Chapter Three: What Thirty Million Cannot Buy

Thirty seconds later, an encrypted invitation arrived: Far Lantern I project meeting, 10:00 a.m., ninth floor of Gu Cloud Warehouse. Gu Wanqing looked younger than her financial-news photographs and colder than both. Without greeting, she said, “The fund can give you thirty million. In exchange, Gu requires exclusive use of the edge-signature module for ten years.” “The charter specifies public infrastructure. Exclusivity contradicts the fund's purpose.” “The fund gives you money; Gu gives you a market. You abandon your open standard in return.” Jiming understood. Wanqing and the Gu board were not the same force. She used the trust to cultivate challengers; her family wanted to swallow them.