Chapter 56: An Unexpected Gain?

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Resort, top-floor conference room of the casino tower.

A professional butler pushed open the door and ushered Gao Ning and his companion inside.

“What a surprise—to think someone so young could build an empire from nothing and reap enormous profits in just a few days!” A well-dressed man in the conference room rose to greet them, a hint of curiosity on his face.

“Mr. Smith, I’ve heard so much about you.” Gao Ning nodded lightly, smiling.

Gao’s younger brother glanced carelessly around the conference room, his gaze lingering on places that could conceal someone from sight.

“If I may be so forward, who is this gentleman?”

“My younger brother, Gao Ming.”

He made up a name on the spot, and both sides took their seats.

“As a top-tier VIP of the resort, I should have visited you long ago. But recently, our group has been holding frequent meetings regarding expansion, and I simply haven't had the time. I apologize for the delay in greeting you.”

Gao Ning replied calmly, “You’re too kind. Let’s get straight to the point—why did you ask me here, Mr. Smith?”

Although the man before him looked young, Gao Ning would bet he was at least fifty. With the maintenance provided by universal medical pods, the bodies of the wealthy aged unusually slowly; harmful substances were metabolized and eliminated before they could damage cells, leaving no time for oxidation.

Thus, in this world, the rich all looked remarkably young.

“It’s really nothing major. The commotion you caused at the manor over the past few days has reached the ears of the resort. We’ve done a little research in our own way, and some members of the board are quite interested.

“I wonder if you might be willing to sell us the technology you used?”

They wanted to buy it?

According to standard movie logic, shouldn’t the rich simply take what they want? Gao Ning had more than twenty paratroopers at the ready, waiting for troublemakers to show up; he hadn’t expected unexpected guests, much less a business negotiation.

What kind of play was this?

Gao Ning was slightly taken aback. “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Mr. Smith. The core technology of the recycling facility was created by accident in the lab—luck played a huge part. So far, I haven’t managed to make a second one, let alone mass-produce it.”

“Then are you willing to sell it, Mr. Gao?”

Gao Ning found it odd. On the surface, the recycling station was just a waste processing plant. Although its speed was astounding, there seemed to be no profit to be made from it. Capital usually scorned anything that didn’t promise returns. With all the fuss he’d made lately, he would have expected the police to come knocking, not this old fox.

Noticing Gao Ning’s silence, Smith nodded. “You seem to have questions, Mr. Gao.”

He gestured behind him, and the secretary, who had been quietly standing by, quickly handed him a document.

Mr. Smith glanced at it, then slid it in front of Gao Ning.

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“These are the data we’ve collected from external observation this past week. In that time, roughly three thousand tons of mechanical waste were shipped into your estate.

“According to the latest compression and processing technology, using standardized modular procedures, that would require at least one hundred and fifty square meters of space.

“Yet, our routine aerial scans didn’t detect any significant metallic readings.

“That leaves only two possibilities: one, the metal waste is being massively buried. Or two, someone is using the anti-void disposal technology that caused such a stir three years ago.”

“Anti… anti-void?”

Mr. Smith smiled. “Whatever it is, we need this technology.”

Snap!

A contract was slapped down in front of him.

“At a rate of ten thousand tons a month, we hope you’ll take on the resort’s waste disposal project.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry, the price will satisfy you. Rose!”

The secretary stepped forward. “There’s still fifteen million dollars left in this quarter’s special fund.”

Mr. Smith waved his hand. “All of it.”

“Understood!”

A check was pushed across the table—fifteen million, though it wouldn’t clear for another month.

Gao Ning was speechless for a long moment, then took it.

Damn, has my protagonist’s halo finally awakened?

Ah well, it was a good thing either way.

Both sides stood, smiled, and shook hands—the deal was preliminarily struck.

“If there are no technical issues, I hope that in three months, we can double the volume.”

“That’s fine, but I have a small request.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Gao Ning waved the check teasingly. “With this money, I can finally count myself among the wealthy, but I’ve never even been to the Elysium Zone!”

“That’s easily arranged. The resort already offers shuttle service, and we have a boutique hotel up there as well. Rose!”

The secretary tapped a few times on her wrist computer, then nodded. “You’re now at the top of the priority list, Mr. Gao. You may summon a private jet at any time.”

Even after returning to the manor, Gao Ning could hardly believe it—had he really secured a ticket so easily?

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But seeing the crowds lined up, eager to hand him their money, Gao Ning felt a sense of relief.

In this twisted world, money meant everything. With wealth, one could easily gain entrance to the Elysium Zone; without it, you were left to scrape by on the garbage heap that was Earth.

In these circumstances, waste disposal technology was an eye-catching marvel. The wealthy may have resigned themselves to abandoning Earth, but that didn’t mean they didn’t want to seize it back one day.

And to do so, the first step was to clear away the mountains of trash.

“Mr. Smith, I don’t understand why you’re doing this. According to our research, the other party is just a small group that sprang up overnight.

“No one knows how they managed to establish such a miraculous recycling plant, but with the board’s resources, it wouldn’t be hard to seize their achievements.

“What’s more, the lower classes have recently been attacking the mechanical police with increasing ferocity, drawing the attention of law enforcement. If we simply do nothing, the police will soon arrest Qi Shan and his men, and at that point the recycling facility in the resort’s villa will fall into our hands. Why bother—”

“Why give him money, and sign a contract, right?” Mr. Smith interrupted, finishing the secretary’s question for her.

She nodded.

“Rose, the essence of politics is compromise; the essence of finance is profit.

“Do you think I don’t understand how attractive this technology is? If it can be developed to maturity—even without mass production—it could become the core technology to reshape an entire era.

“With something so valuable, we’re not the only predators watching. The resort group is wealthy, but compared to the global capital market, it’s nothing.

“If we take it by force, we might make a bigger profit, but we’ll also paint a target on the resort group’s back.

“The pack of hungry wolves will be ready to tear the whole group to pieces at any moment.”

The secretary shuddered violently.

Mr. Smith said meaningfully, “That’s why we need to stand with the capital groups—to be part of the pack. And as for that small target, not only can we not eliminate it, we have to carefully nurture it, let it grow right under our noses. When the time is ripe… heh.”

“I understand, sir. I’ll notify PR this afternoon to put the police investigation on hold for now.”