98: Discussing a deal (5.4K, please support!)

Hello, big bosses. ( ｡ ･ ∀ ･ ) ﾉ ﾞ Hi

To thank you all for your support, I'm adding an extra chapter at 12:00 PM today. ┗ | ｀ O ′ | ┛ Awoo~~

Please comment, please send gifts. Love you all. ( ✿ ◡ ‿ ◡ )

The vehicle was moving on the road. Molly sat in the back seat, busy handling official business on her wristband.

"Damn liquor merchants, they raised prices by 425% and still want half paid upfront... I really... Huff!"

Molly waved her hand abruptly, turning off the wristband as if she wanted to throw all those bad news items out the window.

The situation in the Terran Union was not good. The latest batch of government bonds not only significantly lowered interest rates but also replaced the original anchor for the bonds, the 'Energy Coin', with something much more dangerous.

For example, 'Trade Volume', a type of virtual currency based on so-called Gross Domestic Product.

The scale of government bond issuance also hit a record high: one million trillion earth federation coins, which, according to the old anchoring, was equivalent to about 23,000 Energy Coins—enough to sustain high-speed growth for every colony planet in the Terran Union for over a decade.

It is said that this is the new trick Great Leader Dong Dachuan is using to solve the economic slump.

As for the issuer of this virtual currency, it has inextricable ties with the 'Orion Trust'.

Many people say this is simply blatant embezzlement.

Molly felt a sense of impending storm.

The club's operating costs were rising, and the fighters' wages had to be increased, otherwise they wouldn't be able to support their lives.

Fortunately, the club's two biggest cash cows—odds and brokerage—were thriving.

They were doing well; odds need no explanation—the worse the economy, the more gamblers there are. The popularity of the brokerage follows the same logic: when the cake gets smaller, more people want to eliminate others sharing the cake.

Moreover, the club's brokerage also serves some black market functions; with everything tightening up now, this sector is doing quite well.

Taking both into account, the accounts just barely balanced. Molly rubbed her temples, unable to believe it.

The club, which used to rake in money daily, has now become a landlord with no surplus grain, but even so, it is still much better than most livelihoods.

"Noli." Her voice was a bit weary.

"Continue."

Noli was driving, her metallic voice seemingly devoid of emotion: "Yes."

"In Urban District No. 4, the 'Nightingale' and 'Black Panther' branches have jointly issued a letter requesting an increase in the sponsorship fee percentage for all boxing matches this quarter, an increase of..."

Noli paused: "15%."

Molly closed her eyes, her fingertips tracing circles on her knees, and only opened them after a few seconds.

"Huff..." She grinned palely and repeated mechanically: "Fifteen percent."

"Another branch in District 4. 'Uncle Bai', whom Mother trusted the most back then, has now become our biggest death warrant."

"The wall hasn't even fallen yet, and they're already in a rush to push it."

Molly wanted to laugh "Haha", but the sound that came out wasn't as hearty as she had imagined.

Thinking of the man who used to hold her when she was a child, Molly narrowed her eyes.

'Mom, what should I do?'

She asked herself, though the answer in her heart was very clear.

If she couldn't quickly muster the strength and resources to deter all the branches, the club empire that her mother Alice had built with her own hands would likely fall apart in her hands prematurely due to the continued economic deterioration.

In the end, it would become dozens of small factions, each governing themselves and fighting against each other, disappearing into the fiercely competitive market.

'Jiang Feng has already done so much for the star digger project; all that's missing is the Industrial Design AI. As long as there is a complete blueprint and a parts manufacturing channel is established, the remaining investment can all yield returns!'

'It's just that every single thing requires money, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions. Where am I going to...'

Molly sighed deeply, but the fighting spirit in her eyes grew even stronger.

She looked out the window; they were almost there.

She opened the car window just a crack.

The gentle, moist air, unique to Urban District 01 and carrying a faint floral scent, rushed in.

The temperature was 23 degrees Celsius, and the humidity was 40%.

Regardless of day or night, it was always like this—no unexpected rainy days, no unexpected sunshine.

During the day, the sky was azure blue. At night, it was ink blue.

Picking up binoculars, one could not only see the space elevator but also the mess left behind from building the so-called 'Star Ring Base'. Those massive space infrastructure sites were the masterpieces of the 'Gaia people'.

