"Legally speaking, every time Diamond Tech runs your Scorched Earth algorithm, it constitutes an infringement on my company's rights," Austin said with calculated precision. "I can apply for an injunction in a Lumerian court at any moment and have all your technology sealed. Ella.this game is over.
Orville and theother Lumerian industrial giants' expressions shifted subtly.
A partner embroiled in patent disputes-potentially with their technology completely locked down-represented an enormous risk, regardless of how brilliant she might be.
No one would antagonize an established forest for the sake of a promising sapling.
"Vanguard Technologies," Ella said calmly. "Patent filed in Darkmoor three years ago. Mr. Raymond, you're certainly well-informed to dig up such an obscure patent."
Austin's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Ella's reaction completely deviated from his expectations.
She should have gone pale. She should have trembled. She should have looked at him with that desperate, resentful gaze like so many times before.
"So,you admit it then,".He pressed.
"Admit what? That you purchased worthless paper?"
Ella stood up and retrieved a black USB drive from her handbag-the device contalning her mother's legacy and Karen's hopes.
"Mr. Raymond, you must have spent considerable money setting this trap for me," She said, her voice steady and confident. "Unfortunately, you bought the wrong thing."
She connected the USB drive to the projection system. The screen immediately displayed an encrypted archive and a text document labeled "Hint."
"JC-1998-P."
This mysterious code appeared clearly before everyone present.
Austin's pupils contracted sharply.
Of course, he recognized this USB drive.
Karen had removed it from the family safe at their ancestral home.
He had always assumed it contained worthless old jewelry.
JC was the initials of Ella's mother.
And P stood for patent.
Karen had told him that Ella's mother had anticipated the Brooks family's predatory ambitions. What she left behind was her insurance-her most important research materials.
As the "Sprout Initiative" was initialized, Ella's fingers moved gracefully and precisely across the virtual keyboard, entering the password.
Without hesitation, she clicked on the topmost folder, opening a scanned PDF document.
A global patent application filed with the World Intollectual Property
Organization in 1999, serving as evidence of intellectual property protection,was clearly projected onto the massive screen.
Under the World Intellectual Property Organization framework, the inventor column contained not just an elegant yet forceful signature but an affirmation of innovative spirit.
Janice's patent was titled: Asymmetric Intelligent Device Stress-Response Protection System Architecture.
This was the true foundation of the Scorched Earth algorithm.
Austin's complexion, upon glimpsing the patent application,suddenly turned as pale as if struck by a winter gale.
"That's impossible," He said, his voice faltering. "Vanguard's patent was vetted by top-tier law firms. It's the earliest foundational patent in this field."
"Earliest?" Ella turned to face him, her cold gaze dissecting his last vestiges of arrogance with surgical precision.
"Austín, while you and your top-tier law firms were still doing arithmetic with pencil and paper, my mother had already written the rules for future warfare."
She continued, "What you have is a Darkmoor patent applied for in 2020.What I have is a global patent filed in 1999. Would you like me to hire a lawyer to explain who legally owns the original technology and who's infringing?"
The room fell deathly silent.
The elderly Lumerian executives' expressions became fascinating to behold,
their gazes toward Austin transforming from those of potential partners to spectators watching a foolish comedy unfold.
"Oh. I should thank you properly," Ella said, turning her attention back to Austin.
"Thank you for spending hundreds of millions to acquire a company that infringes on my mother's patent."
"As the sole legal heir to this patent, I'm officialy notifying you."
"Your Vanguard Technologies has been conducting illegal business activities since its very inception."
"According to international patent law compensation regulations, I can immediately apply to freeze all your company's assets and recover all illegal profits from the past three years."
"Mr. Raymond, your trump card has become my plaything."
She paused, her gaze sharp as a blade, before delivering the final blow.
"You can choose not to pay, of course. Then you can prepare to face international commercial litigation in Drakmoor while watching Raymond Group's stock price collapse."
Austin's body swayed suddenly. He instinctively reached for the sofa armrest, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip as he struggled to remain standing.
He had lost.
Lost catastrophically.
His meticulously planned killing move had inadvertently handed Ella
bomb that could detonate his business empire at any moment.
Ella didn't spare him another glance.
She turned toward Orville in the central seat, her gaze determined and composed as she spoke influent Lumerian.
"Mr. Kidd, now we can continue discussing my options. Diamond Tech's technology is not only original and advanced, but also protected by global laws through multiple software copyrights and patent applications,including the 'Diamond Tech Low-Voltage Data Collection System Concentrator Software V1.0'and 'A Method of Preventing Tampering in Smart Electric Meters Based on Blockchain Technology.' As for my personal reputation,"
She opened the trending topics page on her country's social media platform, where the narrative reversed by Jason's team overnight appeared prominently in the top position:
#Judith's Paternal Cousin Paid Trolls To Defame Diamond Tech founder
#Police Have Officially Opened an Investigation
Ella's voice resonated through the quiet room.
"A person with integrity never needIs to prove their innocence to filth. My technology is my strongest credential. Now, gentlemen, do you still believe Lumeria's supply chainhas the right to shut me out?"
This young woman from Arcadia, facing impossible odds, had executed a textbook-perfect reversal using unbeatable technology and flawless intelligence.
Orville slowly stood up, his gaze softening as he looked at Ella, then
extended his hand.
"Ms. Brooks, I apologize on behalf of the Alliance for our discourtesy earlier. The Alliance's doors will always be open to you and Diamond Tech."
Yet just then, Orville's gaze inadvertently swept across the ancient patent document on the screen, resting upon a seemingly inconspicuous emblem in the lower right corner, an insignia forged from flames and gears.
His complexion shifted abruptly. Striding swiftly to the screen, he fixated intently on the emblem, murmuring in a daze, "That emblem belongs to the Spark... this cannot be!"
He abruptly lifted his head, casting upon Ella a gaze anew,one intertwined with reverence and inquiry." Miss Brooks, did your mother ever partake in a project named the Spark Initiative, some twenty-six years ago?"
Ella's heart inexplicably sank as she recalled the USB drive entrusted to her by Grandmother. She nodded silently.
Orville drew a deep breath, as if resolving to unveil a profound truth."Miss Brooks, there are matters I ought to disclose. The Spark Initiative was the most closely guarded secret and the greatest regret industrial sphere. Its chief scientist, codenamed 'Prometheus,' vanished at the project's pivotal moment, absconding with everything. Despite deploying every resource,we have never been able to find her."