Three days later, the negotiating team from the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia finally arrived in Hong Kong, and the Starry Sky Group officially commenced negotiations with them regarding the provision of seawater desalination services.

In King Abdullah’s imagination, the Starry Sky Group would surely demand an exorbitant price for fresh water. He knew the cost of desalination itself was very high, and since the Starry Sky Group needed to make a profit, the price of this water certainly wouldn't be low. However, when his negotiating representative reported the Starry Sky Group's quotation to him, he could hardly believe his eyes. Ignoring his severe fatigue, he took the quotation document directly to Liu Hui, placing it squarely on Liu Hui's desk.

“Mr. Liu Hui, please explain this price,” Abdullah asked, a hint of anger in his tone.

Liu Hui glanced at the quotation on the desk and chuckled, “Your Majesty, what troubles you? Who has made you upset? This is precisely the price we quoted you. Is there an issue?”

Abdullah stated dissatisfiedly, “Mr. Liu Hui, please do not be evasive with us. Do you take me for a child? Your negotiators have quoted a price of 0.08 USD per ton of fresh water, which is only five qian in your currency.”

Liu Hui nodded. “That is correct. The price for one ton of our fresh water is indeed five qian RMB. Is there a problem with that?”

Abdullah stared intently at Liu Hui. Seeing that he did not appear to be joking, he questioned suspiciously, “Mr. Liu Hui, do you know the current cost of producing one ton of fresh water in our country?”

Liu Hui smiled. “Of course, I am aware. To my knowledge, the production cost for fresh water at your country's largest desalination plant is 0.69 USD per ton, with an additional transportation cost of 0.3 USD per ton. I believe these figures are correct?”

Abdullah responded, “You must understand, the technology used by that company in our country is already world-leading. Yet, even so, it costs them 0.69 USD to produce a single ton of fresh water. And you are quoting 0.08 USD per ton. Putting aside your production costs for a moment—can you even make a profit selling fresh water at 0.08 USD per ton?”

Liu Hui laughed. “It seems Your Majesty is concerned that we won’t make a profit. Truly, you are a good friend to the Starry Sky Group! But you can rest assured. Our Starry Sky Group possesses the very latest desalination technology, so our production cost for fresh water is extremely low. Even selling it for just 0.08 USD per ton, we still stand to profit—albeit a smaller margin. Of course, this preferential price is largely extended because you are a dear friend of the Starry Sky Group.”

Seeing Liu Hui speak with such composure, clearly not joking, Abdullah immediately inquired, “Then how many tons of fresh water can you supply us daily?”

Liu Hui smiled. “However much you require, we can supply.”

Abdullah stated, “Can you supply four million tons of fresh water per day?” This figure represented the total current production capacity of all desalination plants within Saudi Arabia, which is why he asked for that specific amount.

Liu Hui laughed. “We can provide you with five million tons daily right now. In one month, we can supply twenty million tons daily. Within six months, we can deliver over one hundred million tons daily. After one year, you can have as much fresh water as you desire. Even if you wished to turn your entire nation into fertile farmland, I could provide more than enough water.”

Upon hearing Liu Hui’s words, Abdullah was profoundly shaken. He asked in a trembling voice, “Are you certain you are not deceiving me? Do you truly possess such formidable desalination capabilities?”

Liu Hui smiled. “Your Majesty is a respected elder, and moreover, we are good friends. How could I possibly deceive you? Everything I have stated, we can commit to the contract. If, at the designated time, we fail to meet these requirements, you are entitled to demand compensation from our company.”

Hearing this, Abdullah finally realized Liu Hui was not jesting. After all, something written in black and white on a contract was something the Starry Sky Group could not easily repudiate. Although the Starry Sky Group had no prior experience in desalination projects, who could definitively say they lacked the necessary technology? Previously, after dominating the global medical market, the Starry Sky Group had suddenly launched products entirely unrelated to medicine, such as insulated cool-touch stockings (and super gourmet food)—things no one could have predicted.

