Claus's deep-set blue eyes flashed with genuine surprise.

Weber,beside him, froze completely, the translation catching in his throat,unable to utter a single word.

An eerie silence fell over the conference room.

Ella didn't give them much time to react. She continued in fluent Lumerian, "You're right, Mr. Schmidt. Under high-frequency physical oscillation, my algorithm model activates an emergency protection program that prioritizes safeguarding the gyroscope's core components rather than maintaining absolute flight stability. What you see as a loss of control, I see as self-preservation."

Claus's frown deepened, clearly intrigued by this explanation.

"Elaborate," He demanded.

"Given that drones may experience severe physical oscillations or even loss of control when subjected to specific frequencies of electromagnetic pulses or sonie interference-which aren't typically caused by normal air currents or operational errors-I designed a failsafe. For instance, reports have shown that EMP weapons can bring down drones in flight, indicating that malicious attacks through proximity-based sonic or electromagnetic pulses are entirely possible."

Ella walked to the massive display screen and picked up an electronic stylus.

"In the moment of attack, my 'backdoor' mechanism immediately sacrifices some of the aircraft's maneuverability to ensure complete recording of the

attack source's signal characteristics. Subosequently,this crítical data is transmitted back to the ground control station through the drone's backup link, using radio frequency transmission technology."

"Simply put, when my drone falls, I've already captured the evidence of the attacker's crime."

She finished speaking and quiekly sketched a complex data flow model on the screen.

"I call this algorithm 'Scorched Earth.'"

Claus stared intently at the model on the screen, his gaze shifting from scrutiny to shock, and finally to an almost greedy gleam.

He was a pure technology devotee, and he could understand the kind of insanely brilliant strategic thinking behind this "Scorched Earth" algorithm.

This wasn't just an ordinary commercial product-it was a weapon!

"Weber, take Ms. Brooks to Lab Three," Claus's voice had grown slightly hoarse. "I want to see this 'Scorched Earth' with my own eyes."

Weber broke into an immediate cold swveat.

Lab Three was MicroMachining Solutions' most core internal testing facility-not just clients, but even the company's non-core executives had no access to it.

"But Mr. Schmidt, the board meeting starts soon."

"Postpone It."

Claus stood up, truly looking at Ella for the first time,his gaze no longer contemptuous but filled with the cantion of meetine a worthy onnonent.

"Ms. Brooks, if you can prove that everything you've said is true.MicroMachining Solutions' exclusive gyroscope supply in Arcadia is yours."In the lab, Ella faced a terminal with a Lumerian operating system, her expression focused.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard, moving so quickly they almost left afterimages.Lines of code flowed like water beneath her fingertips.

"Initiate pulse attack simulation, maximum frequency," She commanded a technician in Lumerian without turning around.

The technician pressed the button.

On the screen, the green dot representing the drone began to shake violently under the simulated attack. All the data instantly turned a dangerous red.

"Look, the gyroscope is out of control!" Weber instinctively called out.

But Claus remained silent, his eyes fixed on another screen.

In the second before the green dot disappeared, a string of red signal code was successfully captured and uploaded.

Dead silence filled the lab. All the engineers stared at Ella as if she were some kind of monster.

"Now I have your 'criminal evidence," Ella stood up and calmly looked at Schmidt.

"Mr. Schmidt, is my technology mature enough?"

Schmidt exhaled heavily. His face, normally as serious as stone, actually showed a slight smile.

"Ms. Brooks, you are a genius!"

He extended his hand.

"It will be a pleasure working with you."

Ella shook his hand.

"I need a time-sensitive letter of intent, and I need it immediately."

"Why such a hurry?"

"Because my competitors are praying for my death in Lumeria. They've used every tactic to convince my investors that I'm nothing but a scammer who trades her body for deals. I need this letter to silence them."

Claus nodded, a flash of respect in his eyes.

"Weber, see to it. And tell Legal to draft our highest-level exclusive supply contract with a technology-sharing agreement."

Weber was completely stunned.

A technology-sharing agreement? This meant MicroMachining was willing to exchange some of its core technology for Diamond Tech's innovations!

This was unprecedented in MicroMachining's history!

When Ella received the signed letter of intent, only three hours remained before Griffin's twenty-four-hour deadline.

She took a photo with her phone and sent it directly to Griffin without any accompanying text.

Back in Arcadia, in the offices of Horizon Ventures Inc., Griffin was being

besieged by several shareholders.

"Griffin, look at what's happening out there! Our stock is nearly hitting the limit down!"

"How could you sign a performance contract with that kind of woman?Have you lost your mind?"

Griffin's phone suddenly chimed.

He irritably checked it, but after just a glance,he jolted from his chair as if struck by lightning.

In the photo was a contract entirely in Lumerian, with Claus's bold signature at the bottom, and Diamond Tech clearly listed as the partner!

"MicroMachining Solutions," Griffin's voice trembled.

"She actually secured exclusive supply rights from MicroMachining!"

The office instantly fell silent.

All the shareholders crowded around, their faces filled with disbelief.

This wasn't a scandal-plagued sinking ship-it was an aircraft carrier equipped with nuclear propulsion!

"Contact PR immediately!" Griffin slammed his fist on the table, his eyes gleaming.

"Get this letter of intent on the financial headlines! And increase our Series A investment by twenty, no, thirty percent! Tell everyone that Innovative Finance is fully committed to backing Ella!"

At the same moment. Ella's phone rang. It was Jason calling.

"Holy shit! Ella, you're a goddamn miracle worker!" Jason's voice was filled with barely contained elation.

"The MicroMachining letter of intent just blew up the entire media landscape. Now, all those trending topics Judith bought look absolutely ridiculous! I've got everything ready'on my end, too." Jason's tone turned cold.

"That so-called 'college roommate' was a professional troll who took five hundred thousand dollars from Hugo. I've got all the transaction records and chat evidence. We can expose Judith's plot whenever you're ready."

"Not yet," Ella gazed out at Ironbridge's night skyline.

"This is just the appetizer-I want her to fall to pieces when she thinks she's winning!"

As she hung up and prepared to rest, an encrypted email arrived in her inbox.

The sender was Derek.

The email contained only one photograph.

In it,Austin stood tall and elegant, stepping out of a sleek black Maybach.The background was unmistakably the entrance of a luxury hotel in Ironbridge.

Below the photo was a single line:

[He's here, staying in the presidential suite next to yours.

Ella walked to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains,looking toward the adjacent hotel building with its bright lights.

Almost simultaneously, the curtains of the top-floor suite in the neighboring hotel were also drawn back.

Austin, dressed in a black robe and holding a glass of red wine, was coldly staring at her across the hundreds of yards between them.