Chapter Three: Three Hundred Thousand Is Not Hush Money

Chen glanced at Hanhai Tower blocking the sunset. “Backlight Intelligence.” At the scrapyard, Zero had completed its first commercial projection. Public electricity curves for 317 fresh-food warehouses filled the screen; forty-six glowed red. [OPPORTUNITY: OLD-DISTRICT COLD-CHAIN SCHEDULING.] [INITIAL INVESTMENT: ≤¥220,000.] [PROJECTED NINETY-DAY RETURN: ¥1,800,000–¥3,400,000.] [CORE MOAT: CLOUD-FREE EDGE DECISION-MAKING.] Tang whistled. “Your model calculated all this? Is it taking applications for partners?” “It doesn't need one.” Chen studied the figures. “We need our first customer willing to trust the results.” The mission interface refreshed. [COMEBACK MISSION 002: SECURE THE FIRST COMMERCIAL CONTRACT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.]