CHAPTER 1494: CHAPTER 1494: THE TRADE ALLIANCE

The wide convoy of large business vehicles stopped by the roadside, each vehicle adorned with the exquisite emblem of Stars City.

The leading vehicle was parked close to the curb, its sliding door open, revealing the exquisite leather interior inside.

A slender man with a calm demeanor was standing outside the car door, however, he did not get in but instead turned his head to look at another figure being surrounded and approaching, and said, "Mr. Christos."

At this moment, the figure being surrounded also saw him, and the figure smiled, walking quickly over and extending his hand for a handshake with the man, "Mayor Lante, long time no see."

"It has been a while," Lante smiled, "I’ve arranged for a visit to Dawn City."

"Then I must bring out the good wine I’ve treasured for years," Christos laughed heartily.

Then he turned his head, looking at the vehicle in front of him, "Is this arranged for us?"

"Yes, Mr. Christos," a woman with a work badge beside him immediately responded, "This vehicle is the exclusive seat for you and Mr. Lante, it is a vehicle produced by our group itself, fully automated driving, with a chauffeur but completely isolated from the rear, with complete soundproofing; I hope you honor us with your experience."

"You’re overpraising; it’s an honor to try out your new car," Christos shook his head, smiling, "Thank you."

Saying so, he glanced at Lante, "Shall we get in?"

"Alright." Lante nodded and followed him to get in the car.

The sliding door of the business vehicle closed, and the lights naturally turned on, illuminating a gentle light akin to a starry sky.

Then, accompanied by a slight tremor, the vehicle began to start.

Christos leaned against the car window, gazing at the slowly receding vehicles outside through the one-way privacy glass.

He chuckled softly, "This car is not bad, Nolanka Group is expanding its business more and more, now even starting vehicle production."

"The Nolanka Group has been cultivating the light industry for a long time, and they are not bad in heavy industry either; engaging in vehicle production is inevitable," Lante said softly,

"However, constrained by patent restrictions, their motors and other core components probably still need to be purchased from companies like Evis Spatial System, which means procurement and cost control becomes a challenge,

"Moreover, according to the information we’ve obtained, Evis Spatial System was intentionally controlling Nolanka Group’s procurement, causing their acquisition costs to remain high."

He glanced at the street surrounded by construction barriers outside and continued, "Now that they’ve unveiled this car, it means they have mass production in mind; either they have conquered motor technology and sidestepped the patents, or they have struck a deal with Evis Spatial System. I lean towards the latter."

"The rare earth mine outside Denno City is a big cake," Christos smiled, "To make Nolanka Group concede on the rare earth mine front, other consortiums will have to give up something."

"I’ve always had a question," Lante turned back, looking at Christos, "Why did the Kewort Group strike a deal with Nolanka Group? Aren’t their shareholders more likely buyers? Moreover, Nolanka Group has deep ties with ’K’, so why would Kewort Group choose Nolanka Group?"

"From the intelligence I’ve received, Nolanka Group offered a very high price," Christos said slowly, "At least higher than those consortiums like Kopes Mining who wanted to buy low; for the consortium, even hatred can be measured in money."

Lante questioned, "Does Nolanka Group really have enough funds to buy Kewort Group’s rare earth mines?"

Christos glanced at him, shook his head, and laughed, "No."

"So this deal was never viable from the start?" Lante realized, "Nolanka Group actually had no intention to purchase, just to raise the price?"

"There is actually an intention to purchase," Christos shook his head, saying slowly, "But their target is Kewort Group’s industries in Denno City, not the rare earth mines."

He glanced out of the window, "But given Nolanka Group’s current state of worldwide adversaries, if they expressed an intention to purchase the industries in Denno City, either it would definitely be disrupted by other consortiums, or the price would be driven to exorbitant levels."

"So Nolanka Group must step in to purchase the rare earth mines coveted by other consortiums," Lante instantly understood, "Moreover, they must act more ruthlessly and faster than the other consortiums to make them hastily protect their interests, thereby giving up some other benefits."