Thus, even though Abdullah was ninety years old, at this juncture, he was willing to take a gamble. If this situation proved true, Saudi Arabia would permanently resolve the chronic water shortage problem plaguing all its citizens. Even if the venture failed, he stood to lose very little. Furthermore, the existence of the Starry Sky Group’s rejuvenation treatment was also a factor.

“Mr. Liu Hui, our country suffers from extreme water scarcity. Despite our current daily output of four hundred tons, it fundamentally fails to alleviate our drought. If your water price is truly this low, and you can guarantee sufficient quantity, we are prepared to sign this cooperation agreement. However, our nation’s daily demand for fresh water will not be less than one hundred million tons in the future. Can you truly meet our needs within six months?” Abdullah inquired.

Liu Hui had previously consulted Chen Changsheng and knew that converting a one-hundred-thousand-ton-class cargo ship into a desalination plant required less than fifteen days. Including equipment adjustment and trial operation, the entire process would take no more than a month. Moreover, the Starry Sky Group’s shipyard could modify four medium-sized, one-hundred-thousand-ton-class desalination plants simultaneously within that month. The desalination vessel they had previously finished modifying was not yet operational; it was merely anchored near Starry Sky City after conversion. This was why Liu Hui dared to promise twenty million tons daily after one month, and certainly over one hundred million tons daily after six months—and virtually limitless water after a year.

“Your Majesty, you can be completely assured of this. The Starry Sky Group guarantees we can supply you with over one hundred million tons of fresh water daily after six months,” Liu Hui stated affirmatively.

Abdullah suddenly asked with a trace of doubt, “Mr. Liu Hui, I suddenly feel as if I’ve stumbled upon a gold mine. Am I dreaming? Or do you have other requests for our nation?”

Liu Hui naturally understood Abdullah’s meaning. His country was suddenly acquiring super-cheap fresh water—the price was even lower than extracting groundwater. Coupled with the massive daily supply capacity, sufficient to meet every aspect of his nation's water needs, this instantly rescued his country from its predicament. How could Abdullah not suspect he was dreaming? He even suspected Liu Hui’s motives hid some scheme, likely intending to extract favors regarding petroleum.

Although Liu Hui coveted the vast oil resources of Abdullah's nation, he dared not touch that massive cake currently. After all, the world’s petroleum giants had grown incredibly powerful, and oil security was intrinsically linked to the strategic stability of many nations. If he disrupted those giants or the national oil reserves, those entities would surely unite to suppress the Starry Sky Group, crushing any chance for it to grow stronger. Therefore, until Liu Hui possessed sufficient strength, he truly dared not venture into the oil industry.

Understanding Abdullah's state of mind, Liu Hui smiled, “Your Majesty, you are not dreaming, and the Starry Sky Group will not impose any special demands upon you in other areas. This desalination project will proceed entirely according to normal market procedures. We stand on the same starting line as every other desalination enterprise, competing together, and we will abide by all your nation’s rules and regulations, without requesting any special privileges.”

Hearing Liu Hui’s assurance, Abdullah finally felt relieved. Regardless, as long as the Starry Sky Group did not extract any special privileges from him, there was no loss on his part. However, regarding competition, with the Starry Sky Group’s ultra-low price of 0.08 USD per ton, other desalination companies likely had no hope of survival. But then again, what concern was that to him? He was the one gaining the benefit, wasn't he?

“Mr. Liu Hui, since that is the case, let our negotiators continue their discussions! I hope to conclude this negotiation quickly so we can proceed with the rejuvenation surgery you mentioned!” King Abdullah said with a hearty laugh.

“Indeed, that is proper, Your Majesty,” Liu Hui replied with a smile.

Since the two principals had reached consensus on the major points, the pace of negotiation for the technical teams quickened significantly. Two days later, the contract between the Starry Sky Group and Saudi Arabia concerning the desalination project was formally signed. The signing ceremony was low-key, with no media invited, so no one realized that a contract capable of reshaping the world's future balance had been established between the two parties.

The contract stipulated that the Starry Sky Group would provide fresh water resources to Saudi Arabia, priced at 0.08 USD per ton. The Starry Sky Group would not be responsible for water transportation, only delivering the fresh water to the port of Dammam within Saudi Arabia. In return, Saudi Arabia was obligated to construct two large pipelines near Dammam capable of drawing fresh water directly from the sea to receive the supply from the Starry Sky Group.

