Chapter Three: The First Reservation—One Billion Credits

The instant power came on, dust clinging to the axles and solar panels lifted like dandelion seeds in wind. Solar efficiency recovered from twenty-one percent to ninety-three. Old Chen swore with admiration. Zhou recorded the entire test and sent the footage and diagnostics to three lunar engineering firms. He left the price field blank and wrote only: Exclusive license. Sealed bids within twenty-four hours. His wrist began vibrating less than five minutes later. The first company offered twenty million for testing rights. The second offered fifty million. In the seventh minute, Helios Lunar Operations bid one hundred million and demanded the complete design. Zhou saw the familiar sun emblem and pressed DECLINE.