After a brief rest, the second half of the negotiation resumed. Zhao Min and Xiao Zheng sat across from each other, both calm on the surface, neither revealing any emotion or hint that the other's offer might already meet their bottom line.
Neither side wanted to back down. While they had already reached their initial goals, they were still fighting for better terms.
As time passed, the two sides inched closer and closer to an agreement.
"Thirty-five years. That's our limit." Xiao Zheng's face was grim.
"Thirty-seven," Zhao Min responded, her eyes locked on his. "That's our bottom line. You can keep pushing, but I won't budge. Keep this going, and by tomorrow, I might just raise it to forty."
Zhao Min stood up, preparing to leave.
Xiao Zheng quickly spoke up."Wait, President Zhao. This is the final step. What if we meet in the middle—thirty-six years?"
"No." Zhao Min refused without hesitation.
She had already sensed that Xiao Zheng was no longer as firm as he had been. The subtle shift in his tone betrayed a willingness to yield. She knew his bottom line had surfaced—and that gave her the confidence to stand firm.
"Fine. Thirty-seven years." Xiao Zheng gave in at last.He'd been authorized to go up to forty, and in his eyes, one or two extra years didn't matter—fusion technology wasn't expected to be ready so soon anyway. He had fulfilled his task.
Zhao Min relaxed inwardly. Chen Mo had only asked for 30 years, and she'd managed to squeeze out an additional seven. A solid win.
"Let's move on to the other terms."
With the toughest point settled, the rest of the negotiation went smoothly. The tense atmosphere gradually lifted. Five hours later, all terms were finalized.
By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted. The grueling negotiation was finally over. Members from both sides let out a sigh of relief.
"It's done."
Zhao Min entered the lab and handed Chen Mo the finalized document.It contained all the terms of cooperation. Now, all that remained was his approval, and both parties could sign the contract.
"Thirty-seven years of management rights," she reported. **"For that duration, we'll receive 70% of the company's earnings. Afterward, management will transfer to them, and we'll retain shareholder status and receive dividends.
"During the R&D stage, we'll invest 30 billion yuan initially and cover 60% of future R&D costs until fusion is commercially viable. The Plasma Institute will provide teams to support the technology development, and the fusion tech will be co-owned by both parties. All facilities, labs, equipment, raw materials, and security infrastructure will be provided via official channels."**
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow."They agreed to let us keep 70% of the profits?"
"The project's early investment and risk are substantial," Zhao Min explained. **"Before the technology is commercialized, it requires constant funding. They already have the 'Science Island' initiative underway in Huizhou.
"So they allowed us to carry 60% of the R&D costs, and you're responsible for the core technological breakthroughs. They'll provide 40% of the funding, plus manpower and materials. From their perspective, it's possible fusion might not succeed—so they took this opportunity to share risk and still benefit."**
Negotiating had not been easy.
Nuclear energy was a sensitive technology—most companies weren't even allowed near it. This made the process heavily restricted and full of complications. Achieving this result was already a significant success.
Without Chen Mo's tech, the government wouldn't have considered cooperation at all.
Though structured as a PPP, this joint venture differed from conventional models. The state had committed substantial resources and personnel, effectively making it a form of national partnership.
"So how soon can fusion be commercialized?" Zhao Min asked.
Chen Mo turned toward the large holographic projection model in the center of the lab."Progress is steady. The system is continuously being optimized. If the government fully cooperates and provides the materials I need, we could succeed as early as next year."
To Chen Mo, the money was secondary.
If he wanted to get rich, the Technology Library contained enough knowledge to dominate any industry. He wouldn't lack funds.
His true goal in developing fusion was to complete a mission from the Technology Library. Only by advancing through its layers could he uncover its deeper secrets.
There were too many unknowns hidden within the library. Controlled nuclear fusion was merely a stepping stone—a basic-level challenge.
To the world, fusion was a priceless marvel. But to Chen Mo, it was just the beginning.
He often stared at the bookshelves in the Technology Library, gazing at tech in advanced fields—exotic matter, anti-matter research, genetic engineering, even disciplines bordering on the supernatural—areas humanity had yet to touch.
His ambition was to step into the scientific frontiers that humanity hadn't even imagined. His eyes weren't fixed on the present—they were set far ahead.
Zhao Min's eyelids twitched as she heard Chen Mo's prediction.
If controlled fusion really became viable within a year, the company would be sitting atop a mountain of cash. The energy sector brought unimaginable profits—wars had been fought over oil. Now, they had something far more powerful in their hands.
And Chen Mo had just advanced their timeline by ten years.
If that happened, Marching Ant's future wealth would make any capitalist in the world green with envy.
"What's the next step?" Chen Mo asked.
"The joint venture will be called Huaxia Nuclear Energy Group Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of 300 billion. The signing ceremony will be held in five days, followed by a press conference. You'll need to attend in person." Zhao Min said.
"Alright."
"Now we need to finalize the site for the experimental base. You're the chief engineer and project lead—this part's your call."
"Already selected. Mo Nu, bring up the coastal area map."
A map of Binhai City appeared on the large transparent LCD screen behind them, extending to include the coastal and maritime zones in vivid holographic detail.
"Here." Chen Mo pointed to an island on the map. The terrain expanded instantly, zooming in until a 3D projection floated before them—accurate down to elevation, vegetation, and topography.
"This island is near the city and remains undeveloped. It's large enough to host the fusion test facility."
"I'll inform them immediately."
"Thanks. But no rush," Chen Mo said."The contract hasn't been signed yet. A day or two won't make a difference."
As Zhao Min left the lab, Chen Mo returned to his experiment. With official support locked in and negotiations completed, the next step was clear:
Construction of the [Star Ring] device could finally begin.