Chapter 295
'Skycrest,' located in East Harbor's most prime financial and tech convergence zone, was a golden plot the Talbot Group had acquired years ago, holding it close until the perfect moment. 'Worth its weight in gold' didn't even begin to cover it—this was land that could literally define the city's skyline.
Lucius gave a faint acknowledgment.
"Transfer ownership to Seraphine's personal name."
Barry's hand, which had been adjusting his glasses, froze mid-air. He doubted his own hearing.
"...Mr. Talbot, you mean... transfer the 'Skycrest' plot, free of charge?"
He struggled to organize his words, trying to confirm he wasn't hallucinating. This plot's valuation was enough to cripple any Fortune 500 company.
"Problem?" Lucius finally looked up, his gaze calm as still water.
"None." Barry immediately recovered his professional composure, though the corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.
His boss's logic had completely transcended his comprehension as a mere mortal assistant.
Other people's idea of romance: bags, cars, jewelry. His boss's idea of romance: listed companies, a decade's R&D budget, and now he was gifting city landmarks.
"Tell her the 'Oracle Project's R&D headquarters can't stay underground forever. Her kingdom needs a palace the world can see."
Lucius's fingertip lightly tapped the word 'Oracle' in the report, adding, "Under Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center's name, send media invitations. One month from now, hold the groundbreaking ceremony."
One month later, the 'Skycrest' plot.
The former vacant lot had been completely leveled, surrounded by barriers displaying dual logos of Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center and the Talbot Group. Long lenses and cameras from over a hundred mainstream media outlets worldwide aimed at the temporary ceremony platform.
Everyone wanted to know what kind of marvel this tech upstart—Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center, established mere years ago yet already shaking the global landscape—intended to build here. And what role did the Talbot Group play in this grand feast?
Seraphine stood at the front in a sharply tailored white suit, behind her a massive rendering of the planned building. It was a structure brimming with futuristic energy and vitality—sleek lines, bold architecture, as if transplanted directly from a sci-fi movie into reality.
Her speech was characteristically brief and precise, not a wasted word, outlining only the three major functions of this future 'Oracle Building': cutting-edge scientific research, data supercomputing center, and global talent ark.
When she finished speaking, and the host announced the groundbreaking soil-turning segment, every eye lit up.
Lucius rose from the front row, walking slowly onto the stage. He wore a dark suit today, creating a stark black-and-white contrast against Seraphine's pure white under the sunlight.
Standing side by side, they didn't exchange words, yet formed a powerful force field that turned everything around them into background noise.
They each took a brand-new shovel tied with red ribbon. At the master of ceremonies' command, they moved in unison, scooping up handfuls of soil mixed with golden sand, pouring it together into the foundation stone's groove.
Camera flashes exploded in a frenzy. Every lens focused on their hands, jointly gripping the shovels.
Then a sharp-eyed photographer, through a telephoto lens, captured a detail explosive enough to blow up every social media platform.
On Lucius's left hand, gripping the shovel, on that ring finger symbolizing matrimony, sat a platinum band with no decorative design. Minimalist in design, yet reflecting a cold, resolute gleam in the sunlight.
The lens swiftly swung to the other side.
On Seraphine's left hand, same position—a band nearly identical in style, material, and width rested quietly against her knuckle.
Not some flashy couple's design, but like covenant tokens—understated, reserved, yet carrying an undeniable declaration.
Below the ceremony platform, the press corps instantly erupted.
"Did you get it? Rings! They're wearing matching rings!"
"Oh my God, what's happening? Are they going public?"
"Didn't they say ex-wife? When did they remarry? Wait—did they even actually divorce?"
"Who cares—publish it! Front page! Absolute front page! [Lucius Talbot and Seraphine Manners Suspected Reconciliation, Matching Rings Exposed at Groundbreaking Ceremony]!"
The two on stage seemed oblivious to the commotion below.
After the ceremony, the crowd and media were ushered toward the reception area by staff. But Lucius and Seraphine didn't leave. They walked side by side toward that massive rendering.
"Five underground levels for the independent power center—electrical redundancy needs to be N+3. 'Oracle's computations can't tolerate any fluctuations." Seraphine studied the blueprint, her voice soft.
"Already had Barry arrange it."
Lucius's gaze fell on the building's apex. "Direct connection to 'New Arc's backup system. Additionally, I'll have 'Northlight Capital' acquire a small nuclear power plant as the ultimate physically isolated backup power source."
Barry, following at a distance, felt his worldview refresh yet again upon hearing this. Buying a nuclear power plant to stabilize a lab's power supply?
He felt his boss's operating style could no longer be described as 'aggressive'—this was straight-up 'godlike.'
Seraphine offered no opinion on the 'acquire a nuclear plant' proposal, as if it were as trivial as buying cabbage. She pointed at an area on the blueprint.
"Top floor. I need an absolutely quiet room, full signal shielding, with only one window facing sunrise."
Lucius followed her finger, then turned his head, looking at her profile.
"Done." He agreed.
Neither spoke further, just standing there gazing at the blueprint before them. Behind them, noisy crowds and flashing lights. Before them, their future city-state.
That evening, every financial and gossip outlet's front page worldwide was dominated by the same photograph.
In it, a strong hand with prominent knuckles and a slender, pale hand jointly gripped a shovel. The matching plain bands on their ring fingers were crystal clear under the lens.
Headlines varied wildly, but the core message was singular—on the chessboard of capital and technology, king and king had formed an alliance.
The tsunami of public opinion triggered by the rings eventually subsided amid hundreds of cease-and-desist letters from the Talbot Group's legal department, and several top gossip outlets quietly shuttering and dissolving.
The world of capital taught everyone a lesson in the simplest, most brutal way: some people's private affairs weren't news—they were forbidden territory.
Three months after the storm settled, the new year's Fortune Global 500 list was published.
An unfamiliar name, in an almost vertical ascent, parachuted onto the list, charging straight into the top three hundred—Nolan & Heidi Medical Research Center.