300: Chapter 300 Compromise?

"Mr. Lansem, you must be aware of the families: Sackler, James, Linge, Ryder... These family consortiums are the very ones that facilitated that world-shocking acquisition battle for Third-Party Technology."

Qiao Tianyou smiled and continued, "Undoubtedly, they must have some connection with Third-Party Technology. Perhaps they've established a mutual aid organization like a fraternity."

"I've discovered that the families connected to Third-Party Technology Company have seen a staggering leap in the capabilities of their intelligence channels compared to before. Utilizing this intelligence, these families are always one step ahead in competition. Even some declining families have resurged, standing undefeated amidst the tides of the times."

Qiao Tianyou hadn't stopped talking.

"These changes directly verify that Third-Party Technology Company possesses a super intelligence network capable of covering the entire globe and penetrating every secret corner."

After listening to him, Lansem fell silent. He recalled the previous meeting at the manor. This young man's words might be true.

"To that end, I deliberately conducted another experiment. To confirm the existence of this intelligence network, I meticulously designed a trap."

Qiao Tianyou's gaze swept over the people quietly listening in the cabin. "I successively took control of two small-to-medium-sized enterprises that had no grudge against Third-Party Technology. They had limited influence and originally shouldn't have entered Third-Party Technology's line of sight."

"The person in charge of one of the enterprises merely wrote down a plan to oppose Third-Party Technology in his phone's memo. The next day, that company suffered inexplicable suppression..."

"I immediately changed tactics. I had the person in charge of another puppet enterprise record a similar plan on a never-online, offline hard drive. As a result, this enterprise remained safe and sound, without any targeting."

Qiao Tianyou confidently concluded, "With this comparison, isn't the answer obvious enough?"

His demeanor made the woman with wine-red hair who had opened the door earlier light up. She stepped forward, took his arm, her eyes filled with admiration. "A'You, you're truly amazing. You're a real genius!"

"Shasha, it's nothing, just some simple reasoning," Qiao Tianyou said, narrowing his eyes gently as he stroked her long hair.

This woman's family was no simple matter. She was a member of the Rothschild family, entrenched in the American continent for a century. Although only a collateral branch, it was still astonishing enough.

After speaking intimately with her for a few more sentences, Qiao Tianyou looked at Lansem again. "Mr. Lansem, what are your thoughts?"

Lansem did not compromise. Instead, he said disdainfully, "I don't know if what you say is true, but thinking you can deal with our company with just your group is pure fantasy."

"Our 'New Life' organization is far more than what you see before you," Qiao Tianyou revealed the name of his organization and continued,

"This operation has the support of many people. The power they represent is beyond your imagination, Mr. Lansem. This includes the young lady beside me. Her other identity is a member of the 'International Human Rights Liberation' organization."

"Human Rights Liberation?" Lansem didn't understand what this had to do with them.

"A'You is right,"

The woman named Shasha stepped forward and spoke, "Our International Human Rights Liberation organization is dedicated to exposing and combating all forms of oppression and inequality worldwide. We have long been aware of the actions of Third-Party Technology Company. This company not only holds the Molo Government hostage but is also secretly eroding this beautiful world. Countless people suffer under its oppression."

Shasha made a fist-clenching gesture. "Now, we seek justice for those oppressed by this company. We aim to reclaim freedom for this world they monitor. Until Third-Party Technology is eliminated, human rights will never be secure!"

"Mr. Lansem, please do not persist in your delusion and continue being this company's lapdog."

"Well said, Shasha,"

At that moment, another young man spoke up, filled with righteous indignation, "I've never seen such a selfish company. The last global pandemic of the Petrification Virus caused so many deaths because they didn't provide the vaccine in time. Countless families lost loved ones."

"Because of them, we have to live here like savages, unable to touch any network-connected devices."

"I agree."

"For humanity, for overthrowing this evil company, all efforts are worthwhile..."

