Chapter 108

Upon hearing that,

Qin Hao did not answer directly, but instead countered:

Do you think the Eternal Essence Liquid can be kept secret for how long?

Lu Lao pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

It cannot be concealed; once we start large-scale distribution, even if only internal, with Yanhuang Guo's billions of people, traces will inevitably leak out.

A change in one or two people is coincidental, but a change in tens of thousands is not coincidental—it is man-made, and this definitely cannot be hidden.

"Exactly!"

Qin Hao lightly turned the chess piece outside the board between his fingers, saying, 'Since it cannot be hidden, we might as well take the initiative to reveal this trump card.'

He looked at Lu Lao, the corners of his mouth turning up.

"We not only want to reveal it, but also turn it into an invitation, inviting the whole world to participate in the feast we are hosting. However, the admission ticket will be very expensive."

Lu Lao's gaze tightened, and he gestured for Qin Hao to continue.

"The Eternal Essence Liquid has three functional modules; these are the three cards in our hand."

Qin Hao raised three fingers.

"The first card is the Treatment Module; we can announce to the world that we have developed another drug capable of curing all currently incurable diseases, such as AIDS, genetic disorders, and other stubborn ailments.

Other various complicated diseases are no problem, and we can sell it; of course, the exported version cannot be the complete one—it is a castrated version.

"Weakened version?"

Lu Lao immediately grasped the key point.

"Exactly, weakened to target only specific diseases, with a longer healing cycle requiring multiple injections for a complete cure. This way, we show benevolence while securing ongoing demand."

The corner of Qin Hao's mouth curled into an arc: 'Want to buy? Sure, trade resources or technology. Anyway, we don't accept worthless paper.'

Lu Lao nodded; this follows the same line of thinking as selling robots before, but clearly the drug's appeal is far greater.

"The second card is the Combat Enhancement Module."

Qin Hao's tone turned playful,

"This card, we will not sell it to their populace for now, only to the high-ranking officials and elite guards of each country.

Think about it: would the president of Yingjiang not want himself and his troops to be invulnerable to blades and bullets, with reflexes like electricity? I think he would, because it concerns his safety and his power.

"This will create a rift within them."

Lu Lao immediately discerned the crux of it.

"Exactly, it's the rift!"

Qin Hao clapped his hands, saying, 'When a nation's leadership and elite possess power far beyond that of ordinary people, an invisible chasm appears between them and the populace.'

Suspicion, fear, contradiction... these will become bombs buried within their society.

To maintain this advantage, they must continually purchase the enhancement drug from us, and the price… naturally will be set by us with a lion's big mouth.

Upon saying this, Qin Hao imagined that scene.

"Finally, the third card, and also our trump card—the Life Extension Module."

Qin Hao's gaze instantly deepened.

"This card, we sell only to that tiny top tier—high-level officials of various countries, true tycoons, those at the pinnacle of the pyramid who can influence the world's direction."

We also sell weakened versions; for example, if the full version allows one to live to 170 years, we sell them a version that lets them live to 120 years. We tell them that this is the limit of what our technology can achieve.

No one can resist the temptation of living several decades longer, especially those who already have everything. They would pay any price for those extra decades.

Qin Hao looked at Old Luo, speaking each word with a pause:

What we want is their most core technology, even the cutting-edge stuff still in their labs that they themselves haven't fully figured out.

For example, the molecular formula of new materials, like F-country's bottom-of-the-box nuclear power technology… Have them send over their technology, data, and even top scientists, all packed together.

Although we have more advanced technology, bringing it over for reference might inspire our scientists' thinking, so we wouldn't be at a loss.

Old Luo's breathing, without him realizing, grew somewhat heavy.

Qin Hao's plan could no longer be described as merely 'ruthless'.

This is using humanity's most primal desire as a hook, openly carrying out an unprecedented bone‑sucking, marrow‑draining exploitation of the whole world.

It is more terrifying than any weapon.

Weapons can only destroy the flesh, but this plan undermines people's hearts and shakes the foundations of the state.

Qin Hao leaned back in his chair, as if speaking of a trivial matter.

By then, the whole world will fall into a peculiar cycle. The lower classes, seeking treatment, will force their governments to buy our therapeutic potions from us.

The middle‑ and upper‑class elites, to consolidate their status, will try every means to obtain the enhancement potions; and to prolong their lives, they will not hesitate to sell off all their core interests in exchange for decades of extra lifespan.

They will weep, shout, and beg, delivering everything we want right to our doorstep.

All the world's resources, technology, and talent will flow into Flame Yellow like rivers into the sea, endless and continuous.

Qin Hao spread his hands, a faint, slightly childish smugness appearing on his face.

Although I can copy these things, don't you feel that watching them willingly hand over those resources to us, this feeling, is what really makes one feel relieved?

A long silence.

Old Luo picked up the already slightly cool teacup, took a sip, and his eyes were sharp.

He looked at Qin Hao before him; on that handsome face was written a shrewdness and deep scheming that belied his age.

Suddenly, Old Luo laughed.

It started as a low chuckle, then grew louder, finally becoming a hearty laugh that echoed in the living room.

He pointed a finger at Qin Hao in the air and laughed while scolding:

You little brat, you're full of dirty tricks! If this idea got out to those outsiders, they'd probably label you a public enemy of the world and put a bounty of a hundred billion on your head!

Qin Hao gave a hehe laugh and didn't respond.

The laughter faded, Old Luo's expression grew stern again, yet the appreciation and approval in their eyes could not be hidden.

"However, I personally really like it!"

He looked at all the pieces on the chessboard, his thoughts racing.

This plan, I think it's feasible! However, the specific details must be repeatedly scrutinized, and it still needs to be reported.

The timing of the release, the order of sales, the bottom line of pricing, etc. Every step cannot be wrong; this is like sprinkling salt on the wounds of the whole world. If sprinkled too little, they won't feel pain,

If sprinkled too much, they will die from the pain and fight us desperately. This degree must be grasped just right.

Qin Hao nodded:

"So, that's why I say our previous pattern was too small. Robots are just a stepping stone; the Eternal Liquid is the sickle with which we reap this era, providing fuel for our journey to the stars."

Old Luo looked at the chessboard where the outcome was already clear, then reached out and picked up the black stone that Qin Hao had placed outside the board,

He did not put it back into the box, but instead pressed it heavily onto the exact center of the chessboard.

With a sharp 'crack!', it was exceptionally crisp.

"This game is over; we're moving on to a larger chessboard."