CHAPTER 243: CHAPTER 243: ELIAS LANGLEY’S MOST INDEFENSIBLE WEAKNESS

Without specialized equipment, without complex procedures, the moment the wire was connected, the laser control screen suddenly lit up, and a clear system prompt sounded, "External emergency power has been connected, the system is ready."

The entire process took no more than two or three breaths’ time.

Juliana pressed the start button, and a giant laser beam roared out, quickly melting through the thick steel plate in the distance.

The light clearly illuminated every speechless face in the audience below.

It should be noted that what she just did was akin to using a small battery to forcibly start a stalled tank.

The demonstration ended, and the entire venue fell into dead silence.

Caleb Shaw held the microphone and said in an extremely faint voice, "Our power remains at 100%."

After a brief silence, even those who were initially skeptical were convinced.

The audience erupted into thunderous applause, and immediately some reporters wanted to interview Juliana, but Caleb Shaw blocked them.

As long as the world knows Juliana’s name, that’s enough.

He protected her, leaving the stage side by side.

In the backstage, Quinn Shepherd touched his forehead and closed his eyes.

Trying to be clever backfired, but instead, it further contributed to Juliana’s success.

This time, he probably would face some consequences.

In the company car, Juliana and a few colleagues were organizing the equipment.

Quinn Shepherd walked over, stood by the car, and hesitated to speak.

Juliana saw him and got out of the car.

"Did I drag you down?"

It seemed like she knew everything.

Quinn Shepherd was embarrassed for a moment, then gestured with his chin towards the nearby red flag, "He’s a bit angry."

Juliana turned back, said a few words to her colleagues, and proceeded towards the red flag car.

She opened the car door; Elias Langley was sitting in the back seat, not turning his gaze at her movements, simply staring at the open space ahead of the concrete pillars.

Juliana sat inside, and the car was filled with a refreshing scent of snow-white gentian.

"Do you know the consequences of doing this?"

Elias Langley’s voice was low, without any fluctuations, but the hand resting on his thigh, with visible knuckles, betrayed the emotions he was trying hard to suppress.

Juliana was indifferent, "I am famous now. In the future new energy industry, the name Juliana Jacobs will be an unavoidable presence."

Elias Langley frowned at her words, "Was it necessary to do this?"

Juliana nodded truthfully, "Isn’t this just envy of you all? A person the police don’t want to catch can be easily caught with just one word, and someone they don’t want to release, with just one word... gracefully termed ’bail.’

For the first time, Elias Langley turned his head to look at her, and in those deep eyes were emotions she couldn’t fathom.

He sighed softly, "I’ve already explained Sylvia Sheridan’s matter to you. You shouldn’t act impulsively like this; the danger you’re exposing yourself to is too great."

Juliana pursed her lips, "I accept your explanation, but it still bothers me. Elias Langley, how long do you think you can protect me? Can you ensure that you will never face a situation in your life where you must choose between two options? If such a time comes, will you be able to abandon everything and resolutely choose me?"

Her words pierced the area where Elias Langley was most vulnerable and unable to argue.

The pain in his eyes deepened, and he closed them, opening them again to reveal nothing but an unfathomable exhaustion.

"Juliana, you have no idea what you are dealing with now. There are some risks you shouldn’t encounter."

"Oh?" Juliana raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of amusement, "It seems like President Langley knows some insider information? How dangerous is it, why don’t you tell me?"

Elias Langley’s Adam’s apple moved, words came to his tongue, but meeting her clear yet playful eyes, they were pushed back deep inside.

The experience of Sebastian Sinclair was vivid in his memory, but he couldn’t bring it up.

Juliana took in his momentary struggle and silence, and let out a cold, light laugh.

"Since you can’t be sure, what right do you have to criticize my act of ’protection’ today? Choosing the lesser of two evils, isn’t that a form of helplessness?"

She finished speaking and simply pushed open the car door, getting out.

On the other side, Caleb Shaw also returned from the venue, exchanged a few words with her, and they, along with other colleagues, got into Aetherflame’s company car.

Quinn Shepherd returned to the driver’s seat and stole a glance in the rearview mirror.

Elias Langley sat with a face as dark as water, the back of his hand on his knee with protruding veins, his knuckles white with tension.

Having followed him for so many years, it was rare to see him this angry.

Quinn Shepherd steadied his nerves and cautiously spoke, "Boss, the base is urging you to go over quickly."

Elias Langley rubbed his temples and said in a deep voice, "Let’s go."

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Juliana, indicating he would not return in the evening, and Juliana did not reply.

The summit ended in the morning, and Aetherflame’s phones were bombarded in the afternoon.

This previously almost unknown small company in the industry had its website and switchboard inundated within hours by transcontinental calls from global capital and giants, its valuation soaring as if injected with superconducting fuel, skyrocketing in the venture capital market.

But Juliana remained calm, not even attending the victory banquet organized by Caleb Shaw.

She went to Summer Shaw’s hospital room to say goodbye.

She went alone to Summer’s hospital room.

The pure white room was silent, only the regular beeping of the monitor proving that the person on the bed was still alive.

Juliana gently grasped her cool hand, pressing it against her cheek.

"Summer, I’m leaving now, going to Kingsford..."

She felt a sourness in her nose, forcibly pressing down her rising emotions to continue.

"I must find the most optimal heart for you, to wake you up."

At this moment, the door to the ward was gently pushed open.

Juliana quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and turned her head.

Adrian Langley entered, seeing her eyes red, immediately asked, "Did you have a fight with Elias Langley?"

Juliana looked away, her voice hoarse: "It’s none of your business."

Adrian Langley walked to her side, gazing at the comatose Summer Shaw in the ward, his expression complex.

"You’re going to Kingsford without telling him?"

Juliana placed Summer’s hand back under the covers, walked to the window, once again suppressing her emotions, then took a deep breath and said, "I remember everything now."

Adrian Langley was shocked, "You remember who your parents are? Know where your home is?"

"I am a person abandoned by them; whether I remember them or not is not important. But regarding Elias Langley..."

Juliana turned her eyes to him, the pain in them unmistakably clear.

"I cannot bring myself to hate him, yet I cannot let go of the thorn he drove into my heart. Going to Kingsford for a while is the best option now."

Watching her stifle her grief, Adrian Langley felt a tightness in his chest, an unprecedented impulse shattering his rationality.

He stepped forward, grasping her shoulders firmly, forcing her to face him.