When this clause was drafted, the Saudi negotiators were quite perplexed. In their understanding, desalination plants were built on land; why would they need a pipeline specifically designed to receive water from the sea? Only when the Starry Sky Group negotiators explained that their desalination plant was a large freighter did the Saudi side, in extreme shock, agree to this seemingly bizarre provision.

The contract also mandated that Saudi Arabia must guarantee the security of the Starry Sky Group’s desalination vessel and, when necessary, provide assistance to the security personnel stationed aboard the desalination ship. The contract term was set for twenty years, subject to review and renewal based on the cooperation status of both parties thereafter.

After signing the contract, both sides breathed a sigh of relief. Especially among the Saudi negotiation team, they felt they had secured an enormous advantage, practically viewing the Starry Sky Group’s negotiation experts as utter fools.

Yet, no one knew of Liu Hui’s long-term strategy. He was currently working with Mei Peng to administer the rejuvenation fluid to Abdullah. This deal with Abdullah brought the Starry Sky Group a clear profit of seventy billion USD, which made Liu Hui beam with delight.

Two days later, Abdullah returned to Saudi Arabia full of vigor, ready to implement the desalination agreement signed with the Starry Sky Group. Although his external appearance had not changed, his internal bodily functions had recovered by 80 percent. Any heir who had been anticipating the throne upon his death might find that Abdullah would not die even until their own demise. The advent of the rejuvenation fluid had begun to break some established laws of the old world, though this change had yet to be noticed by the public.

Liu Hui, meanwhile, began purchasing existing large ocean-going freighters on a massive scale globally, while also placing orders for new large vessels at various shipyards. What puzzled the shipyard technicians was that the engine compartments in these large ships ordered by the Starry Sky Group were left empty, and the hull designs contained many strange anomalies. They had no idea what the Starry Sky Group intended to do with these peculiar vessels. However, in contemporary society, the customer is supreme, and they had no right to question the designs specified in the Starry Sky Group’s orders, so they could only proceed with construction according to the provided blueprints.

When Liu Hui decided to enter the desalination market, he intended to seize complete control of it immediately. This was why he offered water at the external price of 0.08 USD per ton—a price lower than direct groundwater extraction in many countries. No existing desalination plant could match this ultra-low cost; their expenses were all above 0.69 USD per ton. Even if they sold at cost without profit, their water at 0.69 USD per ton could never compete with the Starry Sky Group, whose price was nearly one-ninth theirs, compounded by their massive volume advantage.

Consequently, the moment the Starry Sky Group made its move, every desalination plant in the world would face closure, surviving only if they received protection and subsidies from their respective governments. Once the price of desalination dropped to the ultra-low level of 0.08 USD, the long-suppressed global demand for water would be unleashed, generating an enormous new market for fresh water.

Liu Hui had already foreseen this colossal market, which fueled his frantic global buying spree of ships—or ordering new ones when existing vessels were unavailable. These ships would be brought back to Starry Sky City to be refitted in the on-site shipyard, becoming functional desalination vessels within a month.

Considering that a one-hundred-thousand-ton-class desalination vessel, running at full capacity, could produce five million tons of fresh water daily, while simultaneously extracting nearly one hundred eighty thousand tons of various minerals and precious metals from the seawater, the Starry Sky Group also acquired some ultra-large transport freighters with deadweight capacities exceeding 800,000 tons. These massive transport ships would ferry the extracted minerals and precious metals back to Starry Sky City once a week for storage, destined for future construction or trade—these constituted the invaluable assets of the Starry Sky Group.

Liu Hui heavily utilized Level Four Magic Beast Cores, each containing one million units of electrical energy, in these desalination ships. These cores not only powered the vessel hulls but also provided substantial energy support for the desalination equipment. To maintain the secrecy of the magic beast cores, Liu Hui installed a laser weapon and an electromagnetic cannon on each desalination vessel. Since these energy weapons had been miniaturized and were installed in highly concealed locations on the ships, outsiders had no inkling that these seemingly ordinary large freighters were, in fact, hedgehogs bristling with hidden dangers, ready to cause trouble for anyone who dared to prod them.

