The message was sent.
"We need to talk."
For a moment… nothing happened.
Marcus leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on the screen.
"Well," he muttered, "you just invited the most dangerous man in finance into your living room."
Ethan didn't respond.
He was already watching the network panel.
The connection with Liang Capital pulsed slightly.
Active.
Waiting.
Then—
A new message appeared.
"Good."
Marcus exhaled.
"That was fast."
Ethan typed again.
"No games. We set terms."
Marcus nodded immediately.
"Yes. Strong start. Don't let him control the conversation."
The response came within seconds.
"Agreed."
Marcus blinked.
"…That was easier than expected."
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"He's confident."
The console expanded.
A new interface opened automatically.
Marcus frowned.
"What's that?"
Ethan read the header.
Secure Negotiation Channel Established
Marcus leaned back.
"Of course he has a custom system for this."
Ethan scanned the interface.
Encrypted streams.
Real-time data exchange permissions.
System access layers.
Marcus whistled softly.
"That's not a chat window."
Ethan nodded.
"No."
Marcus pointed.
"That's a control panel."
A new message appeared.
"Let's begin with the obvious."
Marcus whispered,
"Here it comes."
Ethan read carefully.
"You have something valuable."
Another line appeared.
"I have the infrastructure to scale it."
Marcus shrugged.
"That part is true."
Ethan didn't argue.
Ethan typed.
"You don't get direct access to the core system."
Marcus nodded immediately.
"Yes. Good. Very good."
The response came instantly.
"Expected."
Marcus blinked.
"…He's not even pushing back?"
Ethan frowned.
"That's not a good sign."
Marcus tilted his head.
"Why?"
Ethan answered quietly,
"Because it means he already anticipated it."
Another message appeared.
"Then let's define the boundaries."
The interface shifted.
A list appeared on the screen.
Marcus leaned closer.
"Whoa."
Access Layer 1 — Market Output OnlyAccess Layer 2 — Strategy SignalsAccess Layer 3 — Predictive ModelsAccess Layer 4 — Core Intelligence
Marcus pointed.
"Yeah… we're definitely not giving him that last one."
Ethan nodded.
"Not even close."
Ethan typed.
"You get Layer 2."
Marcus blinked.
"Strategy signals?"
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus frowned.
"Isn't that still powerful?"
Ethan answered,
"It's useful, but limited."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Okay… makes sense."
Liang responded.
"Layer 3."
Marcus immediately shook his head.
"Nope."
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"No."
A pause.
Three seconds.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Marcus whispered,
"He's thinking."
Ethan kept watching.
Then—
"Explain."
Marcus leaned back.
"Alright, here we go."
Ethan typed carefully.
"Layer 3 exposes predictive logic."
"That allows reconstruction of the system."
Marcus nodded.
"Exactly. He could reverse-engineer everything."
The reply came.
"Correct."
Marcus blinked.
"…He admitted it?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He's being honest."
Marcus frowned.
"That's not comforting."
Another message appeared.
"Then we proceed with Layer 2."
Marcus relaxed slightly.
"Okay… that was smoother than expected."
Ethan didn't relax.
Not yet.
The console updated again.
"Next condition."
Marcus sighed.
"There's always a next condition."
Ethan read.
"Processing power integration."
Marcus frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Ethan explained.
"He wants our AI to use his servers."
Marcus blinked.
"…That sounds dangerous."
Ethan nodded.
"It is."
Ethan typed.
"No external hosting."
Marcus nodded quickly.
"Yes. Keep it local."
Liang responded.
"Then your system remains limited."
Marcus shrugged.
"I'm okay with that."
Ethan wasn't.
Because Liang added another line.
"And slower than the competing network."
Marcus froze.
"…Right."
Ethan didn't speak.
The unknown AI came back into his mind.
Forty times stronger.
Waiting.
Marcus leaned closer.
"…We might need that processing power."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"I know."
Marcus sighed.
"This is exactly the kind of deal people regret later."
