176: Chapter 176 Working in another country year-round? How do you catch that?

Switzerland, Geneva.

On the shores of Lake Geneva.

A skyscraper entirely encased in black coated glass stood amidst the clouds, like a sharp blade piercing the earth.

This was the headquarters of the global agricultural giant, "Xianzheng Agriculture".

Inside the top-floor office, the decor was minimalist and vast; the open space was even large enough for a small helicopter to take off and land.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sixty-something Sterling stood with his hands behind his back. His full head of silver hair was meticulously groomed, shining with a hard, metallic luster under the cold lighting.

As the Chairman of the Board, he was accustomed to looking down upon the world beneath his feet.

Behind him, a dozen executives lowered their heads, even softening their breathing deliberately.

The holographic projection in the center of the room was continuously replaying clips from the Northwest press conference: a spread of wheat waves, jumping data, and the excessively young face of Lin Zhou.

"Three thousand jin per mu, ninety days to mature, and the price needs to be kept stable..."

Sterling's tone was not loud, but it made everyone in the room straighten their backs: "Are they running a charity?"

"Mr. Chairman." The marketing director, sweat beading on his forehead, replied in a raspy voice, "According to our model calculations, once China fully promotes the 'Miracle Seed', seventy percent of our seed business will completely collapse within three months."

He paused for a moment, his throat tightening.

"Within a year, 'Xianzheng', 'Monsanto', or 'Bayer' across the globe will disappear. The transgenic technology barriers we were once so proud of are, in front of those wheat seedlings, as worthless as a pile of waste paper."

"A year?"

Sterling turned around. His skin was pulled tight over his bones, showing no signs of slack, only a fierce, malevolent gleam in his eyes.

"Six months at most. This has already crossed the scope of commercial competition; it is genocide. Those so-called hundred years of accumulation, in the face of such suppressive technology, don't even have the qualification to leave a name in history books."

His gaze swept across everyone's faces, emphasizing heavily: "This is war. It determines whether we continue to sit at the table cutting the cake, or lie on the plate to be cut by others."

"Chairman, we have already contacted three hundred media outlets and over a hundred environmental organizations." The public relations director hurriedly reported, "We are throwing mud at the 'Miracle Seed' from angles like genetic ethics, ecological damage, and long-term consumption risks. As long as this thing is branded with the mark of the 'devil'..."

"Enough."

Sterling snorted coldly through his nose.

"In the face of being able to fill one's stomach, and in the face of the donations led by the clergy in Vatican City, who would care about those invisible risks? For this starving world, being well-fed is the only rule."

He walked back behind the desk carved from a single piece of marble, crossing his fingers to prop up his chin.

"The old ways won't work anymore. Now, give them two choices."

He held up one index finger. "First, throw out a number they cannot refuse and buy out the technology."

Then, he raised a second finger. "Second, if they don't know what's good for them, then just seize it. No matter what method it takes."

Sterling's eye twitched: "If that Lin Zhou is stubborn, send people to kidnap him; even if we have to pry his brain open, we must extract the algorithm. If kidnapping doesn't work, then erase him and that technology from the face of the earth."

The air pressure in the room seemed to drop suddenly, and several executives couldn't help but shrink their necks.

"Legal Department, contact the Cyber Freedom Republic. Tell them that Xianzheng, in alliance with old partners like Monsanto, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus, is willing to form a super consortium and invest 50 billion USD to acquire all rights to the 'Miracle Seed'."

"Fifty billion..." The Legal Director held his breath.

"That is just the starting price." Sterling's tone was blunt, "Increase it to 80 billion, or even 100 billion. Clearly tell them this is their only chance to walk away with money safely, and it is the ultimatum we are giving."

The Legal Director dared not delay and scrambled out of the door.

Sterling looked at the man who had remained silent in the corner.

The man wore a gray duty uniform, his gaze sharp, looking at people as if scrutinizing prey—Colson, former Delta Force commander, now the company's head of security.

