Two presidential suites faced each other across the street from adjacent luxury hotels.

Austin's silhouette against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the opposite suite formed an elegant yet dangerous shadow, silently but powerfully announcing his arrival.

Ella's phone vibrated-Jason calling from across the ocean.

"HIe's in Ironbridge?" Jason's voice showed no panic, but rather contained excitement.

"I see him," Ella pulled the curtains closed, blocking out the unsettling gaze from across the street.

"Don't worry about things back home," Jason spoke quickly but clearly. "T ve reached out to several contacts in financial media. They're very interested in the MicroMachining Solutions letter of intent and are planning an in-depth report. Based on their publication schedule,there should be a feature article tonight. I've even suggested the title: 'Tech Prodigy's Comeback: Brilliance as the Only Passport."

As Ella listened to the methodical plannning from the other end of the line,the knot of anxiety that had formed in her chest since spotting Austin began to loosen.

"Good." She replied.

"Austin isn't in Ironbridge for sightseeing. He's definitely trying to sabotage your contract," Jason's tone grew serious. "You're alone in a foreign country. Be extremely careful."

"I understand."

Ella hung up; the exhaustion from her,sleepless night was replaced by a fierce fighting spirit.

'Austin-you think this is your hunting ground?' She thought.

Suddenly,the hotel room doorbell rang.

Ella peered through the peephole. Outside stood a well-dressed Lumerian man,wearing an unfamiliar insignia on his lapel.

She opened the door.

"Ms. Brooks?" The man asked in impeccable Arcadian, his manner respectful.

"I represent the Ironbridge Technology Industry Alliance. On behalf of our chairman, I'd like to formally invite you to a private dinner this evening."

Ella hesitated, momentarily surprised.

The Ironbridge Technology Industry Alliance was a powerful force in the tech sector, not just in Lumeria but globally. Its influence extended throughout the entire country.

MicroMachining Solutions' membership in this alliance was a testament to its standing in the high-tech industry.

"Why invite me?" Ella asked.

"Because you are the first person in twenty years to whom Mr. Schmidt has offered a technology-sharing agreement."

The representative handed her an embossed gold invitation.

"We're extremely interested in your Scorched Earth algorithm."

Ella realized a new opportunity had just,presented itself.

The dinner was to be held at Azure Sea Castle, once the royal palace of Ironbridge.

Only when Ella arrived in the Alliance's private car did she truly understand the caliber of this dinner.

The ancient palace was brilliantly lit, its entrance lined with various luxury vehicles.

No sooner had she entered the grand hall than a server respectfully guided her to a private meeting room within the inner chambers.

The massive oak door swung open.

A warm fire blazed in the fireplace, and ancient oil paintings adorned the walls.

Austin sat on the sofa directly facing the door, flanked by several distinguished elderly Lumerian men with silver hair.

One of them was unmistakably Chairman Orville Kidd, whose photo she had seen on the Alliance's website.

This was no technology exchange dinner.

This was a carefully prepared trap.

"Ella. you've arrived." Austin said, rising to his feet. His face wore that controlling smile she despised most.

He spoke in Arcadian, but the Lumerian men were clearly wearing

translation earpieces.

"Allow me to make introductions."

"This is Chairman Orville Kidd of the Alliance."

"This is Mr. Schneider of Stellar Industries Group."

"And this is Frank, Chief Technology Officer of Infinity Ventures Corporation."

Each introduction seemed like a trophy he was showing off.

Ella's expression remained unchanged as she calmly walked in and took a seat opposite them with elegant composure.

"Quite the grand gesture, Mr. Raymond. You've mobilized half of Lumeria's industrial elite just to meet with me."

Orville looked at Ella and spoke in Lumerian, "Ms. Brooks, while we admire your credentials and technology, we've also heard some rumors about you."

Austin picked up the conversation,his lips curving into a slight smile as if he were the undisputed master of the situation.

"What Mr. Kidd means is that the Alliance places great importance on the reputation and background of its partners. Diamond Tech is merely a fledgling startup, and you personally are embroiled in a scandal. Most importantly," He paused, delivering his killing blow.

"While MicoMachining Solution is excellent, it's just one line in the Alliance's supply chain. At the Alliance's command, all of Lumeria's high-end precision components could be cut off from Diamond Tech completely.

Your drones won't get so much as a single qualified screw."

Ella finally understood why he had come to Ironbridge.

He was pulling the rug out from under herfeet.

He wasn't just trying to intercept the MicroMachining contract; he wanted to completely block all her paths forward.

"So? What do you want?" Ella stared at himn coldly.

"I'm offering you a chance-a chance to survive." Austin leaned forward slightly.

"Dissolve Diamond Tech and return to me-otherwise,you won't even have a chance to breathe. I can pretend nothing happened. I'm willing to overlook all your past mistakes. Ella, this is your only option. There is no alternative."

He spoke as if bestowing some great favor,as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The room fell silent as the Lumerian executives observed Ella's reaction.

Suddenly,Ella smiled.

She took out her phone from her handbag and, ignoring Austin, looked directly at Orville in the center seat.

"Mr. Kidd. before we discuss my options, I'd like to show you all a video-perhaps it might influence your decision.”

She asked in fluent Lumerian.

Orville nodded.

Ella connected her phone to the room's projection system.

The large screen lit up, showing her demonstration of the "Scorched Earth"algorithm to Claus in MicroMIachining's Lab Three.

In the video, Claus's serious face transformed from shock to almost feverish excitement.

The video ended with Claus gripping her hand excitedly and saying, "Ms.Brooks,you are a genius!"

After the video ended, the room remained silent.

Ella stood up and walked to the screen.

"Gentlemen, you've clearly misunderstood something. I didn't come to Lumeria to purchase components, but to export core technology. What MicoMachining Solutions truly needs isn't my orders, but my algorithm.Diamond Tech's goal isn't to assemble drones, but to establish the industry standard for next-generation intelligent drone combat. You can refuse to open your supply chains to me."

She surveyed the varying expressions of the Lumerian executives.

"But I guarantee that within a year, any drone not using my system will be nothing but scrap metal in the market."

Orville's expression changed.

The directors' eyes began to flicker with uncertainty.

They were all top figures in the technology field; they understood the weight of what they had just seen.

Austin's expression finally darkened: he hadn't exnected Ella to challenuo

him so publicly.

"Ella,you're being far too arrogant!"

"Arrogant?" Ella gave a cold laugh,her gaze piercing him.

"Austin, the truly arrogant one is you. You think you can suppress everything with capital and connections, but you don't understand technology. In your eyes, my company and my projects are just toys you can manipulate at will. But from my perspective, this trap you've set is full of holes."

Austin was provoked by her words. He abruptly stood up, his eyes sharp as knives. "You think you've won?"

A strange, cold smile suddenly appeared on his face, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, his eyes filled with ice.

"Your technology is indeed impressive, but unfortunately, it's not yours."

Ella's heart sank suddenly, as if gripped by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe.

"By the way, let me inform you of something."

Austin leisurely adjusted his cuffs, his movements elegant and composed.as if everything were still under his control.

"Just as you were boarding your flight, I acquired a Drakmoor'tech company called Vanguard Technologies. Three years ago, they filed a patent for a fundamental architecture of drone stress-avoidance systems-and your Scorched Earth algorithm happens to be bouilt on this patent."