Chapter 29: The Client Arrives

After several hours of lengthy discussion, Jiang Chen and Jia Yi finally reached a verbal agreement. If no major problems arose, this verbal agreement would soon be formalized as an official partnership and written into a contract.

"Then let me wish us a pleasant cooperation," Jiang Chen said, shaking Jia Yi's hand as they exchanged farewells.

Back in reality, Jarvis’s voice immediately sounded, “Master, you’ve received an email. The change in business scope for your company has been completed, and it has been renamed Jiang Industries Group. Additionally, there is now two trillion Huaxia credits in the company account.”

“I see.” Jiang Chen nodded slightly, inwardly marveling at Jia Yi’s remarkable efficiency.

The change in business scope and company status was a preparation for their future cooperation. As for the two trillion in funds, this was an interest-free loan provided by the military, to be used solely for the construction of the [Boxer] production line and the procurement of raw materials.

Since Jiang Chen had made modifications to the [Boxer] design, the production line could not simply follow the original blueprint and required certain adjustments. Moreover, many components could not be sourced on Earth and would need entirely new manufacturing processes.

In short, what could be bought would be bought; what couldn’t be bought, materials would be procured to make in-house.

These matters were mainly left to Jarvis. Once the preliminary plan was completed, he would screen suitable suppliers and contractors online, and Jiang Chen would make the final decisions. Jiang Chen wouldn’t even need to personally oversee the construction every day.

But that didn’t mean Jiang Chen could relax.

After several major powers acquired the prototype [Boxer] through the War God Palace auction, they quickly conducted all manner of tests. It wasn’t long before someone came knocking.

The HR Alliance, true to their business instincts, was the quickest to react. The moment they caught the scent of profit, their efficiency surpassed all others.

Isadonna, the Alliance Speaker herself, rushed to Jiangnan Base City to seek an audience with Jiang Chen, hoping to secure a patent license for the [Boxer] technology.

“I’m not planning to sell the technology. I’ll only sell finished products.” Looking at this white woman before him—over sixty, yet still youthful—Jiang Chen refused her request without hesitation.

After a slight pause, Jiang Chen continued, “As for the price, each [Boxer] is three hundred billion Huaxia credits. Production will be scheduled upon receipt of a seventy percent deposit, and delivery will be made within a year at the latest.”

Isadonna did not give up and pressed further, “Won’t you reconsider the technical licensing? Our HR Alliance is absolutely sincere. We can exchange king-class monster materials or resources from ancient civilization ruins! In fact, we only want a license, not exclusivity. You can continue to manufacture and sell them yourself, and you can license other factions as well! Of course, if you grant us exclusivity, we’re prepared to pay more.”

Isadonna had a keen sense of the profits involved with the [Boxer] mecha.

Allowing a high-level warrior to instantly possess War God-level combat power—no matter the cost—was worth it. Especially since this was a product capable of mass production! If thousands or tens of thousands of [Boxers] could be produced, the entire power structure of Earth would shift.

Jiang Chen felt a slight stir at Isadonna’s words. Monster materials were of some interest to him, but not much. After all, planet-level monsters were the most powerful on Earth, but in the wider universe, such materials were commonplace and cheap.

However, products from the ‘ancient civilization ruins’ often had applications beyond Earth, and perhaps some treasures with value yet to be recognized by Earth’s powers.

Yet after a brief hesitation, Jiang Chen still declined Isadonna’s proposal, stating firmly, “The technology is not for sale, only the finished product. Even for finished products, sales will require an agreement signed under the supervision of War God Palace: the [Boxer] is only to be used against monsters, never for internal human conflict. Any violation will be met with united punishment from all major powers.”

Seeing Jiang Chen’s resolute stance, Isadonna did not persist. She had no wish to offend this nineteen-year-old prodigy who had already reached planetary rank.

“In that case…” Isadonna thought for a long while before speaking. “Given your conditions, three hundred billion is rather steep. To be honest, our engineers have studied the [Boxer] mecha and estimate its cost at no more than two hundred billion. Considering your profit margin, I believe two hundred and fifty billion per unit is reasonable, with half as a deposit and the remainder paid in full upon delivery.”

Jiang Chen was inwardly surprised by Isadonna’s words.

The cost of the first experimental [Boxer] was indeed close to that figure. Factoring in the labor costs for precision engineers and skilled workers, two hundred billion per unit was quite reasonable.

But Isadonna had made two miscalculations.

First, Jiang Chen did not need to employ many staff; Jarvis could oversee the entire production process without human intervention, and with greater efficiency and lower error rates.

Second, after substituting certain materials, the production cost of the [Boxer] had fallen further.

Once the production line was fully assembled and mass production began, the cost per [Boxer] would be around one hundred and fifty billion.

Selling at three hundred billion meant doubling the cost. Even at two hundred and fifty billion, the profit per unit remained over a hundred billion.

After a brief consideration, Jiang Chen said, “If your HR Alliance is willing to pay part of the balance with special treasures, I can accept two hundred and fifty billion per unit. If it’s only cash, then three hundred billion, not a cent less. As for the deposit, no less than sixty percent.”

Isadonna hesitated for quite a while before nodding. “We can provide some Spirit of Flora and artifacts from ancient civilization ruins in exchange, but the exact list and values will require separate negotiation. Also, the proportion of payment in special treasures cannot exceed thirty percent; the rest will be paid in cash.”

“That will depend on whether your treasures can move me,” Jiang Chen replied directly.

Items like Spirit of Flora and relics from ruins varied greatly in quality. The HR Alliance would certainly not try to fob off junk, but neither would they offer their most precious treasures.

Whether a deal could be reached would depend on the sincerity of the items they brought forth.

Isadonna understood this and said, “Please be patient for a few days, Councilor Jiang. I need to consult with the Alliance and confirm the list of treasures we can offer you.”

Jiang Chen nodded. “Very well, we’ll negotiate further when the time comes.”