They had originally agreed to help build the Star Ring Base to boost Earth's productivity.

But later, it was heard that these aliens encountered some kind of warmongers, and the aid resources were left unfinished.

Molly pondered for a moment; she remembered that her mother had a 'Gaia' friend.

She once said that their country was at war with a machine empire called the 'XT-489 Extermination Unit'.

The war had been going on for about two hundred years. The opponent even possessed a super technology called the 'Phase Disruption Cannon', capable of ignoring energy shields and armor to attack any target.

If it weren't for the care of the two Fallen Empires, the 'Mysterious Observer' and the 'Ancient Caretaker', the 'Flower of Gaia' would likely have been wiped out long ago.

It is precisely because of this that the Gaia people are so keen to be on good terms with Earth; many of their people even serve as officials in the Terran Union.

Molly didn't understand the ins and outs of these interstellar factions, but she knew that interstellar war was definitely not a good thing.

The car stopped at 'Tianfeng Park'.

The ground was as smooth as a mirror, and the emerald lawn had just been trimmed, looking like an endless green carpet.

A breeze with just the right amount of moisture brushed against her cheeks. Fountains of various sizes were scattered throughout the park, and brand-new buildings with avant-garde designs shimmered in the sunlight.

Everything here was the exact opposite of the filth and decay of the slums.

But for some reason, Molly had never liked this place.

It was safer, more beautiful, and more environmentally friendly here... but it was also equally more hypocritical.

On the streets, people flowed in an endless stream—not just humans, but aliens too.

A few Gaia people walked by, tall with slender, elegant limbs, their skin showing a soft emerald green color.

They walked with a plant-like rhythm, exuding a fresh scent similar to a forest after rain. There were men and women, chatting and laughing in their strange language.

Every Gaia person carried some kind of small animal on them; they looked like birds, but with slight differences.

Not far away, an 'Awei Person', over three meters tall and composed of various crystalline rocks, was talking with a companion. Their voices sounded like rocks grinding together or like the earth shaking.

Even just approaching them, humans could potentially be shaken by the low-frequency infrasound until they bled from their seven orifices.

Molly even saw a few 'Tzynn' covered in scales with cold eyes. They looked like walking Komodo dragons, greedily watching everything, their slender tongues occasionally flicking in and out rapidly.

This was a corner of Earth that belonged to elites, wealth, and alien civilizations.

Molly had heard that the Terran Union Academy of Sciences was fully promoting the development of 'cross-species hybridization'.

Thinking of this, Molly took a deep breath.

'I hate this place!'

But in the end, she suppressed the fleeting palpitation in her heart.

"Miss Molly? This way, please."

At the building entrance, a young woman in a professional suit with exquisite makeup came up to greet her, wearing an impeccable professional smile. She was Yan Xu's personal secretary, also known as a 'life assistant'.

Molly keenly captured the flash of envy in the depths of her eyes.

The secretary's eyes swept quickly over the seemingly simple but expensive custom dark blue suit Molly was wearing, and then over the silent, iron-tower-like figure behind her.

Noli was not wearing that iconic, oppressive, heavy exoskeleton today.

To fit the occasion, she had switched to an 'ultra-thin coverage military exoskeleton', with a dark gray alloy frame that clung to her tall, robust body like a second skin.

It minimized visual aggression while not losing any explosive power.

This armor alone was worth tens of millions; it was all part of the savings Molly's mother had accumulated during her peak.

It was also part of the reason why Molly was still safe and sound to this day.

Like a silent shadow, she followed half a step behind Molly, her eyes seemingly lowered, but in reality, she was factoring in every potential threat.

Both Molly and she possessed the King of All Certificates—the 'Irreversible Mental Illness Certificate'.

And Noli was even better; she also had the right to carry weapons in public, as well as the right to fire the first shot to protect her employer.

Even against those tall stone people, Noli was dauntless.

The secretary guided them through the bright and spacious hall toward the dedicated high-speed elevator.

When the elevator doors slid open silently, before them was the floor housing the CEO office of Yan Industrial Control Technology.

The fragrance in the air was no longer synthetic, but natural perfume.

Silently displaying the owner's status.

