The way Military Science’s people travel is different from Huang Ban. People from Huang Ban always act like they’re the top of the world, walking with their noses in the air. The lower-level employees disguise themselves with very distinctive personal styles to release the stress of work, whereas only the higher-ups become increasingly formal.
That’s because Huang Ban Sanlang is someone who values tradition and rules greatly; the closer you are to him, the less you can act out.
Military Science, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Huang Ban. Middle and lower-level employees are always dressed in the same old way: black suits, leather shoes, and slicked-back shiny hair, regardless of gender. They are very serious and proper in speaking and acting.
For example, the person sitting across from Lin Miao, Percy Stuart, a member of the sixth division of the light weapon manufacturing department of Military Science.
He was wearing a perfectly pressed suit, and though he hadn’t spoken, there was a hint of disdain in his eyes.
These company dogs from large corporations have always looked down on others, considering themselves as one of the major players manipulating global economic, political, and military conflicts.
It’s a common issue among employees of big companies.
The company’s prestige equals my prestige, while others are just insignificant disparity.
Even though they might walk out tomorrow only to be run over by a group of mercenaries.
Lin Miao placed the acquisition documents he had finished reading to one side.
"You want to acquire my company?"
"This is a very profitable deal for your company."
Despite his arrogance, Percy was very poised when discussing business.
"In Night City, no other company could offer a higher price than us, even Huang Ban. This is our sincerity, which I’m sure you can perceive."
million Eurodollars is certainly a significant income for a newly-founded company, especially for Lin Miao’s company with a registered capital of only 500,000, renting premises with no formal factory before, entirely relying on a workshop with two machine tools and smuggled, assembled exoskeletons. It’s still a reasonable deal.
If you don’t consider the patents and weapon prospects.
"Your company has currently received orders of around eighty to a hundred, and delivery times have been scheduled for next month. It means your monthly output is only about 1.5 million, and the bar downstairs is doing poorly too, mostly needing your own money to subsidize, or it’ll have to close. At this rate, you can’t earn much a month."
"Moreover, this equipment isn’t a daily commodity. Our investment market management department at Military Science has already calculated that the market for this equipment in Night City is at most 300 units, and that’s the best-case scenario without competition from other companies."
"This sales peak will last until the end of this month at most. Afterward, the orders you receive each month won’t exceed 15 units, and there will be a large maintenance demand; this is a pure expenditure in the later stage. If the market cannot be expanded, you’ll face only a slow death by a lack of funds."
What Percy said was spot-on. For a small-scale company like Lin Miao’s, the best choice then would be to cut back on logistical services and lay off employees to reduce expenses.
But the problem is the people buying these exoskeletons are either gangs or bar clubs; none are easy to mess with.
By then, bankruptcy is just a matter of time.
As for expanding trade routes and selling exoskeletons to other cities, it requires a huge amount of money, far surpassing the current burn rate, which is not something a small company can afford.
Even after spending huge sums of money to transport exoskeletons to other cities, the local market might have already been occupied by others, resulting in even greater losses.
This is the fate of products without technical substance.
Lin Miao certainly knew these principles, so he nodded slightly and said approvingly,
"As expected of Military Science, as expected of a big company, you thoroughly investigate. But I’m actually more pessimistic than you think; I estimate that before you sell 300 units, you’d have blown up my company and factory."
"Even this 3 million acquisition fee is fake. If I signed above, you’d have the city government immediately order the shutdown of this shell company and impose a huge financial penalty on me in the name of financial fraud."
The company Lin Miao rented was used as a shell, with no actual production line and workshop inside. Military Science’s people could see through this little trick at a glance.
There’s no problem doing it himself, but selling it to Military Science would be fraud, and he’d be consumed completely.
Percy was also taken aback. This guy actually saw through their trap, although the methods are different, the outcome is the same.
Anyway, for Military Science, they never planned on paying from the start.
Percy quickly adjusted.
"It seems Mr. Lin is also an understanding person, so you should do sensible things. Things that shouldn’t be sold shouldn’t appear on the market, and we’re not the only ones thinking this way."
"Now closing down the factory would be good for everyone..."
"That’s not certain."
Lin Miao interrupted the other party, tapping his index finger on the table.
"Isn’t it possible that this is just wishful thinking on your part?"
Percy was surprised, was this person planning to recklessly threaten Military Science?
"Huang Ban came to me, right before you. However, their attitude was better than yours, and they are quite interested in a weapon control system that doesn’t require a two-way neural connection."
"Impossible." Percy was very disdainful of Lin Miao’s lie. During this period, Military Science’s intelligence department knew exactly who had entered this building.
"Do you think you understand Huang Ban better than Military Science?"