The Highland Building, inside a large conference hall.

Crowds of people coming and going are busy setting up the scene of the municipal press conference.

Backstage of the press conference, a group of municipal executives and members of the company's delegation gathered together to discuss the upcoming press conference.

Standing at the center of the crowd were the Pellares, as well as Acting Mayor Wilton Holt.

Jefferson glanced at the time, today is the third day of the meeting.

In a small conference room, representatives of two giant companies are engaged in the final round of negotiations.

Looking at the door of the conference room, Jefferson's eyes were a little anxious.

The final round of negotiations has exceeded expectations, and the on-site press conference has been prepared, and the results can be announced on stage together after the talks between the two sides are over.

For better or worse, the municipality must give the people an answer.

At this time, Wilton Hort, who was standing next to him, spoke.

"It seems that the situation is not optimistic, have there been any new developments in the previous rounds of talks?"

He was invited by City Councilman Jefferson to represent the city at the on-site press conference.

Jefferson shook his head lightly and explained: "The three-day public negotiation meeting basically became more and more noisy day by day, and the military technology side proposed that Arasaka publicly issue an apology statement, admitting that the attack was organized. ”

"But Arasaka is not to be outdone, and there is also evidence of military technology attacking Arasaka in his hand, and he insists that military technology is the first to do it." Jefferson thought of the talks in the past few days, and felt that his head was a little bigger.

The two giant companies have no sincerity in the peace talks at all, and they insist on each other's own interests and do not give in to them at all.

In particular, the two high-level representatives of the company have been competing openly and secretly, and the delegations of the two sides are even more reckless to dig into each other's old backgrounds, and the more they talk, the more tense the atmosphere becomes.

Hearing this, Hott only sneered to himself.

At first, Hott didn't understand why Jefferson wanted to give himself a piece of the results that were about to be forthcoming.

Although various media have been playing up the atmosphere of the imminent war, in the eyes of the upper echelons of Night City, it is unlikely that the two companies will start a large-scale hot war.

Therefore, Jefferson, who promoted the peace talks, can completely take this merit alone and use it as a stepping stone on his road to 'bidding'.

Holt also wanted to get this job, but unfortunately the two companies did not give him face, but gave the results to Jefferson.

He knew that the performance of the two giant companies in public negotiations was not friendly to Jefferson, and even had a contemptuous meaning.

Right now.

Jefferson invited him to attend the press conference, partly to find someone to share the pressure of failed peace talks, and partly so that Hott could agree to the terms of compensation for the two companies' projects.

In this regard, Hort saw very clearly, Jefferson could not eat this big fruit on his own.

Holt wanted to see Jefferson make jokes, but given the importance of the peace talks between the two companies, he agreed to attend the meeting, at least on the surface, and he would take more credit.

However, the situation in the talks unexpectedly developed, and the representatives sent by both companies were too tough in the public talks to leave no room for de-escalation.

Hoult has promised as much as possible from the municipal side that the two companies will be able to make enough money on the project, but they still can't get a compromise.

"What about private talks? There is no need to worry too much about outsiders present, and after staying in it for so long, if the two parties can't get along, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay for a minute. Hult wanted to know the opinions of two senior representatives of the company, whose attitudes could directly determine the success or failure of the talks.

He firmly believes that a large-scale hot war will not start, but local conflicts may not be avoided.

As one of the world's top giants, even a small-scale hot war can have a huge impact on the stability of Night City.

The 'competition' is imminent, and he doesn't want any moths.

He needs to portray himself as a hero who saves the city, and this meeting is the perfect time.

Jefferson's expression was a little helpless, and he could only tell Holt some of his findings and judgments.

"The senior representatives of the two companies had a long private meeting, but after the talks, they did not disclose much about the specific progress of the negotiations."

"But judging from the expressions of the two sides every time they walk out of the conference room, the high-level representatives of military science and technology may have more advantages, and Mr. Tang, a high-level member of Arasaka, may have made some concessions."

Jefferson did not hide what he knew.

He personally invited Holt to participate in the on-site press conference, and was even willing to give the majority of the head to the other party, which was to make up his mind to promote peace talks.

Without acting mayor Holt, the compensation plan given by the municipal side is all empty talk.

Jefferson, as a councilman, didn't have the energy to get the entire city council to endorse his compensation package.

Hult was interested, and asked: "What details do you judge from this, if Arasaka is willing to make more concessions, then the probability of success of this meeting will be much higher." ”

Jefferson thought about it carefully, every time the two of them came out of the small conference room, Meredith always smiled a little smugly, while Tang Yu from Arasaka looked calmer, as if he was deliberately hiding his inner turmoil.

And.

The reason why he was able to preside over this meeting was also because of Tang Yu's active invitation.

"It should be that after the private talks, the two showed different attitudes, but I can't say for sure about this matter now, in short, it is the last round of private talks, and I believe there will be results."

After chatting for a while, the two stopped talking, but quietly waited for the results of the talks between the two sides.

Time passed minute by minute, and many people were waiting anxiously outside.

After the preparations for the press conference were completed, reporters from all walks of life were in place, ready to record the latest results of the talks.

Finally.