Ethan replied quietly,
"Or the kind they need to survive."
The AI suddenly generated a new suggestion.
Marcus noticed.
"What did it say?"
Ethan opened it.
Marcus read the line.
Recommended compromise: distributed processing without core exposure.
Marcus blinked.
"…That sounds smart."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
Ethan typed.
"We use your infrastructure for computation only."
"Core system remains isolated."
Marcus nodded.
"Perfect."
The reply came.
"Accepted."
Marcus leaned back.
"…Okay, he agreed way too fast again."
Ethan didn't disagree.
The negotiation continued.
Condition after condition.
Data sharing — limited.
Control authority — independent.
Emergency override — denied.
Marcus watched everything unfold.
"This feels like we're negotiating with someone who already knows the outcome."
Ethan whispered,
"He probably does."
Then the final condition appeared.
The console paused.
Marcus leaned forward.
"…This is the important one."
The message appeared slowly.
"Decision authority during global events."
Marcus frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Ethan explained quietly.
"If a major economic event happens…"
Marcus nodded.
"…who controls the AI's actions," Ethan finished.
Marcus swallowed.
"That's big."
Ethan typed.
"We retain final control."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
The response took longer this time.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Marcus whispered,
"He's not going to like that."
Finally—
A message appeared.
"Unacceptable."
Marcus leaned back.
"Yeah, figured."
The tension returned instantly.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Marcus spoke carefully.
"This is the line."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus continued.
"If you give him control…"
Ethan finished,
"We lose everything."
Marcus nodded.
"Exactly."
The console updated again.
"Then let's be realistic."
Marcus frowned.
"I don't like that tone."
Ethan read the next line.
"If a global collapse begins…"
Another line.
"Your system alone cannot stop it."
Marcus stayed silent.
Because that might be true.
Liang continued.
"But mine can."
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"…Can it?"
Ethan didn't answer.
The phone vibrated again.
Another message from the future.
Ethan opened it instantly.
Marcus leaned in.
They both read it.
And this time…
The message was simple.
Clear.
Direct.
"He's right."
Marcus exhaled.
"Wow."
Ethan scrolled down.
One more line.
Marcus read it.
And slowly nodded.
"But don't give him full control."
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"So… compromise again."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
Ethan turned back to the console.
He typed slowly.
Carefully.
"Shared authority."
Marcus leaned forward.
"How?"
Ethan continued typing.
"Joint decision protocol."
"Both systems must agree on critical actions."
Marcus's eyes widened.
"That's actually genius."
Ethan nodded.
"If either side disagrees…"
Marcus finished,
"…nothing happens."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
The console went silent again.
Longer this time.
Marcus held his breath.
Twenty seconds.
Thirty.
Forty.
Then—
A message appeared.
"Accepted."
Marcus exhaled loudly.
"Okay. That's it."
Ethan leaned back slightly.
"Not yet."
Marcus frowned.
"What?"
The system suddenly updated.
The agreement finalized.
A new interface appeared.
Marcus read the title.
Joint Strategic Network Established
Marcus blinked.
"…That sounds official."
Ethan nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus looked at him.
"You just partnered with Victor Liang."
Ethan didn't respond.
The AI reacted instantly.
New data streams opened.
Processing power increased.
Simulations expanded.
Marcus stared at the screens.
"Whoa…"
Ethan whispered,
"It's scaling."
The profit counter jumped again.
$912,000 → $1,004,000
Marcus stood up.
"ONE MILLION."
Then he paused.
Looked around.
And sat back down.
"…Still doesn't feel important."
Ethan nodded.
"No."
The phone vibrated one last time.
Ethan opened the message.
Marcus leaned in.
They both read it silently.
And for the first time…
Future Ethan sounded relieved.
The message said:
"Good."
Marcus smiled slightly.
"That's new."
Ethan kept reading.
The next line appeared.
Marcus read it.
And his smile faded.
"Now the real game begins."