?Chapter 338:


    Roughly an hour slipped by before Alonso finally broke the silence with a weary sigh. “I really want to help, but I can’t fix this.”


    “What?” Faces froze as they took in Alonso, disbelief written across every brow. When even Alonso failed to fix it, there was no saving this project.


    Emmanuel’s features tightened, defeat carving fresh lines across his face.


    Lance forced a lopsided grin, trying to inject some hope into the tension. “Alonso, you don’t have to rush to a conclusion. It’s only been an hour. If you keep at it, maybe something wille to you.”


    But Alonso’s answer was firm, his voice steady and unyielding. “This isn’t a problem that can be solved with time. The real issue is buried in the very framework. If it was something superficial, maybe we could p on a fix. But when the core is wed, there’s nothing to be done.” He paused, searching for the right words.


    Alonso paused for a moment, searching for the right words, and then continued, “Picture it like a skyscraper—if the foundation is crooked or the support beams are set wrong, there’s no fixing it. The only real solution is to tear it down and rebuild from the ground up.”


    Alonso’s analogy hit home. The weight of the situation settled over everyone, leaving no room for denial. One by one, heads dropped in resignation, the fight draining from their posture.


    Emmanuel exhaled. For him, a man well into his forties, the copse of the Seek project wouldn’t just be a professional setback—it would spell the end of his reputation, theughingstock of every family gathering for years toe.


    Across the room, Lance looked stricken, hisplexion drained of color. “Alonso, you have to find a way. Years of work and billions of dors have gone straight into this venture. We’re right at the finish line. I can’t ept that it’s all for nothing!” His voice broke, desperation leaking through every word.


    Everyone else nodded, silently begging for a miracle. Their hopes—nervous, vulnerable—rested entirely on Alonso’s next move.


    Cornered by the room’s collective despair, Alonso softened, finally offering a sliver of hope. “All right. I’ll reach out to my mentor for help. He’s far more experienced than I am—there’s a chance he might see something we’ve missed.”


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    “Your mentor?” Lance echoed, disbelief flickering in his eyes.


    Alonso’s reputation had long eclipsed those professors who once taught him in school, so the mentor he spoke of had to be someone else entirely—a figure few had even heard of.


    Alonso exined, “The mentor I’m talking about once worked at a national research institute for decades. He’s the kind of expert nobody talks about because hardly anyone even knows his name. But in this field, there’s no one better. His skills put mine to shame.”


    A hush of anticipation swept through the room, quickly giving way to an electric buzz of excitement. Hope had been reignited—this time, brighter than before.


    Emmanuel hesitated, doubt flickering in his eyes. “Alonso, if your mentor is such a top-tier expert, isn’t his information supposed to be highly confidential? Would he even be willing to get involved with us?”


    Alonso shook his head, his tone reassuring. “He’s retired now—he does whatever he wants.”


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