Hearing this, Grand Chancellor Yan gave a fake cough.
"Ahem... Mr. Emberweave, this is not the time to promote your services," Grand Chancellor Yan interrupted deliberately. He couldn't just sit idly by and allow Daniel to gain power or allies within the UN, as that would be against the Qing Empire's interests.
"Aren't you the ones who asked me?" Daniel retorted with a sarcastic smile.
"We asked for your expertise to help alleviate the problem, not for you to promote your company's services. It would be best if you could help us in technical issues, so we can build those farms in the target countries ourselves," said Grand Chancellor Yan.
"Could you clarify what you mean by 'help us with technical issues'? I believe you just told us," Daniel gestured to himself and the group, particularly Grand Chancellor Yan, "to hand over one of our key technologies to help you build the AI-controlled farm."
"That's not what I meant, Mr. Emberweave, please don't misunderstand. We will develop and build the AI-controlled farm ourselves. We need your help to solve technical issues as they arise, that's all," Grand Chancellor Yan attempted to clarify.
Daniel responded with a sarcastic smile, looking around as if he had just heard the most absurd thing in his life.
"As a representative of a great nation like yours, Grand Chancellor Yan, I begin to wonder what miracle has allowed the Qing Empire to flourish to this day. Do you understand what you just said, Grand Chancellor?" Daniel retorted.
Taken aback, Grand Chancellor Yan realized his error. As Grand Chancellor, he wasn't foolish, but his misstatement stemmed from being rarely contradicted so directly. His skills in debate and fair argument, where the other side didn't care for his face, had grown rusty.
"If you don't understand, then I'll enlighten you, Grand Chancellor. The sole reason businesses exist is to solve problems. Hungry? There are restaurants and food stands. Don't want to walk? There are taxis and transportation options.
Need to learn? There are schools. Want a financial app but can't code? Plenty of businesses will create it for you!" Daniel paused to let the audience absorb his words.
"What makes a good business is the ability to solve problems that millions of others can't. We, the Astral Corporation, are the only ones capable of solving the problem of creating advanced AI to increase food production by at least threefold on the same amount of land!" Daniel looked directly at Grand Chancellor Yan.
"If this doesn't mean 'hand over your key technology to us,' then I don't know what the f*ck does," Daniel said heatedly.
Knock knock knock!
"Language, Mr. Emberweave, language!" shouted the Egyptian President of the UN General Assembly, banging his gavel.
"Sorry, Mr. President. I got a little heated in the argument. I apologize," Daniel bowed to the President.
— Meanwhile - Sector Alpha City —
At Daniel's penthouse atop the Astral Corp building, Koyuki, Envy, and Gluttony were in the living room, watching the live broadcast of the UN assembly session.
Currently, their armed forces existed as a private military company (PMC) with limited manpower and high maintenance costs. It served as a specialized force for risky campaigns, but couldn't enforce peace across large areas like foreign soil.
Accepting the petition meant accepting the rise of a powerful country in Southeast Asia, a region the Qing Empire considered its own territory, ripe for the taking once their internal problems were solved.
If Sector Alpha City became a country, the Qing Empire could forget about claiming it.
The representative from the Seraphine Isles was also confused. Their country was not strong, and their leader lacked knowledge of the Curtained World.
They wonder... Why would this small island nation dare oppose a great power like the Qing Empire?
By relying on superior technology? Absurd! The Qing Empire had enough manpower to drown Sector Alpha City with the collective piss of its people!
Unlike the Grand Chancellor, who knew Daniel's secret identity as a powerful mage, the Seraphim Isles representative was unaware. The Grand Chancellor's confidence stemmed from his belief in the Qing Empire's heritage. If their court mages couldn't defeat Daniel, they still had the Emperor's ancestors, the Xian or the cultivator, who were not inferior to any Western mages.
He nodded to the Seraphine Isles representative, signaling the start of their plan. Letting Sector Alpha City become a country was a greater threat to their interests than losing face.
This was the source of Grand Chancellor Yan's confidence. He quickly composed himself and smiled.
"If you say so... then let's discuss your petition." Grand Chancellor Yan turned towards the venue and asked loudly, "Who approves of recognizing Sector Alpha as a country? Please cast your vote."
At this moment, control of the proceedings shifted from the President to Grand Chancellor Yan. The President didn't dare object, as the Qing Empire often acted domineeringly due to having the world's largest standing army.
He looked at Choi Ha-Eun, the current UN Secretary-General, for advice, but she nodded, signaling him to allow it. The President banged his gavel, urging others to cast their votes.
A few moments passed, and the vote was cast. Support for Sector Alpha City's recognition was prevalent, especially from countries grappling with food insecurity, hoping to curry favor with Daniel.
But midway through the vote, the Seraphim Isles representative stood up, raising his hand.
"I apologize for interrupting the voting session, but I'm afraid the current territory occupied by Sector Alpha City, which the Astral Corporation claims as their own, might be illegal," he stated righteously.
At this moment, a young man in his early twenties who had been sitting beside the representative stood up.
"I am Verus Justius, the last remaining heir of the Justius Dynasty, son of Pious Justius, the former king of the Tessia Kingdom. I have evidence that implicates Mr. Emberweave in the illegal takeover of my rightful territory and the death of my family," the young man declared.
Daniel responded with a knowing smile, while the audience reacted with a mix of clamoring at the revelation and booing directed at the young man.