"Human understanding of nature has taken a step forward."
This was the title of the official article released by the Marching Ant Company following the confirmed earthquake prediction. The moment it went live, the article was reposted everywhere. For the first time, humanity had proof that an earthquake could be predicted—not minutes before it happened, but hours.
In this historic moment, the Marching Ant Company wasn't just a protagonist—it was the only protagonist.
The idea of placing such a seismograph in high-risk zones sparked global interest. Countless lives could be saved if early warnings like this became common practice.
Naturally, the company became a media magnet. Journalists from across the world surrounded its offices, desperate for an interview with Chen Mo, the mind behind it all.
But to their frustration, the man of the hour was nowhere to be seen.
Inside the company's core lab, a calm voice disrupted Chen Mo's thoughts.
"Brother Mo, the U.S. military has taken one of our seismographs."
Mo Nu's words made Chen Mo's face darken instantly.
He'd held out some hope that the successful quake prediction would make the world act with caution—that those coveting the device would hesitate. He had underestimated how deeply some hands were willing to reach.
"Four left," he muttered coldly.
If he remained passive, the message sent to the world would be clear: You can steal from us without consequence.
Not this time.
Within minutes, an official statement was posted on the Marching Ant Company's website:
"The country that unlawfully removed a Marching Ant Company seismograph is hereby notified: return the equipment within three days and compensate for damages, or face the consequences. This is not a warning from an individual. This is a stance from the company."
The bold announcement lit up every major news feed like a flare in the night sky.
For the first time in recent memory, a corporation had publicly issued a warning to a nation—and not just any nation.
While the public assumed this was aimed at the island country that had previously taken a device, very few realized the U.S. was also involved this time.
The island nation's earlier seizure had been made public, but the American involvement was still under wraps. To the world, this looked like Chen Mo settling an old score.
But insiders understood: this was escalating.
Meanwhile, inside the Marching Ant Company's campus, two men arrived at the gate, greeted not by security, but by a humanoid robot receptionist.
Cheng Guo, Director of the Earthquake Bureau, and Li Chengzhi, long-time liaison between the military and Marching Ant, had come quietly—without media or fanfare.
Cheng Guo had watched the events unfold like the rest of the world, but unlike reporters and civilians, he understood the deeper implications.
The Marching Ant Company had just done what entire national agencies had failed to do for decades.
And the Earthquake Bureau… had contributed nothing to it.
That bitter truth weighed on him.
He had to come in person.
When Chen Mo entered the reception room, he looked calm—still young, still unassuming, but with the kind of quiet confidence that only came from doing the impossible.
Next to him were Zhao Min, the company president, and Xiao Yu, Chen Mo's partner.
Li Chengzhi stood, shaking hands with him first.
Then Cheng Guo extended his hand, slightly tense.
"Director Cheng, it's an honor to meet you," Chen Mo said warmly.
"The honor is mine," Cheng Guo replied, glancing at the young man who had just shaken the global scientific community.
"And these are?" he asked.
"Zhao Min, our president," Chen Mo said, gesturing. "And Xiao Yu."
The two women greeted Cheng Guo with polite nods.
"Let's talk inside," Chen Mo offered, leading them into a smaller, quieter reception area.
Cheng Guo didn't waste time.
"Mr. Chen, you can probably guess why I'm here."
Chen Mo nodded. "The seismograph?"
"Yes." Cheng Guo gave a wry smile. "To be honest, when I first heard about it from Professor Wu Zhen during testing, I didn't put much hope in it. No offense—it's just that many have tried and failed before."
"No offense taken," Chen Mo replied mildly.
"But I owe you this," Cheng Guo continued. "When the alert came in, I was one of the many who waited with skepticism. Those two hours… they were the longest in my life. And when it hit—just like you said—I smiled at the news of a disaster for the first time in my career."
Chen Mo's expression softened slightly. He understood what that meant for someone like Cheng Guo.
Cheng continued, a little more earnestly now: "I came to ask for your help. I want to deploy your seismograph—properly. With your permission, of course."
"You're hoping to install them across China?" Chen Mo asked.
"Yes," Cheng Guo nodded. "At least in test locations, at first. I know your devices aren't cheap, and this isn't something we're asking you to give away. We're prepared to pay for development and deployment."
Chen Mo rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then looked up.
"They're not easy to produce," he said. "The technology's complex, and the cost is high. We can't cover a nationwide rollout ourselves."
"That's why I propose this," Cheng said quickly. "Let us purchase twenty units for testing. We'll fund the installation. If they prove viable, we'll negotiate a long-term contract."
Chen Mo raised a brow. "Twenty? That's a fair start. But it won't come cheap. Each unit is a full system."
"How much?"
Chen Mo lifted a finger. "One hundred million."
"Deal," Cheng Guo said instantly.
Li Chengzhi blinked.
Zhao Min, from her seat, let out a faint, satisfied exhale.
The discussion moved into technical details—deployment zones, licensing agreements, oversight regulations.
Eventually, Zhao Min took Cheng Guo on a guided tour of the facility, leaving Chen Mo and Li Chengzhi alone in the reception room.
Li leaned forward slightly, his tone more casual now.
"You realize what you've just done, don't you?"
Chen Mo smiled faintly. "Annoyed a few world powers?"
"You didn't just predict an earthquake," Li said. "You shifted the axis of technological power. Every intelligence agency on Earth is about to label Marching Ant a strategic threat."
Chen Mo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Let them."