102: Chapter 102 A New Food Alliance

The conference room was silent, save for the faint rustle of turning pages.

On one side of the long table sat Academicians and project leaders from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, who had brought a thick stack of technical data and experimental protocols.

On the other side was the representative from Vatican City, a Monsignor named Marco. He was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and a senior agricultural economist.

Lin Zhou sat at the head of the table; as the patent holder of the core technology, he was the arbitrator of this meeting.

The meeting began with China's chief scientist, a grey-haired Academician, methodically introducing the characteristics and testing plans for five new crops.

On the projection screen, sets of data were startling. Monsignor Marco leaned forward, his fingers gripping the edge of the table unconsciously tightening.

"This super wheat, in a simulated desert drought environment, has a yield per unit area sixty percent higher than the world's current top drought-resistant varieties! Moreover, its protein content is extremely high."

"Then there is this saline-alkali potato. We have conducted extreme tests; it can grow normally in saline-alkali soil with a pH as high as 9.0, and the quality of the tubers produced is almost unaffected. This means that hundreds of millions of hectares of abandoned saline-alkali land worldwide have the chance to be turned into fertile fields!"

The Academician's voice rose slightly with excitement, each word carrying weight and filled with the pride of a scientific researcher.

As soon as the Academician finished, Monsignor Marco turned to Lin Zhou, unable to contain himself. His Italian accent gave his words an aria-like exclamation: "Your Excellency, this technology is simply a miracle bestowed by God, enough to change the world."

Lin Zhou's expression remained calm and rippleless: "That is why we are sitting here today, to discuss how to better utilize this miracle."

Next, the meeting moved to the core topic: the future commercial promotion model.

China's stance was very clear.

"Mr. Lin, Monsignor," Director Zhou's secretary spoke as the official representative. "Our position is that the technology itself cannot be subject to any further form of proliferation or licensing. The impact of this technology is too great; once it goes out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Monsignor Marco nodded solemnly: "We completely agree. A technology capable of changing a nation's foundation must be held in the hands of those who are reliable and harbor goodwill."

Lin Zhou had no objection to this. He understood that such a thing would be highly coveted; keeping the core technology strictly within the triad of himself, China, and Vatican City was the choice that best served the interests of all three parties.

"So, where will our future profit points lie?" Lin Zhou raised the most practical question.

Monsignor Marco was well-prepared. He adjusted his glasses and uttered a single word:

"Seeds."

He explained: "Our model is to sell seeds. Just like Monsanto and Bayer today, we will establish a global seed sales network. All our genetically optimized seeds will be unique. Farmers who buy our seeds can achieve unprecedented yields, but the next generation of seeds harvested from these crops will lose their superior traits. They must repurchase from us every year."

He paused, then continued: "Of course, we will not treat seeds as weapons like companies such as Monsanto. Regardless of their stance or country, anyone can purchase seeds from us without limit. The world is full of suffering, but hunger is the one that should least exist."

The others nodded slightly upon hearing this; regardless of any subsequent plans, everyone's stance was aligned on this point.

"There's no way to estimate how much money this business can make." Marco's tone carried the eagerness of a businessman. "The global annual crop seed market is a massive market worth hundreds of billions of dollars. And our seeds will be the sole king of this market."

The Chinese representative added: "We can take responsibility for seed R&D, cultivation, and large-scale production. We have the world's top agricultural scientists and a complete industrial system, which can guarantee the production of the highest quality seeds at the lowest cost."

This was a business cooperation with a clear division of labor.

China would be the global production base, the Cyber Freedom Republic would be the legal entity holding the core patents, and Vatican City would be the global promotion and sales channel.

This was a stable commercial triangle; under the premise of non-proliferation of technology, profits would be maximized.

Lin Zhou tapped his fingertips twice on the table and asked, "What about the United States? We're cutting off one of their major legs."

The Chinese representative wore a confident smile: "You needn't worry about that; that is precisely the reason for our existence."

"True... and finally, regarding the distribution of interests..." Lin Zhou tapped the table.

Marco interjected: "Your Excellency, as the source of the technology, you deserve the largest share. Vatican City proposes that the Cyber Freedom Republic take forty percent of all future net profits from global seed sales."

This percentage caused Lin Zhou's eyebrows to twitch slightly; it was higher than he had expected.

"The remaining sixty percent," Marco continued, "will be split equally between us and the Chinese side, thirty percent each. Of course, this will require the establishment of a foundation jointly supervised by all three parties to handle the finances. Our Vatican Bank can provide professional and reliable financial services."

The Chinese representative gave Lin Zhou a look, signaling that they had no objection to this distribution plan. Obtaining the rights to produce seeds at cost was already a massive strategic benefit in itself.

Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced in front of him on the table, not giving his assent immediately.

He looked at Marco and asked, "Then, what about the market division?"

Marco's smile froze for a moment before spreading again: "Your Excellency truly sees further. Yes, to avoid unnecessary internal competition, we believe it is necessary to make a preliminary division of the global market."

"China's seeds will primarily satisfy its domestic market and traditional friendly Asian nations. We fully respect this."

"Vatican City will utilize our global church network to focus on the charitable and commercial markets in Europe, the Americas, and Africa."

"As for your Cyber Freedom Republic, Your Excellency, as a nascent power, we suggest that the Middle East and the future Oasis One Settlement serve as your core markets."

This was not just a commercial market division, but a political definition of spheres of influence.

Vatican City promised that their seeds would not enter Asia, out of respect for China.

Leaving the complex Middle East and the future new continent to himself was both an opportunity and a challenge.

"I agree to this plan in principle," Lin Zhou finally stated, "but there is one condition."

For a moment, the conference room was pin-drop silent, everyone waiting for him to speak.

"All of this must be built on the foundation of the success of this large-scale trial. I suggest that we three parties immediately form a Joint Working Group to follow the experimental project in Bir Tawil through its entire process. Only when golden ears of wheat truly grow in the desert will our seed monopoly business be more than a fantasy."

"As it should be," Marco and the Chinese representative replied simultaneously.

The meeting concluded successfully.

After the meeting adjourned, Lin Zhou walked out of the room alone.

As he was calculating the next steps, a communication request from Minister of Foreign Affairs Qin Yue came in. Her voice skipped any preamble and went straight to the point.

"Chief, we have received a formal letter from the U.S. Department of State."

"They are requesting that we extradite a criminal."