Chapter 310

"Mrs. Blackwood? You're here too?" Ethan exclaimed, jumping to his feet with excitement.

"Mrs. Blackwood? General Blackwood divorced her years ago," Victoria stated casually, stirring her coffee without looking up.

Her words sent shockwaves through the room. It was audacious of Victoria to reveal Evelyn and Liam's marital status at such a crucial gathering. Only Evelyn seemed visibly affected, her cheeks flushing pink.

"Cassandra, do you have something to share?" Liam's voice was calm but carried undeniable authority.

"The purple particulates are actually hydronium fission byproducts. When they collide—"

Evelyn's explanation was cut short by Victoria's scoff. "Get to the point already. Nobody cares about your scientific babble."

The room fell silent.

"Cassandra, please continue." Liam's patience was evident in his measured tone.

"But Liam, she—"

Liam raised a hand to silence Victoria, who bit her lip and shot Evelyn a withering glare.

Simplifying her explanation, Evelyn continued, "We can deploy the Celestial Absorption method. Spraying the Celestial Elixir in free state from helicopters will cause it to react with the particles, transforming them into mist."

"This mist will then precipitate, purifying both air and water sources upon contact."

Ethan stood abruptly, eyes alight with curiosity. "What exactly do you mean by free-state Celestial Elixir? Ms. Carter, could you elaborate?"

Evelyn scanned the skeptical faces around her. Explaining complex chemical processes would only invite more doubt. "Give me a lab. I'll demonstrate."

Victoria laughed derisively. "Ms. Carter, even Solterra's top scientists couldn't solve this. What makes you think your amateur chemistry knowledge is sufficient? Where does this arrogance come from?"

Before Liam could respond, several senior researchers had already ushered Evelyn away.

Victoria gaped at their retreating backs. "Liam! Why are they humoring her?"

Liam ignored her, refocusing the meeting.

Thirty minutes later, Ethan burst into the conference room clutching two vials, hands trembling. "General Blackwood... it's possible."

"What's possible?"

Ethan held up a vial of concentrated purple contaminant. The entire room watched as he sprayed a fine mist into the container. The purple particles vanished instantly, leaving only harmless water vapor.

"Our tests confirm the resulting vapor is completely safe. Air quality meets all standards."

Liam stood abruptly. "How long to decontaminate the entire area?"

"Approximately five hours for complete air and water purification," Ethan replied.

A rare spark of excitement flashed in Liam's eyes. "Execute immediately."

"Wait," Victoria interjected. "Did Evelyn develop this solution?"

"Yes, Ms. Carter created a new free-state compound—the Celestial Elixir," Ethan confirmed.

"Who developed it is irrelevant. If it works, implement it. Now." Liam's command brooked no argument.

"But General Blackwood—" Ethan's expression darkened, hesitation clear in his voice.