At the bidding meeting site, Wayne’s professional team and their partner, Murphy Mining, met, a formidable group of thirty people, their presence notably impressive.
There were bid representatives from Albert Steel Company at the venue, the person in charge dressed in an old-fashioned manner, difficult to communicate with, facing numerous polite greetings, he kept a cold face throughout.
The Albert Steel Company is the largest steel enterprise in Luzelbourg, with national Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories.
In other words, the company’s decisions are greatly influenced by politics.
Choosing Frank or Prussia is the biggest dilemma facing Luzelbourg, to speak broadly, this bidding meeting represents the small nation’s choice of sides, neutrality is not simply a matter of choice.
The steel industry is both the making and undoing.
If Luzelbourg merely had astonishing iron ore reserves, it would be nothing significant, but the previous leaders, with their foresight, chose not to behave like vassal states exporting resources, but rather made use of the iron for themselves, turning Luzelbourg into a developed industrial nation.
This made things quite awkward!
Luzelbourg, being so small, has to export its surplus steel capacity, heavily economically dependent on both Frank and Prussia, with railways that cross the border connecting the two countries, neither could be offended, maintaining a facade of neutrality.
Being forced to choose sides is worse than asking for death.
Murphy Mining’s warm approach met with a cold reception, failing to elicit a smile from the person in charge, while another group, Sahr Mining from Prussia, did.
Nicholas shook his head repeatedly, the preferential treatment was clear, and if he wasn’t mistaken, the outcome of this bidding meeting was already decided.
Wayne also frowned deeply and led his team away from the venue.
In the car, Nicholas, sitting in the passenger seat, discussed the possibility of turning the tables, although slim, it wasn’t entirely without chances.
If a few companies joined forces and put pressure on the Luzelbourg authorities in the name of Frank, they could ultimately win with a lower bid.
This afternoon’s meeting was to finalize the cooperation plan.
"It’s tough, if it were me, I would choose Prussia, too."
Wayne was not optimistic, Prussia was too strong, capable of attack and defense, with unparalleled military might.
On the other hand, while Frank is indeed powerful, having long enjoyed the reputation of the world’s foremost land army, that’s all in the past now. In recent years it has hunkered down at home, not venturing out, focused on building armor and fortifications, with a major strategic emphasis on defense.
One side is overbearing while the other struggles to fortify, it’s clear who is strong and who is weak, even a neutral nation knows which way to lean.
Luzelbourg fears Frank but fears Prussia even more; of the two evils, it naturally leans towards Prussia.
As for courting both, it’s impossible, they don’t have that capacity, understand?
Seeing Wayne fraught with worry, Mona blinked and placed her hand on the back of his.
Wayne withdrew his hand and pressed hers, no other intentions, purely a quirk of his competitiveness.
Nicholas brought up this afternoon’s meeting again, gently persuading Wayne to hold on, although victory doesn’t solve everything, it can cover up everything and collaborating with Boswell Mining would benefit everyone.
Wayne was somewhat tempted; he didn’t want to lose, especially since this was his first task after becoming the heir, and losing would certainly provoke Old Login’s chastisement.
Chastisement as a pretense for revenge.
He could already envision that face, along with the inevitable boasting of ’back in my day.’
But with Boswell Mining...
Even winning wouldn’t feel good!
"Damn Old Login, he must have done this on purpose."
Wayne looked to Nicholas: "I’m a little tired, attend the meeting this afternoon on my behalf. If you can talk, then talk, if not, forget it. Being humble is fine, because humility is free, but conceding benefits is out of the question."
The pressure landed on Nicholas’s shoulders; how to negotiate cooperation without giving in? This was making things difficult for him!
Nicholas comforted himself, considering this a test from his new boss, and if he could pass this test, he would become an indispensable figure in his new boss’s eyes, and his place in Lundan’s business world was assured.
Having psyched himself up with his own pep talk, Nicholas was full of resolve.
At three o’clock in the afternoon, the scene of the cooperation meeting.
Young Master Irwin of the Boswell Family entered the scene looking refreshed; his mining company too had received smiles from the person in charge. Hearing that Wayne’s side had hit a wall, he wanted to offer consolation to his friend face to face.
There was no one to be seen.
Nicholas was there, but in Irwin’s eyes he didn’t count, seeing that Wayne had only sent a subordinate, his smile started to fade.
So much for the heir of the Lando Family!
Irwin was annoyed by Wayne’s disregard, yet delighted at Wayne’s incompetence, anticipating the decline of the Lando Family, their business taken over by the Boswell Family, and his own image as the future mayor of Lundan’s Financial City.
Irwin didn’t acknowledge Nicholas, ’Why should someone of your standing sit at the same table with me, have your boss come and talk.’
If he doesn’t show up, consider it your boss’s automatic withdrawal from today’s meeting.
Irwin rudely dismissed Nicholas, effectively kicking Murphy Mining out of the game, and settling in to watch the spectacle of a dog-eat-dog battle.
It was all clear to see, it had nothing to do with him, it was the consequence of Wayne’s own making.
Irwin looked forward to it more than watching dogs fight, eager to see Wayne return to Lundan, humiliated, to face Austin’s raging fury.
That’s the real dog fight, the old dog biting the young one, and the scene had to be magnificent!
Nicholas, kicked out of the meeting, was also full of anger and reported back to Wayne at the hotel. He didn’t dare express his resentment, only citing his lack of competence.
"It’s not your fault, he intended to do this anyway. I merely gave him the excuse he needed."
Wayne reassured Nicholas: "You did well, I am very satisfied."