He placed his hand on the armrest of the car seat, lamenting, "Once the situation is settled, even if they know Nolanka Group’s target is in Denno City, they will ultimately make concessions, resulting in Nolanka Group obtaining Kewort Group’s other industries in Denno City at a low price."

"Not only that," Christos shook his head, "Originally, Jiefeier Industry and Kopes Mining had already negotiated, preparing to unite and swallow up the rare earth mines here, but they priced too low, which somewhat infuriated Kewort Group.

"Nolanka Group intervened, allowing the Federation Government to join in, providing our new President the opportunity to display his authority as an arbiter, and giving other consortiums a chance to have a share."

"And as a ’return’," Lante snapped back to reality, "these consortiums lifted part of their previous exclusion and restrictions on Nolanka Group, which eased the constraints on Nolanka Group in terms of resources and living space,"

He sincerely sighed, "This is indeed a brilliant move, not only obtaining what they wanted but also breaking the encirclement. The only problem was inflating the price, allowing Kewort Group to make more money close to the end, which is probably why Kewort Group agreed to cooperate with Nolanka Group in inflating the price."

"Kewort Group did not actually earn," Christos shook his head, "The Federation’s bankruptcy law just had its amendment passed a few years ago, enhancing the priority of wage payment after corporate liquidation, and now wages are the highest-priority claims among unsecured debts."

He reached out and touched the armrest, "And the Kewort Group just happened to have a habit of wage arrears and malicious wage deductions, especially after miners suddenly died; they not only would not compensate but would even simply evade these miners’ wages.

"These people are a large number, Nolanka Group specially hired a legal team to fight for wages for these miners or their families,"

Christos sighed, "The lawsuit is still ongoing, but many people’s wages have been identified, calculated as claims, and under the oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, those increased rare earth mine prices have been almost entirely used to pay these wage arrears."

He smiled and shook his head, "Thus, Kewort Group and their stakeholders essentially received nothing, and sold off the Denno City industries at a low price. This extra money was compensated to the miners, mainly from Denno City, naturally flowing into Denno City, serving as a lubricant for Denno City’s economy."

"This," Lante slightly opened his mouth, then sighed, "This is indeed a ruthless move, a resolution with so many effects accomplished, the Nolanka Group’s leader indeed has skills."

"This should be the handiwork of their ’Vian.’" Christos seemed to recall something, saying thoughtfully.

"That reclusive ’Vian’?" Lante lowered his head, glancing out the window, "Nolanka Group’s development to this point has its reasons."

"Every success is difficult to explain with pure coincidence," Christos slightly shook his head and sighed.

"Indeed," Lante seemed to remember something, letting out a long sigh.

Then he turned his head to look at Christos, "Speaking of which, the priority for wage payment upon bankruptcy elevated? The bankruptcy law was amended? When did this happen?"

"Just two years ago," Christos said slowly, "it was silently passed under the old President’s leadership."

"Ah, him," Lante remarked with some emotion. "However, speaking of which, our new President seems somewhat unexpected."

"That is indeed the case," Christos also sighed. "At the time, the consortium forcibly placed him with the old President as Vice President because the old President was too strong, and he seemed to have no foundation, no ambition, and no strength. Easy to control. This might also be why the consortium was reassured enough to carry out the assassination plan."

He smiled slightly, "But now it seems he has probably deceived everyone. He is not so ’gentle’ after all."

"In this incident, the one who got the most out of Kevort Group’s downfall is the Nord Financial Consortium," Lante seemed to have collected relevant data carefully and spoke rapidly,

"First, he fed his master, then roped in the Nolanka Group, and cooperated with the Nolanka Group, ensuring everyone could get a piece of the pie from the Kevort Group’s rare earth mines. Everyone who needed to be taken care of was taken care of in this back-and-forth."

He turned to look at Christos, "It’s said that some forces originally under the old President have already come under his command. This change is really fast. Isn’t he afraid of being assassinated by the consortium?"