"What about the backup plan?"

"Ready to move at any time." Colson spoke very quickly, "We have mapped out the asset distribution of the Cyber Freedom Republic in Africa. Although there is only a company-level border guard unit there, their firepower is significant. We have already recruited two top mercenary groups through informants in Sudan and Libya, totaling eight hundred people, capable of launching a surprise attack on their base instantly."

Sterling nodded, feeling satisfied. "Very good. Let's see how the legal team does. If they can't reach a deal, make them physically disappear."

At the same time, Beijing.

Qin Yue was looking out the floor-to-ceiling window when her private phone suddenly vibrated in her pocket.

She glanced at the international number from Switzerland, her expression unchanged, and walked to a quiet corner to press the answer button.

On the phone, standard English with a condescending tone, after stating their affiliation, threw out that ridiculously large number. 80 billion USD. A total acquisition.

Qin Yue listened quietly, a flash of profound meaning in her eyes. This amount of money could indeed buy a medium-sized country.

"I am very sorry, sir." Qin Yue's tone was calm, without a trace of emotional fluctuation. "Thank you for your company's interest in the technology. But regarding all rights to the 'Miracle Seed', we have already signed an exclusive authorization."

"Authorized to whom?" The person on the other end's breathing became noticeably rapid.

"Our comprehensive strategic partner—China."

Qin Yue's words were airtight: "Therefore, for any form of business negotiation, please go directly to the relevant ministries of China. The Cyber Freedom Republic no longer has the legal authority to handle this technology."

Without waiting for the other party to speak again, her tone suddenly turned cold: "By the way, a word of advice. Any attempt to intervene in this technology through violence or illegal means will be regarded as an armed provocation against China's core interests. I think you all should understand the weight behind that."

She hung up the phone and tossed it into her handbag without changing her expression.

Geneva office, the dial tone in the receiver felt like loud slaps in the face.

The Legal Director looked at Sterling with weak legs: "Chairman... the other party refused. They said the ownership of the technology is already deeply tied to China, and told us to go talk to China."

"Tied to China?" The skin around Sterling's eyes twitched uncontrollably.

He stood up once again, staring at the Geneva streetscape outside the window, his chest heaving unevenly.

After a long time, he gritted his teeth and spat out two words: "Execute."

Colson understood and was about to leave to give the order. But the encrypted satellite phone in his pocket started ringing wildly first.

He listened in the corner for less than two minutes, and his whole face became overcast.

"Chairman... the second plan must be stopped."

"Why?" Sterling let out an angry low roar.

"Just intercepted intelligence." Colson said with a faltering tone, "That Lin Zhou, along with his core technical backbone and cabinet members, are not within the territory of the Cyber Freedom Republic in Africa."

"Then where are they?"

"They..." Colson's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, "They rented out a five-star hotel in Beijing and have been living there for several years."

Sterling froze in place. His eyes widened suddenly, as if he had heard some extremely absurd news.

"You mean... a head of state, leading the entire government team and scientific geniuses, has been living in the capital of another major country for years?"

Colson grimaced dryly and said nothing.

"That means, if we want to carry out some decapitation or open robbery, we have to go to Beijing?"

Sterling felt blood rushing to his head, and he swayed, almost losing his footing.

That is Beijing! It is the most secure place in the world, and for someone like him, the most hopeless forbidden zone!

Send mercenaries there to carry out an assassination? That's not doing business, that's leading a suicide mission. It would even drag the entire Xianzheng Agriculture into the grave!

"What kind of situation is this?" Sterling pounded the marble tabletop with a thud, his laughter laced with madness, "What on earth is this!"

He felt an unprecedented sense of frustration. His opponent had hidden their most critical asset in a place he didn't even dare to look at too closely, while he could only sit across the Pacific Ocean, helpless in this room.

He held hundreds of billions of dollars and a top-tier private army in his hands, yet he couldn't even reach a single wheat leaf of his opponent.