Chen Mo and Wang Nian, with the host's assistance, took their seats at the signing table.
Though the signing ceremony appeared straightforward—just a few signatures on the agreement prepared by the lawyers—it marked the culmination of countless days of strategic negotiation and behind-the-scenes wrangling. What the world saw as a brief moment on stage had taken many sleepless nights to finalize.
Once the formal signing concluded, the next phase followed: champagne to celebrate the milestone, and a group photo session to commemorate it.
After the officials gave their formal remarks, it was Chen Mo's turn. As the founder and driving force behind the Marching Ant Group, all eyes immediately shifted to him. Every camera locked in. Every lens zoomed closer.
This was the man leading his company into high-temperature plasma research—technology that could redefine the future of global energy.
If he succeeded, the world's dependence on fossil fuels would end. The industrial revolution would gain a new gear.
Calm and composed under the spotlight, Chen Mo stepped onto the stage and adjusted the headset microphone. Unlike the officials seated nearby, he knew that this moment was being broadcast to every corner of the world. The news alone was already headline material, but if he casually dropped the success of their simulated test run, the entire world would erupt.
Standing center stage, he began:
**"Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for attending this joint signing ceremony between the Marching Ant Group and the Academy of Sciences. I'm honored that our company has the opportunity to collaborate on the high-temperature plasma project.
"But before I go further, let me tell you a short story."**
He smiled faintly as he continued.
**"A scientist once said that, on the second day of his research, he took a walk at dusk with a beautiful girl. As night fell, stars emerged across the sky—bright, vast, and beautiful.
"The girl gazed up and exclaimed, 'The stars are so beautiful!'
"The scientist, rather pleased with himself, replied, 'I already know why they shine.'
"She smiled and said nothing. Later on, she married someone else.
"The moral? The romance of scientists... can be tragically awkward."**
The audience burst into laughter and applause.
"That's peak straight-man behavior!"
"Single by scientific strength!"
"Now I finally understand why I don't have a girlfriend…"
Even those watching online were commenting and chuckling.
Once the crowd quieted, Chen Mo went on:
**"That scientist was Fritz Houtermans. In March 1929, physicists Fritz Houtermans and Robert Atkinson published a paper in the Zeitschrift für Physik titled 'The Possibility of the Internal Elemental Structure of Stars.'
"That paper first proposed that the energy mechanism of stars was thermonuclear fusion, and it theoretically calculated the process of hydrogen atoms fusing into helium at tens of millions of degrees. It laid the foundational theory for nuclear fusion.
"Since then, countless scientists have devoted themselves to chasing this magnificent energy source, theorizing various methods of controlled nuclear fusion. Among them was vacuum magnetic confinement, a technique that made it possible to contain the high-temperature plasma required.
"This allowed us to glimpse a future where fusion could be harnessed."**
His tone gradually grew solemn:
**"Today, thermal power is still China's primary energy source, but that comes with a severe environmental cost. On a global scale, long-term fossil fuel use has made the greenhouse effect increasingly evident.
"Humanity now faces a dual crisis: the depletion of fossil fuels and the degradation of our environment.
"Nuclear fission, while powerful, produces radioactive waste and carries high risks—limiting its long-term viability.
"So scientists began to look toward the stars. They dreamed of taking the 'sun' from the sky and placing it into a reactor—one that could provide humanity with a limitless source of clean energy.
"And that's how the study of high-temperature plasma was born…"**
Chen Mo's voice carried confidence, his words both technical and inspiring. Every person in the venue was paying full attention. Across the world, countless viewers were hanging on his every sentence, hoping for more insight into Marching Ant's nuclear fusion ambitions.
**"After completing research on holographic technology, I started looking for a new challenge. I came across numerous papers on nuclear fusion and decided to give it a try.
"At Marching Ant, we believe in pursuing the unknown with courage. Luckily, our ambitions gained support from both the government and the Academy of Sciences. Together, I believe we have a real chance to break through this human bottleneck in clean energy."**
Five minutes later, Chen Mo concluded his speech to a thunderous round of applause. Around the world, people watching the livestream were stunned.
A private company, Marching Ant, was venturing into nuclear fusion—a realm typically reserved for governments and elite academic institutions. But this wasn't just any private company. This was Chen Mo's company.
Some were excited, others uneasy. Yet none could deny the potential impact.
Intelligence agencies and corporate rivals alike took immediate notice. Many dispatched teams to investigate the cooperation's progress and to quietly gather any available research data on Chen Mo's fusion efforts.
Next came the Q&A session.
Excitement surged through the venue. Reporters from every outlet raised their hands instinctively, hoping to be chosen.
The host pointed. "You, the gentleman with the glasses."
A delighted reporter stood up, microphone in hand.
"Hello, Mr. Chen Mo. I'm with Technology Times. We all know that this kind of research burns through funding fast. How much is your company prepared to invest?"
Chen Mo nodded.
**"Thank you for your question. Right now, we haven't finalized the total investment figure. But based on our current financial position, we are more than capable of supporting this research.
"Our initial budget was 60 billion yuan. Additional investments will follow based on R&D progress. If necessary, we will continue injecting capital."**
Another hand went up.
"Mr. Chen Mo, I'm with the Southern Daily. Given the global shortage of fusion experts, the astronomical costs involved, and the long timelines, are you concerned this might put pressure on your company's financial operations? And what if the project fails?"
Chen Mo smiled.
**"Great question. It's true that fusion research has no guaranteed outcome. But the potential rewards are limitless. That's the nature of scientific exploration.
"At Marching Ant, we don't avoid R&D just because of the fear of failure. That's not who we are.
And as for the investment… a few tens of billions? We can still afford that."**
Boom.
His last sentence caused a stir. Reporters murmured in disbelief. Even those watching the livestream were stunned.
"A few tens of billions... and he says it like it's nothing?"
"Did he just say 'we can still afford that'?"
"Is this what they mean by confidence backed by capital?"
Chen Mo had spoken with quiet certainty—but his words shook everyone present.