"After all, he is the President, the highest legitimate ruler of the Federation," Christos smiled, "If he wants to do something, he has plenty of legal and Federation Central Army backing. As for assassination, having just gone through an assassination case, the angels of the Federation are very sensitive about it right now. It’s actually the least concerning time for assassination."

"It seems he intends to follow the path of the old President," Lante remarked with emotion, "balancing the forces to achieve equilibrium. He has only a few months left in his term. According to Federation law, if the term is less than two years, he can still serve two more terms as President. He might be seeking political resources now?"

He looked at Christos and smiled, "I’ve read a ’King’ theory in a book. In the Era of the Great Cataclysm, some kings may not have strong personal power but rely on balancing new and old forces within the kingdom and become the arbitrator of these forces, thus becoming the king."

"It’s an interesting theory," Christos nodded slightly, "In this light, the old President is somewhat like a ’king,’ but this new President, "

He paused slightly, looking at the street corner gradually turning outside the window, "His current show of toughness may not always remain so, and even if he can maintain it, he would just become another old President, thus we must be prepared."

"Hmm," Lante nodded lightly.

He looked up at the faint light above the car roof.

The consortium’s willingness to concede might not be out of fear; they are waiting for the right moment.

Like a viper lurking in the grass after a failed strike, waiting for the next opportunity.

And it was at this time that the business car slowly came to a stop.

Christos and Lante exchanged a puzzled glance.

At this moment, the side sliding door of the vehicle slowly opened, and the woman who had just appeared outside the car was sweating profusely, "Mr. Christos, Mr. Lante, the road ahead is blocked, we might have to walk a bit."

Only then did they notice that after rounding the street corner, the road ahead was already blocked by a dense crowd.

"Has it started?" Christos looked up at the crowd and asked slowly.

"Yes, it’s about to start," the young man nodded, "We might have to squeeze through the crowd, there are too many people."

"Denno City is usually empty," Lante looked at the scene, seemingly reminded of something, and sighed, "Turns out everyone is here."

The two slowly got out of the car, following the woman towards the crowd.

"Does Paxiu have such high prestige in Denno City?" Lante looked up, observing the dense crowd around him.

"Thanks to recent publicity and reports," Christos said slowly, "Now everyone in Denno City knows that Paxiu not only saved Denno City, saved Ains, but also took down the Kevort Group and brought in the Nolanka Group."

He sighed slightly, "For the people of Denno City, saving the city is heroism, and overthrowing the oppressive Kevort Group is legendary. Holding the enemy outside the city doesn’t give people a tangible feeling, but removing the looming mountain over their heads is sensed instantly by people."

"So the funeral is held now," Lante remarked, watching the densely packed crowd, "The Nolanka Group is waiting for Paxiu’s prestige to reach its peak, and now they bind themselves deeply with Paxiu. With this level of support, they can almost appoint the Mayor of Denno City."

"Actually, it’s not just Denno City," Christos said slowly, "This funeral is being broadcast live. I believe, in Ains and among the Wilderness Wanderers of Dawn City, there are quite a few people watching."

While speaking, the woman had already led the two into the crowd.

Soon, they entered the crowd, quickly moving along the edge of the crowd.

"It’s just a few tens of meters ahead," the woman said quickly as she moved through the crowd, "Miss Lina is over there."

Before she finished speaking, the entire bustling crowd suddenly fell silent.

Christos and Lante looked up at the end of their field of view.

A simple coffin was slowly emerging.

At that moment, Christos felt his hand being tugged.

A young woman appeared in Christos’s view, it was Lina, the Secretary of the Board of Nolanka Group.

Lina looked at him without speaking but directly handed over two documents, giving one to him and another to Lante.

Christos glanced down at the document in his hand.

The content on the document’s cover was simple, with just one line.

[Regional Trade Alliance (Draft)]

Christos glanced at the document in his hand, then lifted his head to look forward.

In the dim silence, a few rays of light filtered from the sky, falling upon the coffin, pointing the way.