64: I'm just a worker

It was the only company among the four major potion suppliers in Linzhou that specialized in mental-type potions.

Li Mo picked up his teacup, gently blew away the floating tea leaves, and slowly took a sip.

He didn't even look at the report, nor at the plummeting stock chart.

"Director Wang, President Feng, President Shi."

He set down the teacup with a crisp clink.

"Being anxious is useless."

Wang Teng slammed his fist on the table.

"Li Mo! You fucking stop with the sarcasm!"

"You're not the one being targeted right now, so of course you're not anxious!"

Feng Rui also spoke coldly.

"President Li, this time, among all the black market potions, only your Clarity Potion was not included. Don't you find that strange?"

President Shi was practically in tears.

"President Li, our four companies are connected by a common thread; you can't just abandon us! Please, think of something, think of something!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mo finally looked up.

He scanned the three distraught men. For him, this matter was something he could help with or not... but their attitude undoubtedly annoyed him greatly.

"Strange? Not strange."

"Those circulating on the black market are all basic attribute potions for strength, agility, and physique. These potions have high demand but low technical barriers and are highly replaceable."

"As for my Clarity Potion, it affects mental attributes. Most people don't need it; only spellcasters breaking through bottlenecks or scholars doing research would buy it."

"The market is small, the target audience is precise, so naturally, no one wants to touch it."

He paused, then added a sentence.

"Moreover, because your three companies' potions have lowered their prices, many professionals now have more disposable income, which they're using to buy my Clarity Potion to boost their mental power."

"In these three days, our sales have even increased by five points."

Boom!

These words were like throwing a lit match into a powder keg.

Wang Teng abruptly stood up, an immense sense of oppression washing over them.

"You surname Li! What do you mean?!"

"Are you saying that while our three companies are in trouble, you've benefited?!"

"Don't forget, we share the same shareholders! We prosper together, and we suffer together!"

Li Mo smiled.

He leaned back in his chair, spreading his hands.

"Director Wang, calm down. Shareholders are shareholders, and business is business."

"We certainly prosper together, but when it comes to suffering... it's every man for himself."

"Besides, this incident clearly shows someone is targeting your three companies. What good would it do me to get involved? To invite trouble upon myself?"

Ruthless.

Cold-blooded.

The naked face of a businessman.

Under Feng Rui's glasses, a cold glint flashed.

"Li Mo, are you going to break the alliance and betray us?"

"It's not betrayal," Li Mo shook his head. "I'm just not doing a losing business. Your troubles, you solve them yourselves. My Qingyun Pharmaceutical will not participate."

Having said that, he actually stood up directly, straightened the collar of his suit, and prepared to leave.

"You dare to leave!" Wang Teng roared.

"See if I dare," Li Mo said without looking back.

"Could it... could it really be that there's no way at all?!" Feng Rui's voice became sharp with agitation. He propped his hands on the table, staring intensely at Wang Teng and President Shi.

President Shi felt irritated by his gaze, and a surge of anger rushed to his head.

"What's the use of yelling at me!"

He bristled instantly like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, roaring indiscriminately.

"If you have the guts, go find Chen Ao!"

"Isn't Chen Ao known as the King of Linzhou's underground world! Can't he handle this small matter?!"

Chen Ao.

As soon as this name was uttered, the entire conference room fell silent.

Even Li Mo, who was about to pull the door open and leave, paused with his hand on the doorknob.

Chen Ao, a legendary figure entrenched in Linzhou's gray areas.

No one knew his true origins, only that all the illicit businesses in Linzhou City—the black market, intelligence, fencing stolen goods... all had his shadow behind them.

He was a behemoth lurking in the shadows.

A flicker of hope ignited simultaneously in Feng Rui's and President Shi's eyes.

That's right!

Chen Ao!

For a storm stirred up in the black market like this, he was the most suitable person to approach!

Feng Rui immediately turned to Wang Teng, his attitude instantly doing a 180-degree turn.

"Director Wang! I remember, you... you know Chen Ao?"

