Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 472

The impromptu press conference held by Nova-Bane Group was like dropping a massive bomb into a tranquil lake.

Solid-State Battery Tech with a yield rate of eighty-five percent.

The moment this technology was announced, it sent shockwaves through the entire new energy vehicle sector.

Countless car companies, whether in their preparatory stages or struggling in the mud, were fighting tooth and nail just to secure a ticket in.

The venue was instantly packed, buzzing with a deafening uproar.

It had all happened too fast.

It was simply unimaginable that a company established only days ago could unveil such a top-tier patent without any prior warning.

Whispers and undercurrents swept through the crowd.

The sharp-nosed industry insiders had already picked up on the hidden message: this press conference was by no means just a technological announcement, but a blatant, high-profile declaration of war against Astraea Group.

After all, Astraea Group had previously let slip that they were about to release a highly viable Solid-State Battery Tech.

Nova-Bane Group's move was undoubtedly a precise and vicious hijacking.

Once they seized the initiative, Astraea Group would not only lose their moment of glory, but their stock prices would face the risk of an avalanche.

Consequently, the partners deeply tied to Astraea, or those currently in negotiations, were running around like ants on a hot pan.

One wrong step, and their massive initial investments would go down the drain, leaving them with absolutely nothing.

Amidst thunderous anticipation, Duncan St. Claire stepped onto the stage in a crisp suit.

His face was glowing, a brilliant smile impossible to hide on his lips, looking exactly like a victorious general proudly surveying his conquered territory.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled you could all attend today's press conference." He stood under the spotlight, his voice booming and confident. "The creation of Nova-Bane Group is aimed at propelling industry reform, setting a brand-new technological benchmark in the currently chaotic new energy vehicle sector!"

He paused, sweeping his gaze across the audience. "And today, we have achieved just that."

Thunderous applause and cheers instantly swept through the venue.

Duncan pressed his hands down to quiet the crowd and chuckled in feigned modesty, "You might be wondering, how could Nova-Bane Group, established mere days ago, present such top-tier technology? It's simple, really. We've been secretly laying the groundwork all along.

Before the technology was perfected, we chose to lie low.

If we succeeded, we'd have today's grand event; if we failed... well, we could have simply pretended nothing happened."

This seemingly candid and humorous remark drew a wave of friendly laughter from the audience.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Duncan frowned, though his heart gave a sudden lurch: *Had Holden been exposed?!*

But on second thought, he already had the data in his hands. Whether Holden was exposed or not didn't matter in the slightest.

Phoenix was just a cornered dog, lashing out in incompetent rage.

As long as the technology was successfully launched today, Nova-Bane would be the first to swallow this massive piece of the pie, seizing control of the entire industry's lifeline. Those who submitted would prosper, and those who resisted would perish!

The clash between the two instantly ignited the media's instincts.

A reporter stood up abruptly, pointing a microphone at the stage. "Mr. St. Claire! Is what Ms. Prescott just said true? Is Nova-Bane Group suspected of deploying corporate spies to steal Astraea Group's core technology? Are the results of today's press conference actually stolen?!"

"Slander! This is absolute slander!" Duncan turned livid, slamming his palm heavily on the podium, causing the microphone to emit a sharp whine.

He pointed at Phoenix, his eyes venomous. "If Astraea Group really had this technology, why didn't they release it earlier? Ms. Prescott, I know you've just established yourself in Highcrest and you're full of pride. Now that we've beaten you to the punch, you're naturally upset.

But business is a battlefield. A loss is a loss, and spreading rumors won't save you from defeat!"

Faced with his fierce accusations, Phoenix remained as calm as ever, merely offering a dismissive smile. "Whether it's a rumor or not, Duncan, we'll find out in a moment."

Meeting her bottomless, faintly mocking eyes, a trace of inexplicable panic rippled through Duncan's chest.