Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

After acquiring the rocket recovery technology "transferred" by Li Yu, the Western Communications Alliance instantly became a "top influencer" in the global capital circle.

Alexander's release of the technical verification report, signed and confirmed by more than 20 top experts, completely ignited the already restless capital market.

This attracted numerous capital giants to come and invest with their money.

This fervor quickly spread to the entire population of Country M.

Even senior White House officials have publicly stated their support for the communications and aerospace industries to lead the world.

In just six months, the stock price of Western Communications Alliance soared from $80 per share to $480, a cumulative increase of 500%, and its market value exceeded $1.2 trillion at its peak.

Related aerospace concept stocks, semiconductor concept stocks, and 4G base station concept stocks all rose.

Its trading volume accounts for 60% of the total trading volume of US stocks, creating an absurd scene of "everyone betting on hegemony".

With massive capital investments, the Western Satellite Alliance and the Western Communications Alliance embarked on a "money-burning mode" regardless of cost.

In just six months, the West has spent over $4000 billion on communications and aerospace, equivalent to half of the US's annual defense budget.

Countless people were hoping that this investment would bring huge returns, and finally, six months later, the results were in.

Six months later, the California Air Force base attracted global attention.

Beside the launch pad, Alexander, dressed in a custom-made suit, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Vice President of the United States, the NASA Administrator, and heads of major capital groups.

Hundreds of media cameras were pointed at the towering "Freedom" launch vehicle, its body emblazoned with the logos of the Western Communications Alliance, NASA, and major corporations.

As the ignition command was given, the rocket slowly ascended into the sky.

The rocket has entered its designated orbit! The rocket has entered its return orbit!

Alexander looked at the rocket's trajectory report and was so excited he felt like he could fly.

However, an unexpected incident occurred when the rocket was halfway back to Earth.

A deafening roar ripped through the sky as the "Freedom" exploded in mid-air.

It transformed into a giant fireball and eventually crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

Alexander could hardly believe his eyes; an investment of tens of billions had amounted to nothing more than a firework in the sky.

The live broadcast abruptly ended, and the viewing platform fell into complete silence.

The news of the launch failure swept through global financial markets like a tsunami, just as the New York Stock Exchange opened.

The stock price of Western Communications Alliance plummeted, triggering a circuit breaker within five minutes of the market opening and halting trading.

After trading resumed, the stock price continued to plummet, with a single-day drop of up to 98%, and the market value evaporated from 1.2 trillion US dollars to less than 300 billion US dollars in an instant.

Related aerospace concept stocks, semiconductor concept stocks, and 4G concept stocks all collapsed.

No one was spared; the Nasdaq index plummeted 15% in a single day, setting a record for the largest drop in history.

In just one day, not only did major capital groups suffer heavy losses.

Countless people in the United States have transformed from middle class to beggars; the once-prosperous financial center is now filled with figures of despair.

The day after the rocket explosion, Alexander, furious, dialed Li Yu's encrypted number after working through the night to produce an analysis report.

"Li Yu! You liar!"

"The technology you provided is completely fake! The rocket's recovery system suddenly failed at high altitude; this is clearly a trap you deliberately set!"

"We lost $4000 billion, you must compensate us for all our losses!"

On the other end of the phone, Li Yu said calmly, "Mr. Alexander, you need to provide evidence for your statements."

"The technical drawings I gave you have been repeatedly verified and signed off by more than twenty of your top experts, confirming that they are 'technically complete and feasible'."

"The rocket has exploded, either because your manufacturing process was substandard and you cut corners, causing the core components to fail."

"Either it was an engineer's mistake that violated technical specifications. How can you shift the blame onto me?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

"Our manufacturing process is world-class; all components undergo triple testing, and our operating procedures fully comply with technical standards!"

"The problem must be with your technique! You hid a trap in the blueprints, deliberately causing the rocket to explode!"

Li Yu chuckled and said, "Do I really need to take such a big risk?"

"I have already received the full amount of the previous technology transfer fee, and there are no binding obligations for subsequent cooperation. There is no need to ruin my reputation in this way."

"Mr. Alexander, considering how long we've been working together, I can lend you a hand."

"My technical team has identified the core cause of the rocket explosion through satellite monitoring and data analysis."

A glimmer of hope instantly ignited in Alexander's eyes, and he quickly asked, "What do you want? We're willing to pay any price to solve this problem!"

"It's very simple. Pay 500 billion US dollars for after-sales service, and I will give you the complete fault analysis report, rocket improvement plan, and 4G technology completion plan."

"With these, you still have a chance to restart the project and recover some of the losses."

"500 billion?!"

"Li Yu, you're taking advantage of our misfortune! We're already out of money!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yu bluntly replied, "No money? Then there's nothing I can do."

Alexander eventually turned to Rockefeller for help, and Rockefeller gritted his teeth and said, "Agree to it!"

"We can mortgage the remaining assets to the bank to apply for a loan, and then sell the last part of the equity to raise $500 billion."

"As long as we can get the solution, we still have a glimmer of hope."

Late at night, Alexander dialed Li Yu's number again: "Li Yu, we've agreed to the $500 billion."

"We hope you will keep your promise this time and hand over the plan to us."

On the other end of the phone, Li Yu readily agreed, saying, "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

"Once the funds are received, the solution will be sent to your encrypted email address immediately. Good luck."

After hanging up the phone, Li Yu turned to Lou Zhenhua beside him and smiled, "The last fish has taken the bait."

"Once the 500 billion arrives, we will launch the final plan to make the Western Communications Alliance disappear from the world completely."

Li Yu then contacted several European companies that had withdrawn from the Western Communications Alliance.

Vodafone and more than a dozen other established telecommunications companies have been in dire straits for the past six months, watching helplessly as the stock prices of companies within the Western Telecommunications Alliance have multiplied again and again.

But with that explosion, the pressure of the past six months vanished instantly.

After receiving Li Yu's call, Vodafone's CEO immediately convened a board meeting. "Six months ago, I told you that choosing to withdraw was the right decision."

"My prediction has been proven true six months from today, as Li Yu from Longteng just told me."

"Our 4G communication will begin trial operation this month, and the existing 3G base stations will also begin to be gradually upgraded to 4G."

The same news spread to telecommunications companies across Europe.

However, Alexander was still troubled by the rocket recovery, unaware that Li Yu's harvest had reached its final stage.