Chapter 52

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Heaven is vast, earth is vast, but the client is the greatest.

A good Negotiation Engineer must possess the spirit of a monk — first, be able to cut one's own flesh to feed the hawk, even offering up one's own body without hesitation; second, be able to empty the four elements, caring for nothing but the contract; next, be able to act as an ascetic, bravely tormenting both oneself and the client; only finally can one become a true monk, caring for nothing but reaching out for money.

After sustained exchange and idle chat, as well as Raymond's arduous and outstanding translation, both sides finally settled the foundational issues.

The next issues could no longer be resolved alone; he regretted once more not bringing his younger sister, and simply said: "How about we meet in Jiangning next time? Coming to Paris once is no easy matter."

For him to come was extremely easy; bringing his younger sister would be far too difficult.

The three naturally had no objection; the leader among them looked left and right, and a heap of "******" suddenly popped into his mind.

He wasn't truly afraid of China; he merely felt that Chen Yi, however he looked at him, resembled a Government Representative.

If not the Chinese Government, why go to such expense to hide one's head while showing one's tail? If not the Chinese Government, why stay in a Luxury Hotel yet hire a lousy Translator? If not the Chinese Government, what other company could produce a 50 Trillion Operations Computer while hiding it from the whole World?

The more this fellow thought, the more excited he became, as if the deal were already done. His heart brimmed with longing for the countless Chinese People, and for the countless Renminbi.

His eyes saw nothing but all kinds of paper money — red, green, purple, black — he couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva, and suddenly said: "Mr. Chen, actually for major clients, meaning clients who own a 10 Trillion Operations Computer, we can provide some special services."

"How special?"

"Not only High-Frequency Trading, but also Lightning Trading." He grew excited as he spoke.

"You'll have to explain that." Drawing on his experience in the Saint Qiao Kingdom, Chen Yi asked only with the posture of a superior, and despite not knowing the trade, did not appear weak.

The leader licked his lips and said: "Lightning Trading requires a Supercomputer, directly connected to an Exchange that supports the business, synchronously analyzing the Exchange's data. You know, whether it's the New York Stock Exchange or the Chicago Exchange, their computer equipment isn't the most advanced; on that basis, using computers more advanced than theirs lets us see the trading situation 0.3 seconds before retail investors. Then, three-thousandths of a second faster than retail investors, we judge the market's instantaneous trend, thereby building positions first."

Chen Yi listened with eyes wide and mouth agape, and said: "Isn't that cheating?"

"You are someone who can cheat." The Frenchman laughed heartily, clapped his hands, and said: "On the basis of Lightning Trading, we just go long before large long orders, and go short before large short orders — not only Stable Profit, but profits multiple times those of High-Frequency Trading."

Chen Yi truly was speechless; this was equivalent to a Rat Warehouse facing the entire Market, and building positions openly and aboveboard.

"How much for this system?" Chen Yi couldn't help asking.

"Depending on your system, 7 million to 25 million Dollars." Xinbiyou's new quote was several times that of High-Frequency Trading software — equally exorbitant profit.

"If it's really as good as you say." Chen Yi frowned and said: "I'll pay your Reward three months after the software is delivered."

The leader shook his head: "If you're uneasy, you can retain a Final Payment…"

"That deviates from my earlier requirement." Chen Yi immediately countered: "If you can't accept it, I'll have to switch to another company."

"If it's High-Frequency Trading software design, of course there's no problem, but if it's Lightning Trading…"

"No difference, to me." Chen Yi shrugged: "You must make a decision. The transaction method is set; I cannot modify it."

He merely changed the phrasing, but to the leader's ears, it meant someone stood behind him.

This instead made things easier to understand; after all, to them, a person in charge who looked so young simply didn't seem like someone who could own a Supercomputer, let alone a 50 Trillion Operations high-end unit. But if it were the Chinese Government, or the offspring of a Chinese Government official, everything suddenly seemed perfectly natural.

The cost of landing a major client always exceeds that of managing small clients. The leader conceded another step: "One-third Final Payment, we guarantee software quality."

"You should guarantee software quality anyway." Chen Yi said, rising: "Specific pricing, bring it to Jiangning for me; payment terms remain the previous model. Will you do it or not?"

