21st Century Necromancer
Chapter 826 - 822 Interest

The conditions proposed by Russia and the United States were largely similar, nearly identical in content. It was clear that the two nations must have consulted with each other before putting forward their terms.

However, this wasn't the main issue. The conditions proposed by the two nations were few and far between, only a handful of items, several of which were purely ceremonial and irrelevant. Only three clauses truly held significance.

First: Chen Yu must surrender the spell for summoning Demigods. This spell would be jointly overseen by the P5, and without the P5's permission, Chen Yu would not be allowed to summon new Demigods.

Second: Chen Yu was required to summon two Demigods each for Russia and the United States as compensation for stealing the Kirov and the Missouri.

Third: Chen Yu must grant the patent for his broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug to Russian and American pharmaceutical enterprises for a term of ten years. The licensing fee would amount to 10% of the net profits of the pharmaceutical enterprises in these two nations.

The first clause could be dismissed outright. Chen Yu had made it clear from the start that if the British couldn't get their hands on something, neither could Russia or America.

There was no way he would agree to such a demand—which involved surrendering his greatest asset in plain sight and subjecting himself to external oversight.

As for the second clause, Chen Yu had indeed considered summoning new Demigods for Russia and America as compensation, similar to how he had dealt with the British.

But two Demigods each? Even if Chen Yu's brain had been gnawed on by a Soul-Sucking Monster, he would never agree to such an enemy-favoring request. After all, this would add four new Demigods, which exceeded one-seventh of the existing count altogether.

What Chen Yu truly found intriguing was the third clause, or rather the fact that this was undoubtedly the genuine objective of Russia and America.

"So you want my patent?" Chen Yu raised his head and looked at the two envoys with a sardonic expression. "You're playing quite the clever game, aren't you? Talking all about ideologies while your hearts are set entirely on interests?"

Faced with Chen Yu's sarcasm, the two envoys, though awed by the aura of the Demigod, weren't about to be cowed just because Chen Yu made a show of intimidation; after all, they had been dispatched for this very mission. The Russian envoy, speaking in heavily accented and nearly incomprehensible Japanese, said, "This is a proposal that our government arrived at after considering the current situation and consulting with America as well as the other three members of the P5. Of course, this is merely a tentative offer, and if Your Excellency the Demigod has any concerns, the terms can still be negotiated."

The Russians, with their trademark straightforwardness as a fighting nation, knew that while diplomats might use diplomatic rhetoric and tactics, upsetting the Demigod with such tricks could very well cost them their lives.

The American envoy, understanding the gravity of the situation, showed none of America's usual flippancy and spoke candidly: "In fact, regarding the patent for the broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug, our pharmaceutical enterprises are very sincere about this matter. If Your Excellency the Demigod feels that 10% of the net profits is insufficient, I can represent American pharmaceutical companies to discuss a more suitable profit-sharing rate with you."

It was no wonder these two envoys displayed such attitudes. Compared to a decommissioned, mothballed warship, the patent for the broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug was evidently far more enticing.

To speak plainly, recreating naval vessels like the Kirov and Missouri would require only the profits generated by Japan's three pharmaceutical enterprises last year, which, thanks to the broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug, could easily cover the cost of shipbuilding within a year.

Of course, the historical significance of the Missouri was much greater. The Americans believed it could be exchanged for even greater benefits, such as exclusive agency rights in South America.

However, while the envoys from the two nations might have their hearts and mouths full of talk about interests, at least they hadn't forgotten their primary mission. Thus, following the American envoy's remarks, the Russian envoy added, "In fact, Russia has granted me similar authority. If you are willing to authorize Russian enterprises with production rights for the patent in Europe, Tsarist His Majesty is willing, in his private capacity, to gift you one of our retired and mothballed 971-class attack submarines."

The Russian envoy played a little trick here, using the design number "971-class attack submarine" rather than stating the official designation—Akula-class attack nuclear submarine.

This was Russia's current primary attack nuclear submarine, originally designed and built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. A total of 15 submarines were produced, and after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, all were inherited by Russia. Among them, three were retired, and two were leased to India. The Great Emperor was now offering one of the retired and mothballed submarines.

The American envoy was clearly not fooled by the Russian envoy's ploy. He couldn't help but widen his eyes as he stared at the Russian envoy, shocked at just how daring these Russians were, offering their own primary nuclear submarine as part of the deal.

While attack nuclear submarines might not be as terrifying as strategic nuclear submarines, they remained the cornerstone of a major power's underwater naval strength. Beyond the tasks handled by conventional submarines, they also provided escort for their own strategic nuclear submarines during missile launches and hunted enemy strategic nuclear submarines.

In wartime, ensuring that one's strategic nuclear submarines could launch missiles first while simultaneously destroying enemy strategic nuclear submarines would grant a significant advantage in nuclear conflict. This was a matter of utmost importance and was the focal point of U.S.-Soviet Cold War conflicts in the Pacific depths post-WWII.

Though attack nuclear submarines didn't carry nuclear warheads like strategic nuclear submarines, their formidable endurance and attack capabilities made them the deadliest hunters of the deep ocean.

Are the Russians crazy? The American envoy muttered inwardly, finding the offer from the Russians far beyond his expectations.

This left him in an extremely passive position. America hadn't proposed terms of that caliber, and the authority he held was limited solely to business negotiations. His permissions regarding warships and Demigods were exceedingly restricted.

In truth, both the Americans and the Russians knew Chen Yu wasn't going to hand over the method for summoning Demigods. At most, he might verbally agree to subject himself to supervision and refrain from summoning Demigods lightly.

After all, this was a means to bolster a nation's high-end combat power, akin to nuclear weapons in strategic deterrence. No nation would willingly hand over its most threatening weapon to others.

But while the American envoy lacked authority on military and Demigod matters, he possessed considerable leeway on other fronts. Thus, he quickly improvised and said, "Your Excellency the Demigod, if you're willing to grant production rights for the broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug in America to our pharmaceutical enterprises, our government is willing to assist you in securing the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Both you and your wife's research have the potential to win the award. A couple receiving the Nobel Prize together would be a truly remarkable story, wouldn't it?"

Upon hearing the American envoy's suggestion, Chen Yu couldn't help but display a trace of interest. While winning the Nobel Prize for Medicine was already a foregone conclusion for him, receiving the prize as a couple would indeed be quite appealing, wouldn't it?

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