18: Chapter 18: The Night Before the Storm

In late April, the air was already tinged with the restlessness of early summer. Inside the heavily guarded "spark super energy Battery Production Base" of Spark Technology, the atmosphere in the cleanroom was as taut as a drawn bow—solemn and scorching.

Wu Hao and Yang Yang stood before the final comprehensive performance test bench. Both were dressed in full dust-proof suits, but through their masks, one could still see the tension and anticipation almost overflowing from their eyes. Behind them, the core R&D team of Spark Power held their breath, their gazes fixed on the "spark super energy" lead-carbon battery in the center of the test bench—a device that looked plain and unassuming, yet condensed countless efforts and era-surpassing technology.

This was the final sample from the first mass production batch, utilizing high-quality graphene prepared by Wu Hao's team using that epoch-making [10-ton single-layer graphene production line], with costs reduced to under 10 yuan/gram, serving as the key conductive additive and electrode material modifier.

"Begin the final cycle life and comprehensive performance test." Wu Hao's voice came through the mask with a barely perceptible tremor.

As the command was given, complex testing instruments began to work, and various data points jumped and were recorded rapidly on the screen. Time ticked away, second by second, leaving only the faint hum of equipment running in the workshop. One thousand cycles, twelve hundred, fifteen hundred... The battery's performance was breathtakingly stable.

When the test counter finally stopped at 1800 cycles and the capacity retention rate still far exceeded design standards; when the low-temperature test data showed that at a freezing -30°C, the battery capacity retention rate was still as high as 72% and the cold-start current far exceeded that of ordinary batteries; when the final energy density data of 58.2 Wh/kg was clearly displayed at the top of the screen...

"Success! We did it!" Yang Yang was the first to let out a low roar, unable to hold back. He suddenly grabbed Wu Hao next to him, hugging him and patting his back hard.

Wu Hao was also overcome with excitement, hugging Yang Yang back tightly, his eyes instantly turning red. As top scientists, they knew all too well the weight of the achievement in their hands! This wasn't just meeting the technical parameters provided by Boss Su; it was a perfect reproduction, with even further optimizations in certain details! This surpassed current industry benchmarks by at least three years!

The entire test team erupted into thunderous cheers instantly. Many hugged each other and wept; the months of sleepless nights and day-and-night efforts had received the most generous reward at this moment!

"Compile the final test report immediately!" Wu Hao forcibly suppressed his excitement, his voice hoarse but incredibly firm. "Report to Boss Su! 'spark super energy' is ready!"

Su Chen sat in the chairman's office, carefully reviewing the final report signed jointly by Wu Hao and Yang Yang, which included detailed test data. A gratified and composed smile appeared on his face. Everything was proceeding according to the script he had set—no, even more perfectly than the script.

He immediately summoned Lin Wan, Wang Ming, Evan Chen, Shen Nanpeng, and Liang Zhen to hold a core strategic meeting.

"Everyone, the 'spark super energy' battery has passed all extreme tests. Its performance is fully up to standard, and even slightly exceeds it." Su Chen got straight to the point, showing the core data of the report to everyone.

Exclamations resounded in the conference room. Although they had been mentally prepared, seeing such hardcore data presented before them still made their hearts surge.

"Boss Su, this means our next-generation drones will see a qualitative leap in endurance and environmental adaptability!" Wang Ming said excitedly, already beginning to conceive new designs in his mind.

"Not just that." Su Chen stood up, walked to the whiteboard at the front of the conference room, picked up a pen, and swept his gaze over everyone. "Our strategy cannot be limited to drones."

He drew a large circle on the whiteboard.

"Drones are just one of the application scenarios for the 'spark super energy' battery." His tone was resonant. "We are going to push it to the global market as an independent, platform-level energy product!"

His wrist turned, drawing several branches within the white circle:

"High-end consumer electronics: smartphones, laptops, tablets... all devices pursuing thinness and long battery life are our customers!"

"Outdoor energy storage power supplies: for camping, exploration, emergency power—our low-temperature performance and cycle life are a killer feature!"

"Electric vehicle starter batteries/backup power supplies: and even the low-speed electric vehicle sector! The performance crushes existing products!"

"And industrial backup power supplies, special equipment... the market is vast and boundless!"

