Chapter 411 Black Clouds Over the City
The morning after Black Wolf's complete defeat, at 9:30 AM, in the general manager's office of Phoenix Corporation's Glowing Oasis branch.
The office had a clean and refreshing blue-and-white decor, with polished marble floors that gleamed under the light.
Near the window, a few pots of resilient cacti were placed.
Mary, who always preferred a neat and energetic environment, stood with her arms crossed, staring blankly out the window at the Glowing Oasis Bridge.
The Gonzalez Family's suppression was faster and more powerful than she had imagined.
In just twelve hours since last night, thirty-six company contracts had been unilaterally terminated.
Clients preferred to pay hefty breach-of-contract penalties rather than continue working with them.
Although there was no evidence that Micah was behind it, Mary knew it was his doing.
This was a significant blow to Phoenix Corporation's business, causing panic among the employees and leading to Mary being questioned.
A damp, cold breeze blew in, adding a touch of coolness to the office.
Mary snapped out of her daze, rubbed her head, and then opened a file to review the auction details for Cloud Top Mountain.
Thinking about securing Cloud Top Mountain to make Charles happy allowed Mary to temporarily ignore some of her worries.
"Ms. Smith, your package!"
At that moment, the door was gently knocked, and her secretary, Poppy, brought in a package for Mary.
"Thanks, Poppy."
Mary accepted the package and glanced at it.
The package was labeled from the Charity Auction Committee, and Mary assumed it was auction materials, so she stopped using her mouse.
Upon opening it, she immediately screamed.
She quickly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with fear but even more with anger.
Inside the box was a gutted white rabbit, its eyes bulging in a horrifying manner.
Next to it was a knife, still stained with fresh blood.
The blood was warm, and the rabbit's reflexes were still active, its legs twitching occasionally.
It was a shocking sight.
Mary was furious and about to call the police when the phone rang first. She snapped back to reality and pressed the answer button.
"Ms. Smith, sorry to bother you again!" A strange yet playful voice came through the phone, accompanied by a meaningful laugh.
"I didn't want to make this call, but my brother told me that harmony brings wealth, and my father advised me to win people over with virtue."
"So here I am, calling you again."
"I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll get to the point. It's the same as last time."
"At tomorrow's auction, I don't want to see you there, and I don't want you competing with me for Cloud Top Mountain."
"Do you understand what I mean, Ms. Smith?"
Micah's tone was calm and gentle, but it couldn't hide the coldness deep within, nor the unspoken threat.
It seemed his patience had reached its limit.
Mary gritted her teeth. "Did you send the package?"
"Package? What package? Did you receive a package?"
Micah's laugh was smug, repeatedly questioning, but his tone showed no surprise, clearly feigning ignorance.
"Stop pretending," Mary shouted. "You've gone too far, too shameless."
"Using such despicable tactics in business, does it suit your status?"
She rebuked him without hesitation, "You're disgracing the Gonzalez Family!"
"Sorry, Ms. Smith, I don't know what you're talking about." Micah laughed heartily, "Did someone send you a bloody package?"
"Maybe it was one of your enemies. You can't accuse me."
"But it's a good reminder,, you've worked hard to get to your position. It's time to make more friends, not enemies, or you'll be a flash in the pan."
Micah's laugh was sinister.
Mary's face turned frosty. "Micah, I'm telling you, I won't agree to your demands."
"At tomorrow's auction, I'll fight you with thirty billion dollars. Unless you outbid me, you won't get Cloud Top Mountain."
She decided to go all out against Micah.
"Thirty billion? I wouldn't even spend three." Micah's voice suddenly changed to a ruthless tone. "Although I can't harm you, if you insist on opposing me, I'll still ruin you."
"Micah, is this a threat?" Mary's voice also turned fierce. "I've told you before, I will never compromise with you. Whatever your tricks are, just bing them on."
"But when you act, think about the consequences. I'm not someone to be easily bullied." Mary stood her ground.
"Is that so?" Micah chuckled, "Then let's see if you can make it through today."
With that, he hung up the phone.
"Ms. Smith, six more contracts from the Glowing Oasis branch have been terminated."
Mary, holding the phone in silence for a long time, heard a sound and looked up to see her secretary, Poppy Harrison, standing in front of her.
Poppy, seeing Mary wasn't in good spirits, picked up a cup and poured her some water.
"It seems Micah is determined to get Cloud Top Mountain."
Poppy handed the water to Mary, showing a hint of anger.
"That jerk, using dirty tactics in business, his vision is too narrow."
She was indignant.
Mary responded with a faint sarcasm. "He can earn hundreds of billions legitimately, but it would take years. Now, a single threat can achieve it, why not?"
She trusted her newly graduated secretary, Poppy, who was one of the few reliable people in the vast thirteenth branch.
Poppy nodded lightly. "That's true, the Gonzalez Family is vast, with many descendants."
"Have you found out why Micah wants Cloud Top Mountain?" Mary asked. "Why does the Gonzalez Family suddenly want it? Their base isn't in Rosewood City, the investment and return ratio is too low."
"I've heard some news." Poppy quickly responded, "I heard that someone named Aurelia from Wolf Business Association persuaded Micah to bid, but the exact reason is unclear."
"Aurelia?" Mary narrowed her eyes slightly. "The 'Conscience of Lumaria' Aurelia?"
Poppy smiled, "Exactly."
"So it seems Lumaria wants Cloud Top Mountain, and Micah is just a cover?" Mary's eyes flashed with cold light. "If that's the case, I definitely can't let Micah succeed."
Poppy hesitated for a moment. "But we only have twenty billion dollars. If Micah is determined, we might not be able to compete."
Micah just didn't want to spend too much. In a real fight, she worried Mary couldn't hold out.
"Do our best." Mary's tone was indifferent. "Even if we lose to Micah, we'll make him spend an extra twenty billion, and we can vent our anger."
"Should we hold a video conference with the thirteenth branch? Get each family to contribute some money for support?"
Poppy hesitated, "We could gather an extra ten billion by that."
"No need." Mary shook her head without hesitation. "I'll probably have to hide the twenty billion from them, explaining it slowly after the auction."
"If I ask them for money now, my intentions will be revealed, and they'll definitely try to stop me."
"Although I'm confident this business won't lose money, they'll only see immediate benefits."
Mary took a sip of water. "I'll handle this battle myself."
"Don't forget about me."
Outside the door, a warm voice suddenly sounded, making Mary feel as if she'd been struck.
Poppy turned to see James walking in with a pot of chicken soup.
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