The electronic access control of the small conference room lights up, and the steel gate slowly opens.

The first to appear in everyone's eyes was Meredith, a high-level representative of military science and technology.

She glanced at the scene and waited for a dry person, wiped the corners of her closed mouth in public, and didn't say anything.

After putting on the black leather gloves again, he left with the people of the military science and technology delegation and walked to the press conference site in a hurry.

Jefferson was accustomed to Meredith's arrogance, and the other party did have the status and strength to be proud of everything.

What he really cares about is Tang Yu's attitude, if the peace talks can be successful, it must be that Arasaka has made a big concession.

Immediately afterwards, Tang Yu stepped out, and his performance was still calm.

Jefferson took the initiative to take two steps forward and asked with some eagerness: "Mr. Tang, has the negotiation yielded any results?" ”

Tang Yu nodded slightly, motioned to Jefferson and said as he walked: "Basically, there is no problem, the direction of the peace talks has been decided, and there are still some issues that need to be negotiated by the municipal government." ”

A flash of color flashed in Jefferson's eyes, and he immediately introduced Wilton Holt on the other side.

When Tang Yu saw the acting mayor, he knew what the two were planning.

For Hult, the agency market is limited for a long time, and it is best to use this period of power to seek more capital.

Jefferson wanted to borrow Holt's hand to facilitate the success of the peace talks.

In Tang Yu's opinion, Jefferson is still a little younger.

To be so calm and give half of the duck to someone else is not like Jefferson's style.

Unless Jefferson really doesn't want to see Night City in ruins, he just wants to be a councilor of light who is dedicated to the city.

Tang Yu tilted his head slightly and glanced at Mrs. Perarez.

She was silently following behind Jefferson, looking at Tang Yu with a blank look.

Her gaze just met Tang Yu's gaze, and she moved away very sensitively, honestly lowering her head and no longer glancing.

Tang Yu retracted his gaze and knew that this skillful lady was more eager to take the throne than Jefferson and hope that her husband would become a Chan.

Hoult next to him had a smile on his face, and politely stretched out his hand to say hello, facing the top management of Arasaka Company, he bowed more than Jefferson.

Tang Yu just casually perfunctory, and did not mean to shake hands with Hott, and his fingertips were not very clean and a little sticky.

He held his head high in front of Aunt Mei, and naturally he didn't pay too much attention to an acting mayor who was about to leave class.

Seeing Tang Yu's cold attitude towards Hult, Jefferson was a little happy in his heart.

He felt that now that the peace talks had an eyebrow, he personally facilitated the talks, and everything was developing in a favorable direction.

After the on-site press conference is over, he can start a new round of 'competition' publicity.

The hot face was cold, and Holt's smile froze on his face.

Suddenly.

He regretted his decision to attend the press conference.

From Tang Yu's attitude towards Jefferson, it can be seen that Arasaka wanted to bet on Jefferson in this 'competition', not his Wilton Holt.

Then in the follow-up statements of the two giant companies, it is very likely that most of the credit will be given to Jefferson.

But it is now difficult for Hult to get out, and there is no way to overturn the city's compensation plan for the two companies.

If it was because the municipal side ruined the results of the peace talks, Jefferson would have seized on this and vigorously criticized what he had done.

At the same time, he will also offend two companies at once, making it more difficult to 'compete' for mayor for no reason.

At this point, Hult could only bite the bullet and follow a few people into the press conference.

When Hult arrived at the press conference, his face became even more ugly.

On the main stage, the conference table, covered with blue cloth, was lined up in a line, and the table was placed with electronic seat plates, and the delegations of the two companies were on the left and right, respectively, on top of them, and there was no Wilton Hult's name plate.

Meantime.

On the municipal side, the podium is located on the front left side of the main podium, equipped only with a municipal badge and microphone, and there is also no name tag.

Jefferson's intentions couldn't be more obvious, and when the on-site press conference begins, anyone on the municipal side can come up to the stage and say a few words.

Meredith had already taken a few negotiators from the military technology seat, her seat was in the middle, and Tang Yu's position was next to her left.

Tang Yu also led the Arasaka delegation to a seat, and the conference table on the main table was quickly filled.

The media reporters and electronic live broadcasts in the audience have been turned on, waiting for the next important speeches.

Seeing that everything was ready, Jefferson graciously invited Hott to the main podium to make an opening.

He knew that Hult did not understand the actual situation of the talks, and it was difficult for him to say anything substantial.

Hult immediately took the stage and began to make his opening remarks for the press conference.

Meredith, who was sitting on the main stage, looked proud, looking down at everything in the audience slightly, as if he had a chance to win.

And Tang Yu next to him was much more low-key, calmly waiting for Hort to make an opening statement.

Then.

Suddenly, he felt something soft on the back of his shoe.

The bottom of the table is covered so tightly that you can't see it from the outside.

Tang Yu's face was expressionless, and after Hult finished speaking, he turned on the microphone in front of him and said bluntly.

"Arasaka is responsible for the attack, and after a solemn apology, he will start negotiations with the military technology side on follow-up compensation."

The audience was amazed.

There will be a change later!

(End of chapter)