Chapter 317: Untitled
As the immense commercial war waged on for days, the outcome of the commercial war was evident when Third Young Master Ye dismantled the last core project in MBS International’s three core businesses.
The businesses that were forced to choose sides realigned themselves and support for Louis dropped substantially in the past few days. Whether in the government or in the marketplace, Louis received much less support than Third Young Master Ye.
With four enterprises against one, what started out as a typical battle with equally-matched sides became a three versus one. Not only was MBS International struggling to keep up in terms of funding and technical manpower, but Third Young Master Ye’s instigation of the program managers to a mutiny led MBS International into a two-fronted difficulty as well.
Louis, who was extremely haughty, wanted to really duke it out with Third Young Master Ye. While this was a good chance for him to use other means to suppress Third Young Master Ye, they all did not work out and he had to duke it out with him in the marketplace.
He was indeed capable of holding off Third Young Master Ye for a few days. Whilst Third Young Master Ye typically advocated a quick and clean battle, he would plot the demise of a corporation in detail and leave said corporation beyond gone in five days. His methods were well-known for their decisiveness and brutality.
This was no exception. Louis had no chance of going against him with MBS International, which the latter knew too well.
Just as everybody thought that MBS International was not going to hang on for much longer, the entry of a few large corporations leveled the playing field—to name a few, an internationally-renowned Italian jewelry firm, America’s second-largest financing corporation, and a large Italian real-estate enterprise. Their entry disrupted the delicate balance of power in City A.
While Louis started off in his fight against Third Young Master Ye brimming with confidence, thinking that reliance on the local enterprises in City A would be enough to counter Third Young Master Ye, Third Young Master Ye responded extremely quickly and he had no other way save collaborating with other international enterprises against Third Young Master Ye.
If fighting solo did not work out, then he had to fight in a group.
Hence, this commercial war which started off as a personal war became a chaotic group fight that exploded beyond control. As the commercial war waged on, it was about to enter a new phase.
This bloody group battle was a group battle that disrupted all known equilibriums.
Third Young Master Ye, who had the advantage, was forced back to square one and was preparing to fight a war of attrition.
All eyes in the world were on this commercial battle. The jewelry, real estate, and media fields were exceptionally hectic at this moment as they figured out how they would win customers over and gain market share.
From without to within, countless enterprises were drawn into this commercial war.
“Louis, that d***!” Klose burst out at the start of the teleconference. Whilst everyone laughed to help him cool down, this was a battlefront where they did not get to decide how the enemy would strike as the situation seemed to deteriorate.
As they were affected by these few international enterprises, the share prices of GK International Media, the Tang and the Lin families were all affected and dropped throughout the day. Klose was extremely infuriated.
“Damned him if he dares to justify how the Mafia operates! To think he dares to play this way… Is he waiting to trigger the next global economic crisis?” Klose was clearly enraged. “Even GK International is restricted to helping out in the shadows and many things couldn’t be made public. That idiot dared to involve them so brazenly. Since that’s happening, let’s stop playing, gentlemen. If he can find people, why can’t we?”
Klose was angry for a reason. Louis had clearly broken the rules of the game. Like a primitive man who lived in the same forest, each forest had a capable ruler. When the few prices in the forest fought, it was little wonder that all in the forest would be mobilized. What did an outsider king have to do with this?
Since he was intent on disturbing the equilibrium in the ecosystem, the government would not sit by and allow things to happen.
It was either MBS International going down or GK International Media, The Tang and Lin families going down. Nobody could sit around and allow them to have their way as they were influential international corporations whose tussle could trigger an economic crisis.
In a recent report, economists and experts observing the recent melee-a-trois expressed their opinions. They described it as the most senseless, most nonsensical commercial war as it had the deepest effects.
If this was not handled properly, a massive economic crisis could be triggered with City A at the forefront of it. With experts calling for the government to intervene to end this chaos, Third Young Master Ye also pondered about how he could swiftly end this scene.
Some experts blamed Louis for disrupting the equilibrium in City A as he, as an Italian, had no share in the feuding brothers in City A!
That statement was on point.
“Now that MBS International has the funding, technical support, and their support, Louis will be able to hold out much longer. Such a commercial war cannot go on for long, lest it turn into a lose-lose. I expect the government to intervene in a few days, so we have to gain a decisive victory before that and minimize our losses. Looking at the plans we have devised earlier, which one is the best possible way out?” Young Master Lin said calmly.
