hooklinebooks Chapter 120: BUSINESS
Chapter 120: BUSINESS
The tension in the air eased at Silas’s words.
Zendaya stood up calmly under the gaze of every investor in the room.
"We are willing to part with thirty percent of our shares," she said, ignoring all the gazes as though they were never directed at her in the first place.
A screen flared in the centre of the table at her command.
"The Sovereign Garden is divided into several sectors."
The screen lit up, displaying a set of data.
[Sectors:
Weapon
Technology
Alchemy
Cultivation Techniques
Gaming]
Everyone in the room looked at the screen with quiet intensity.
"Each of these sectors contributes differently to our annual revenue."
The screen changed again, displaying a new bracket beside each sector.
[Sectors:
Weapon (1.7%)
Technology (38.9%)
Alchemy (32.3%)
Techniques (27.1%)
Gaming (0%)]
"Among all of them, we have only just begun development in the weapon industry.
As for the gaming industry, we have plans in place, but full creation is still in progress."
The chart zoomed in on itself, then zoomed back out in a flicker.
Its content had already changed.
"We are willing to release one billion shares today."
[Total shares: one billion]
[Cost per share: one thousand credits]
"As of yesterday, Sovereign Garden reached five trillion credits in total valuation," Zendaya added.
’It has grown this much already?’ one of the people thought.
’This is enough to push them to a nine-stars company,’ he thought.
"The shares are divided as follows," Zendaya said, gesturing toward the screen.
[Weapon: 150 million]
[Technology: 150 million]
[Alchemy: 150 million]
[Techniques: 150 million]
[Gaming: 400 million]
She sat back, leaving the rest for the investors to decide.
"You don’t expect us to buy shares in something that has not started yet, do you?" A man asked, staring at Zendaya with calm.
His eyes were a deep black, with dark markings covering his body.
It was obvious he was a sub-human species.
"You do not have to buy them. There are other sectors available," Zendaya replied, her eyes meeting his without flinching.
The man shook his head.
"Your company is but a growing tree. With this attitude, you might not last the next couple of thousand years."
Zendaya raised her shoulders.
"You either buy, or stay quiet," Silas said, pulling her back before she could speak.
A murmur spread through the room.
"Rainbow Pavilion will acquire fifty million Technique shares," a person said, raising her hand.
Like a trigger, everyone began making their calls.
Ten minutes passed and all the shares were sold.
All except the gaming shares.
Not a single one was taken.
"Is no one buying the gaming shares?" Zendaya asked with furrowed brows.
There was no response.
"Alright. If that is all, please transfer the credits to this account," she said.
The screen changed, displaying a new account ID.
"Wait," Elizabeth suddenly raised her hand.
"Miss Thornwood," Zendaya said calmly.
Ever since Zendaya had noticed the familiarity between Silas and Elizabeth, she had developed a quiet admiration for her.
"What are your chances of making this succeed?" She asked.
"Allow me to answer that," Silas said, standing up calmly.
"With the Sovereign Garden’s resources and after extensive analytics, the gaming industry has the potential to become our highest revenue generator."
Elizabeth smiled.
"We are businesspeople, not gamblers. Even with all of that, we cannot put money into something without proof."
Silas was about to speak, but Elizabeth was faster.
"Thornwood Pharmaceuticals is willing to invest in your gaming sector. However, we are not willing to absorb an unreasonable loss, so these are our terms."
Another screen appeared, overlaying the one already there.
[If the Gaming Sector fails to generate at least 500 billion credits in annual revenue within ten years, Thornwood Pharmaceuticals shall be granted an additional 15% ownership of the Gaming Sector at no extra cost.]
Silence descended upon the room.
Several investors straightened in their seats immediately.
Zendaya’s brows furrowed. "Those terms are excessive."
Elizabeth smiled lightly, folding her arms.
"But you are asking us to purchase shares in a project that does not yet exist. There are no products, no customers, no proven revenue."
Her eyes shifted toward Silas.
"Only confidence."
The room went quiet.
Nobody could deny her words.
The gaming sector was nothing more than a promise.
"If it succeeds, Sovereign Garden keeps everything and gains four hundred billion credits in funding."
