After Topaz left, Ms. Emerald returned to the meeting room.
“You’ve waited long enough, Mr. Audi. The meeting can continue.”
Ms. Emerald sat opposite Old Audi, elegant and smiling.
“Hohoho, you’ve come up with a countermeasure so quickly, Ms. Emerald? Where did Ms. Topaz go?”
Old Audi looked at Ms. Emerald across from him, also with his signature smile, but after scanning the surroundings and seeing only Ms. Emerald, he still tentatively asked.
“Topaz has another mission; you’ll see her in a bit. Our conversation can continue, just you and me.”
As she said this, the smile on Ms. Emerald’s face vanished, replaced by seriousness and indifference, and her tone became exceptionally cold.
Old Audi’s already wrinkled brow furrowed, his smile also disappeared, and looking at Ms. Emerald across from him, his tone became less polite.
“Is it my imagination, Ms.? Your tone of voice compared to just now… is very different.”
“One must set a good example for juniors. Being unrestrained in negotiations isn’t a good habit, is it? Now, we can speak frankly. Do you believe, Audi? In the past ten Amber Eras, you are not the only merchant who has experienced the changes in the cosmic market.”
“Interesting… Hohoho… This is getting interesting.”
Old Audi suddenly started laughing again.
“Speaking frankly, excellent! I like openness and transparency the most. Tell me, where do you plan to make your move?”
Facing Old Audi’s question, Ms. Emerald’s lips curved upwards; after all, she wasn't used to being led by the nose at the negotiating table.
“Unfortunately, my habit is to checkmate first, then make my move. Let’s get straight to the conclusion: First, your plan is impossible. Penacony absolutely cannot go public without the Company.
Second, you also cannot prevent the Company from entering Penacony. We have all the time and methods needed to find a suitable breakthrough, tear it open little by little, then fill it, making the Asdana Star System familiar with the Company’s methods once again.”
At this point, Ms. Emerald seemed to think of something and decided to add fuel to the fire.
“Oh, right, no matter where the cornerstone entrusted by the Company to the family is now, the family has never returned it, have they?
Thinking about it, Penacony can neither guarantee the property safety of its visitors nor their life safety. I presume Mr. Audi… wouldn’t want this matter to spread throughout the galaxy, would he?
So I advise you to abandon that fantastical plan and save some face for yourself and your family.”
But Old Audi was clearly no simple character either.
“Hahahahaha, this is truly fascinating!”
Then, Audi’s tone shifted, and an expression of displeasure appeared on his face.
“You painted lady, your audacity is quite something! Today, I want to see what other cards you have up your sleeve?!”
Ms. Emerald resumed her initial smile, reminding him in a calm tone:
“Don’t forget, Mr. Audi, the Company controls the largest propaganda platform in the interstellar space. More than half of the universe’s news networks are our mouthpiece.
The moment you spread the news of Penacony’s public offering, trillions of users will simultaneously receive a push notification like this:
‘The family’s protection of Penacony has failed. Accidents in the dreamscape may lead to permanent brain death, and valuable items brought in will also disappear in the dream due to irresistible factors.’”
At this point, Ms. Emerald suddenly laughed happily, as if discussing something very joyful.
“Heh heh heh, guess how many ways the Company can devalue them to nothing within 24 systems, with just this one message, when the entire galaxy is looking at Penacony?”
Old Audi’s brow was tightly furrowed, forming a stark contrast with Ms. Emerald, who maintained a proper smile and a radiant expression across from him.
“You think… you can do it?”
“Heh, my whip is long; even in Pielpoint, it can easily wrap around your neck.”
Ms. Emerald’s meaning was clear: this matter was effortless for her.
“But as long as you abandon that foolish IPO plan, the Company will promise: it will never harm the interests of the patriarchs, led by you.
After all, in Asdana, we also need allies. The Company can help Penacony with financing—starting with buying 50% of the shares. Our capital flowing into Penacony’s stability and reconstruction would be an overnight project.”
“50%?! Your appetite is a bit too large…”
Old Audi’s tone was cold; anyone could sense his anger at this moment.
Ms. Emerald smiled slightly, her tone playful.
“Heh heh, Mr. Audi, you need to understand one thing: today’s Penacony is far less valuable than before.
Moreover, the Company can use its credibility to rebuild Penacony’s tarnished credit, allowing Penacony’s value to rise again.
Old Audi, you are a smart man. Going to such great lengths to play this game of chess with me, isn’t it just to display your business acumen and seek more benefits for your family?
Let’s stop here; it’s better for both of us. If you think this isn’t enough—another purpose of listing Penacony is simply to expand the influence of the Grand Celebration and attract more guests to splurge.
I also have a plan to satisfy this demand.”
Old Audi had now regained his composure, as if the angry person from earlier wasn’t him.
“Hmm, alright, I understand the Company’s sincerity. As the patriarch of the Clover family, I seem to have no reason to refuse, but—50%, the family truly cannot accept.”
Ms. Emerald seemed to have already anticipated Old Audi’s reply, smiling slightly and offering another solution.
“Then how about this: the Company only takes 35%, 5% is gifted to the Astral Express as a reward for the heroes, and the remaining 10% is left for Mr. Jiang Lin. You know your family definitely owes that genius a huge favor.”
Although Old Audi was still unwilling at this moment, he had already used all the means at his disposal. Moreover, she was absolutely right; based on Mr. Jiang Lin’s performance this time, the family would definitely have to prepare a generous gift.
After a moment of silence, Old Audi already knew the outcome of this negotiation, but he asked one last question.
“I can answer on behalf of all the patriarchs, but I still need one answer.”
“I’m listening.”
Old Audi took a deep breath and said:
“When I was a child, I heard adults talk about stories from the ancient Amber Era: ‘harmony’ ascended, ‘order’ fell.
In those ancient times, ‘order’ and ‘Preservation’ were so close. As a follower of the Amber Lord, why doesn’t the Company stand with order but instead cooperates with the family?”