He put down the pen and looked around at everyone, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's: "We are not just selling drones; we are selling 'energy'! We are going to use this battery to redefine power standards across multiple industries! This is what deserves the title of 'micro-technological revolution'!"

With the strategy set, the layout opened up! Everyone was shocked by Su Chen's grand blueprint, and immediately, boundless passion surged within them. This was no longer a competition of a single product, but the establishment of an energy ecosystem with Spark Technology at its core!

However, just as Spark Technology was making a final sprint for the global launch conference on May 1st, the lurkers in the shadows also accelerated their actions.

Li Mengqi, with her outstanding professionalism and "diligence," had already gained access to some non-core material management and energy consumption monitoring data. She was like the most precise instrument, analyzing every document that passed through her hands. Large quantities of high-purity lead ingots, special separators, and the abnormally stable and massive power consumption of the graphene workshop... all these clues pointed clearly and unmistakably to one conclusion—the new battery project of Spark Technology was by no means in the laboratory stage, but had already entered the eve of mass production!

Through some "accidentally" overheard engineer chatter, she even roughly deduced the timing of the launch conference—May!

A piece of higher-level encrypted information was sent out by her:

"Confirmed target new battery has entered mass production stage. Performance estimated to far exceed existing market products, involving graphene technology application. Judged to have great strategic significance, likely to disrupt multiple related markets. Expected official release window is early May. 'The Storm' is coming. — Mole"

At the other end of the information, Zhou Tianyu looked at this intelligence, which was almost tantamount to an ultimatum, his face horribly gloomy. He immediately dialed Chen Yonghao's number.

"Chairman Chen, it seems your 'Star Hunter Alliance's' trouble is even bigger than imagined." Zhou Tianyu's voice carried a trace of mockery and even colder chill. "Spark is not just satisfied with drones anymore. What they are going to sell next is the 'heart' and the 'blood.' Are you ready to welcome a storm in the energy sector?"

Inside the Lingyun Technology office, Chen Yonghao listened to Zhou Tianyu's words, looking at the intelligence summary transmitted back by Li Mengqi on his tablet. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and fine cold sweat instantly oozed from his forehead.

"Batteries... graphene... industry-wide supply..." He muttered to himself, his face pale. As an industry veteran, he understood all too well what a battery with such terrifying performance meant! This was no longer competition in the drone field; this was dimensionality reduction! With this battery, Spark Technology would easily cut into the core interest areas of their alliance members!

"It's over... it's really over now..." A bone-chilling cold rose from the bottom of his heart. The technological generation gap was already so large it was despairing; the alliance's R&D progress was like a snail crawling in front of the other party.

"Mr... Mr. Zhou, what should we do?" Chen Yonghao's voice carried a trace of pleading that he himself hadn't noticed.

"What to do?" Zhou Tianyu sneered on the other end of the phone, "Technically, you have already lost. But now Spark's stock price is high, with a market value of 70 billion, so the risk of shorting is extremely high. The only way now is to create some 'surprises' for them on the day of their launch conference. For example... a scandal about technology leaks? Or some 'reasonable doubts' about product safety? I will arrange the specifics. Your alliance just needs to be ready to cooperate."

Hanging up the phone, Chen Yonghao slumped in his chair, his whole body cold. He found himself seemingly playing a game of chess against an invisible giant, and the pieces in his hand were so ridiculous and powerless.

At the Spark Technology launch venue, final preparations were underway. The stage, lighting, sound, the huge circular screen... everything was being debugged in an orderly manner. Lin Wan moved through the scene, coordinating every detail to ensure nothing went wrong.

Su Chen stood in the center of the empty auditorium, staring at the stage that would shock the world in a few days. He could feel a sense of tension, as if a storm were about to break—not just from external enemies, but also from the responsibility and expectation within his heart.

"Wu Hao, Yang Yang." He contacted the two scientists via the internal communicator, "For the final product demonstration segment, you will go on stage yourselves to explain our technology to the whole world. Have confidence; what you hold in your hands is the power to change the world."

"Understood, Boss Su!" From the other end of the communicator came the excited and firm response of the two.

The storm was already before their eyes. And Su Chen and his Spark Technology were already prepared to meet all challenges and personally unleash this technological revolution! All the undercurrents, prying, panic, and despair would be completely shattered on May 1st by this thunderbolt that pierced the night sky of the era!