Chapter 228: Victory

Chapter 228 Victory

"Whether I am guilty or not will be determined by the judicial authorities—it is not your place to judge me!"

Inside the assembly hall, Qiao Zhizhang, facing criminal charges, retorted with an icy tone.

His face was pale, yet his expression remained unusually composed. Only he knew the depth of his inner panic and terror; cold sweat had long since soaked through his back.

But Qiao Zhizhang was, after all, a man who had weathered many storms. In the end, he managed to steady his emotions.

He knew that the best defense was a strong offense. If he couldn’t emerge unscathed from this situation, then Tianqiong wouldn’t walk away unharmed either!

The struggle between Huangtian and Tianqiong was a zero-sum game—there was no possibility of a win-win.

Surely, Zhou Fanyi, the CEO of Tianqiong, understood this as well. That was why she had taken such extreme measures, leaving him no room to maneuver.

But she had forgotten the most crucial point.

Qiao Zhizhang clenched his fists, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

There might be no win-win, but there could be mutual ruin. Let’s fight to the death, then!

He composed his expression, his tone growing even deeper and more forceful. "Even if the claim that the Material Machine causes deaths is just a rumor, you still can’t prove that this technology is safe. The unemployment crisis and social unrest it could trigger are obvious."

"Just like gene-editing technology that violates bioethics, the Material Machine also breaches the principles of material ethics. You’re attempting to play God as the creator, but you simply cannot bear the responsibility for the disasters that would follow if the technology gets out of hand!"

The attendees in the hall looked serious, clearly deeply swayed by Qiao Zhizhang’s words.

Zhang Quanmin, the leader, restrained his expression, careful not to reveal his own stance, but he had been secretly observing the reactions of everyone in the room.

Seeing this, the tension in his face eased slightly.

His gaze shifted to Shadi, the military’s representative, whose face showed no emotion whatsoever. Zhang Quanmin couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Throughout the entire hearing, this man had remained silent, yet his attitude was crucial—it could very well change the outcome of the vote.

Logically, the military, wanting exclusive control over the Material Machine technology, should vote in favor of banning it.

But what would happen after the ban?

Given Zhou Fanyi’s heavy-handed and aggressive approach, it was unlikely any faction would gain control of the technology—a scenario clearly not in the interests of the military’s generals.

Moreover, with the scandal at Huangtian’s biological lab exposed, public anger was rising. There was no guarantee Shadi wouldn’t change his mind and cut ties with Huangtian.

Still, Huangtian was the military’s largest energy supplier. Even if Qiao Zhizhang’s reputation was ruined, Shadi likely wouldn’t dare rashly alter his strategy. In fact, to ensure a stable energy supply, the military might even have to find a way to suppress the scandal for Huangtian.

With that thought, Zhang Quanmin felt at ease again, a faint, relaxed expression appearing on his face.

As long as Tianqiong was dealt with, the remaining issues would merely involve quelling public anger. At worst, they could find a fall guy—surely it wouldn’t blow up into something bigger.

He adjusted the microphone before him and said solemnly, "Ms. Zhou, regarding the alleged illegal experiments at Huangtian’s biological laboratory, I promise that an investigation will be launched after this hearing, with serious accountability to follow."

"Now, let’s return to the core issue of this hearing. Do you have anything else to add about the Material Machine technology?"

All eyes turned to Chi Jing, sitting calmly in her place.

Surely, this woman had played all her cards? To have driven Huangtian to the point of sacrificing parts to survive was truly impressive.

It was just a pity… Huangtian, this corporate powerhouse, wasn’t so easily defeated. The interests between political and business circles were too deeply entangled—one wrong move could upset everything. No matter how much she did, she couldn’t change the inevitable outcome.

But then Chi Jing scoffed. "I truly cannot agree with Chairman Qiao’s statement. Technology isn’t inherently good or evil. Whether it brings disaster or blessing depends solely on how humanity chooses to use it."

"Blaming all disastrous outcomes on technology is nothing but a hypocritical cop-out. To use technology to satisfy ambitions of dominating the world while refusing to take responsibility for its misuse—could anything be more shameless?"

The politicians’ faces instantly turned like a rainbow of embarrassment, a mix of hues and expressions.

Though no names were mentioned, everyone could hear the sarcasm in her words. The hall fell into a tense silence, with nobody saying a word.

After all, if the shoe fits, wear it.

Even the military representative Shadi’s face darkened, a cold glint of dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He had been on the fence, but now it seemed there was no need to support Tianqiong. Zhou Fanyi’s indiscriminate attacks on politicians supporting the technology ban clearly showed she had given up—like there was no point trying anymore.

In that case, he might as well give her what she wants!

Shadi spoke coldly, "If this is all Ms. Zhou has to say, then there’s no need for us to continue listening. Let’s proceed directly to the vote."

