Chapter 294

Chapter 294

The project codename was just one word—' Oracle.'

"What... what is this?"

John leaned in closer, full of suspicion. This had zero connection to biopharmaceuticals.

"Non-invasive brain-computer interface." Seraphine's tone was as calm as if she were introducing new office software. "Based on ultra-high-dimensional data parsing of neural electrical signals, plus reverse precision information writing. Simply put, an external 'processor' that can directly exchange data with the human brain."

John felt his heartbeat skip.

Brain-computer interface?

Of course, he knew what that was—stuff from sci-fi movies, the most cash-burning, most distant, and most insane field in every cutting-edge tech lab. What did this have to do with anything Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center was currently doing?

From genes to brains—this leap was bigger than Earth to Alpha Centauri.

"Ms. Manners, this... this isn't our area of expertise!" John's voice cracked. "This requires microelectronics, quantum physics, neuroscience, materials science... We don't have a single relevant expert in the company! We'd be starting from zero—no, from negative numbers! And funding? This thing's R&D costs are a bottomless pit!"

"Experts can be poached, companies can be acquired, labs can be built." Seraphine's answer cut off all his objections. "As for funding, I'll handle it."

John looked at that emotionless face and suddenly realized—Seraphine at Serivonne, backed into a corner, then flipping the entire board in one move, that was her normal state. Stability and peace were just brief intermissions between storms.

He opened his mouth, finally managing only: "My heart... might need our own new medication first."

One week later, Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center board meeting.

The atmosphere was unprecedentedly tense.

The 'Oracle Project' outline was projected on the big screen. In the conference room, even the air seemed frozen.

"I object!"

A director representing early-stage venture capital slammed the table first. "This is absurd! We're a biotech company. Our strength is in gene editing and targeted drugs! The stock price is solid right now—we should concentrate all resources on expanding our leading edge in core areas, not throwing money into a completely unrelated sci-fi project!"

"Mr. Morgan is right."

Another director chimed in. "Brain-computer interface? How many years has Musk's Neuralink been at it? How much money have they burned? What makes us think we can come from behind? Ms. Manners, I respect your technical vision, but this time, I respectfully disagree."

Objections rose one after another.

Even the new directors sent by the Talbot Group looked troubled. They'd been sent to consolidate the Talbot Group's strategic synergy with Nolan & Heidi Medical in biomedicine, not to join the founder in a long-shot gamble.

A Talbot Group representative cleared his throat, his wording relatively tactful: "Ms. Manners, the Talbot Group's support for Nolan & Heidi Medical is based on optimism about its prospects in life sciences. The 'Oracle Project's risk exposure is too large—I'm afraid it doesn't align with the company's current stable development strategy."

John sat in the corner, palms sweating, worried sick for Seraphine.

The whole time, Seraphine didn't argue back.

Equally silent was Lucius, sitting beside her.

As Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center's de facto second-largest shareholder, he'd personally attended today's board meeting but had remained like an outsider, not saying a word.

Until the opposition in the conference room reached its peak.

"Barry."

"Yes." Barry, who'd been standing behind him, stepped forward.

"'Oracle Project' first phase, through prototype verification—how much funding is needed?" Lucius asked.

Barry glanced at the tablet in his hands, reporting a number: "Preliminary assessment—three billion dollars."

Sharp intakes of breath filled the conference room.

Three billion dollars, just for the first phase!

That was nearly Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center's entire annual R&D budget.

The Talbot Group director representative's expression turned ugly. He was about to speak again.

"The company won't need to provide this money."

Everyone froze.

Lucius raised his head, surveying the room. "I'll establish a dedicated trust fund in my personal capacity, fully funding the 'Oracle Project's first phase."

His voice was steady, devoid of emotion. "In exchange, I require 49% equity in the project's future independent spin-off. If the project succeeds, I share the returns. If it fails, all losses are borne by me personally. No connection to Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center's parent company, or to any of you present."

The conference room fell deathly silent.

Everyone was stunned by this proposal.

What kind of move was this?

He'd given up using board influence to force the motion through, instead choosing the most direct, most aggressive, and most impossible-to-refuse method. He was shouldering all the risk alone.

The directors stood there open-mouthed, unable to say a word.

Lucius paid them no more attention. He only looked at Seraphine, as if waiting for her response.

Seraphine met his gaze. "Since Mr. Talbot has resolved the funding issue, the 'Oracle Project' begins immediately. Any objections?"

Complete silence.

No one dared object.

Two weeks later, the 'Oracle Project's secret kickoff meeting was held at the East Harbor Industrial Park underground research center.

Fewer than twenty people attended—all top-tier geniuses Seraphine had poached from around the world, each a master in their field.

Seraphine stood before a massive holographic projection. In the projection, the complete three-dimensional structure diagram of the 'Oracle' chip rotated. Countless data streams shuttled through it, simulating neural signal transmission and parsing.

She spent an hour delivering a concise exposition of the entire project's technical pathway and first-phase objectives. Not a wasted word—every sentence struck precisely at the technical core.

When she finished, the room fell quiet for a moment, then erupted into a heated discussion. Those geniuses who were usually insufferably arrogant now had faces full of excitement and fervor.

Lucius didn't join the discussion. He stood alone at the back of the conference room, like a silent shadow.

Seraphine's gaze traveled across the surging crowd, meeting his line of sight in midair.

She didn't speak, didn't smile.

Only in that instant when no one was watching, she gave the slightest nod in his direction.

It wasn't thanks, it wasn't friendliness.

It was a declaration, a confirmation.

You built me a fortress. I'll launch a new era for you from atop this fortress.

The game had begun again.

'Oracle Project'—initiated.

That day, Barry placed a document on Lucius's office desk.

"Mr. Talbot, all planning permits for the 'Skycrest' plot have been approved. According to the original plan, construction can begin next month on the Group's new AI data center and headquarters phase two."