Ote Needs You Dead by Five

"That's just awkward."

"..." Nearl sighed.

After settling down in the countryside of Tsvonnek, Oute naturally began planning his move into the city.

He chose a terrible excuse:

As a pharmaceutical company, Rhodes Island has long-term contact with infected individuals and needs to procure infection control equipment. To ensure long-term procurement, Rhodes Island needs to establish a permanent base in the city.

In order to ensure the self-sufficiency of the branch offices, they need to hold certain assets.

The city bureaucrats would normally never have allowed Rhodes Island to set up shop, but Qiesibo reluctantly gave Oute his endorsement.

Dyster read aloud the slogan posted outside the construction site, "Shields transform into musical instruments, while guns, swords, and staves form musical notes."

"They all sound like auspicious meanings!"

Nearl remained silent.

The knight's weapons and armor not only served as decorative items but also became sculptures that imbued a contract with meaning...

Money circulates, contracts are broken, but what about the "knight" who gives meaning to both?

"Nearl, let's go, we still have work to do." Oute interrupted the knight's philosophical thoughts.

Gail Industries.

"... You mean, Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals wants to purchase a batch of angiography equipment production lines?" the person in charge asked incredulously.

Angiography is the most effective inexpensive infection detection technology; among usable technologies, it is the cheapest. Its basic principle is similar to the 21st-century technology of using a mobile phone camera with a flashlight to detect blood oxygen levels.

The infection monitoring wristband that almost everyone in Rhodes Island uses this technology.

However, due to limited space on its own ships, production costs, personnel wages, and other issues, Rhodes Island was previously unable to handle the entire production process. Only the inhibitor inside the bracelet was a pure Rhodes Island product.

The person in charge narrowed his eyes. "It's not that we don't have this production line, nor that we don't sell it."

He pressed on, "You Rhodes Island... you wouldn't want to stay in Kazimierz, would you?"

Even without any obstruction, giving a multinational giant like Rhodes Island the legitimate opportunity to plant its tentacles is extremely inconceivable in a mercantilist country like Kazimierz.

Mercantilism, in essence, is a defensive trade strategy. In Terra, it emphasizes that in international trade, the country should acquire more of the important strategic resources, such as precious metals and Originium Ingot, which also have the characteristics of currency, than it should lose.

Foreigners should just come to Kazimierz and spend their money; don't even think about making money here!

The Grand Knight Council and the National Assembly are resisting the entry of new oligarchs, and the Kazimierz Commercial Union generally does not accept foreign players.

In the original timeline, Rhodes Island only had the status of a member equivalent to Commercial Union during the tournament, and could not be considered a true member—nor could it become the president.

"Rhodes Island is merely passing through Tsvonnek; you should have heard of our purpose," Oute replied.

Sure enough, the ship in Kazimierz started leaking from the top deck.

The manager, Gale, understood, but slightly concealed his suspicion. "The tournament is about to begin, Rhodes Island wants to bid for the contract to provide medical services during the tournament."

With a hint of pride, the person in charge said, "It's not a secret!"

If that's really not the case, then there's no point in showing off.

No, he also got one thing wrong: this wasn't a real "bidding." Under fair competition, only Rhodes Island could win this contract.

And Oute can create a level playing field.

Oute said, "In recent years, the existence of infected knights has not only brought a large amount of gambling revenue, but has also opened up a blue ocean for the infection monitoring and infection prevention industry."

"I think... after trying it out firsthand, Gail Industries should have a deeper understanding?" Oute tapped the table.

In order to complete the new plot of land in Ibaraki quickly and cheaply, Gail Industries, which contracted the land, recruited a large number of infected workers.

This move not only provided a large number of consumers for Gail Industries' infection testing products, but also prompted the general public to frantically purchase protective equipment due to their fear of those infected.

"It's just a common business tactic!"

Oute remained noncommittal. "Watching it happen might be commonplace, but actively pushing it forward is another matter entirely."

The person in charge's face turned cold, and he leaned forward. "Can I interpret this as a threat from Rhodes Island?"

"We're just trying to increase our chances of winning the bid." Oute suddenly softened his tone. "Since Gail Industries isn't interested in selling the production line, perhaps..."

"How about we form a joint venture, Kazimierz, to specialize in producing and selling products related to infected individuals?"

The manager sneered, "It's nothing but a trick of taking two steps forward and one step back! Rhodes Island, do you think we Gale are stupid!? We own the entire market!"

His expression remained cold and unchanged. But through the eyes of the Nearl beside him, Oute could already see that he was moved.

It seems this is just the negotiating style of this person in charge.

