190: Pricing power

Li Hang went through a brainstorming session, and inexplicably, he began to imagine himself being tricked into a team-building trip to Southeast Asia, having his passport confiscated, and being locked in a water dungeon...

"I'm sorry, I don't think I'm ready yet!"

Li Hang made a move to run away, but the HR lady beside him panicked and pressed him back down.

"Classmate, don't misunderstand!"

"Our company is right here in the local high-tech industrial park, a Xinghai Group certified supplier!"

The young man hurriedly added: "There is absolutely no overseas team building. Company trips are all at well-known domestic attractions. If you don't want to go, you don't have to participate."

"We value your potential and learning ability!"

Li Hang was forced to take a stack of professional certification documents. When he saw the Xinghai Group certification label, his heart relaxed a little.

"But I haven't even graduated from university, and I have no work experience at all."

HR lady: "It's fine, as long as you can screw in a bolt!"

Huh?

Li Hang looked at the job title 【Product Engineer】 on the labor contract, dumbfounded, and fell into confusion.

Twenty thousand a month to screw in bolts, with benefits comparable to a top-tier company—this world is too crazy!

Half-pushed and half-pulled, Li Hang signed the labor contract.

When he got up, he saw an old man carrying a birdcage being dragged into the job market not far away.

"Young man, I'm just passing by, it's a misunderstanding, I'm not here to look for a job!"

"Old man, you are still strong and healthy. Our factory is still missing a security guard, with a starting monthly salary of twenty thousand!"

Li Hang swallowed, and the heavy stone in his heart finally fell.

...

Luol Star System.

Guangming Chamber of Commerce Headquarters.

Katie held a market analysis report in her hand, her brows gradually furrowing.

"An average increase of 25%?"

"Yes, President."

Katie couldn't help but sneer: "Given the current business environment in the Luol Star System, this price might not even break even. What is Xinghai Group trying to do?"

"President, according to our calculations, Xinghai Group's profit margin might not even reach 1%."

Bai Qianqian's image appeared in Katie's mind. This boss who had suddenly risen to prominence was extremely shrewd; it was absolutely impossible for her to do business at a loss.

Vice President Hawkins couldn't help but speak up: "I've already had people investigate. The supply chain of Xinghai Group is very problematic. It only relies on a few scattered large factories, yet it can produce goods sufficient to satisfy half of the Luol Star System."

"If Xinghai Group wants to maintain this price that clearly makes no profit..."

Katie added: "Unless they possess a complete supply channel far exceeding the market level, or their production line can keep the loss rate at the lowest level."

"Is there any news from Chief Steward Wang's side?"

Hawkins: "Our people tried to make contact, but Chief Steward Wang wouldn't budge."

"However, a friend of mine at the Governors Mansion accidentally overheard a conversation between Chief Steward Wang's confidants."

"It seems they said that as long as they can maintain stable prices, there will be a return on investment of at least ten times after a hundred years."

Katie: "A hundred years, ten times the return?"

"That's absolutely impossible, it must be a smokescreen!"

Hawkins pondered: "This does sound like fake news, but Xinghai Group's move this time is very abnormal. They are clearly losing money but are biting the bullet to keep going."

"Could it be that they have already obtained some insider information?"

Katie rested her chin on her hand and began to think carefully.

"Wang Chao has already entered the Star Tower Trial secret realm. He's as good as dead, so what insider information could there be?"

"Immediately invite the heads of all chambers of commerce in the Luol Star System to participate in a joint meeting in the name of the Guangming Chamber of Commerce, especially the Xinghai Group representative. No matter what means you use, you must make them attend this meeting."

"Understood!"

The next day.

The Luol Star System Chamber of Commerce Joint Meeting was officially held at the headquarters of the Guangming Chamber of Commerce.

The conference room was full, with one hundred seats arranged in a circle.

Sitting at the head of the table were representatives of the old-established chambers of commerce in the Luol Star System, the Guangming Chamber of Commerce and the Luol Chamber of Commerce.

And this time, Bai Qianqian was arranged to the left of the Luol Chamber of Commerce, with a status even higher than the Guangming Chamber of Commerce.

Seeing this scene, the various chambers of commerce present immediately understood. The meaning was too obvious—it was a preparation to officially recognize Xinghai Group's status in the Luol Star System.

The rise of Xinghai Group was a complete mystery, as if it had just appeared out of thin air.

The only thing that was certain was that everyone suspected that Xinghai Group had a connection with Wang Chao, or rather, that Xinghai Group was a commercial force cultivated by Wang Chao.

In the last major purge of the Luol Star System, 60% of the high-quality assets were transferred to Xinghai Group at low prices.

The remaining 40% were symbolically distributed to local chambers of commerce, which could be considered as everyone getting a share of the meat.

Facing such a scene, Bai Qianqian did not feel timid in the slightest.

Because in her heart, that omnipotent ghost, or rather, the Lord of the Star Sea, the Human Emperor, was her greatest reliance.

Su Jin stood behind Bai Qianqian, scanning the area with her eyes, secretly memorizing everyone's faces.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Katie stood up and said: "Everyone, I have called you all here today to solve the common problems we are currently facing. The current business environment in the Luol Star System is rapidly deteriorating..."

After a long string of pleasantries, nearing the end, Katie suddenly changed her tone, looked at Bai Qianqian, and continued: "In such a situation, the Xinghai Group Chamber of Commerce is still able to maintain market prices without collapsing and stabilize public sentiment. This is something worthy of our collective learning."

As her voice fell, a burst of enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the venue.

Bai Qianqian's expression did not change. After the applause became sparse, she then spoke: "Because we believe that the future of the Luol Star System is worth investing in."

A representative of a chamber of commerce took the microphone and replied: "President Bai, let's speak frankly today. To maintain this price, you will definitely lose money. What good does this do for you?"

Another person on the right seamlessly followed up: "That's right, you are clearly doing thankless work, making it impossible for us to do business either."

Katie continued: "President Bai, if you want to maintain market prices, the Xinghai Group Chamber of Commerce alone is certainly not enough. I think we should work together. Only in this way can we cope with this sudden turmoil."

At this moment, Su Jin stepped forward and handed a list to Bai Qianqian.

Bai Qianqian took the list and said indifferently: "I won't hide it from everyone either. Our Xinghai Group is able to maintain prices because of our own unique internal supply channels and logistics system."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the chamber of commerce representatives present pricked up their ears.

"Our Xinghai Group can obtain large quantities of carbon crystal, star marrow crystal, obsidian, spirit element crystal, and various other scarce raw materials that are in short supply on the market, at prices far below the market rate."

Xinghai Group's supply channels were naturally provided by the large number of resource stars Su Yu found outside the Milky Way Galaxy.

Currently, they had mastered over 47 resource stars, which were seamlessly connected through the new generation of star gate technology and continuously transported to the Luol Star System.

With no costs, they naturally held the pricing power.

These words were like dropping a bombshell on the lake.

Because the power behind the ability to supply so many scarce minerals was not something that could be supported by just a governor of a star system.