Eight Million for a Scrap Battery

“At nine last night, I launched this from the *White Heron* at full power along the coast. It has flown for eleven hours and fifty-three minutes. Remaining charge: sixty-two percent.” He opened a livestream. The drone hovered above an island four hundred kilometers away, camera aimed at the morning sea. Flight log, coordinates, and battery temperature were public. “I sent the link to thirty-seven battery manufacturers, two universities, and five media outlets. In seven minutes, the flight reaches twelve hours. You can detain me and smash this cell, but you can’t erase what everyone has witnessed.” For the first time, Gu stopped smiling.