Hidden Crisis

On the internet, numerous netizens watched the drama unfold, thoroughly entertained.

The initiators of the 800 billion acquisition of Shenma Technology Company, along with the senior executives of several companies, saw Ning Yifan's reply and felt a complex mix of emotions.

Although it was past 10 PM, nearing 11, another meeting among the companies began shortly after.

It was in the same small conference room at Changhong Company, with the same attendees as the previous meeting. However, unlike before, when there was still a sliver of hope, this time, only helplessness remained on everyone's faces.

The Changhong director was the first to stand, bowing apologetically to the senior executives from the other companies. "I apologize, our plan has failed. We didn't expect the other party to be a young man completely unmoved by money. Or perhaps it's youthful arrogance? Or true strength and his own vision?"

The Hisense director waved his hand and sighed, "It's not your fault. None of us expected something like this to happen. A startup company, with a boss in his twenties, facing decades of profit, actually chooses not to act. So young, yet so composed, sticking to his own business."

The TCL Company director wore a wry smile. "There's no point in saying any of this now. It's all irrelevant to us. In the current situation, does anyone have any ideas on how to solve this problem?"

The Skyworth president said, "What solutions can we possibly have? We can't compete, we can't reverse-engineer the technology, not even imitate it. Our company will have to abandon the television market. Although this is a devastating blow, there's no other way now. We can only try to expand and strengthen our other products, like refrigerators, air conditioners, or others."

Haier Company stated, "Our company has the same idea. Fortunately, the sales of our other products are still decent. Losing the television product line is a severe blow, but it's not to the extent of your companies' losses."

The TCL Company president, who was over fifty, lamented, "I never thought a day would come when a product invented by a young man would force us, companies that have been manufacturing televisions for decades, to cede the market and retreat. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

"At least the only good news is that the inventor is from Daxia Country. If someone from another country had invented and manufactured such a product, and then come to our Daxia Country, defeated us, and eventually occupied the entire television market, that would have been truly humiliating!"

The Changhong director added, "We've weathered storms for decades, from the earliest black-and-white TVs to color TVs. Our opponents were powerful foreign companies with advanced technology – Sony, Samsung, Matsushita, and others. We didn't lose. To think we'd finally lose to a company that's been established for less than half a year. This is the progress of technology, the progress of the times."

After a round of laments, the meeting entered its final stage.

The Hisense director stood up and clasped his hands with the attendees. "Alright, let's not dwell on excessive sentimentality. We shall meet again!"

The Changhong director replied, "I hope we can still be rivals in the future home appliance market."

The Hisense director said, "Until we meet again. I need to return to the company to handle the aftermath. Without acquiring Shenma Technology Company and obtaining the Phantom Projector production technology, our company will be undergoing massive layoffs, estimated at fifty percent. We will also completely shut down the television production line, appease our distributors nationwide, and search for new profit points for the brand. New home appliances, there are many things to be busy with. This is a transition period, and we cannot afford any slack."

The Haier director sighed, "We originally thought our companies' Phantom Projector products would be all over the world. Alas, it's just how it is. Shenma Technology Company..."

With much reluctance, the meeting concluded. The senior executives from each company shook hands and bid farewell, then busied themselves with their respective companies' future development plans, personnel changes, and so on.

This acquisition, which could have created a world's richest man, seemed to be over. Or perhaps, it wasn't over yet!

While countless netizens in Daxia Country were still sighing over the failed acquisition, Samsung Group in South Korea was working day and night to crack the Phantom Projector.

Samsung Group, also known by netizens as the Samsung Empire, is an international conglomerate. Its annual revenue contributes about 30% to the country's income, making it a true behemoth within South Korea!

Samsung Group's businesses happen to include projectors, displays, and LCD TVs, and these businesses account for a significant portion of the group's total revenue.

Shenma Technology Company's sudden rise and the powerful performance of the Phantom Projector had already caught Samsung's attention.

Because of the Phantom Projector, Samsung's display and projector sales business in Daxia had also experienced a cliff-like drop in sales.

Initially, Samsung's senior executives were very concerned about the Daxia Country's home appliance companies' attempts to acquire Shenma Technology. They worried that with the Phantom Projector, these Daxia Country home appliance companies would directly clash with Samsung on the international stage in a short period. Now, it seemed that Samsung's TV and projector products couldn't compete with the Phantom Projector.

The staggering 800 billion price tag also kept Samsung's senior executives on edge. The vast majority of them believed Shenma Technology Company would not refuse, and they had even prepared to fight on the international battlefield against the Daxia Country home appliance companies holding the Phantom Projector.

Fortunately, Shenma Technology Company refused the acquisition, exceeding everyone's expectations. This relieved Samsung's senior executives, but it also increased their urgency to obtain the technology behind the Phantom Projector.

This was a formidable opponent with immense combat power. If not handled properly, if Shenma Technology Company expanded its business globally in the future, Samsung would struggle to cope and lose a significant portion of its market share.

Therefore, driven by Samsung, a technical cracking effort, consuming vast human and material resources, was underway. The goal was to secure their advantageous fields before Shenma Technology Company ventured globally.

The resources mobilized by Samsung Group far surpassed what the companies in Daxia Country could muster.

From professors and scholars at prestigious universities, countless research staff, to numerous imaging and software engineers in South Korea, and professionals in related fields – anyone with talent received tasks related to cracking the Phantom Projector!

Any progress made in the cracking task would be rewarded by Samsung Group with varying amounts, starting from a minimum of 200 million Korean won. For a key breakthrough in cracking the related technology, 200 billion would be awarded.

Could the combined efforts of an entire nation accomplish the cracking?