Chapter 509: The First Sacrifice

The thought that he, as the chairman, the person who supposedly understood Su Hao best, actually knew less about Su Hao's thoughts than an outsider, made Huang Fengwen's face burn with embarrassment.
"Take a look at this finalized personnel list, and you'll understand even better!" the executive continued his analysis.
"Most of the people on the list have close ties to Fang Huan and share a highly consistent stance.
More importantly, several of them either have a grudge against 'Apple' or are notorious 'Apple haters,' having frequently criticized them in public.
This isn't a coincidence; it's clearly an Avengers team!"
"So… this really is…" Huang Fengwen's expression turned serious.
"Yes, Chairman!
We're launching a direct financial attack on 'Apple' in the capital market now. While this will severely damage them, we ourselves will inevitably pay a heavy price.
'Apple' is the technological totem of the United States, their national pride; they will never stand idly by.
At that time, we will face a frenzied counterattack from a superpower!"
"Apple," voted "the most pride-worthy company" by the people of the United States, is synonymous with "innovation."
A head-on confrontation is the worst possible strategy.
Therefore, Su Hao chose another path. A more insidious, more ruthless, and more deadly path!
"Chairman Su abandoned a direct assault and instead chose a... strategy of destroying their spirit!
He wants to dismantle it from its very foundation; he wants to personally shatter the pride and faith the American people have in 'Fruit'!
Through this ESG association, he wants to declare to the world that the great company revered as a god by the people of the beacon of hope is rotten to the core, a filthy, shameless, rule-breaking garbage dump!
When the war of words begins, when the people's pride turns to shame, the value of 'Fruit' will inevitably collapse!"
"Then...we can seize control of them?" Huang Fengwen asked in a hoarse voice.
"That's right! Just like Chairman Su in the past...swallowing those commercial behemoths."
That once invincible "Fruit" is now a fish on Su Hao's chopping block!
***
Fruit Company Headquarters.
Faced with Fang Huan Investment's combined attack, everyone at Fruit Company was already in a state of chaos.
They used every connection they could, pleading and begging for help from all sides.
“Our new product launch plan has been completely ruined.
The supply of components will likely take a considerable amount of time to recover.
Currently, due to the disruption of core component supply, our production lines have completely shut down.”
The conference room was filled with gloom.
All of this, without a doubt, was thanks to Fang Huan's investment.
But what was most disgusting about Fang Huan was that they completely absolved themselves of any responsibility.
Faced with the accusations, they shrugged, displaying a thuggish attitude:
‘Natural disasters, man-made calamities, and rebel attacks—how could we predict these things? You're making baseless accusations!’
That self-righteous, shameless demeanor made Tim Hook feel like he was swallowing blood, but he dared not utter a sound.
If they dared to publicly accuse "this was all Fang Huan's conspiracy," then in the next second, Fruit would transform from a victim into a laughingstock, a conspiracy theorist.
"Has Fang Huan made any direct attacks in the capital markets?"
CEO Tim Hook rubbed his aching temples and asked in a low voice.
"Not yet. We've been monitoring them and haven't detected any signs of Fang Huan acquiring our shares on a large scale."
Was this a stroke of luck?
Or was this dragon from the East simply waiting patiently, preparing to bite off its prey's throat at the most fatal moment?
Regardless, the absence of a direct financial attack at least gave Tim Hook a slight sigh of relief.
A sliver of hope even rose in his heart:
Perhaps... after a few probes, Fang Huan realized Fruit was a tough nut to crack and retreated on his own?
However, this glimmer of hope was quickly and mercilessly crushed.
“Mr. Tim, we’ve discovered that Fang Huan seems to be preparing to attack us from another direction.”
An executive, pale-faced, handed over a report.
“Fang Huan recently established a new ESG association with great fanfare and announced its core members…
From the president to the various committee members, everyone’s background is extremely unusual!”
Tim Hook had already heard about Fang Huan’s ESG association, which had caused quite a stir.
“What does this association have to do with our company?” he frowned.
“Not now, but soon!” The executive’s voice trembled.
“Currently, several core members of this association are from ‘Pioneer’ and ‘Hathaway’!”
“…!”
Tim Hook’s pupils constricted sharply.
“Pioneer” and “Hathaway”—these two companies are major shareholders of Fruit, holding a combined nearly 20% of the shares!
“Not only that! The list also includes many former high-ranking politicians with whom we have had conflicts, as well as leaders of some of the most extreme environmental organizations.
Now the whole of Wall Street is saying that Fang Huan's ESG Association is targeting our company, Fruit Group!”
“This… how much impact can it have on us?” Tim Hook's voice was hoarse.
“That’s the most terrifying part! Mr. Tim,” the executive’s expression was more like a grimace,
“Its impact is simply impossible to quantify!
Once they start arbitrarily scoring and rating our company according to their own standards, and then spreading it virally through the media and social networks they control…
In the long run, our company’s public image will inevitably collapse completely!”
Hearing this, Tim Hook frowned deeply, his face turning ashen.
"Isn't that... blatant manipulation of public opinion?!"
"Yes! That's the very purpose of establishing this ESG association!" the executive said despairingly.
"Fang Huan wants to create an 'unfair playing field' himself.
They'll act as referees, using their own rules to give all competitors the lowest possible scores!
Then, they'll use their ubiquitous media empire to completely smear their opponents' image, ensuring their utter ruin!"
Tim Hook sat frozen in his chair, his mind blank.
A terrifying thought slowly surfaced in his mind.
He finally understood.
This so-called ESG Association wasn't a business organization at all; it was a weapon of mass destruction!
A new era's super weapon of mass destruction, using "society" and "environment" as a guise, and "morality" and "justice" as its ammunition, specifically designed to crush any enterprise or individual daring to challenge Fang Huan's hegemony!
Anyone who dares to defy Fang Huan's will will immediately be fired upon, labeled with accusations of "environmental destruction," "labor exploitation," and "chaotic governance structure," and then subjected to public opinion to forever condemn you to the pillory of history!
And they, one of the greatest companies in the US, the jewel in the crown of American technology, Fruit Company, unfortunately became the first sacrifice in this world-destroying weapon...
A sacrifice!
Fang Huan knew very well that once they successfully brought down the "Fruit" banner,
no company would dare stand in their way of conquering the world!
On this planet, no company would be able to withstand their sweeping advance!