Chapter 32 The Man Called Mountain
Chapter 32 The Man Called Mountain
At the center of the crowd, Alan sat close beside Summer.
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Everyone in the room was part of their circle of childhood friends–Alan’s and Summer’s alike. They had grown up together, so the atmosphere was easy, and the conversations were casual, nothing off–limits.
Alan, that new tech subsidiary you set up–Fane Tech, right? How’s it going? Have you picked your technical team yet?”
The handsome man seated next to Alan swirled his glass as he asked. His words drew everyone’s attention.
Moore Corp was a titan in heavy industry–not only unrivaled in Capital City, but also one of the global leaders in the field. The company’s influence reached across the world.
For such a massive, established industrial empire to suddenly announce its entry into AI technology, a sector it had never touched before, naturally drew curiosity. The markets and media were watching closely, but this group of insiders, who knew more about the Moore family than most, was even more intrigued.
After all, Alan had once been a prodigy in computer science. Unfortunately, the Moore elders had disapproved, believing his obsession with computers was distracting him from inheriting the family business. In college, they had forced him to abandon the subject and pursue finance and economics instead. But Alan had been pretty tough back then.
He refused to let go of either. He pushed through, earning a doctorate in computer science and another in finance and economics, completing both with research results to his name.
Even so, his family had refused to relent.
Seven years ago, when he lacked power, he had been forced into marriage and into the family business.
Seven years later, with a thunderous hand, he seized control of more than half the board’s voting power, forced his father to step down, and revived the path in computer science that had been stolen from him.
Everyone here knew that history.
In their circle, Alan was considered a terrifying figure–ruthless, decisive, merciless. He treated others as harshly as he treated himself.
And that was why he stood at the center of their generation’s world. The others looked to him with admiration.
“The basic technical team is in place, but the core technology… I’ve set my sights on one group. Their leader, however, refuses to meet with me.”
Alan’s voice was calm, his face unreadable. He twirled his glass with long fingers, the golden liquid catching the light, glimmering as it brushed his skin.
“Someone actually dared refuse you?” gasps rippled through the room.
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06:07 Mon, 1 Sept
1 & G
Chapter 32 The Man Called Mountain
“It’s a top Al team from Astrovia,” Summer cut in smoothly.
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She might have been parachuted in as Fane Tech’s president, but she naturally had full awareness of its dealings.
“Who’s leading them? Who’s so arrogant they won’t even give Alan the time of day?” someone pressed curiously.
Summer glanced at Alan before shaking her head. “We only managed to dig up some basics. The person goes by the name ‘Mountain.‘ He’s a genius in AI–earned his doctorate and an honorary professorship at Midtown University while still young. Under his leadership, the team developed a large language model that’s currently valued at fifteen billion dollars.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
This wasn’t just a prodigy–if he was their age, then he was practically a monster.
The man who had first spoken frowned. “People that talented are always hard to approach. Did he make any demands?”
Alan said flatly, “No. The refusal was blunt. He won’t even meet me.”
“Did you offend him?”
This came from Nate Fox, Alan’s closest friend, seated right beside him. Nate always spoke his mind, and it was he who had first asked about Fane Tech.
Alan’s cold eyes flicked his way.
Nate raised his shoulders in mock surrender, then turned to Summer with a grin. “Come on, Summer, tell us. Didn’t you manage to dig up anything else? You’ve been studying over there all these years–you never ran into him through the Astrovia business circles?”
Summer’s eyes curved with a smile.
“His mentor is even more famous–Alex Earl, an academician of the Astrovia Academy of Sciences and one of the country’s investment titans. He owns a major data company backed by Astrovia’s CIA, and everyone around him is protected by their government. So naturally, we only found surface information. We do know this ‘Mountain‘ studied abroad there and that he’s planning to bring his team back to our country soon.”
Her peach–blossom eyes gleamed with excitement as she added, “And at Belle Business Academy, one of my professors has business ties with Earl. He helped me make contact. When Mountain returns, he’s agreed to meet me. There’s a real chance for collaboration.”
Nate let out a low whistle. “Impressive, Summer. You’d better tell me when it happens–I want to see this guy for myself. What kind of monster takes this much effort just to meet?”
Summer’s smile deepened. “I can’t help it. Alan trusts me enough to hand me Fane Tech. Fane Tech is our company. I have to give it everything I have–I can’t let him down.”
As she spoke, her delicate white hand rested lightly on Alan’s, still holding his glass. “Don’t drink too much It’s bad for your stomach. We still have things to take care of tonight when we get home.
06:07 Mon, Sept T0
Mon, 1
