a clear dividing line between the two, guarded by armed security.

"This is illogical," Lin Mo frowned. "A normal multinational company wouldn't strictly separate employees like this."

"Unless..." Professor Shen Yi's voice suddenly became grave, "they don't want the locals to know what's happening in the core areas."

Zhao Zhigang suddenly stood up: "Those technologies! If Titan Group truly possesses technology decades ahead of the world, why choose to establish a base in a country with backward infrastructure like the Emerald Principality?"

"Because regulation is weak here," Lin Mo suddenly understood. "And labor is cheap. All they need is the land and resources of the Emerald Principality, not its talent."