Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 666 - 558

Chapter 666: 558

In resolving Black Fire Innovation, Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing and Kyushu High Pavilion held at least 80% of the decision-making power.

Nestor Corporation contributed roughly 10%, and the rest of the companies together accounted for about another 10%.

That is to say, the direction the meeting would take was still up to the opinions of Lu Sizhou and Li Shicheng, these two high-ranking corporate executives.

"We should declare our company’s interests in the Asahara Oil and Gas Field first," Lila conferred with Xu Yang in secret. "Otherwise, it would be troublesome once they set their sights on the oil field. Furthermore, currently, Heavenly Cardinal Manufacturing has troops stationed on the southern islands. If they don’t withdraw soon, it will lead to disputes."

"The oil field is within the Northern Archipelago, which is not an issue. The merchants from Xia are all very shrewd, and geopolitically, becoming hostile with Nestor Corporation does no good, as it would push us from the Eastern Hemisphere camp into the Western Hemisphere camp. Even if they come at us with knives, we can just propose extending the duration of the war. Then Lu Sizhou will be the one who is anxious, since he is the one most eager to end the war. However, Li Shicheng is known for his sharpness; he might test Nestor Corporation’s bottom line. We must show no sign of yielding," Xu Yang analyzed.

Li Shicheng began with a few opening remarks, talking about the brutal actions of Black Fire Innovation and then mourned the soldiers of Nestor Corporation who had died in battle, skillfully bringing up the matter of the Asahara Sea Territory oil fields at the end.

"According to the meteorological department, this winter will be chillingly cold. It’s said that Nestor Corporation has discovered potential oil and gas resources in the Asahara Sea. That’s truly great news, just in time to address an urgent need," said Li Shicheng.

As a corporate executive director, Li Shicheng’s virtual presence in the online meeting was sharp and efficient. Middle-aged with a commanding presence and profound strategies; he was a years-long nurtured elite of the company with an extensive background, holding degrees in finance and corporate diplomacy, and attended major external engagements for Kyushu High Pavilion.

"Black Fire Innovation must have heard this news too, hence their military adventurism. Fortunately, our soldiers fought bravely, and despite our fleet army being newly formed, it has high morale and is willing to do battle with the arms traders invading our homeland," said Lila.

"Kyushu High Pavilion has the best engineering department in the Eastern Hemisphere. We hope your esteemed company will consider collaborating on developing the oil field," Li Shicheng said.

"Indeed, Nestor Corporation’s trade, shipping, maritime, and technology agreements also carry significant weight. With our company being recently established, we’re also looking for partners within the intercontinental scope," Lila explained.

"Speaking of which, I recall that the Corporate Alliance has yet to delineate a new company jurisdiction for Nestor Corporation. I wonder when there will be a result?" Li Shicheng asked, feigning curiosity.

"With the efficiency of the Corporate Alliance, I’m afraid it’s going to be a long wait. Before they come up with an answer, there are only two things we can do. One is to confirm and inherit the control zones previously held by Kyoto Infinity, and the other is to conduct regular patrols to reinforce our borders," Lila stated.

"Nestor Corporation has always refused capital injections from the continental financial conglomerates. Is this also a fundamental strategy of the company?" Li Shicheng asked with a smile.

"Vanguard Global Investment Group redeemed 2% of their shares in Kyushu High Pavilion this year. Your company must also have its considerations," Lila responded.

"One can’t always be sewing wedding dresses for others," said Li Shicheng elegantly, then he stopped speaking.

After the questioning, he had a pretty good understanding of Nestor Corporation’s bottom line.

After listening for a while and seeing that Kyushu High Pavilion had temporarily stopped speaking, it was Lu Sizhou’s turn to start the discussion.

"Black Fire Innovation is showing weakness; this is the last chance for the Eastern Hemisphere to get rid of their trouble. We must seize every opportunity to suppress them. The best would be to divert the trouble westward, so that they will direct their fires towards the Western Hemisphere in the future," said Lu Sizhou.

Diverting trouble westward, Xu Yang contemplated. There certainly was strategy in this; if Black Fire Innovation always stirs up war, then let them cause trouble in the Western Hemisphere.

