Chapter 294: Financial Demon

"What about their offer? How much did they offer?"
"The price is very attractive. And our analysis team unanimously believes that even if Fang Huan successfully acquires it, AstraZeneca has absolutely no chance of turning things around in the short term."
"..."
The implication is that this stock is now worthless, practically worthless.
As a qualified financier, the best option now is to sell it quickly while there's still someone willing to buy and secure the profits.
But—
"I won't sell. Hold onto it." Bell said decisively.
"What? Mr. Bell, this...this might be our last chance to escape!"
"I might consider it if someone else wanted to buy it. But the one buying it is Fang Huan Investment!"
A gambler's gleam shone in Bell's eyes.
"I bet they'll have the last laugh!
No, not just not selling...we'll go on a buying spree in the market! Buy as much as we can!"
3.5% of the shares.
That's not much.
And the stock price is plummeting; it might really be worthless tomorrow.
However, just thinking of "Fang Huan," that terrifying entity that would turn the entire UK upside down to acquire this company…
a strong, almost religious, intuition surged within Bell.
These shares, soon to be worthless, would likely become mountains of cash, impossible to buy in the not-too-distant future!
***
Meanwhile, at Fang Huan Investment headquarters.
AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giant whose market capitalization once reached a staggering $70 billion, was now plummeting towards a $30 billion abyss.
"This is the fatal weakness of companies with dispersed shareholdings," Su Hao understood as he listened to his subordinate's report.
"Once the company suffers a severe blow and confidence collapses, everyone will panic and sell their shares like they're fleeing a burning house, triggering a stampede."
If the company had a strong controlling shareholder, even a plummeting share price wouldn't lead to an easy relinquishment of control.
But AstraZeneca, a "no man's land," was like a sandcastle without a foundation; once it began to tilt, collapse would be imminent.
"Chairman Su, the stock price is continuously falling. Should we wait until it bottoms out before making a move, to save..."
Su Hao also wanted to wait.
But his intuition, like a death knell, echoed in his mind again and again.
Quick! He had to take over this company as quickly as possible!
"Move immediately!" Su Hao's voice left no room for doubt.
"I want you to acquire controlling interest in AstraZeneca as quickly as possible. The sooner the better!"
"Price...don't we need to consider that?"
"Money is not an issue! I need speed! The sooner the better! Only in this way can we intervene in the company's operations immediately!"
"Yes!"
The team members obeyed and left. A vague understanding dawned on Su Hao.
He roughly understood why his intuition was so anxious, why it urged him to control this company at all costs.
All of this is probably related to the vision he saw earlier.
That vision... a scarlet virus engulfing the entire planet!
Was this telling him he had to race against time and immediately begin researching and preparing for the impending catastrophe?
***
Brussels, EU Headquarters.
A closed-door meeting was underway, the atmosphere a stark contrast to that at Fanghuan Investment, filled with the arrogance of those in power.
"This Fang Huan is simply a financial demon from the East!"
An official wearing gold-rimmed glasses pointed at the documents projected on the screen, his tone chilling.
"Starting with TSMC, they first destroyed the local economy;
Then, by manipulating the semiconductor supply chain, they precisely targeted several multinational giants;
Based on this, they spawned two behemoths: 'PicPic' and the Fang Huan Exchange.
Then, they extended their clutches to Britain and France, plundering astronomical sums of wealth!"
"Just hearing about it sends chills down your spine. How could an ordinary company do such a thing?"
"Absolutely! The deeper you dig into this company, the more countless their crimes become.
For money, they will stop at nothing."
"But the most terrifying thing is that this beast has already pressed its fangs against our throats, and we were completely unprepared!"
"You all saw what happened to France last time.
How they incited social media, created riots in major French cities, and then shamelessly posed as saviors, handing out money to 'fund' post-disaster reconstruction."
"Yes, their hypocritical donations earned them immense popularity among French citizens. That's the most disgusting thing!"
"Exactly, this proves how terrifying these people are. They understand human nature and know how to manipulate the emotions of the mob!"
Seeing France thrown into chaos, and even Brexit-bound Britain not spared, the EU leaders finally reached a consensus:
We can no longer sit idly by and wait for our doom!
"The reason Fang Huan possesses such terrifying power is because of their near-global monopoly on shipping!"
In their view, Fang Huan has overstepped its bounds.
It shouldn't have targeted Europe, especially not the two major European "old guard rogue states": Britain and France.
"Britain has left the EU, but that's another story.
But France is the face of the EU!
Taking action against France is tantamount to declaring war on all of Europe!
Therefore, we must unite like never before to strangle this demon!"
And their first strike precisely targeted Fang Huan's core lifeline: shipping.
Once their shipping operations are destroyed, Fang Huan will be like a tiger with its teeth pulled, unable to stir up any more trouble.
To this end, they have even prepared hundreds of scenarios, making thorough preparations, determined to force Fang Huan to relinquish control of its shipping operations!
***
“What the hell is this?! Have they gone mad?!”
A bolt from the blue!
That's probably how Du Yuanhang felt at that moment.
No, to be honest, he had a premonition that this day would come sooner or later.
As the saying goes, the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind.
“But…but this is too sudden!!”
“Yes, Mr. Du.” The secretary’s voice trembled slightly,
“The EU, after announcing a ‘hard Brexit,’ immediately reversed course and issued a formal statement.”
"They said they'd launch an 'antitrust' investigation into Fanghuan Shipping."
The EU's Competition Law, to put it bluntly, is antitrust law.
It's a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of all industry giants.
If any company becomes dominant in a particular field and uses that influence to disrupt the market, the EU can legitimately wield this sword and cut it into pieces.
"The worst part is, it's not just the EU! Other countries, like sharks smelling blood, are jumping out one after another, using the same pretext, to join forces to sanction our Fanghuan Shipping!"
With the EU's rallying cry, those countries that had long harbored deep resentment towards Fanghuan Shipping but dared not act alone now found their leader and, like foxes borrowing the tiger's power, joined this global crackdown!
"..."
Du Yuanhang closed his eyes in anguish.
What was bound to happen had finally arrived.
How had Fanghuan Shipping, under his leadership, become so powerful and amassed such enormous profits over the years?
They had single-handedly toppled a semiconductor behemoth like TSMC, plunging countless companies into panic over a lack of available chips;
They controlled the shipping lanes, strangled the world's lifeline, and even indirectly caused the decline of Japan's economy!
Frankly, they're already incredibly lucky to have managed to survive until now before being dealt with.
All of this is thanks to Su Hao's unpredictable and cunning methods.
But now it seems even gods have their limits.
"This matter... is beyond our ability to handle, right?"
Du Yuanhang's voice was dry and hoarse.
"President Du... if we dare to back down and say 'I quit,' immediately cutting off all European routes, then this matter...
will immediately escalate into a national-level diplomatic conflict!"
This is an unsolvable situation.
Du Yuanhang suddenly stood up from his chair, his face resolute.
"President Du... where are you going?"
"Where are you going?" A hint of tragic determination flashed in Du Yuanhang's eyes, "Of course... to see Chairman Su!"