People in the cabin began to verbally condemn the company. In their words, Third-Party Technology was a company that endangered humanity, deserving death ten thousand times over.

Qiao Tianyou also tried to persuade Lansem to join the operation. For a moment, all the pressure fell on this middle-aged man.

Facing this scene,

Lansem's eyes were firm, yet he sighed as if remembering something. "Everything I have today is entirely due to his recognition. Otherwise, I would have died long ago in a rented room. No matter what you say, I will not stand on your side, nor will I betray the company."

His words brought silence to the cabin. The smile slowly faded from Qiao Tianyou's face. After a moment's thought, Qiao Tianyou gestured for several women in the room to leave the cabin.

"Mr. Lansem, I wanted to give you a dignified choice," Qiao Tianyou said coldly. "It seems you are determined to walk the path of destruction with Third-Party Technology, with that Lin Fang. Do you think expressing loyalty now will make him see it?"

Qiao Tianyou snapped his fingers.

The next second, the burly man Johnny and several other men pinned Lansem down firmly. Lansem struggled desperately but was no match for their brute strength.

Qiao Tianyou's tone was flat but carried an irresistible command. "Strip off his clothes."

Soon, Lansem's suit jacket and shirt were roughly torn off, leaving him completely naked.

Lansem struggled in humiliation, his face flushed red with anger and shame. He could only watch helplessly as one man picked up a camera, its lens aimed at his disheveled state.

"I never prepare just one bargaining chip," Qiao Tianyou's voice sounded in Lansem's ear. "These photos, if I wish, can appear on the front pages of major global media outlets the very next second. I could also print hundreds of thousands of copies and scatter them all over Houston City.

"When that happens, how will your subordinates view you? You will not only be utterly disgraced, but even your daughter will be unable to hold her head high because of you."

A mocking expression appeared on Qiao Tianyou's face. "Speaking of which, your daughter attends Houston High School, right? I heard she's been feeling unwell recently and took a long leave."

"What do you want to do!"

Lansem's expression changed, a flicker of panic crossing his face. After his resurgence, he hadn't bothered with his ex-wife, but he had brought his daughter back to live with him.

"She's fine for now, but who knows about the future."

Qiao Tianyou threatened, "As long as you cooperate with our operation, your daughter will remain safe and sound. Moreover, you can obtain immense wealth, and the photos from earlier will be permanently deleted."

"But if you're unwilling, then I'm sorry. Believe me, everything you fear will develop in the worst possible direction..."

Qiao Tianyou looked at him with composed ease, as if admiring the death throes of a trapped animal. He was neither hurried nor anxious because he knew Lansem's weakness was already firmly in his grasp. This game had been without suspense from the very beginning.

"I... I agree."

After a long while, Lansem lowered his head.

A triumphant smile immediately curled at the corner of Qiao Tianyou's mouth. He gave a signal with his eyes, and only then did the men release Lansem.

"Pleasure doing business, Mr. Lansem."

——

Two hours later, Lansem returned home in a daze. Ignoring the dinner prepared by the servants, he went straight to his study.

He closed and locked the door.

After an unknown length of time, Lansem finally steeled his resolve. He turned on a projection device on the desk with many small holes. This was a product the company was about to launch. Previously, Lansem had been preparing its production facility.

"Star Hub, I request a call with the BOSS."

Lansem sent an urgent request to the intelligent system managing the company. Only this way could he see Lin Fang.

[Request approved. Connecting...]

To Lansem's surprise, the request was approved quickly this time. Usually, he had to wait quite a while, and it was common for it to be ignored.

Light shot out from the numerous holes around the projection device, forming a clear image in front.

In the image, Lin Fang was lounging lazily on a black sofa. The surrounding light was dim, obscuring other details.

Only those deep-set eyes, as if perceiving endless time, calmly fell upon Lansem in the projected image. "Lansem, what do you need?"

"BOSS, I..."

Seeing him, Lansem's eyes reddened, looking as Wronged as a child.