The secretary tapped gently on the heavy solid wood door and then pushed it open: "General Manager Yan, Miss Molly has arrived."

In the almost empty office, Yan Xu was personally escorting a Gaia client to the door.

The female Gaia nodded gracefully and said something in a voice that carried the rustling sound of strange plants. A brightly feathered macaw stood on her shoulder, watching them with lively eyes.

The parrot seemed particularly excited by the natural aura emanating from the Gaia, constantly preening its feathers with its beak, emitting short, melodious chirps, along with greetings of "Yo, buddy~~".

Yan Xu wore a smile, a professional business smile, but his gaze became a bit more genuine when he saw Moli.

After seeing the client off, Yan Xu turned around, his expression softening, and he walked over quickly.

"Moli! Come, please sit! Long time no see, is Alice doing well?"

He personally guided Moli to the sofa in the reception area, his movements carrying the familiarity of an old acquaintance.

He gave a wink, and the secretary turned and walked out. Moli also looked at Noli and nodded.

Noli walked out of the room and closed the door herself.

"Uncle Yan." Moli nodded slightly, her tone calm.

"Mother... is still the same; she needs to rest quietly."

Seeing Yan Xu's eyes darken, she decided to get straight to the point: "Your time is precious, so I will be direct."

"Due to business needs, I want to purchase a set of the 'Industrial Design AI' series, the locally deployed version."

"But I lack the relevant purchasing qualifications, so I wanted to come to you to see if there is any way?"

Yan Xu did not answer; the smile on his face faded a bit, and his gaze became serious and complex.

He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, turned his back to Moli, and looked at the beautiful scenery of the Tianfeng Park outside the window, recalling silently.

In his early years, he failed to compete for the family inheritance and was once so down-and-out that he almost committed suicide.

At that time, the thriving Alice gave him a hand, gave him resources, gave him channels, and gave him the opportunity to be ruthless.

After that, he made a comeback and took control of Yan's Industries.

However...

"Moli." Yan Xu turned around, his eyes sincere.

But his tone carried a hint of helplessness: "I will never forget the kindness Alice showed me."

'Oh no!' Moli's heart sank; this kind of opening usually didn't lead to a good result.

"I have always kept this favor in my heart." Yan Xu walked back to the sofa and sat down, leaning forward slightly.

"The latest generation of the 'Industrial Design AI', locally deployed, with the highest authority version—I can open the purchasing qualification for you, no questions asked about the purpose."

"This is what I owe you."

Moli's heartbeat accelerated slightly; she wasn't sure what conditions the other party would propose.

"But..."

Yan Xu changed the subject. He paused for a long time, his hands crossed on his knees, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

"As for the price... nine million earth federation coin."

"The most basic server cluster configuration, the most basic 'Industrial Design AI' core module—not a cent less."

Moli's breathing hitched slightly. This price was 80% higher than the base package price on the official website.

"Uncle Yan... isn't it five million?"

Yan Xu sighed, a bitter smile appearing on his face: "Yes, the official website lists it at 4.98 million earth federation coin."

"Then why..."

"Don't blame me, Moli. It's not that I don't value our old friendship."

Yan Xu frowned: "Yan's Industries... has been greatly affected by the trade war recently, and the shareholding structure has undergone... some changes."

He spoke lightly, but Moli knew that whether it was true or not, it meant Yan Xu had made a choice. It seemed that for him now, Alice's favor was... no longer that valuable.

"Several major shareholders are eyeing me like tigers, and there are quite a few people in the board of directors staring at my position."

"You don't have the purchasing qualifications. If I sell to you, it's an irregular transaction. If I don't do it according to the company's internal 'premium', even if it's just a little bit cheaper, it will immediately become ammunition for them to attack me."

Yan Xu nodded and sighed: "At that time, 'abuse of power', 'damaging company interests'..."

"If these labels are pinned on me, I won't be able to protect myself."

Yan Xu looked into Moli's eyes and said seriously: "Favors... cannot be placed in the open."

Moli listened, hearing a sense of helplessness and heaviness, but she didn't commit one way or the other.

"Of course, if this price is too expensive." Yan Xu squeezed out a smile, seemingly wanting to give Moli another option.

