Chapter 441: Negotiation? The Guillotine! (Part 2)

I think you're trying to kill me!

Seeing the approving glances of the other directors in the conference room, the middle-aged woman's chest heaved violently, as if all her blood had surged upward to her head, her clenched fists cold as a corpse's.

Directly letting Char Water Power go bankrupt would indeed avoid most compensation—seemingly a good solution for all directors—but except for our own Char Department Store, since this hydro company also bore the name "Char"!

If I truly agree to their proposal and let Char Water Power collapse, most of the blame will fall squarely on us; what follows is obvious.

Angry citizens can't storm the Road Administration Department or resist the three old noble families, but they can boycott our other companies' businesses and storm Char Department Store's buildings scattered across the capital!

Though our department store now holds over seventy percent of the capital's market share, once this scandal spreads, every branch will instantly become deserted, plagued by endless harassment, theft, and robbery!

"You… you won't get away with this!!!"

Seeing the cold, subtly mocking expressions of the other directors, the elegantly dressed middle-aged woman gasped sharply, then slammed her fist onto the table:

"Don't forget we're the largest investors! And you all signed the agreement—Char Department Store holds veto power! As long as I say no, none of your proposals pass!"

"If that's your answer, then I can only express my regret."

After glancing at the middle-aged woman's hysterical state, the middle-aged man of the Lionheart family shook his head, interlaced his fingers, and leaned back in his sofa with calm composure:

"Since you insist on unreasonable compensation and refuse to align with us on business philosophy, then the Lyon family will withdraw.

Also, according to the original contract, we must now hold a vote; if it passes, we can still claim this year's dividends—but judging by your condition…"

After glancing at the woman's bloodshot eyes, the Lionheart family's middle-aged man shook his head:

"Never mind. We Lyon family waive this year's dividends. Wishing those who stay smooth sailing."

"You… you're being a cheat!"

Seeing someone outright walk out at this moment, the middle-aged woman fumed:

"This year's dividends don't even cover half the compensation! And the water supply was under your control all along—now that disaster struck, how dare you just walk away?!"

"Cough… Madame Char, your words are incorrect."

The elderly man with a rose emblem on his chest cleared his throat and reminded slowly:

"Your veto power can decide whether proposals pass, but it can't dictate who stays or leaves.

Also, I'm sorry—I cannot accept your proposal. The Ma Sai family is withdrawing too. Wishing you smooth sailing."

"The York family withdraws as well."

"You… you all…"

Seeing the three old noble families collectively walk out—clearly having coordinated beforehand—the desperate middle-aged woman instinctively turned her gaze to the remaining two.

"Sorry, this incident is a natural disaster, unrelated to our Road Administration Department."

After giving the frantic middle-aged woman a look of faint sympathy, the official from the Road Administration Department's River Bureau shook his head:

"Though our dam was breached, the direct cause of this accident was Char Water Power's failure to follow procedures. Our department will not allocate compensation funds."

"Our Nongye Force is the same."

The official from the Nongye Force's Waterworks Bureau also shook his head:

"Our department doesn't participate in water supply operations. Even if I petitioned for funding, it would be denied. All we can do is report Char Water Power's losses this year and waive our dividends. As for anything else, I'm powerless."

"…So… in the end, it's all dumped on me again!!!"

"You can't leave!"

Watching the others rise to depart, the middle-aged woman, her heart burning with anguish, clenched her teeth and stomped hard:

"If you leave, you're not just abandoning water supply—you're giving up all other business segments! No more dividends, and you won't get back a single copper for your initial factory investment!"

"Since we've decided to withdraw, we've already prepared for this."

The blond middle-aged man lifted his eyelids slightly, his expression as still as a stagnant well:

"Madame Char, you seem to have forgotten: most of Char Water Power's operations were brought in by us. If no one buys your 'products,' even the most powerful company is meaningless.

After withdrawing from Char Water Power, we can easily form a new company with identical operations—or wait until Char Water Power collapses, then buy its corpse for less than one-tenth the original price."

"Oh, one more thing."

Watching the now-pale Madame Char unconsciously clench her teeth, the blond man's lips curled slightly—his emotionless face showing expression for the first time.

"Besides water power, all three of our families are very interested in the department store business. When our new department store opens, please join us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Madame and Mr. Char."

"…"

"You… you planned this?!"

Seeing the blond man's smile, the middle-aged woman's mind flashed like lightning—her entire body trembled.

No wonder… no wonder such a crude accident occurred! This whole thing was aimed at us from the start!

The funds for building the hydro company were locked up in our own capital. Now, just before it turns profitable, disaster strikes—massive compensation plus a ruined reputation will drive our department store to ruin and force us to surrender every market share we've seized!

And these three days of negotiations weren't about failing to agree on compensation—they were meant to delay our response, letting the scandal slowly spread and ferment.

Even allowing protesters to gather near the hydro company, then having security beat them without fully driving them away—all to make the incident explode faster!

No! Not just that!

Looking at the directors who once revered her but now glowed with mocking contempt, the middle-aged woman felt the world spin—her legs buckled beneath her.

Originally, they didn't need our family at all to build the hydro company. There was no reason to drag Char Department Store in and hand us free money.

So this was a trap from the start—from the moment they lured us to invest and branded the hydro company with our name—their goal never changed: to swallow our department store whole!

I… I… how stupid was I!!!!

"Mom? Mom!"

Seeing her mother's condition, the young girl with a baby face behind her rushed forward to catch her.

When she noticed her mother's eyes rolling back, her mouth gasping "hehe" endlessly without forming a single clear word, the girl's face paled—her voice cracked with tears.

"Someone! Help! Someone, please!"

(End of Chapter)