Chapter Two: An Eighteen-Hour Chain of Evidence

“Of course. The tidal project was never important.” “You said it was worth two hundred million.” Zhou laughed. “Its value depends on whether it makes you obey. Don't become stupid at the last moment.” Su's eyes sharpened. “Was the extension also supposed to make me obey?” Chen asked. Zhou stopped breathing for an instant, then disconnected. Not a full confession, but enough to connect technical fabrication to coercive purpose. Two black vans stopped outside the notary center. Six uniformed Hanhai security employees marched in. Their leader presented a company badge and stamped demand letter, insisting the drive contained corporate secrets and must be surrendered.