Chapter 183 Bargain
Hilda's mind was a whirlwind of panic. He couldn't string two coherent thoughts together.
He thought, 'What can I do? How am I supposed to solve this? How!'
Desperation clawed at him, but no solutions presented themselves.
"It's almost lunchtime. I'm going to grab a bite to eat," Benjamin announced, glancing at his watch. "Hilda, I know you're reeling, but you need to get a grip."
Hilda drew a shaky breath. "Give me a moment. I'll figure something out."
"I certainly hope so," Benjamin said, his tone laced with doubt.
He walked over to Skyview and Oliver.
"You two were quite the spectacle," he remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Skyview smiled. "Penguin Company's options seem to have dwindled, wouldn't you say?"
"Most of the popular streamers are on Shark Live," Oliver added, "except for Tyler, who's on LiveSync. With their reputations in ruins, neither platform looks very appealing. LiveWave seems like the obvious choice now."
"Not necessarily," Benjamin countered, his tone firming. "A few bad apples don't spoil the bunch. Penguin Company has the resources to cultivate new talent."
"And what does that prove?" Skyview asked, his interest piqued.
"It proves that with enough capital, we can create stars."
A slow smile spread across Skyview's face. "Indeed, we can."
Benjamin's gaze lingered on Skyview, a newfound respect glimmering in his eyes. Skyview returned the look, his smile unwavering.
A silent understanding passed between them, the unspoken language of capitalists recognizing their own kind.
"Mr. Scott, Oliver, you're both formidable businessmen," Benjamin conceded. "I must admit, LiveWave is looking more and more appealing. Perhaps we can continue this discussion after lunch?"
"I'd like that," Skyview replied.
"Until then," Benjamin said, departing with the Penguin Company representatives in tow.
Skyview watched them go before turning his attention back to Hilda, who sat slumped in his chair, his gaze vacant and lost.
"Pathetic," Oliver scoffed. "Don't get too cocky in the future, or I'll make sure you lose everything."
"How does it feel?" Skyview taunted.
Hilda remained silent.
They continued their verbal assault, but he didn't react. Growing bored with his silence, Oliver turned to Skyview.
"Let's go grab some lunch. This loser isn't worth our time."
"Agreed," Skyview said. "There's nothing more to see here."
They left the conference room, their laughter echoing behind them.
A minute later, Hilda, who had seemed utterly defeated, suddenly slammed his fist down on the glass conference table. The force of the blow shattered the glass, shards embedding themselves in his hand. Blood welled up from the wounds.
"Hilda, your hand!" his assistant cried, horrified.
Hilda ignored her, his voice a guttural rasp as he swore vengeance. "Skyview, Oliver, you destroyed everything. I'll have my revenge. Mark my words, I will kill you both."
Benjamin sipped his coffee, a ritual he cherished. On his laptop screen, Adam's face stared back at him.
"I knew Skyview had something up his sleeve," Adam said, chuckling softly. "He's a resourceful one, that's for sure. I'm rather impressed. I'd like to meet him."
"They practically drove Hilda mad," Benjamin remarked. "So, about Shark Live... should we still go through with the acquisition?"
"Absolutely," Adam said without hesitation. "Buy it, and buy it cheap. In business, we play the long game. A few disgruntled streamers are a minor setback. Do you know what Shark Live's most valuable asset is?"
"Enlighten me, Adam," Benjamin said.
"Their user base," Adam replied. "Penguin Company's success hinges on its users. And frankly, those users are far more valuable than any of Shark Live's so-called star streamers."
"You're right!" Benjamin exclaimed, a wave of understanding washing over him. "I'll buy Shark Live, and I'll make sure we get a bargain."
Adam chuckled. "They're in no position to negotiate."
Kevin arrived at Luminance Peak, summoned by the unfolding crisis. He knew Hilda needed him.
As the second-largest shareholder in Shark Live, Kevin knew his interests were aligned with Hilda's.
The moment he stepped into the conference room, a metallic taste hit his nostrils. It was blood.
Kevin spotted Hilda by the window, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His hand was bandaged, stained crimson.
"Hilda, what happened to your hand?" Kevin asked, his voice laced with concern. "Did Skyview and Oliver lay a hand on you?"
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