"I recall you mentioning at the last banquet that you and Brother Ao were sworn brothers!"

President Shi also scrambled over, his face plastered with a fawning smile.

"Director Wang! Big Brother Wang! You can't hold back now! As long as Brother Ao is willing to step forward, let alone a 30% discount, even if he sinks all those goods into the river, no one would dare say a word!"

Wang Teng's face instantly turned a purplish-red.

He... he had indeed bragged about that after a few drinks.

But that was just bragging!

He had only seen Chen Ao from afar at an auction once, without even exchanging a single word!

Now, being publicly roasted by Feng Rui, he was in an impossible situation.

"I..."

Wang Teng stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

Feng Rui watched him, his heart sinking little by little.

He sneered.

"What's wrong? Director Wang, why don't you give Brother Ao a call?"

"Tell him to break the legs of these market-disrupting scoundrels and throw them out to feed the fish!"

"I..." Wang Teng made a hoarse sound in his throat, unable to utter a single word.

His demeanor made it clear to everyone.

The three men sighed.

"Li Mo! Stop right there!"

Feng Rui's voice was sharp. He slammed his hand on the table and pointed at Li Mo's retreating back.

"Do you really think you can walk out of this door today?"

"Our four companies have cross-shareholdings, and our interests are deeply intertwined! If we go down, your Qingyun Pharmaceutical will also suffer greatly! When the board of directors investigates, you can forget about being CEO!"

President Shi scrambled to the door, his obese body almost blocking the way. His face was filled with pleading and a frantic, feigned ferocity.

"That's right! President Li! Brother Li! We're all in this together! You can't leave! If you leave, we'll all be finished! The shareholders won't let you off!"

Wang Teng remained silent, he just stared intently at Li Mo, his heavy breathing echoing in the silent conference room, his bloodshot eyes filled with a final madness and threat.

However, facing the encirclement of the three, Li Mo merely turned around slowly.

His face showed no panic, no anger, not even a hint of emotion.

Only a kind of... mocking amusement, as if watching clowns.

These people had never considered him one of them... because... "Cross-shareholdings?"

Li Mo chuckled, his laugh particularly grating in the tense air.

"President Feng, have you perhaps misunderstood something?"

He extended a finger, pointing at Wang Teng, then at Feng Rui.

"Director Wang is the Chairman of Juli Group and a major shareholder of Fengxing Technology. President Feng, you are also one of the founders of Fengxing Technology. President Shi, Panshi Biology is your family business."

"Your companies are your lives. If your companies go bankrupt, you'll have to jump from this rooftop."

He changed his tone, pointing to himself.

"And me?"

"I am merely the Chief Executive Officer of Qingyun Pharmaceutical. Just an employee who receives a salary and a small share of dividends."

Li Mo's smile grew wider, carrying a cruel, condescending edge.

"You're right, all four companies suffer together. But what suffers are the company's assets, the shareholders' money."

"What does that have to do with me, Li Mo?"

"The worst outcome is simply the board of directors being enraged and firing me as CEO. I'll take my severance, move to another city, and I can still rise again."

He spread his hands, his posture relaxed and unconcerned.

Li Mo watched all this with indifference, straightened his tie, and turned again, walking towards the door.

This time, no one dared to stop him.

Just as his hand was about to touch the doorknob.

"Wait."

A hoarse, low voice sounded.

It was Wang Teng.

His voice held none of the previous rage and despair, only a strange calm.

Li Mo's footsteps halted.

He didn't turn around, just stood quietly, as if granting this defeated dog one last shred of dignity.

"I just received some news."

Wang Teng slowly raised his head, a peculiar light flickering in his bloodshot eyes.

"The source has been found."

"All the low-priced potions come from one place in the Linzhou black market."

He uttered four words, one by one.

"Old Ghost Hall."

"President Li."

Wang Teng's voice carried a hint of cruel satisfaction.

"This fellow named Old Ghost, you should be familiar with him, shouldn't you?"