It started with a jet.
Not a drone. Not a satellite.
A real, physical jet.
Private. Unmarked. Landed 22 miles outside Kai's territory.
đ Unauthorized Entry
MergeCore pinged him instantly.
"Two ground vehicles detected. No threat signatures. One flagged voice pattern detected: Armand Kessler, U.N. Special Envoy."
Kai didn't panic.
He activated MergeDefense Protocol: Guest Hold Mode.
The vehicles stopped two miles out. Tires locked. Power died. MergeSoil choked all electronics.
Five minutes later, the passengers stepped out, confused but unharmed.
A drone dropped them a note:
"Walk. Unarmed. Five minutes."
They obeyed.
đ§ The Pitch
Kai sat under a shade canopy beside a lettuce field, drinking MergeMilk from a cold steel bottle.
Kessler approached with calm, deliberate steps.
"Kai. You've restructured the global food chain. We believe it's time you negotiated."
Kai said nothing.
Kessler continued, "We're not here to steal or threaten. But what you've builtâit's more than a farm. It's a geopolitical anomaly."
He handed Kai a document.
A formal offer of sovereign recognition.
Terms:
MergeLand declared independent.
Subject to no taxation.
Trade routes secured via UN clearance.
In exchange: humanitarian aid agreements and limited MergeTech leasing to member states.
𧏠MergeCore Response
As Kai scanned the document, MergeCore spoke through his lens implant for the first time in weeks.
"Sovereignty offers benefits. But exposure increases threat level by 63.4%."
Kai replied mentally:
"Prepare both paths."
đ Ember Strikes Again
While diplomacy unfolded, the racing world reeled.
Kai entered Ember into a Tier 3 tournament in Chile.
They didn't stand a chance.
The Tier 3 MergeHorse outpaced 2nd place by 13 seconds.
When Ember crossed the line, broadcasters couldn't even speak.
The commentator stuttered: "Is this even⊠real?"
It wasn't.
It was merged.
𧱠MergeBank Is Born
Quietly, Kai launched MergeBank.
It wasn't just a wallet.
It was:
Asset-backed (products in MergeMart)
Crypto-compatible
Auto-stabilized via food value index
Tier-segmented for clients
He didn't announce it.
He let the underground discover it.
By week's end, 200 million in MergeCredits had circulated globally.
đ MeanwhileâŠ
Three nations began drafting internal memos calling Kai a global destabilizer.
One of them ran a simulation for a military incursion.
MergeCore intercepted it.
It never reached execution.
Chapter 40 Profit Summary
Earnings:
MergeHorse Prize: +$3,000,000
MergePork, Lettuce, Milk, Eggs: +$4,800,000
MergeTobacco Sales: +$1,600,000
MergeCredits Float Value Increase: +$5,300,000
MergeMart Subscriptions: +$2,400,000
Expenses:
MergeDefense: Guest Protocol Activation: â$600,000
MergeBank Infrastructure Buildout: â$2,300,000
MergeHorse Transport & Sync Cost: â$700,000
Net Profit: +$13,500,000
Kai's Total Net Worth: $807,833,000