"You can choose to rent, pay monthly, 35,000 earth federation coin per month; the startup cost is much lower."

Yan Xu paused, his tone becoming exceptionally solemn: "However, Moli, I must warn you."

"The core value of the 'Industrial Design AI' lies in its evolutionary logic. It learns, it grows, and it constantly optimizes its own design capabilities based on your usage, which means..."

"No matter what epoch-making things you design using the 'Industrial Design AI', in the end, its core algorithms, design concepts, and even those unique innovations will be clearly deposited in its own memory repository."

"In a sense, its 'brain' will remember all your secrets."

Moli almost laughed out loud.

Renting?

Letting an AI that keeps learning and will eventually understand all your core secrets move into your core business?

And then, as soon as you stop renting, the secrets all belong to someone else.

Moli's fingertips were ice cold; this was tantamount to completely handing over her future lifeline.

Undoubtedly, this was an absolutely unfeasible plan, and Yan Xu, the smiling Yan Xu, the earnest Yan Xu.

'This is his sales strategy, forcing me into a dead end, forcing me to pay the premium.'

Moli understood; if the situation allowed, she would pay this premium.

But nine million... Moli recalled the difficulty of allocating funds last night, and her heart sank further.

'I can scrape together at most six million now. Nine million, I really can't come up with it right now.'

'Next month there is still a payment to the Public Security Bureau, and advertising fees need to be renewed. Next month's revenue will definitely be negative. To raise nine million, the fastest will be the month after next.'

In order to sign that batch of highly potential boxing stars, the club's cash flow on the books was already stretched tight.

At the same time, the vicious rise in operating expenses almost choked off the capital chain.

Go to mother?

This thought was ruthlessly extinguished as soon as it arose.

She could almost imagine how the branch managers waiting to see a joke would mock her.

"Alice's daughter can't hold the fort; she can only go back and sponge off her mother!"

"She has no ability at all; she can't be allowed to inherit the club!"

The office fell into a suffocating silence.

Outside the window, a row of egrets flew over, landed in the fountain, and preened their feathers.

Yan Xu looked at Moli's tightly pursed lips and the sadness she was trying hard to suppress in her eyes, and he understood perfectly.

'It seems the rumors are true; the club is failing.'

He stood up, walked to Moli's side, gently patted her shoulder, his tone gentle.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Moli."

"Since things have reached this point, my promise remains unchanged; the qualification will always be reserved for you."

"No matter when you make a decision, you can contact me at any time, and I will immediately send someone to deliver the goods to your door."

He handed over a metal business card with a special texture: "This is my private encrypted line, open 24 hours a day."

Moli took the business card, the cold touch spreading from her fingertips.

She looked up and tried hard to squeeze out a proper smile: "Thank you, Uncle Yan."

"I will... give you an answer as soon as possible."

Leaving the bright and beautiful building of Yan's Industries, she sat back in the back seat of the car.

The moment the car door closed, Moli's straight back seemed to lose its support instantly and slumped slightly.

She closed her eyes wearily, leaning against the soft leather seat, her fingers rubbing her throbbing temples hard.

The dreamlike scenery of Tianfeng Park outside the window flew backward rapidly, but it could not dispel the gloom in her heart.

'Should I take out a loan? But I can't explain that the use of this money is in the club's interest. If word leaks out, I will face questioning from other branch managers. It would be better to ask my mother for money.'

'But my mother's account, the daily medical expenses are astronomical; that money cannot be touched.'

'My other assets have all been poured into the space exploration company; that part of the funds cannot be returned.'

'How to tell Jiang Feng?'

'Say I have no money? How will he look at me?'

'Who else can I find?'

Questions popped up in Moli's heart, one by one, draining the color from her face bit by bit.

Noli in the driver's seat watched the young lady in the back seat silently through the rearview mirror.

Watching her pale complexion and the lingering heaviness between her brows, Noli's steel-like heart tightened.

She drove silently, and the vehicle glided steadily into the traffic.

A few minutes later, Noli seemed to have made up her mind.

She quietly activated her wristband, her fingers swiping rapidly, and an encrypted message was sent instantly.

Target: Jiang Feng.

[The AI matter fell through, 9 million quote, the young lady can't afford it.]

[Any other way?]

Noli hoped faintly in her heart.