December 19, Eastern Time.
30 Hudson Yards.
The entire conference center was in a tense yet efficient state of battle readiness.
If yesterday's meeting had been a grand strategic deployment, then today's decision-making session was a jaw-dropping blitzkrieg.
Director Jin had completely regained her usual sharp, commanding style.
She delivered at full intensity throughout.
They took less than an hour's break at noon, and after a simple business lunch, the meeting immediately resumed.
As the meeting's chair, Director Jin gave no one the chance to drag things out.
The laser pointer in her hand swept rapidly across the holographic projection as she laid out and set the tone for grand yet precise five-year strategic plans, along with resource restructuring proposals for major subsidiaries and branch offices, at a blistering pace.
From supply-chain restructuring in North America, to upgraded tax compliance in Europe, to aggressive expansion in the Asia-Pacific region—
Even the most important investment resolution concerning hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into North America's AI industry—
All of it passed swiftly without dispute.
The shareholder representatives present could barely find any angle from which to object.
The occasional representatives who raised objections or doubts were brushed aside with a few pointed, logical explanations that struck directly at the heart of the matter, carrying even an oppressive sense of, "Does this really need to be asked?"
That was the dominance of "TheGoldenSmile."
Before absolute logic and results, any objection seemed pale and powerless.
"Since no one has any further questions, today's agenda is concluded."
Secretary Jin rose to her feet, her slender figure appearing especially upright and cool beneath the projector's beam.
She closed the folder and swept her gaze across the room.
"Meeting adjourned."
Those two short words landed with force.
The clock on the wall had just struck