"We already have the media in our hands. As for the resources, we don't lack them either. We can definitely bring them to ruins. Just a little bad PR for necrosis, and we can do it," Mark suggested during the meeting.

Shu gazed at Mark and didn't say anything.

"Mark is right," Fisch also chimed in. "If we can create fear in the public about the safety of the Necrosis products, that would make us win most of the war easily. When Necrosis is ruined, we can buy them and take over their tech. You know how the public is. We can easily make this work in our favor. The public will never know the truth."

"The trust in Necrosis would hit rock bottom. Their shares will go back to where they came from. It would be much easier to swallow than whole during their fall," he continued.

"What about you, Drake? What's your opinion?" Shu asked softly. There wasn't a single emotion visible on Shu's face.

"I oppose this. We can use this method, but there are just too many risks and uncertainties. A single mistake can cost us big time. The US authorities are working with them even closer than they are working with us. If it comes to light that we did it, we would be the ones hit hard. Our shares might not plunge as extremely, but the authorities will be a mess to deal with, even for us," Drake answered, opposing the plan.

"I'm not even talking about the number of lawsuits we will face for doing it. Overall, it's a risky idea, and I oppose it." Drake expressed his opinion openly that he was against the idea suggested by Mark.

"Alright. That's two in support and one in opposition to the suggestion. What about you, Alem? What is your opinion?" Shu asked Alem.

"Why are you asking him? He doesn't have voting power in a matter of such importance. It should be decided by us four," Drake said, squinting his eyes. 

Shu frowned, but he didn't say anything immediately. He basically ignored Drake as he asked Alem again, "Speak. What is your opinion about it?"

The face of Drake distorted as he was ignored, but he didn't say anything.

"I think going down this path might be detrimental to our growth. If it's exposed, we might be in deep waters. We would lose the trust of people instead, which we worked so hard to gain. We can take some precautions to make sure we aren't exposed, but the risk will always be there," Alem answered after taking a deep breath.

"Interesting. So the votes are tied. Alem, did you do that intentionally, so I become the final vote?" Shu asked Alem as he smiled.

Alem didn't answer.

"Alright. Here is my suggestion, the plan Mark suggested..." 

Shu was in the middle of his sentence when his phone started ringing.

Everyone looked at Shu blankly. They all wondered why he didn't silence his phone when it was such an important meeting, but his position was the highest, so they couldn't oppose him.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back," Shu said as he stood up and left. 

After Shu left, the others relaxed even more, but none of them said anything. 

It was pin-drop silence, and only the sound of the creaking of chairs could be heard.

"Yeah, Speak," Shu said as he picked up the phone.

Shu stayed silent and only heard for the next five minutes before he disconnected the call. Throughout the conversation, he hadn't said a single word.

A thoughtful look graced his face as he placed the phone in his pocket. "That's pretty interesting."

He walked back to the meeting.

"Alright. Where were we?" Shu asked as he sat in his seat. 

He remembered instantly as he nodded his head. "Yeah, my opinion."

"My stance on the matter is simple. We won't do as Mark suggested. Drake and Alem are right. Even though it's a good way to eliminate an enemy, this is not the right time to do it as we will not only be going against Necrosis, but we will be battling against the government that's behind them as well."

He soon declared his verdict.

"Hmm? I thought you would have the same idea. So, how else do you wish to buy Necrosis? We can't buy them like they are now," Mark replied after hearing Shu reject his suggestion. 

"I have a way. And I just wanted to inform you that I would be going forward with the talks with the Necrosis guys. As for the funds that we will use to buy them and where to arrange them from, I'll tell you that as well after our first round of talks conclude," he told the others.

"Alright. That was all for today. I'll call you again when I get a clearer picture of what we're dealing with. The meeting is over now," Shu said as he stood up.

He turned back to leave but stopped just before the door. 

"Oh, some of you were concerned about commencing this meeting without other members. If any of you wish, you can notify them later," Shu said before he left the chamber.

Without stopping anywhere, he walked to the helicopter, which was waiting at the top of the Dream Corporation Headquarters.

The Butler of Shu was walking behind him. After some time, he asked, "How did the meeting go?"

"The meeting went like it was supposed to go. What were you expecting?" Shu asked with a faint smile on his face.

"Oh, I did get a good piece of information," he muttered as he stepped inside the helicopter.

"Oh, what news?" The butler asked Shu as he stepped inside as well. 

"Just some information about a little rat in our Organization. It would be fun to see that rat run around. Wonder how much we can use the rat," Shu replied softly.

The helicopter started rising in the air and went back.

Thirty minutes had passed since the helicopter started flying. It was flying above a barren land.

In a dark room at Dream Corporation, a man was standing alone, looking out the glass window.

He looked at his clock.

"It should be the time."

"5... 4... 3..."

The man started a reverse countdown as a faint smile appeared on his face.

"2... 1... Boom"

"Goodbye, Schumacher Maxwell," the man muttered softly.

Far away from that place, a burning helicopter was falling to the ground. An explosion had just taken place inside the helicopter, causing it to blow up. What remained of it was falling down to the ground.

The pieces of the helicopter crashed on the ground.

****

In another part of the country, Ryder was still drinking with Herriet.

After spending half an hour with her, he left with her and dropped her back at the office.

After dropping her, he straight away went back home since he had planned for something today.

It was Alice's leave, and he wanted to take her on an outing as it had been a long time since they spent some time together.

He reached the Shu Estate and went straight to Alice's room.

He knocked on the door a few times. "Alice, can I come in?" He asked.

"Ah, yeah," Alice's voice came from inside.

Ryder twisted the doorknob and opened the door before he stepped inside.

He could see Alice lying on the bed, covered in a blanket. The AC was turned on, and the room was chilled. 

"You're being lazy even today?" Ryder asked as he chuckled.

He walked closer to her and sat beside her.

He reached out his hand and touched Alice's cheeks.

"Get up. Let's go out today," he let out softly.

"Hmm? Really?" 

Hearing Ryder's words, Alice sat up in excitement.

"Yeah. I know that it has been a long time since we last went out. I was thinking that it was a perfect opportunity since the both of us are free," Ryder answered.

"Ah, yes. I'll get ready now," Alice replied as she stepped out of the blanket and walked over to the wardrobe.

She brought out a dress and showed it to Ryder. "How's this?"

Even though she was showing a dress to Ryder, his gaze unintentionally landed some other place.

Even though the room was not hot, since Alice was lying in a blanket, her body was covered in a little sweat.

She was only wearing a thin t-shirt, and even that was sticking close to her body, highlighting her breasts.

Surprisingly enough, she wasn't wearing anything inside the t-shirt, which Ryder realized as he saw the emerging peaks at the center.

He wanted to look elsewhere as it wasn't appropriate, but he couldn't. It was as if his eyes were protesting against him, not letting him look elsewhere.

"Ah, What happened? Why aren't you answering? Did you not like this dress?" Alice asked Ryder as she saw him not respond.

She walked closer to Ryder and stood just half a meter away from him.

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