"We will completely ban the sale of Black Fire standard weapons and equipment, demanding their complete withdrawal from the Eastern Hemisphere market. We hope all companies will come together in consensus, in solidarity, to enter into a covenant," Li Shicheng responded immediately, suggesting that this was a strategy already agreed upon by both parties before the company meeting.

This strategy was quite excellent. Xu Yang now understood the intention even more clearly.

Expelling Black Fire Innovation from the Eastern Hemisphere market would render it an outcast there. This was a severe blow; losing the Eastern Hemisphere market meant Black Fire Innovation’s demand for weapons and equipment would be cut by 50%, and a large amount of unsold stock would pile up in their warehouses, placing Black Fire Innovation in a significant predicament.

On the other hand, the establishment of the "Anti-Black Fire Covenant" would also help strengthen the alliance relations among companies in the Eastern Hemisphere, facilitating their joint efforts to overcome difficult times in the future.

This was probably Lu Sizhou’s core idea: first to drive away Black Fire Innovation, the common enemy, and then to establish an Eastern Hemisphere corporate covenant, akin to forming another Corporate Alliance outside of Greeny City, one that belonged to the Eastern Hemisphere.

This bold planning was indeed a significant move by Lu Sizhou.

From a business and diplomatic perspective, Nestor Corporation naturally had to assist in suppressing Black Fire. Because the next six months would be the most challenging for Nestor Corporation, it must first build walls and stockpile grain, and construct Heat Towers to survive the harsh winter, after which it could greatly thrive.

Then, representing the interests of their two giant enterprises, Lu Sizhou and Li Shicheng brought up another primary concern they had: the acquisition.

They planned to buy out Black Fire Innovation’s military factories outside of the Taiya Archipelago in the Eastern Hemisphere, which would likely cut down their total capacity by about 22%, a significantly heavy blow.

The Northern Archipelago wasn’t home to any Black Fire military factories, so that wasn’t an issue. However, representatives from Silla and Peaceland had some objections, as their main purpose for attending the meeting was to claim about 200 Black Fire military factories within their own territories. These factories were a substantial resource, and they had already taken actual control of them since the onset of hostilities.

But now, with Lu Sizhou and Li Shicheng defining the terms this way, it meant they had to give up the factories!

With little influence, they had no choice but to accept, but still sought to find advantages from other perspectives.

"We should further weaken Black Fire Innovation, splitting their resources in the Taiya Archipelago," suggested Karl Krouch, the spokesperson for the Ocean Engineering Company, shifting the focus.

Ocean Engineering was a behemoth based in Peaceland, famous for its mining, construction, resource industries, and kangaroo industry, having previously been heavily slaughtered by Black Fire Innovation in several corporate cities, and had also contributed significantly in the great war.

"Yes, indeed."

