Chapter 461
Chapter 461:
“This place is not bad,” Carter said. “It has that authentic garage startup smell p>
Isolde offered a polite smile. “For an engineer, that is the highest compliment you can give. Mr. Sterling p>
Carter waved his hand dismissively. “Call me Carter. I hate all that Wall Street red tape. It wastes time p>
They walked through the security doors and into the main lab. Carter didn’t glance at the presentation screens. He walked straight toward the massive metal prototype sitting in the center of the room and ran his hand over the carbon fiber texture of the wing joint.
“This structural integrity,” Carter murmured. “I saw this exact stress distribution in a paper published five years ago. The author was Sophia p>
Isolde felt a cold spike of adrenaline hit her stomach. She kept her face perfectly neutral.
“That paper is an industry benchmark,” Isolde said smoothly. “We referenced her methodology for our load-bearing calculations p>
Carter turned his head. His pale gray eyes locked onto hers — sharp enough to cut glass.
“Referenced?” Carter asked. “This level of precision, these specific modifications… this looks like a flawless replica built by Sophia herself p>
𝗥𝗈𝗆𝖺𝘯с𝗲 𝘯о𝗏𝘦𝗅𝘴 𝗼𝗻
Isolde held his gaze without blinking.
“Engineering principles are universal, Carter,” Isolde said.
Carter let out a short laugh — a sound of pure amusement.
“True,” Carter said. “Sophia vanished five years ago. Some people said she died. Some said she got married and gave up. It was a tragedy for the industry.” He took a step closer. “But looking at Carson Dynamics, I think she never vanished at all. She just changed her name p>
It was a direct hit. Isolde knew he had figured it out. But he wasn’t demanding a confession. He was establishing a silent pact.
Carter reached into the front pocket of his hoodie and produced a small, anti-static silver bag.
“This is CloudPath’s newest AI computing chip,” Carter said. “The CP-X9. It’s not on the market yet — a sandboxed prototype, a technical gamble. I want to install it in your machine p>
Harper, standing near the server racks, gasped audibly.
“That’s the CP-X9?” Harper whispered. “You can’t even buy that on the black market p>
Isolde looked at the silver bag. “What are your conditions p>
“No conditions,” Carter said. “Call it an investment in a theory. I just want to see what happens when a cannon is placed in the hands of a real genius p>
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only Isolde could hear.
“Prove my theory right, Isolde,” Carter whispered. “Or should I say… Sophia p>
Isolde reached out and took the silver bag. Her fingertips brushed against the metallic plastic.
“You will see it,” Isolde promised.
Carter straightened up, his casual, unhurried posture returning instantly.