Eight Million for a Scrap Battery

Su finally understood why Lin had placed a miraculous sample in a ruined drone. Laboratory data could be bought or buried. Twelve hours of visible flight could not. An assistant whispered, “Chairman, Hengli Energy is asking whether the broadcast belongs to us. Overseas parties are tracking the signal.” Lin slid a sheet of paper across the table. “This is a bid, not a buyout. Hanhai pays eight million for one hundred test cells and ninety days of priority negotiation. The *White Heron’s* debt is canceled unconditionally. Su Wanzhou becomes independent test director, with shared ownership of all results. No questions about the material’s origin.” “Why would I sign?”