King of the Wilderness

He didn’t outright reject it but slashed deeply into the timeline and the amount, attempting to maintain his dignity and actual control as the lead negotiator.

Max’s heart sank instantly; she knew the difference was worlds apart now.

However, the gentle, breezy smile remained on Lin Yu’an’s face, as if Winters’ words earlier were something he had anticipated all along.

Instead of directly refuting, he lightly tapped the tablet in his hand. In the next moment, a picture appeared on all the big screens in the conference room.

It was Justin Bieber’s face.

He faced the camera and said in his signature voice, "Hey, how’s everyone doing? I have some great news to share! At my Madison Square Garden concert next month, I’ll be joined by one of my most special and admired brothers, Lin Yu’an! Together, we’ll bring a unique story about love, life, and protection to audiences across the globe! Stay tuned for more!"

The video was brief, only a dozen seconds, but the message it conveyed was enough to make Minister Winters on the other side of the screen feel suffocated.

Lin Yu’an spoke slowly, his voice not loud yet clearly reaching Ottawa.

"Minister, there are two versions of this video. One version is the one you see now, a warm preview about love and protection."

He looked at Winters, a glint of coldness passing through his eyes, "The other version is about rescue and betrayal. In that version, I’ll show the world the official assessment result from the Northern Territory Administration under the Environment Canada, which states ’Not worth rescuing, recommend following nature’s course.’

"Minister, do you think this cold-blooded result could turn into an extraordinary wave of public opinion? And it’s backed by the Alone in the Wilderness program, you can’t deny it."

These words were like a poisoned dagger, instantly piercing through all the hypocritical disguises in the conference room!

Isabella’s face turned as pale as paper in an instant, and Minister Winters’ pupils contracted sharply on the screen!

The conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Minister Winters closed his eyes, feeling his temples throbbing intensely.

But beneath his tightly shut eyes, his brain was working at a feverish pace, frantically assessing the deadly situation at hand.

The inhumane extermination report was a Damocles’ sword hanging over his political career.

If exposed, all his past political shows about environmentalism and animal protection would become a laughingstock, and he would be torn apart by enraged citizens and political opponents.

However, there are many ways to defuse a bomb, and the most foolish one is to completely compromise. As an experienced politician, Winters’ thinking had already surpassed mere threats and submission.

A crazy thought flashed through Winters’ mind instantly: What if... what if he turned the enemy into an ally?

Instead of passively disarming the bomb, why not embrace it proactively, even turning it into rocket fuel to propel himself to greater power?

After a moment of rage and alarm, he sharply detected an unprecedented opportunity hidden within the crisis.

This December, this little polar bear is no longer just an animal, it is a key component to determine his future political path!

And Lin Yu’an, this young man, is even more terrifying, not only possessing astounding wealth and top-tier global connections but, more frighteningly, holding the nuclear weapon of public opinion in his hands!

But with the right maneuver, he could completely transform this scandal capable of destroying him into a showcase of Canada’s humanitarian brilliance in international collaboration, led by him.

The larger Lin Yu’an’s stage, the more touching December’s story becomes, the greater political acclaim this behind-the-scenes hero defying all odds could gain!

Environmentalism, animal protection, international cooperation, friendships with top stars... these are all the most valuable votes!

Having figured it all out, Winters’ wildly beating heart gradually calmed. He knew now was not the time to haggle over maintaining that so-called "sovereignty."

Instead, he must use the greatest sincerity to fully bind Lin Yu’an and this polar bear to his chariot.

The brief panic in Winters’ eyes had disappeared, replaced by the determination and depth of a gambler putting everything on the line.

Having made up his mind, he squeezed out a word through clenched teeth, his voice not loud but resolute enough to be heard.

"No problem, Mr. Lin."

"And, we can include a clause in the agreement promising that, for fifty years, unless there’s a severe breach on your part, the Government of Canada will never unilaterally revoke the guardianship for any reason. This is the greatest sincerity I can offer!"

Lin Yu’an exchanged a glance with Max; they hadn’t expected the other party to make such a significant concession so easily.

A fifty-year guardianship almost equivalent to ownership, locked with a 500 million dollars breach of contract penalty, was enough to achieve all their goals.

"Alright, I agree as well." Lin Yu’an immediately nodded in agreement, almost feeling the smoothness of the negotiation was surreal.

As he uttered these words, it was as if everyone present heard the sound of a boulder landing.

A looming global public opinion crisis was finally defused at the very last moment before its outbreak.

And regarding December’s ownership, this war filled with twists, threats, and negotiations finally came to a close.

December’s ownership remains with Canada, but its future fifty years belong to Lin Yu’an and Max.