I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 150: Making Money Illegally?

Natalia sat stunned for a long, heavy moment, eyes wide with confusion and suspicion. Matthew's words hung quietly between them, challenging everything she had anticipated about this mission. The jet's engines hummed softly beneath their feet, an almost calming counterpoint to the tension in the cabin.

"You… want to negotiate?" she finally asked, her voice betraying a faint tremor of disbelief.

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Matthew tilted his head slightly, the small smile never leaving his lips. "That's what businessmen do, Major. We negotiate. You want my technology—fine. But stealing it won't give you what you really need: control, reliability, and sustainable access. You can reverse engineer all you want, but it'll never match the original."

Natalia's fingers drummed nervously on the armrest. She glanced at her men, who appeared equally confused, unsure of whether this was a bluff or a genuine proposal. The situation was supposed to be a clean extraction, a simple abduction. The confident, willing cooperation of Matthew Borja had not been factored into any scenario they'd planned.

"Explain yourself," Natalia demanded, regaining her composure but still wary. "Why would you willingly cooperate?"

Matthew leaned forward slightly, resting his hands comfortably on his knees. He spoke gently, as if addressing a respected colleague rather than a captor.

"Let's drop the pretense, Major. You're here because your country—both Russia and China, in fact—are scrambling to catch up to a technology that I've already perfected. Your exosuit projects, your neural integration attempts—they're decent, even impressive. But they're incomplete. Your teams are wasting resources chasing after phantom data I planted myself."

Natalia felt a wave of irritation mixed with reluctant admiration. The revelation stung, yet deep down, she respected the elegance of his strategy. Matthew had deceived entire intelligence communities, turning their arrogance into his advantage.

"And now you simply offer yourself to us? You're either arrogant or suicidal," she replied sharply.

"Neither," Matthew corrected firmly. "I'm pragmatic. I prefer partners rather than enemies. A technology like the Titan suit isn't something you should try stealing. It'll always be ahead of anything you develop independently. Cooperation is more profitable than conflict."

Natalia studied him intently, trying to decipher any hint of deception in his calm eyes. "Even if we believe you—and that's a big if—there's no guarantee you'll follow through. What's stopping you from betraying us?"

Matthew laughed softly, a calm, confident sound. "Reputation, Major. Reputation and opportunity. I didn't build a multi-billion dollar empire by breaking promises. You'll quickly find I'm true to my word when given respect in return."

He glanced around at the cramped cabin, then back to Natalia. "So, do you have somewhere more comfortable prepared for this discussion, or is this jet your idea of a negotiation room?"

Natalia hesitated, caught off guard by his casual approach to the situation. She finally sighed, reluctantly admitting, "We have a secure facility prepared in Vladivostok. Neutral ground—technically a Russian base, but run jointly with Beijing's personnel."

"Perfect," Matthew nodded, sitting back comfortably. "I assume you were going to take me there anyway. So why not use the flight constructively? We'll outline preliminary terms here, and formalize the details when we arrive."

The Chinese operative seated nearby exchanged bewildered glances with his Russian counterparts. The mission was rapidly spiraling beyond any script they'd anticipated. Natalia herself felt deeply unsettled by this unexpected turn—but also intrigued.

"Very well," Natalia finally conceded, regaining her calm authority. "We have several hours in the air. Begin your proposal, Mr. Borja."

"First of all, I need you to know that I have an exclusive contract with Uncle Sam with the suit, meaning meaning there are clear boundaries we must respect," Matthew continued smoothly. "However, nothing prevents us from discussing modified versions tailored specifically to your requirements. These variants would leverage Titan technology while preserving my existing commitments."

Natalia raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Modified versions? Explain."

Matthew nodded calmly, shifting slightly in his seat to face her directly. "The core of the Titan system—its neural synchronization, lightweight mobility, adaptive feedback—those are off-limits. However, we could integrate select technologies to enhance your existing programs significantly. For instance, power management improvements, heat dissipation techniques, and advanced actuator systems—all would give your exosuits a considerable leap forward, without breaching my primary contract."

Natalia considered this carefully, still wary but increasingly curious. Her team had already experienced countless setbacks precisely due to weaknesses in those critical areas. She exchanged subtle glances with the Chinese operative, who had leaned in, obviously intrigued by Matthew's suggestion.

"And your government would allow such a collaboration?" Natalia pressed cautiously.

Matthew smiled faintly, a hint of playful secrecy crossing his face. "There are always ways around that. Officially, my primary contract stays intact, ensuring American dominance with Titan Mk-I and Mk-II. Unofficially, I'll license 'secondary-tier' tech. Technically, nothing breaches the contract. Everyone remains happy."

Natalia shifted uncomfortably, unsettled yet drawn to his confidence. "You seem very sure."

"I am," Matthew replied, calmly adjusting his sleeves. "Because right now, your alternatives are limited. You either continue wasting resources chasing shadows, or we create a mutually beneficial agreement that gives you immediate improvements. Of course, it has a huge price."

Natalia's eyes narrowed slightly, her skepticism returning sharply. "A high price, you say?"

Matthew's expression became serious, his voice steady and professional. "Absolutely. You're right—this arrangement walks the thin line between legality and illegality, but that's where real power lies. We create plausible deniability through complex subsidiary arrangements and third-party intermediaries. Your governments benefit without exposure, and I benefit financially and politically."

Natalia folded her arms, unconsciously leaning back as she absorbed his words. "You're proposing shadow contracts—hidden channels to mask our involvement."

"Precisely," Matthew replied evenly. "Publicly, your nations remain clean. The deals happen through discreet, private channels. Payments are routed through shell companies in neutral jurisdictions. My existing commitments are respected, and yet you still get advanced technology you can trust."

The Chinese operative interjected quietly, thoughtful. "And how do you ensure these technologies remain exclusive? What's stopping you from selling them elsewhere, diluting their strategic value?"

Matthew met his gaze directly, his voice unwavering. "Mutually assured discretion. If I were to breach exclusivity, it would expose my own involvement. My company's reputation, and more importantly, my personal credibility would collapse overnight. Trust, ironically, becomes our strongest enforcement."

Natalia shared a quick glance with the Chinese operative. They both saw the logic clearly—Matthew had constructed a scenario where betrayal became self-destructive. Yet the subtlety and sophistication behind his proposal also unsettled her. Matthew had turned what should have been a dangerous predicament into a negotiation, forcing them onto his terms.

After a tense silence, Natalia finally spoke again, choosing her words carefully.

"Very well, you'll speak with our boss."