249: What are you saying in all that chatter?

The signal exchanged among the four was silent, yet filled with a certain excitement of an impending comeback.

Wang Teng and the other two CEOs quietly retreated behind a tea table to the side.

No longer humble attendants, they reverted to their roles as the helmsmen of the Four Major Companies, beginning to prepare tea methodically with a sense of unhurried ritual.

It was as if what followed was not a life-or-death negotiation, but an equal business meeting.

The enthusiasm on Old Shi's face was just right—neither sycophantic nor lacking the thoughtfulness of a host.

"President Lin is so young yet possesses such grand vision; it truly makes us old-timers feel ashamed."

He took the initiative to start the conversation, his voice carrying a hint of emotion and reminiscence.

"Thinking back to when we founded Panshi Biology, it was much like this—starting from nothing, relying entirely on a surge of passion to do something for this era."

Lin Yu didn't turn around, nor did he respond.

His gaze passed through the massive floor-to-ceiling window, landing on the steel city below, which was pierced by countless bands of light.

Silent maglev conveyor belts wove a giant web in mid-air, while on the ground, countless automated production lines pulsed with precision like massive organs.

This was the core of the Four Major Companies, the heart of the empire they took pride in.

Seeing that Lin Yu remained silent, Old Shi didn't feel awkward and continued talking.

A trace of pride crept into his voice.

"Over the past decades, we've survived several life-and-death calamities and constant friction; big and small crises numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands."

"Every single time, the potions of our Four Major Companies were on the front lines. From the most basic Recovery Potions to the Gene Stabilizers specially supplied to those A-rank powerhouses, which of them could do without us?"

"We support over a million employees, and our industrial chain affects nearly one-fifth of the Professionals households in the country."

Old Shi spoke slowly and heavily.

He no longer mentioned the fear brought by the five trillion potions; instead, he began to recount his merits and hard work.

He was subtly inflating his own value.

He was reminding Lin Yu that the Four Major Pharmaceutical Companies were not a piece of fat that could be swallowed at will, but a giant beast inextricably linked to the flesh and blood of the Blue Star's nation and society.

Touch it, and the whole world would tremble.

Indeed.

This was their confidence.

They were one of the cornerstones of the Alliance; anyone wanting to move against them had to weigh the consequences.

Lin Yu remained silent.

To Old Shi, this silence became a different signal.

He believed Lin Yu was listening.

This Young Man, despite having heaven-defying means, was ultimately too young and didn't understand these complex, intertwined interests.

The timing was about right.

Old Shi coughed lightly, and a look of appropriate difficulty appeared on his flushed face.

"President Lin, logically speaking, with your strength, our Four Major Companies should welcome you with open arms and hand everything over."

He changed his tone, a sense of helplessness leaking into his voice.

"But the current situation... is somewhat complicated."

"We are also acting against our will."

Here it comes.

There was no ripple in Lin Yu's heart.

This old fox had laid the groundwork for so long; he was finally going to reveal his true intentions.

Old Shi took half a step forward and lowered his voice, as if sharing some incredible secret.

"Not long ago, people from the Abyss Domain also approached us."

When he said the words "Abyss Domain," he deliberately increased his volume while closely observing Lin Yu's back, attempting to capture the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"They also proposed an intention to cooperate, and... the terms were very generous, and their attitude was very firm."

"President Lin, you know that those people from the Abyss Domain act strangely and their strength is unfathomable. We... we really had no way to refuse."

He cleared himself completely, portraying himself as a poor soul caught between two great powers, struggling in a dilemma.

The air went quiet for a moment.

Lin Yu's shoulder seemed to move imperceptibly.

Old Shi was overjoyed!

A reaction!

He was afraid Lin Yu would be completely unresponsive; as long as there was a reaction, it meant he still had bargaining chips!

The move with the Abyss Domain was the right choice!

No powerhouse on Blue Star could remain indifferent to the name "Abyss Domain."

Old Shi let out a long sigh and spoke in an even heavier tone.

"President Lin, the matter of the Abyss Domain has exceeded the scope of what we can handle."

"The Four Major Pharmaceutical Companies are involved in too many things. This is Blue Star, after all, not a lawless land where powerhouses can act recklessly."

"So... to show respect to all parties and to allow the cooperation to proceed legitimately, I took it upon myself to report this matter to the authorities."

He finally revealed his ultimate goal.

"The authorities attach great importance to this matter. Chief Zhong Huai of the Fangs Special Operations Team personally led a team here to coordinate."

"Now, both the representatives of the Abyss Domain and the official team led by Chief Zhong Huai have been arranged."

Old Shi slowly straightened his body; his hunched back seemed to straighten completely at this moment.

He no longer hid the shrewdness of his successful scheme.

"President Lin, I know your strength is heaven-defying, but neither the Abyss Domain nor the Military are easy to deal with."

"Once these three parties meet, no one can predict what kind of scene it will be."

"We of the Four Major Companies have little influence and are caught in the middle; we only ask for a fair and just opportunity for dialogue."

Having finished, he spoke no more.

One could hear a pin drop in the reception room.

Wang Teng and the other two had stopped all their movements, their faces carrying the composure of a settled situation.

Old Shi had successfully turned what should have been a one-sided crushing annexation into a top-level gamble led by him, involving the Military, the Abyss Domain, and Lin Yu.

He believed that no one could refuse such a game.

As long as Lin Yu sat at this table, Old Shi would transform from a lamb to be slaughtered back into a dealer holding key chips!

He looked at Lin Yu's back and waited.

Waiting for the Young Man to turn around in shock, anger, or solemnity.

He waited anxiously, but Old Shi did not urge him.

The longer Lin Yu thought, the more weight it proved his conditions had.

He needed time.

Old Shi also needed time.

In his view, it was impossible for the three parties—Lin Yu, Fangs, and the Abyss Domain—to reach any consensus.

First, Lin Yu was too strong and too proud. From the moment he stepped in here, he never concealed his purpose in the slightest. Such a person could not back down.

Second, the Abyss Domain. Those people always had a deep-seated rejection of Blue Star's official power. The Abyss Domain was loose, free, and respected the strong. Most of their people acted on impulse and felt instinctive disdain for official institutions like those on Blue Star that required reporting through layers.