Chapter 619 This is a state secret

The Minister of the Navy frowned when he heard this and said, "Fuck you, Charles! You're responsible for every invention."

However, he remained calm and asked in a calm tone, "You mean, the ownership of the 'echo sounder' has not yet been applied for?"

"No, it has been applied for," Professor Versenden replied. "It is just not made public because it concerns national security."

The Minister of the Navy asked again, "Is Charles the owner?"

Professor Versenden was silent for a while before answering, "No, not at all. In order to reduce unnecessary trouble, I am the only owner of the property."

Charles is an adult now, and he must come in person to sign the industrial property rights.

Charles spent most of his time commanding operations at the front lines, and he couldn't abandon the battle and rush back from the front lines just to sign the property rights.

"That's fine." The Navy Minister smiled again. "The law only recognizes property documents. We can ignore some unnecessary factors."

This meant that Charles could be excluded.

"No, General," Professor Versenden replied, "I can't do that. Like I said, Charles has a share of the property rights. I know it, Charles knows it, and everyone in the laboratory knows it."

The Minister of the Navy didn't say anything, he just raised his chin towards the staff officer standing next to him.

The staff officer understood and took out a filled check from his briefcase and handed it to Professor Versenden.

Professor Versenden glanced at the amount and was stunned for a moment. He even suspected that he had seen it wrong. He held up his glasses and moved closer. That's right, 20 million US dollars.

God, this money is enough for him to live a luxurious life for the rest of his life, or to build his own laboratory and carry out his own research.

Professor Versenden's breathing quickened unconsciously, and his eyes stayed on the amount of the check for a long time, unable to move, as if it had some kind of magic.

The admiral added: "Considering that you are an American citizen, we have decided to trade in US dollars. Are you satisfied with this?"

"Of course, General," replied Versenden.

The United States is a neutral country and its currency has always been stable.

However, Professor Fossenden knew that there was a hint in this: if Fossenden was worried about Charles' retaliation and suppression, he could sell the patent and return to the United States to live.

Professor Versenden hesitated, then looked up at the admiral in confusion: "But I don't understand, General. Charles is a French general, his equipment is French, why do you..."

"This is none of your business, Professor," the Admiral interrupted Professor Versenden.

The admiral tapped the check with his finger and emphasized, "This is just a deal. We exchange money for goods. That's all."

As he spoke, there was a hint of threat in the admiral's eyes, as if he was telling Professor Versenden: There are some things you don't need to know, it's not good for you.

Professor Fossenden seemed to understand, as he had never been interested in politics and only focused on his research.

But he knew one thing: selling industrial property rights might be detrimental to Charles, or even a betrayal of Charles.

He glanced at the check reluctantly and shook his head with difficulty: "Sorry, General, I can't do this."

The admiral looked surprised. He stared at Professor Versenden and after a while he seemed to understand: "Is it about money? Give me a number."

"No, it's not about money," Professor Versenden replied.

"What's that?" The admiral looked at Fussenden in confusion.

"It's because of development, General," Professor Versenden replied. "By cooperating with Charles, we can get many things that money can't buy."

The Admiral narrowed his eyes, "Like?"

"Creativity, platform, talent, and much more." Professor Versenden said more and more firmly: "These are not things that money can buy, and I firmly believe that I can get more, including money, by continuing to cooperate with Shire."

During the time he worked at the Brest Shipyard, Professor Versenden came into contact with the new type of torpedo proposed by Charles. Combined with the countless equipment invented by Charles, Professor Versenden believed that if he continued to cooperate with Charles, his research would not stop at the "echo sounder."

For a scientist, the biggest worry is often not money but creativity.

But Shire is a "gold mine" of creativity!

The admiral seemed to understand. He sighed, asked the staff officer to put away the check, and handed Professor Versenden a business card: "You don't need to reply to me immediately, professor. If you change your mind one day, feel free to call me."

"Thank you." Versenden shook the Admiral's hand.

But when he accepted the business card, he had already made up his mind that he would never make this call.

…

That evening, the British Navy came to visit, and the man who came was General Winter, and they also discussed the issue of industrial property rights.

General Winter tried to confuse Versenden in another way.

"Perhaps you know something, professor." General Winter was very relaxed. He drank coffee and chatted with Fussenden: "Charles and I have known each other for a long time. We can even be said to be comrades-in-arms. I was the fleet commander in the Dardanelles at that time."

"I've heard of that battle." Versenden's eyes were full of admiration.

People who have never been to the battlefield always view war with a romantic attitude or think it is a symbol of courage.

General Winter echoed what Versenden said:

"Although we lost that battle, Ciel won."

"I even regret not listening to Ciel's advice at the beginning, otherwise we might have won this war."

"An amazing person, isn't he?"

Professor Versenden nodded repeatedly: "Yes, his legend is everywhere."

"No, no, that's not a legend, professor." General Winter exclaimed from the bottom of his heart: "Those are real things that happened, they are facts!"

The two had a pleasant conversation, and General Winter and Versenden found common topics.

What Fossenden didn't know was that General Winter had subconsciously implanted an impression in Fossenden's mind: General Winter was Charles's good friend, Charles's fan, and Charles's admirer, and such a person would not do anything to harm Charles.

After chatting for more than half an hour, General Winter realized that the time was right and proposed a seemingly reasonable suggestion:

"I know you won't sell the industrial property rights to the Echo Sounder, Professor."

“So we’re just hoping to get the go-ahead for it to be manufactured.”

"You know why. Britain is an ally of France. Together with the French Navy, we can deal with German submarines."

"No doubt this will lighten the Ciel's burden and bring this terrible war to an end sooner. What do you think?"

In the last sentence, General Winter elevated it to the level of "contributing to human peace."

He knew that this was what most scientists liked to hear the most, and they always hoped to be remembered in history for it.

Versenden almost accepted.

He had no reason to refuse; he could gain fame and profit without having to sell the property rights.

But at this moment, Charles pushed open the door of the conference room and walked in: "Sorry, General, this is a state secret, we will not trade with anyone!"

(End of this chapter)