107: Chapter 107 Signing a Second Confidentiality Agreement

Ma Yun walked over and whispered, "Old Xu, rein it in a bit. This is not a place where we can throw our weight around."

"I know…" Tycoon Xu waved his hand impatiently.

But in his heart, he muttered inwardly: What kind of crappy meeting is this, making it so secretive!

After the security check, everyone received a specially made encrypted tablet computer.

"This device is restricted to use within the venue," the staff member explained, "equipped with a Huawei encrypted chip, and does not connect to any external network. It must be returned after the meeting."

"If you attempt to crack it or take it out of the venue, it will immediately trigger a self-destruct program and you will bear legal liability."

Everyone took the tablet and found that their seat numbers were already displayed on it.

"Everyone, please follow the guidance on the tablet and proceed to your respective seats. The meeting will start promptly at 4 o'clock."

...

At 3:45 PM, passing through three alloy gates, everyone finally entered the venue.

Then——

Everyone was stunned.

The entire venue had an area of over 8,000 square meters and a height of 12 meters!

In the center were five oversized 100-square-meter LED screens!

In front of each seat, advanced encrypted communication terminals were equipped.

"This… this is too exaggerated, right?"

"And it seems like this place is underground? When we came down, we went down at least three layers!"

The entrepreneurs were shocked into speechlessness.

The research academicians also wore looks of amazement.

Even the knowledgeable government officials were shocked by this specification.

"Everyone, please take your seats. The meeting is about to begin."

Everyone sat down according to their seat numbers.

Su Mingyuan was arranged in the front row, in a very conspicuous position.

Beside him were core members of project dawn such as Zhao Jianguo and Tao Zhe.

The upper echelons of the military sat in the second row.

The research academicians sat in the third and fourth rows.

The government officials sat from the fifth to the tenth rows.

The heads of state-owned and private enterprises sat in the back positions.

The venue gradually quieted down.

1,200 people, utterly silent.

Everyone stared at the podium, waiting for the meeting to begin.

The atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.

Many people felt their heartbeats accelerating and their palms sweating.

This feeling…

It was like the calm before the storm.

...

3:58 PM.

The huge screen in the center of the venue suddenly lit up.

It displayed a countdown:

[Time remaining until the meeting starts: 2 minutes]

Everyone stopped breathing.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

1,200 people, 1,200 pairs of eyes, all staring at the podium.

Time ticked away second by second.

The countdown had 1 minute left.

30 seconds.

10 seconds.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1——

At 4:00 PM, the meeting officially began!

"Everyone stand up!"

A loud command broke the silence!

1,200 people stood up in unison!

The main door of the venue slowly opened.

Then——

Several Central Command leaders wearing Zhongshan suits strode into the venue!

At the head was the core of Central Command——Elder Qin.

This specification…

For the first time since the founding of the country!

Everyone held their breath, their hearts beating wildly.

Several Central Command leaders took their seats on the podium.

"Please sit."

Elder Qin spoke, his voice steady and powerful.

The attendees sat down, but no one dared to make a sound.

Elder Qin stood up and slowly swept his gaze across the audience.

He had no speech manuscript and no teleprompter.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke:

"Comrades."

The voice was not loud, but it exploded like thunder in everyone's heart.

"Today, we have summoned you here for one matter——"

He paused, his voice suddenly rising:

"A major event that will completely change the destiny of our country, the destiny of the Great Xia nation, and even the destiny of all mankind!"

Boom!

This sentence was like a nuclear bomb explosion!

Everyone in the audience instantly widened their eyes!

Change the destiny of mankind?!

This… what does this mean?!

Elder Qin continued:

"Starting today, you will become the guardians of a great secret."

"Starting today, you will become participants in a great cause."

"Starting today, the responsibility on your shoulders will be——"

He enunciated every word:

"The life and death of 1.4 billion compatriots!"

Deathly silence.

Many people's faces turned pale instantly.

Life and death?

These four words were too heavy!

"Before the meeting officially begins," Elder Qin continued, "everyone must sign another confidentiality agreement."

"I believe you have all previously signed an SSS-Rank agreement."

He paused, his voice becoming even more solemn:

"But the weight of that one is still not enough."

What?!

The audience was in an uproar!

Still not enough?!

SSS-Rank was already the country's highest classification Rank!

Could there be a higher one?!

"Staff, distribute the agreements."

Dozens of staff members in military uniforms quickly distributed the documents into everyone's hands.

Tycoon Xu picked up the document, and seeing the logo on the cover, his pupils suddenly shrank:

[Top Secret · X-Rank]

[Violator: Death Penalty · Immediate Execution · No Appeal]

[Family Members: Guilt by Association Punishment]

What?!

Death penalty?!

Guilt by association?!

Tycoon Xu suddenly stood up: "This is going too far! We are just here to attend a meeting, why should we sign this kind of thing?!"

The audience's gazes instantly focused on him.

Elder Ren frowned.

Ma Yun's expression changed.

Wang Fushu whispered: "Old Xu! Sit down!"

But Tycoon Xu didn't listen at all, staring straight at the podium:

"I, Tycoon Xu, have been doing business for so many years, and I have never seen this kind of battle array!"

"This is simply treating us like criminals!"

"I am not attending today's meeting anymore!"

After saying that, he was about to walk out.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Everyone held their breath.

The doors of the venue remained tightly closed.

The Longyan special forces guarding the door stood motionless, their cold gazes locked onto Tycoon Xu.

Just at this moment——

"Old Xu."

Elder Ren stood up.

His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear, echoing throughout the venue.

Tycoon Xu stopped in his tracks.

Elder Ren slowly walked in front of him, his gaze deep:

"Do you know what our Huawei has experienced all these years?"

"Unreasonable bans, arbitrary suppression, and smears in public opinion…"

"But our Huawei has never fallen."

"Why?"

He enunciated every word:

"Because behind us, there is a country."

"Because in our hearts, there is responsibility."

Elder Ren turned around and faced everyone:

"Everyone, those who can sit here are the elite of the country and the backbone of the nation."

"We enjoy everything given by this country——market, resources, policies, protection…"

"Now, the time has come for the country to need us."

"If even we are unwilling to bear this responsibility, who else can bear it?"

"If even we are going to back down at a critical moment, what hope does this country have?"

He looked at Tycoon Xu, his voice becoming even more solemn:

"Old Xu, I know you feel uncomfortable inside."

"But please believe that something that can make the country use such methods to keep it secret…"

"Is definitely worth it."

Inside the venue, sparse applause sounded.

Soon, the applause grew louder and more enthusiastic!

Tycoon Xu stood in place, his expression changing indefinitely.

He looked at Elder Ren, then looked at the people around him, and finally, took a deep breath and walked back to his seat.

"Fine, I will sign."

He picked up the pen and heavily signed his name on the agreement.

"But I hope this secret is worthy of this price."