While they were each formidable and unafraid to engage in a tussle, the current situation dictated that they had to win. If a lose-lose ensued, the purpose of the battle was lost. Fourth Young Master Tang and Third Young Master Ye supported his suggestion as they had to win before the government intervened.
“Now that we can’t hit them from the outside, we will have to strike from the inside,” Klose correctly pointed out. While going against hard aspects used to work, he was able to make up for the numbers lost as he had support. They hence had to strike at MBS International’s core.
Third Young Master Ye nodded. “MBS International’s main cash cows are the real estate and jewelry sectors. While he has funds, technical expertise, and connections, especially so in the jewelry sector, he will not be able to continue with the Repulse Bay project.”
“This I understand. Playing dirty?” Klose raised his eyebrows as he looked at Third Young Master Ye. Klose seemed to imply, ‘You are no gentleman and should have played dirty since a long time ago. What took you this long?’
If Louis wanted to play dirty, he was nowhere as dirty as Third Young Master Ye. When Louis played dirty, he hired guns. Third Young Master Ye’s form of playing dirty was not about numbers but hitting home where it really hurt.
Who was dirtier than the other?
“Oh, yes, aren’t you are the best at that?” Third Young Master Ye smiled. “I have left the Repulse Bay project alone for a long time. Louis probably forgot that I would be eventually cleaning up MBS International’s mess and did not touch the Repulse Bay project. Since he is playing dirty, why should I keep my gloves on? Worst comes to worst, I’ll disadvantage myself to gain this advantage then think about the funds for Repulse Bay at another. Winning now matters.”
“You sure are playing it big. If you slip up, it will take you even longer to get back on your footing,” Fourth Young Master Tang said. While they knew that the foundation of the Repulse Bay project was the key to striking MBS International the hardest, Third Young Master Ye would face a lot more problems getting the project back on track in the future.
This was hence an option they did not consider.
“That isn’t an issue because nothing will faze me. Besides, since MBS International is still business as usual, I can still rebuild everything despite the Repulse Bay wrecking MBS International.” Third Young Master Ye smiled cunningly. “Also, Louis and I had a diamond-smuggling deal that he took over after I left. Since nobody is supplying MBS International, the imminent launch of the Rose Tear No. 4 would mean that he would have to use that stock of diamonds.”
“That is sure dirty!” Klose clapped in applause. “Where the hell were you earlier? Took you so long to spill such juicy insider information, huh?
“As we were still figuring who else Louis would rope in earlier, his move eliminated all that guessing. This saves me effort because I will bear this grudge and waste them one by one!” Third Young Master Ye smiled sinisterly, a coldness flashing through his gaze.
Everybody understood that it was not good for Third Young Master Ye to appear in person. Fourth Young Master Tang had somebody to work on ruining MBS International through ruining its core. Third Young Master Ye deliberately had most of the funds parked in the Repulse Bay for this very purpose.
Louis and Ye Zhenhua could finally catch a breath. After matching Third Young Master Ye move for move, they were fatigued, anxious, and jumpy. Third Young Master Ye almost drove them into a breakdown. Besides, the technical and financial assistance rendered by so many corporations relieved the pressure on MBS International.
Ye Zhenhua generously praised Louis for being able to engage so many people at such short notice as that was something he was unable to do. Louis smiled in response. To Ye Zhenhua, MBS International was way more important than anything else.
Well advanced in age, he had invested his entire life in it and would not allow Third Young Master Ye to ruin it all.
“Let’s see what other plans Ye Chen has.” Ye Zhenhua let out a cold harrumph.
That night, as the city was asleep, a major case left the city aghast.
MBS International’s flagship project, the Repulse Bay project, collapsed. The project which chugged along as usual suddenly collapsed like a skyscraper. It signified the demise of MBS International which had dominated City A for half a century.
When Ye Zhenhua received the news at three in the morning, it was as though he had aged by ten-over years in a moment when his hand went limp and he dropped the telephone on the floor. While his butler, Chen De, consoled him, the agony got to Ye Zhenhua and he vomited blood.
“It’s over…”
“MBS International is gone…”
…