Elizabeth continued calmly.
"If it fails, Thornwood gains compensation for the risk."
Several investors nodded.
The proposal was harsh.
But fair.
If they were in her position, their terms might have been even harsher.
No one wanted to lose money on an uncertain future.
Zendaya looked toward Silas.
Silas remained seated, his expression unreadable.
His fingers tapped the table once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
"What happens if we exceed your expectations?" he asked.
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed slightly.
For the first time, genuine interest appeared on her face.
"What do you propose?"
Silas smiled.
"If the Gaming Sector surpasses one trillion credits in annual revenue before the ten-year deadline, Thornwood Pharmaceuticals will surrender half of its gaming shares back to Sovereign Garden free of charge."
Gasps echoed around the room.
The investors stared at him as though he had just committed a blasphemy.
Even Zendaya looked surprised.
Elizabeth laughed. A genuine one.
Then she reached forward and pressed her palm against the screen.
The contract updated instantly.
[Terms Accepted]
[Conditional Buyback Clause Added]
A notification flashed.
The final unsold shares disappeared from the board.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
After all, who would have expected that reaction from someone known for cold precision?
But in a room like this, silence was never meant to last long.
"Since we are done, is there anything else?" Silas asked with a smile.
No one responded.
But their answer came through their next actions.
Like dying lights, they all disappeared in a flicker.
Silas looked at their empty seats.
"No goodbyes," he muttered beneath his breath.
"Were you expecting goodbyes?" Elizabeth asked with a gentle smile.
Silas looked at her.
"Why did you stay?" He asked.
"What do you mean? This is my server. Are you trying to chase me out of my own space?"
Silas smiled.
"No, that is not what I meant. You are misunderstanding me," he mumbled, his words running together in a way that came out incoherent to Elizabeth.
"There is no need to be so flustered," she said with a smile.
Silas smiled. "Well, thank you."
"You are welcome," she said.
Silas nodded once more, then logged out of the server.
Zendaya followed almost immediately, disappearing in a flash.
Elizabeth glanced at the chair Silas had occupied just moments ago, then looked away.
Silas opened his eyes with a sharp breath.
"I would like to meet the people you have employed for the game’s development at some point," Silas said directly. "I will assign a time later."
"Yes, sir," Zendaya replied.
With that, Silas left the Nexus Dimension.
The thought of Silas lingered in Zendaya’s mind for a while after he left.
But she composed herself almost immediately.
With a thought, she too exited the Dimension.
Silas reappeared on his bed.
"Welcome back," Asher said as Silas returned.
"Thank you," Silas said.
He glanced at the bathroom, then at Asher.
As if reading his thoughts, Asher nodded and stepped out of the room.
Silas pulled all his clothes off and stepped into the bathroom.
After a few minutes, he stepped back out.
Water trailed down from his forehead across his face to his chest.
A white towel was wrapped tightly around his waist.
Silas observed the room for only a moment before picking clothes from the wardrobe.
All of them were new, bought during his stay on the planet.
After dressing, he jumped into the bed.
"What a strange day," he muttered.
Seeing so many people in one day had drained more of his energy than any fight could.
"Master Silas, you have a new message," Rion said, cutting through his thoughts.
"A new message? From whom?"
"The new plug-in you integrated. It sent a notification about thirty minutes ago."
Silas furrowed his brows.
"Open it," he said.
[You have received 3 match requests.]
He frowned.
’In less than two hours?’ He mused.
"Reject them," he said directly. He was not about to waste his energy on something so trivial.
[You rank higher than all of them, so you cannot reject their requests.]
[The match is scheduled for tomorrow in the combat arena.]
His brows twitched involuntarily.
"What kind of ridiculous system is this?"
[Failure to appear will result in your banishment from the Orion Sector. You will be left to find your own way to the Academy.]
"And punishment too? This is completely unfair," Silas said.
"Now that I think about it though, I do have a spaceship," he muttered, stroking his chin.
Without hesitation, he looked at the spatial ring Asher had given him when they first met.
"I cannot check it yet," he muttered.
And just like that, Silas forgot entirely about the competition.
"Maybe tomorrow."
He pushed the thought to the back of his mind.