His tone brooked no refusal, and the Xinbiyou gentlemen had little room to choose.

Just as Chen Yi said, conditions they dared not accept, some more ferocious company always will. Especially this kind of commonly used Exclusive Software — only simple Modification needed to deploy, low cost, high price. Even with deferred payment, Upper Management was unwilling to let it go.

The leader sighed: "Then, per our earlier discussion, the Down Payment issue…"

"1 million Dollars Down Payment; after 1 week of Test Run, make it up to one-third; after three months, make it up to two-thirds; Final Payment we'll discuss later." Chen Yi's earlier terms were already extremely harsh; many small companies dared not take the order precisely for fear of being dragged down. Yet in the current economic environment, few companies pay readily.

Seeing off the three hesitant men, Chen Yi declined Raymond's car, left the house to him, and carried his boxes back to the Subway.

Saint Qiao Kingdom.

Inside the Giant Building rivaling a Skyscraper, headcount increased again. Timothy looked slightly weary, yet his expression was elated.

To him, rather than pray for God's favor, better to await the Master's arrival. Perhaps, treating the Master as God's Envoy is a thought that satisfies both religion and Reality.

"Chen Master."

"Master…"

Chen Yi smiled habitually, dragged out the Suitcase — three boxes total, two from Jiangning, two from Paris, the last bag holding some Small Things. The boxes from Paris still bore the LV Brand Logo, proclaiming their special origin. Pity the Saint Qiao Kingdom's gentlemen don't care about brands.

"All yours." He waved his hand magnanimously.

Timothy's eyes were full of boxes; even if a beauty stood by, she'd be discarded like worn sandals — at his age, a beauty was roughly just for the Eyeball.

Two old men, disregarding age and frailty, rushed up and took the boxes. Judging by their steady arm movements, Chen Yi guessed they'd used Strength Scrolls or the like.

The Crystal Screen floated over, flickering twice almost imperceptibly.

Timothy stared excitedly at the half-man-tall giant boxes, heart pounding.

The Kingdom is so weak, and the Master is precisely the greatest hope.

In fact, Chen Yi didn't let their emotions go to waste either.

Classification Technique deployed; more than half the items floated in midair, and another quarter landed in Yellow or above. That meant Level 4 and above Scroll Materials, or corresponding Elemental Substrates, were all High-End Goods effective on the Frontline Battlefield.

The remaining Level 2-3 Small Scrolls filled the Red Zone; though no Level 9 or Level 8 High-level Scroll Paper appeared, there were 8 Sheets of Level 7 — already several times the previous amount — and still usable as Strategic Resources.

Chen Yi instead found it strange; the Mages' Rules apparently weren't simply Pure Wood Pulp — many papers he had favored were classified into the Red Level 3 category.

Newly bought Essences mostly fell in the Red range, but the most attractive were the Level 6 or 7 materials floating at the Yellow-Green Boundary.

Timothy's thighs trembled uncontrollably from stimulation. 21 years ago, the last time he played games in Bed with a young girl, he hadn't been this excited.

"Total value: 6.82 Million Gold Coins." A junior Mage calculated twice carefully, then reported: "Level 7 Scroll Material 8 Sheets, Level 6 Scroll Material 17 Sheets, Level 5 Multi-Element Substrate 52, 20,000 Gold Coins per bottle, Level 5 Single-Element Substrate, 120,000 Gold Coins per can…"

The so-called Single-Element Substrate was precisely the portion of Essences and Spices Chen Yi had purchased; each can held a full 5 liters.

Timothy didn't seem the least bit worried about how much would be traded away; his beard curled up with joy, and he unusually impatiently said: "Chen Master, the Holy Knight we discussed earlier, Mr. Grendel, is outside right now; if you have questions about cultivation, he has quite a few Secret Techniques."

"Then quickly invite him in." Chen Yi narrowed his eyes; Holy Knight — a name that sounded incredibly cool and powerful.

Timothy was still introducing: "Holy Knight Grindel is the Knight Army Chief Instructor of the Saint Qiao Kingdom, and simultaneously one of the Kingdom Four Great Holy Knights. If one wishes to cultivate body strengthening, he is the most suitable candidate."

……