"The market in Tsvonnek," Oute said calmly. "If we cooperate, we will seize the entire Kawalerielki."

"Your bid hasn't been finalized yet!"

"If we cooperate, with Rhodes Island's technology combined with Gale's connections and industry, winning the bid is already a certainty."

The person in charge suddenly said, "Gail Industries is investing even more! They'll be taking a larger share in the new company..."

They've taken the bait.

Oute nodded to the top business lawyer.

Dyster received the instruction and stood up. "Objection!"

"Throughout Kazimierz, there are countless companies with valuable connections and industries! Gail Industries offers nothing that is irreplaceable!"

Stepping out of the Gail Industries Administration Building, one is greeted by a beautiful view.

"Get out, you infected person!"

"Work thief!"

"No hiring infected individuals!"

The group bypassed the demonstrators.

Nearl asked privately, "Won't changing reasons so easily arouse suspicion?"

"It's precisely because we changed our reason that it seems normal."

Dyster, however, asked, "If we continue this cooperation, we can actually use the subsidiary to obtain a seat."

She didn't finish her sentence: "So, are we still going to take down Gail Industries?"

"The opportunities Rhodes Island offers will cease to exist once the tournament begins," Oute said. "But the industries and connections provided by our partners will remain in Kazimierz."

Subsidiaries will inevitably be gradually eroded by their partners during the course of operation.

This is also the underlying reason why the person in charge just agreed to those conditions.

The hornless Sarkaz squatted on the street corner, taking a bite of his hot dog, lost in thought, "For a business meeting of this caliber, the person in charge must be present, right?"

Chapter 301 Oute, you need to die at dawn

At the entrance of Gale Building, security personnel formed a thin defensive line, keeping the seemingly surging crowd of demonstrators at bay.

Oute and his group left the building and are now meeting up with the other operators.

Knowing he couldn't help during the negotiations, Nearl remained silent. Now, he echoed Oute, "If the company is given an opportunity, they will definitely take advantage of it!"

She deeply sympathized with this.

Dyster retorted, "Just looking at it on paper, this clause is already quite difficult!"

Frankly speaking, the terms Gail Industries has agreed to are indeed somewhat outrageous.

Rhodes Island provided the technology and opportunities, while Gail Industries provided the industry, land, and network of contacts. Rhodes Island held 60% of the subsidiary, and Gale held 40%.

In addition to dividends, Rhodes Island has the priority to purchase the infected person testing equipment produced by its subsidiaries at 1.5 times the cost price, and Rhodes Island has veto power over the distribution of the products.

However, Rhodes Island needs to bring in three Kazimierz collaborators to inject capital, Gail Industries needs to bring in two. And the equity stakes of their respective collaborators need to be renegotiated.

In principle, the introduction of each new collaborator requires the consent of both Gale Industries and Rhodes Island... This condition does indeed restrict Rhodes Island in terms of text, and if Gail Industries were skilled enough, it could even form alliances to force Rhodes Island to comply—if it could, Dyster wouldn't have agreed to this clause in the first place.

"Complete control of the company would certainly be a good thing, but that kind of development would be too slow, and the market share we could have captured would be snatched away by others!"

If the sole purpose is profit, then sacrificing some decision-making power to raise funds and expand production during such a window of opportunity is undoubtedly the best choice. It only risks the "founder of the company being kicked out of the decision-making circle," but it can "add fuel to the fire" for the company's development.

But Oute didn't set up this subsidiary for money.

Even this subsidiary is merely a backup plan that is highly likely to come in handy.

"Doc Otter, if that's the case, why should we cooperate with Gale?" Nearl asked.

Oute stated bluntly, "If Gail Industries develops hostility too early, we will need to spend a significant amount of time and manpower to take over Gale's legacy."

The implication is that Rhodes Island not only wants to devour Gale, but also wants to make him buy his own coffin.

Boom!

An explosion suddenly occurred in the crowd of demonstrators, and amidst the thick white smoke, the panicked cries of the protesters could be heard.

"Help!"

"Murder!"

"It has nothing to do with me! I'm just doing a job for money!"

Dyster frantically grabbed Oute's sleeve, trying to escape. "Quick, hide!"

No, the situation isn't that bad.

Was the explosive device just a smokescreen, a distraction?

So the incident itself isn't too serious... but that doesn't stop me from treating it seriously!

Oute calmly replied, "PRTS, Nearl."

"Doc Otter." The portable terminal responded immediately.

"I am here!"

"Deploy soldiers, even if it means violence, to protect the safety of the people and quell the riots!"