The negotiation room was plunged into a heavy silence, the announcement of American sanctions hanging like a sword of Damocles over the table. The Chinese and Russian delegations, though rivals, seemed to share a common sentiment: Macro had just lost some of its advantage.
The king and the prime minister, however, remained unflappable, their faces masking any trace of concern. Screens displayed complex economic data, while engineers and diplomats exchanged calculated glances.
Zhao Liang, the Chinese Minister of Technology, was the first to break the silence. "The American sanctions complicate things," he admitted, his hands clasped on the table. "But China remains open to collaboration. We propose a strengthened partnership, with direct investments in your infrastructure, in exchange for increased participation in the development of NOVA-1."