"Of course, that’s not all I have to say." The smile faded from Chi Jing’s face, and the aura of authority that had once vanished now radiated from her again, an invisible force filling the entire room.

Shadi’s expression grew even darker. As someone who had participated in several wars, he had actually felt a moment of… fear?

Chi Jing’s voice became calmer. "I believe everyone here understands better than I do that to minimize the risks of a new technology, the focus should be on controlling its applications, not the technology itself."

"So," she said, a slight smile curling her lips as she lightly clapped her hands, "instead of emphasizing the controllable risks of the Material Machine, why don’t we first appreciate the… game-changing potential of Material Machine technology?"

The attendees frowned slightly, looks of confusion in their eyes.

What more potential could the Material Machine have? Weren’t its functions already revealed with the second-generation model? It didn’t seem much more advanced than the first generation.

As they wondered, the young woman seated beside the Tianqiong CEO stood up and directed staff to bring a Material Machine device to the center of the hall.

But unlike the models on the market, this one was smaller, with a tube extending from its side connected to a black fuel cell stack. A row of LED lights was placed beside it.

Duan Yucai scanned the room, taking in the bewildered and contemptuous expressions, and inwardly sneered.

These fools, jealous of Material Machine technology, yet completely ignorant of its potential—both greedy and ignorant.

Did they really think that by shutting down Tianqiong, they could obtain the Material Machine technology? How ridiculous.

Duan Yucai walked confidently over to the Material Machine, picked up a cup of water, poured it in, and pressed the start button. A soft hum followed, and then the LED lights beside it suddenly lit up.

The bright light instantly illuminated Duan Yucai’s face, revealing a confident smile as she announced, "As you can see, the Material Machine has solved the hydrogen supply issue for fuel cells. It’s no exaggeration to say that this device is a small reactor, directly converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity with an efficiency rate of 90%!"

The hall broke into an uproar.

What? Does this mean water will become as valuable as oil in the future? Will oil even be worth as much?

Shadi’s eyes widened, his pupils dilated, and his hands shook with excitement at his sides.

As far as he knew, fuel cells were the most efficient and clean energy technology available today, but the challenge was their steep cost. With the Material Machine, that would no longer be an issue.

If this technology were applied to aerospace, submarines, and other military fields, military capabilities could leap forward!

In stark contrast, Qiao Zhizhang, standing nearby, visibly turned pale, his entire face ashen.

What he had feared most had finally happened.

With that simple statement, Huangtian Group, as an energy oligarch, was as good as finished.

Wait, he hasn't lost.

As long as the civilian use of Material Machine Technology is banned, Huangtian's position cannot be threatened.

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhizhang rushed to the center of the venue and shattered the LED lights with a kick.

His eyes were bloodshot as he yelled like a madman, "It's all a scam! Replacing traditional energy isn't that easy! Stop wasting time and vote now! Material Machine should be banned!"

Zhang Quanming was panicking too. Worried that more time would let Tianqiong win over the congressmen, he was about to call a vote when Shadi spoke up.

"I think Ms. Zhou has a point. The benefits of Material Machine Technology outweigh the risks. Rather than imposing a blanket ban, we should focus on regulation and oversight."

The congressmen's expressions in the room changed immediately. After weighing the pros and cons, they slowly leaned the other way.

Shadi waved his hand, "I've said my piece. Let's begin the vote now."

In the end, more than half of the congressmen opposed legislation banning the civilian use of Material Machine Technology.

Zhang Quanming's tightly controlled composure finally broke at this moment.

Remembering that the live broadcast was still ongoing, he forced himself to deliver the closing remarks before hastily fleeing the conference hall like he was running away.

Meanwhile, bailiffs who had been waiting rushed in and dragged the still loudly protesting Qiao Zhizhang out of the venue.

Duan Yucai couldn't help but smile at the sight of his disgraceful retreat.

She turned to the CEO, about to celebrate their win, only to see military spokesperson Shadi approaching her. Soon, she was surrounded by a group of congressmen eager to curry favor.

The live chat was even more lively.

"Excellent! I'm thrilled!"

"This is the most satisfying hearing I've ever watched."

"That old fool Qiao Zhizhang is both disgusting and hypocritical. He uses technology for illegal activities but cries foul to ban Tianqiong's Material Machine. I hope he gets the death penalty."

"Looking forward to Tianqiong driving down energy prices."

In an unnoticed corner, Huangtian Energy's stock price began to plummet.

Lin Wei sat in her office, intently staring at the display screen in front of her.

Suddenly, she straightened up. "It's happening!"

In an instant, Huangtian Energy's stock price crashed from 170 to 100.

Lin Wei felt her blood boiling with excitement. She picked up her phone and quickly sent a message to the foundation researcher.

"Keep shorting Huangtian Energy—drive it straight into the ground!"