Chapter 186 Crack Down
"Alright, let's sign the contract!" Benjamin glanced at the darkening sky outside the window. "It's getting quite late," he remarked with a smile.
Hilda felt like a gambler pushing all his chips in, his hopes riding on Penguin Company.
It was not a bad strategy. Partnering with Penguin Company would shield him from the current crisis. Sacrificing short-term profits for long-term stability seemed like a fair trade.
Both he and Benjamin were eager to finalize the deal, especially given Hilda's incredibly appealing offer. Benjamin was practically salivating at the potential profits.
As the Penguin Company lawyer began drafting the contract, Hilda turned to Skyview and Oliver, his voice laced with venom. "Get out! You're not welcome here. You've interfered enough. I won't tolerate your presence any longer!"
"You heard him," Benjamin added, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Leave."
Skyview chuckled. "Benjamin, are you sure you're not interested in LiveWave?"
"Not in the slightest," Benjamin retorted. "Even at 600 million, I wouldn't touch LiveWave with a ten-foot pole. And we both know you're not budging on that ridiculous 1.5 billion. So, yes, I'm sure."
"Really?" Skyview pressed, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Yes!" Benjamin snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"Absolutely certain?" Skyview continued, his tone goading.
Benjamin finally snapped. "Enough! I've had it with your games, Skyview. Don't let your position as chairman of Twin Group go to your head. Penguin Company doesn't scare easily. And you, Oliver, your father's connections only get you so far. Cascade Group is a small fish in a big pond compared to Penguin Company. Now, get out!"
Everyone had a breaking point. Benjamin had reached his. He'd tolerated their antics, their unreasonable demands, their smug arrogance. But enough was enough.
Skyview's faint smile and Oliver's dismissive sneer only fueled his anger. Hilda, however, was practically giddy.
"You heard the man! Get out!" he crowed. "This is Penguin Company's turf. They want you gone, so scram! Don't you have any shame?"
Skyview rose from his seat, but he made no move to leave.
"The government is about to crack down on the live streaming industry," he announced, his voice low and steady.
Hilda stared at him, bewildered.
"What are you talking about?" he shouted.
Benjamin, however, froze. "What did you say?" he choked out, his eyes fixed on Skyview.
"We're all capitalists here, aren't we?" Skyview said, his voice smooth as silk. "Hilda, Oliver, Benjamin, Penguin Company. We may seem powerful, but compared to the government, we're nothing. A slight policy shift can decimate an entire industry, crushing countless capitalists in the process. And today, some of us are about to be crushed." He threw back his head and laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the room.
A wave of dread washed over Hilda. "Don't try to fool us!"
"There's been a lot of negative press surrounding the live streaming industry lately," Skyview explained, his tone conversational. "All those scandals, the vulgar content, it hasn't gone unnoticed. The government may be slow to react to new industries, but once they do, they crack down hard. They have to be seen as upholding the law. Look at what happened to online gaming. The live streaming industry is next."
Benjamin's face had drained of all color. "You said the government is going to regulate the industry. Do you have proof?" His voice trembled as he spoke. "Did you orchestrate this?"
Skyview chuckled. "Let's just say we saw an opportunity and took it. When online gaming sparked public outrage, the government shut it down, even though it generated significant tax revenue. What makes you think live streaming is any different?"
Oliver, unable to resist joining in, added, "Haven't you noticed the recent shift in the official media, Benjamin? They've been critical of vulgar live streams. And then, boom, Shark Live explodes with scandal after scandal, some even bordering on illegal, all while playing on nationalist sentiment in Golden Valley. What kind of response do you think that will provoke?"
"This was all part of your plan?" Benjamin whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Oliver smirked. "Let's just say we leveraged our family's connections to nudge things in the right direction. Shark Live, with its recent string of scandals, is the perfect target."
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