"That’s how it should be..."

```

"If we don’t hurt the Taiya Archipelago, Black Fire Innovation will inevitably make a comeback," other corporate representatives also expressed their positions.

To secure benefits from Lu Sizhou and Li Shicheng, they had to cling to the coattails of a third-party giant corporation, to squeeze more value out of Black Fire Innovation—such opportunities were rare.

"Black Fire Renewal Association will be enraged," Lu Sizhou warned.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang understood; she didn’t want Black Fire Innovation to feel excessively harmed in their interests, thereby prolonging the war.

If Black Fire Innovation found the treaty unacceptable, they would tear up the agreement and continue the flames of war. So, in this situation, Lu Sizhou was actually speaking in Blackfire’s favor.

Xu Yang, representing Nestor Corporation, put forth his views.

"Currently, there are a large number of residents uprisings in Charo Island, greatly affecting Black Fire Innovation. Why not take advantage of this and promote the separation of Charo Island from the Taiya Archipelago, establishing a corporate free trade zone? On one hand, Charo Island—a sizable island—is cut off from the Taiya Archipelago; on the other hand, it protects the interests of the residents in uprising. Otherwise, once the conflict ends, Blackfire will surely exterminate the fighters of Charo Island; more importantly, it establishes a beachhead for various corporations to expand their interests in the Taiya Archipelago, facilitating our direct intervention in the affairs of the Taiya Archipelago," Xu Yang analyzed methodically, and his virtual presence online also kept a low profile.

"It’s said that the rise of Charo Island was instigated by the infamous A40, and perhaps your esteemed company played a part in adding fuel to the fire," Karl Krouch from Ocean Engineering Company hinted.

"We reserve our opinions," Lila stated.

"..." Lu Sizhou fell silent for a while, possibly deliberating with his company’s think tank on how to proceed. After some time, he replied, "I’m afraid we have to continue pushing toward the Taiya Archipelago, militarily occupy Charo Island directly, and, in cooperation with the local insurgents, establish a frontline base, so that we can naturally demand the cession of Charo Island in the peace talks."

"Understood."

"Sounds reasonable."

"Then we continue the fight!" Other corporate heads nodded in agreement.

The meeting entered the halftime break, and all parties had made their demands clear. Nestor Corporation also truly stood as a large company with regional influence in the Eastern Hemisphere, much to Xu Yang’s satisfaction. It was akin to showing off a little in front of all the well-known companies, ensuring that they would no longer underestimate Nestor.

Someone, though unknown, had already leaked news of the meeting to the major media.

"The Eastern Hemisphere Corporations Gather! Aiming to Discuss the Occupation of the Taiya Archipelago!"

"Black Fire Innovation in deep trouble, facing the risk of being dismantled..."

"The most famous military industry company ’Black Fire Innovation’ will face its doomsday!" the media, seizing on rumors, kept releasing sensational news.

Xu Yang keenly switched to the stock market perspective and, sure enough, within 3 minutes after the news was released, Black Fire Innovation’s stock price began to decline. A chain reaction, pulling on one thread stirred the whole body—behind the collapse of a company were the fractures of numerous credit chains, the closure of countless banks, and a financial disaster.

The situation was the same now, and Xu Yang felt greatly satisfied, watching the corporatism of the world fall apart.

Black Fire Innovation was the last giant company this year with soaring stock prices and doubling valuations, with all investors flocking to it, driving up its stock prices, and believing that the military industry was the last high-quality value track in the world.

And now even this last track has collapsed!

The stock price trend of Black Fire Innovation was not a slow decline, but a vertical plummet, from the terrifying 12000 Funds per share to 8000 Funds per share. To prevent this crash, Xu Yang saw famous global exchanges one after another announcing temporary suspensions of trading due to "software glitches," offering Black Fire Innovation a chance to catch its breath. Sure enough, another 2 minutes passed, and Black Fire Innovation announced a suspension of its stock.

Xu Yang was fully aware that this was their move out of desperation; suspending trading meant halting stock transactions, facilitating corporate executives to transfer funds, and liquidate assets. The process might last a few hours, which also proved that the leaked news was true. The maniac investors were eager to abandon the sinking ship of Black Fire Innovation, stomping a thousand feet upon it.

The military industry finally collapsed like several other industries that had long been rotten, entering the graveyard alongside aerospace, food industry, banking, and more.

Its upstream and downstream industries—parts, materials, steel, rubber, vehicles, glass, electricity, financial credit... were all affected as a consequence.

The Jialong Slope 100 Index, an index introduced in Jialong Slope representing a selection of 100 stocks, those with good performance, stable cash flows, and clear growth prospects.

That index had also crashed! With a drop of as much as 14%.

About 9727 billion Funds vanished in this shock.

At this moment, Nestor Corporation was receiving a flood of invitations, urging Nestor Corporation to go public and trade its stocks openly—a last straw for investment institutions relying on Nestor’s recent rapid growth, perhaps extending a few more months of life.

Nestor Corporation declined.

Xu Yang would not grant his company with such an extension at this time.

As Nestor Corporation declared it would not go public, it meant that all other companies were in the doldrums, with investors unable to trust even the last appreciating sector "military industry." The game of financial musical chairs had reached its extreme, and with the impending harsh winter, the corporate world officially began to disintegrate.

Technology, violence, plus mysticism were rising again, and the economic crisis unfolded at this moment.

Xu Yang watched the economic system, widespread with distress, as the Great Depression was set to change everyone’s life.

Black Fire Innovation thought their rise would deal a heavy blow to the corporate system, little knowing it was their defeat that facilitated the collapse of corporations.