The proposal arrived the next morning.
Formal.
Polite.
Carefully worded.
The Offer
"Joint oversight," the document read.
"Shared authority.
Transparent integration."
On paper—
Reasonable.
Reading Between the Lines
Lin Chen didn't skim.
He dissected.
Shared authority meant diluted control.
Transparent integration meant gradual exposure.
Oversight meant veto power.
"They're not trying to stop you," Dr. Hart said.
"They're trying to absorb you."
Lin Chen nodded.
"Absorption is just control with better branding."
System Assessment
[Proposal Analysis: Asymmetric Risk Detected.]
[Projected Outcome: System Influence Reduced Over Time.]
The system had learned bureaucracy faster than expected.
The Countermove
Lin Chen didn't reject the offer.
He amended it.
Independent operational authority
Public outcome metrics
No manual override during active emergencies
Everything measurable.
Nothing political.
Dr. Hart's Concern
"They won't like this," she said.
"They don't have to," Lin Chen replied.
"They just have to explain why not."
Submission
The revised proposal went out.
No commentary.
No justification.
Just terms.
System Update
[Negotiation Phase: Escalated.]
[External Response Pending.]
Lin Chen leaned back.
Cooperation wasn't about agreement.
It was about leverage.
Closing Line
If they accepted—
He'd gain legitimacy.
If they refused—
They'd reveal fear.
Either way—
He'd learn who he was really dealing with.
End of Chapter 79