Chapter 3020: Coming and Going, Different Splits

Regarding the revenue sharing of the Public Computing Power Pool, discussions have actually been ongoing ever since the Computing Power Pool officially began operations.

However, due to matters concerning the Computing Power Pool itself and some affairs within Netheril, Xia Duo has been unable to devote his full energy to the sharing negotiations, so the negotiation process has been intermittent.

Recently, because the results of the new Plane Exploration have been gratifying, Xia Duo slightly neglected the Alliance side; and look, not even a few days had passed before Tili'ao and the others couldn't help but urge him.

……

It is still that familiar conference room, and still those five familiar faces.

As soon as Xia Duo sat down, the Yierlan representative Aosi could not wait to ask, "Consultant Xia Duo, the Public Computing Power Pool has been operating for some time now; is such a long period not enough to estimate future revenue?"

"Of course it is enough."

On this issue, Xia Duo did not hide anything, and in fact, he couldn't hide it; the financial personnel of the Psionic Network Research Center come from various countries, even though the Alliance charter has long stipulated that after joining the Alliance, one should be loyal to the Alliance rather than one's own country.

But in reality, how could the influence of one's own country be completely shaken off?

Especially for Alliance staff from major powers, although they themselves may not necessarily be loyal to their own countries in their hearts, because the vast majority of their interpersonal and interest relationships are in their own countries, they are still effectively controlled by their own countries.

Xia Duo is unclear about other countries, but for Netheril, Xia Duo is very clear; just a few days ago, when a domestic meeting was held, Badijiaer mentioned in passing that the Computing Power Pool had revenue sharing, but did not let him introduce it.

"I ask that the representatives go back and communicate well with your respective countries. Revenue sharing may seem more stable, but in reality, it is not conducive to the long term. No rational, normal person could possibly agree to it, and I hope all countries can understand."

Only the Psionic Network Research Center can stably provide a certain proportion of revenue from the Public Computing Power Pool; however, in the future, as gold and silver depreciate, the fees for the Computing Power Pool will also be raised accordingly, and the sharing will be enough to offset the impact caused by the depreciation of gold and silver.

Therefore, Xia Duo simply negotiated with the representatives, "Revenue sharing is absolutely impossible. If the countries are unwilling to accept this, then let's shut down the Computing Power Pool Sub-networks in your countries! This does not require our consent; you can operate it yourselves."

Although these few are the representatives of the Seven Small Kingdoms in the Alliance, they also hold the status of Alliance leaders; however, from a long-term perspective, any dual identity needs to be transformed into a single identity.

The Computing Power Pool revenue must not only be shared with various countries but also a portion must be turned over to the Alliance. The proportion of this "portion" fluctuating slightly is a very considerable sum of funds.

On this issue, the interests of Xia Duo and the representatives seem to be at odds, but in fact, they are consistent. If the countries want to suck as much blood as possible from the Computing Power Pool, that harms the interests of the Alliance, which is also harming the interests of the representatives themselves.

Being a representative means one cannot serve as an Alliance leader, otherwise, it is easy for the Alliance to become a puppet of the Seven Small Kingdoms.

When they heard Xia Duo say that countries insisting on revenue sharing should shut down their Computing Power Pool Sub-networks, the representatives subconsciously frowned; this was their long-standing national identity at work.

This is also the fundamental reason why Xia Duo has repeatedly insisted on net profit sharing. If it were revenue sharing, the countries would have a guaranteed income regardless of drought or floods, but he himself would have a headache.

Under such circumstances, Alliance leaders would not necessarily have to be chosen only from the seven countries.

In other words, even in the future, no matter how high the output of the Grey Peak Mountains is, it is difficult for management fees to have new breakthroughs; and as the output of the Grey Peak Mountains increases and gold and silver depreciate, the actual purchasing power of the management fees is more likely to shrink significantly!

Furthermore, all investments will be doubled back in the form of usage fees for the advanced functions of the Computing Power Pool; why not do it this way?

Major powers give more, and small countries give less.

"As for the share turned over to the Alliance, it will be at most thirty percent of the net profit. Any more would cause the subsequent development of the Psionic Network Research Center to fall into a predicament. I hope the representatives can understand."

Although the Seven Small Kingdoms do have unparalleled influence over the Alliance, it is ultimately not a relationship between a Controller and a puppet. The existence of the Alliance is maintained by its own charter and does not require the seven countries to deliberately exert influence.

When actually calculating, for the sake of personal interests or pursuits, they will place the interests of the Alliance above the interests of their own countries.

Furthermore, net profit is a very vague concept. Costs must be deducted first, so what is called a cost? Equipment wear and tear is a cost, personnel expenses are a cost, and external investments can also be a cost.

But this is already enough.

Especially in the current situation, the Public Computing Power Pool revenue is beneficial to their countries, not detrimental; it is merely a difference of more or less profit.

The Alliance's subordinate Grey Peak Mountains Resource Management Committee also receives a portion of the revenue after there is output from the Grey Peak Mountains, but it is more of a management fee rather than sharing.

It is better to simply ask for less, fulfilling the Alliance while also fulfilling their own personal interests and pursuits.

It is just that in order to obtain long-term support from various countries, Xia Duo still chose to let small countries also share a portion of the Computing Power Pool revenue. The number of people in a single small country is indeed not as large as in a major power, but added together, it is not a small number; it is worth these investments.

It can be said that the Computing Power Pool is currently the only source of living water for the Alliance, and it is also the first step for the Alliance to break free from the control of funds by various countries.

But at this moment, their identities have already changed. Even if they are somewhat unhappy in their hearts, they still gave positive support, "We also believe that sharing directly from revenue is inappropriate, but it is very difficult to convince our countries!"

But at their level, they already possess significant influence in their own countries. Alliance affairs can actually be viewed as an extension of their power, and they are more independent than ordinary staff, and also more hopeful that the Alliance can develop and grow stronger.

Of course, that is in the future. Currently, Alliance leaders still have dual identities, and the benefits obtained for their own countries as representatives cannot exceed the portion obtained as Alliance leaders.

"Is that so?"

"However, I still express my disagreement with the countries' proposal to share directly from revenue. The expected revenue of the Computing Power Pool is indeed not small, but the costs and expenses in all aspects are also not few. If we share directly from revenue, are the countries not afraid that the Computing Power Pool will be unable to make ends meet and eventually fail to be maintained?"

Even some intangible costs that are difficult to quantify can push the costs on the books to the limit.

Other council members were confused and just mentioned trying their best to strive for it before moving on.

Thirty percent of the net profit to the Alliance is almost Xia Duo's bottom line. Adding the expected forty percent to the countries, the Psionic Network Research Center actually retains only twenty percent.

The several major institutions under the Alliance also support a large number of field personnel. Where does the money come from? The vast majority comes from direct appropriations from various countries.

Of course, that refers to ordinary staff, such as the financial personnel of the Psionic Network Research Center.

But if it were net profit sharing, Xia Duo would have a guaranteed income regardless of drought or floods, and the dividends for the countries could even be given based on his mood. If he were in a bad mood, it would be entirely possible to have a net loss every year.

And like those permanent Alliance representatives from various countries, on one hand, they are already managing the actual affairs of the Alliance as leaders, while on the other hand, they are still being assigned by their own countries.

The talk of revenue sharing is either determined privately by Tiao, or it is Tili'ao wanting to intercept more revenue in the name of his country.

In fact, only the Seven Small Kingdoms want revenue sharing; other small countries would thank the heavens just to have the Public Computing Power Pool available, and to be able to receive additional dividends is simply unimaginable!