After receiving a signal from Robert, manager Cameron Oaks said passionately, "Gentlemen, Kotei entered the department-store supermarket business at the beginning of the year. We've already achieved remarkable results in Vienna. In just three short months, we've gone from nothing to become the industry leader..."
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Cameron, but if by 'industry leader' you mean the industry's biggest loser, I don't think there's any need to bring it up!" James Hurd rudely cut Cameron off.
James Hurd was Robert's uncle and the company's second-largest shareholder. He had been the company's personnel director and had founded Kotei Department Store alongside the elder Robert. He wielded considerable influence over the company, though he had since retired.
Robert's expression changed drastically. James had come out of retirement, which clearly meant he was already very unhappy with him.
"Mr. James, the losses are only temporary. Once we drive all our competitors out of the market, it'll be time for us to reap the rewards!" Cameron tried to explain.
"Then, Mr. Cameron, tell me: how much longer will it take to drive all our competitors out of the market?" Zamar Hurd, Robert's younger brother, asked with a sneer.
Seeing Cameron fall silent, Zamar continued, "You should know that our losses are growing every day. Kotei is a big company with deep pockets, but don't forget that our foundation is department stores, not department-store supermarkets! We can't pour all our resources into this bottomless pit!"
Seeing that Cameron had already been beaten back, Robert knew it was his turn. After a moment's thought, he said, "All right. We've already reached this point. There's no use saying these things now!"
"Kotei has already invested too much in department-store supermarkets—a full eighty thousand pounds! Gentlemen, do you think we can still pull out now?"
"What? Eighty thousand pounds? Are you sure you got that right?" Zamar jumped to his feet and challenged Robert.
"My dear brother, I had the documents sent to all the shareholders yesterday. Don't tell me you didn't receive them!" Robert said irritably.
Robert had never had much patience for his playboy younger brother. He cursed inwardly, Damn it, at a time like this, you idiot, you're still making trouble for me. I don't know how it happened. We're both from the Hurd family, so how did we end up with an idiot like you?
Zamar gave an awkward laugh, then sat back down. Clearly, he was still somewhat afraid of his elder brother.
James thought it over, then stepped in to play peacemaker. "All right. We've come this far, so let's think of a way to weather this together. The company has already invested eighty thousand pounds—that's one-tenth of Kotei's assets. We're in too deep to turn back now."
After a pause, when no one spoke, James asked, "Robert, the company's cash flow must be close to running into trouble. What's your plan?"
"The company has made a good deal of money over the years, and everyone's annual dividends have been substantial. I hope the shareholders will inject some funds to tide the company over, with each of us contributing in proportion to our shares," Robert said calmly.
The room erupted in an instant, with everyone talking at once. Some agreed; others objected.
"How much exactly is the shortfall the company needs to get through this crisis?" James asked with concern.
Everyone turned to Robert, their eyes full of expectation. It seemed that if the shortfall wasn't too large, they were prepared to put up the money.
"I had the company's accounts brought here. The current funding gap is two hundred thousand pounds—in other words, five years' worth of everyone's dividends," Robert said solemnly.
Everyone's expression changed. The figure was simply too large. Even divided according to their shares, it would be no small sum. They certainly had the assets, but who kept that much cash lying around? They had either spent it or invested it in businesses.
"How could it possibly be that much? The supermarket project only took an investment of eighty thousand pounds!" Zamar asked, his face pale.
"It's simple. The department stores have been affected too. Many of our products overlap with those sold in supermarkets, and that's already cut into our profits. The key issue is that the supermarket project still needs more investment. This figure is only the best-case scenario; we may need even more money down the line," Robert explained.
"We can provide the money, but what's your ultimate goal?" James asked solemnly, staring straight at Robert.
Robert knew that once he convinced James, the matter would be settled. The others posed no real threat; their combined shares already exceeded two-thirds.
"Drive out those little fry and put Kotei Department Store's supermarkets on equal footing with Volvo!" Robert said solemnly.
"Mm, very good. It'll be difficult to achieve, but it's still feasible!" James smiled, a rare sight.
Frankly speaking, Robert was the most capable of the next generation of the Hurd family, and James had always thought highly of his nephew.
At the same time, he was concerned about Robert's arrogance. The Hurd family was merely a latecomer in the world of capital; they weren't yet strong enough to challenge the Kohary Family. After all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was still a world ruled by the nobility!
This time, Robert had gone straight into a price war without resorting to other tricks. That wasn't because he had such high moral standards; he simply didn't dare break the rules.
When facing the Kohary Family, they wouldn't have chosen to enter the market at this time without the backing of Hungarian flour capitalists.
"By the way, Robert, what did those Hungarians say? We need them to come through for us now," James asked, getting straight to the point.
"I've already spoken with them, but it didn't go very well. Aside from the terms we'd already agreed on—they'll provide us with a two-hundred-thousand-pound loan, and we can buy flour at cost—they don't intend to do anything more for us," Robert said bitterly.
It was true that two hundred thousand pounds was a huge sum, but it was a loan, and it required collateral. Apart from being able to buy flour at cost, they hadn't received any of the benefits they'd expected.
"Wasn't this what we expected? They wouldn't go all out for our sake. You need to get those terms settled quickly. If Ferdinand catches on, you probably won't get even those concessions. After that, getting another loan won't be so easy!" James instructed him gravely.
Robert said bitterly, "All right, Uncle. I'll take care of it right away!"
This incident had clearly dealt him a heavy blow. The influence of the old aristocracy was beyond his imagination. Ferdinand had merely shown a little goodwill, and those flour capitalists had already pulled back.
"Robert's already taken the bait. Franz, what do you plan to do next?" Ferdinand asked, looking at Franz expectantly.
"Your Highness, why not let them sink in deeper before we make our move? For now, I plan to clear the field. For instance, we could lower prices by another five percent. In less than two months, half the supermarkets in Vienna will be dead!" Franz said with a wicked grin.
Ferdinand laughed along with him. Though the supermarkets in Vienna were all losing money, Shineway Food Group was raking it in. Retail prices had fallen, but sales had risen, and the wholesale price hadn't changed.
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