Chapter 519 - 324: Don’t Advance to Tier Four

Lin Qi led Liu Xingyuan and Liu Xinglu to the reception area.

The brand-new office contained only various pieces of conference equipment and wasn’t yet stocked with tea.

But even if there had been tea, no one would have had the stomach for it while looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the uncleared battlefield below.

Liu Xingyuan and Liu Xinglu sat together on one side. Lin Qi didn’t choose a seat next to them, but sat opposite the two, maintaining a clear sense of distance.

After they were seated, Lin Qi looked at Liu Xingyuan, and Liu Xingyuan looked back at Lin Qi. Liu Xinglu’s gaze, meanwhile, darted back and forth between the two.

Liu Xinglu’s headache intensified.

’This wasn’t what we agreed on at all!’

’On the way over, didn’t he say he wanted to have a heart-to-heart with Lin Qi? How did it turn into this standoff the second they met?’

But Liu Xuan was still reminding Liu Xinglu with a new message every two minutes.

Liu Xinglu had no choice but to speak up again. "Xingyuan, didn’t you just say you wanted to talk to Lin Qi about company matters?"

Liu Xinglu wasn’t just trying to get Liu Xingyuan to talk; he turned to Lin Qi and continued, "Lin Qi, I heard from Liu Xuan that she wants to increase your shares in United Pharmaceutical to 40%. It’s to be considered your full completion of the company’s prior incentive plan, especially since almost all the other initial employees of United Pharmaceutical are dead."

Liu Xinglu’s efforts were effective.

At least Lin Qi spoke. "Forty percent of the shares? Is that really happening?"

Lin Qi had been completely unaware that Liu Xuan had such a plan.

Following the previous change in shareholdings in Alliance City, United Pharmaceutical had released 21% of its shares to the Medical Small Business Alliance.

If what Liu Xinglu said was true, Liu Xuan would end up holding one percent fewer shares than Lin Qi.

For a company with the potential to become a major corporation, such a decision was utterly baffling.

Lin Qi shifted his train of thought, considering the problem from Liu Xuan’s perspective.

’Setting aside any personal feelings, and looking at it purely from the standpoint of Liu Xuan’s interests...’

’This act of giving wasn’t actually a loss for her, not really.’

’On the surface, it looked like Liu Xuan would have fewer shares than me, but the portion acquired by the Medical Small Business Alliance only included dividend rights.’

’Liu Xuan would still hold 60% of the voting rights, giving her absolute control over the company.’

’And at this stage, the vast majority of the company’s value was derived from the fact that I am about to become an S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher.’

’It’s true that I’m bound by a confidentiality agreement, restricting me to producing S-Class Potions only at United Pharmaceutical.’

’But even in several decades, United Pharmaceutical might not be able to develop another S-Class Pharmaceutical Researcher besides me.’

Having figured this out, Lin Qi’s composure returned.

He glanced at Liu Xinglu and had a sudden thought. ’This guy is up to no good, too!’

’He’s trying to use Liu Xuan’s decision to cloud my judgment!’

Liu Xingyuan only heard Lin Qi’s initial question and couldn’t possibly guess his inner calculations. He followed up on Lin Qi’s words, saying, "That’s right. As of today, you are the largest shareholder of United Pharmaceutical. Any thoughts on that?"

Lin Qi was perfectly composed. He replied, "Naturally, I will perform the duties of my position. I will produce United Pharmaceutical’s first S-Class Potion within one month. The company needs some good news to counteract the negative publicity from the Red Fruit City incident."

’An S-Class Potion within a month?’

’Is Lin Qi really that confident?’

Liu Xingyuan didn’t think Lin Qi was lying. He really did possess that level of Talent.

A look of surprise mixed with admiration flashed across his eyes before vanishing. Liu Xingyuan continued to follow Lin Qi’s lead. "The company certainly needs to get back on its feet—both United Pharmaceutical and Liu’s Heavy Industries."

After saying that, Liu Xingyuan’s tone shifted abruptly. "Lin Qi, as the administrator of Red Fruit City, there’s something I’m quite curious about. What do you think of the Liu Clan?"

Lin Qi remained impassive, but he knew in his heart that the real conversation was just beginning.

"Compared to the other two Cyber Cities I’ve been to, Red Fruit City is the safest for ordinary people to live in. The Liu Clan deserves great credit for that."

"Beyond safety, the tuition for Liu’s Academy is lower than in other Cyber Cities, which gives more opportunities to common people. As a result, there’s much less resentment toward the corporation from the general populace here than in other cities."

Lin Qi was naturally picking out the positives. Combined with his own known history, his words sounded entirely truthful on the surface.

Liu Xingyuan felt a little resigned, knowing that Lin Qi was extremely wary of him.

So, Liu Xingyuan tried a different question. "Then what do you think of Liu Xuan? Or, let me put it another way, do you think you have feelings for her? I want you to think carefully before you answer. In this world, feelings are both the cheapest and the most expensive thing there is."

It seemed like a softer question, but it was probably what Liu Xingyuan had really wanted to ask all along.

Company interests were only one of the reasons he was meeting with Lin Qi today.

Liu Xuan was the critical factor.

The Liu Clan had reached its current state in large part because Liu Xingyuan placed too much importance on sentiment.

Too often, his emotions got the better of his reason, and as a result, the company was starting to decline.

As the man at the company’s helm, Liu Xingyuan considered himself unqualified.

Hearing Liu Xingyuan’s question, Lin Qi couldn’t answer immediately. He fell into thought for a moment.

Then he gave an affirmative answer. "I believe I do."

He had never openly said anything to Liu Xuan, but he had often let his actions speak for his feelings.

For instance, there was the time in Greenfield City when he’d impulsively chosen to act from the shadows, or the time in Alliance City when he hadn’t hesitated to reveal some of his long-hidden trump cards...