Alongside the desalination technicians, security personnel dispatched by Starry Sky Security also boarded the vessels. However, fearing that ordinary security staff might lack the necessary deterrent, Liu Hui specifically transferred some of the most elite mercenary soldiers from the Dragon's Tooth Mercenary Corps in Africa to the ships to safeguard the desalination vessels. The public justification was that the Starry Sky Group had hired the Dragon's Tooth Mercenaries for asset protection, with few knowing that the two entities shared the same owner.

With these security measures in place, good news arrived from Saudi Arabia: they had successfully installed two large water intake pipelines near Dammam Port. Each pipeline could draw two hundred tons of water per second, fully sufficient for Saudi Arabia’s current needs. At Liu Hui’s command, the first seawater desalination vessel, escorted by several auxiliary ships, set sail toward the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

A week later, the Starry Sky Group’s desalination facility, led by this flagship vessel, reached the waters near Dammam Port. Abdullah’s health had significantly improved, and he was keen to observe the Starry Sky Group's desalination process. He personally traveled to Dammam Port. There, he boarded the desalination vessel along with Saudi desalination experts. After a brief exchange and coordination between the two parties, the official desalination operations commenced.

Under the command of the desalination vessel’s captain, four massive intake pipes extended beneath the ship, beginning to draw seawater in enormous volumes. This water flowed through the onboard desalination equipment, and pure fresh water emerged from two large discharge outlets. From another concealed pipe located beneath the ship’s hull, the extracted minerals and precious metals flowed out. After further internal processing, these substances were separated into various categories and collected, awaiting collection by the large transport ships destined for Starry Sky City—all of which remained unseen by the Saudi personnel.

The Saudi desalination experts on board, including Abdullah, were wide-eyed with amazement. They only observed the vessel drawing vast quantities of seawater from the ocean, which then flowed into the treatment apparatus. After a delay of approximately ten minutes, copious amounts of fresh water began pouring out of the ship’s two large outlets. The Saudi experts rushed to sample and test the flowing water. The results astonished them: the water quality was exceptionally high, virtually devoid of impurities, making it immediately potable and perfectly compliant with the standards stipulated in their contract.

The Saudi experts quickly connected their large intake pipelines to the ship's two discharge outlets. The fresh water thus flowed ashore via the large pipelines they had laid, connected to the municipal water grid of Dammam Port, and finally distributed across the national network, reaching every corner of Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah and his desalination specialists were intensely curious about how the Starry Sky Group managed all this. However, the ship was now entirely manned by heavily armed Starry Sky Group security personnel, and the exterior perimeter was guarded by fierce soldiers, deterring anyone who might contemplate probing the secrets of the Starry Sky Group.

Thus, the Starry Sky Group’s first desalination vessel began its formal operation, simultaneously producing massive quantities of fresh water and extracting valuable minerals and precious metals from the sea, bringing immense wealth to the Starry Sky Group.

By this time, Liu Hui had already shifted his focus elsewhere. He made decisions only at the highest level, delegating all specific operational matters entirely to the professionals below him. Currently, a detailed report concerning one individual lay on his desk.

“Boss, this is the report on the girl named Anqi you asked us to investigate,” Desheng said deferentially to Liu Hui.

The intimate physical contact Liu Hui had with that Anqi atop Victoria Peak in Hong Kong was what sparked his intense interest in the girl. Consequently, he tasked the Starry Sky Eye with a thorough investigation into her background. Spread before him now was the resulting dossier detailing Anqi's specific intelligence.

"Desheng, what is with that look in your eyes? Is there something amiss with this intelligence report?" Liu Hui inquired.

"No, Boss. You have no idea. This Anqi—she is quite simply a super genius, absolute and complete. Had I not conducted the investigation myself, I would never have believed that such a formidable talent could exist in this world," Desheng exclaimed with undisguised admiration.

Liu Hui felt a stir of doubt. Desheng had become increasingly composed lately, rarely exhibiting such a loss of composure under normal circumstances. For him to speak of this Anqi in such a manner—could she truly be such an exceptional genius?