Chapter Sixteen: A Choice for the Future
The remnants of the Deep Blue Alliance were systematically eliminated, solidifying the Shen Group’s unprecedentedly firm position in the new energy sector. Yet, the higher one stands on the summit, the clearer one must remain. Xu Yunchuan understood that true crises often arise from unseen quarters.
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Hidden Dangers Within
At a Shen Group board meeting, Zhao Ming handed over a financial report, his brows tightly knit. “Yunchuan, I’ve noticed that our recent R&D budget expenditures have doubled beyond expectations. Could someone be sabotaging us?”
“The increase in R&D funds is real,” Shen Qingwan explained, “but it’s because we accelerated the progress of new projects. Still, I will have the finance department double-check to ensure there are no issues.”
Xu Yunchuan took the documents and carefully reviewed them, discovering several transactions directed toward an outsourcing company named Dawn Technology. This company, under the guise of technical support, had signed multiple contracts but showed little actual progress.
“Who heads Dawn Technology?” Xu Yunchuan inquired.
After consulting the records, Shen Qingwan replied, “Lin Jianguo. He was once one of our core engineers but left three years ago to start this company.”
“Lin Jianguo...” Xu Yunchuan pondered. “This isn’t mere wastefulness. There might be a deeper problem lurking beneath.”
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Lin Jianguo’s Secret
Xu Yunchuan dispatched agents to investigate Lin Jianguo discreetly. They soon uncovered that Dawn Technology not only received substantial R&D funds from the Shen Group but also maintained complex financial dealings with multiple overseas enterprises.
“He’s exploiting Shen Group’s resources to provide technical support for our competitors,” Zhao Ming said furiously. “This kind of traitor must be dealt with immediately!”
“Don’t alert him prematurely,” Xu Yunchuan said calmly. “We need more evidence to strike decisively.”
Further inquiries revealed that Lin Jianguo’s financial trail led to a multinational investment firm, whose behind-the-scenes controllers were several senior members of the Deep Blue Alliance who had escaped legal punishment.
“It seems the Deep Blue Alliance hasn’t vanished entirely,” Xu Yunchuan murmured. “They’re merely waiting for a new chance to strike back.”
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Into the Lion’s Den
To gather more evidence, Xu Yunchuan decided to approach Lin Jianguo personally and test his limits.
At a business forum, Xu Yunchuan initiated conversation with Lin Jianguo. “Director Lin, Dawn Technology’s recent progress is impressive. I hear your new project is advancing smoothly.”
Lin Jianguo smiled faintly, feigning humility. “Mr. Xu, you flatter me. It’s all thanks to Shen Group’s support that we’ve achieved this.”
“In that case, why not deepen our cooperation?” Xu Yunchuan probed. “I believe there are many more areas where we can find mutual benefits.”
A flicker of caution crossed Lin Jianguo’s eyes, but he quickly masked it. “Of course. It’s an honor to collaborate with Shen Group.”
This brief exchange confirmed Xu Yunchuan’s suspicion: Lin Jianguo was not only exploiting Shen Group’s resources but might also be involved in the Deep Blue Alliance’s revival plans.
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A Betrayal Unexpected
Just as Xu Yunchuan prepared for the next move, a core technology at Shen Group was suddenly leaked. This technology was the next-generation solid-state battery currently in development, hailed by the industry as the “key to future energy.”
The leak caused a stir throughout the sector. Shen Group’s stock plummeted overnight, while rival Qingstone Energy seized the opportunity to announce the imminent launch of a similar product.
“There must be a mole inside!” Shen Qingwan exclaimed. “Otherwise, how could they replicate our technology so quickly?”
“Lin Jianguo’s issue remains unresolved, and now this,” Zhao Ming said grimly. “We can no longer delay action.”
Xu Yunchuan paused thoughtfully. “It’s not just Lin Jianguo. I suspect others are involved in this conspiracy.”
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The Counterattack Begins
Monitoring the company’s internal email system, the tech department discovered a research engineer secretly communicating with Dawn Technology. This engineer was responsible for a critical portion of the new technology and admitted to leaking core data to Lin Jianguo in exchange for a large sum of money.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Xu Yunchuan said. “The true threat lies with the forces backing Lin Jianguo.”
Armed with sufficient evidence, Xu Yunchuan decided on a two-pronged strategy: legally prosecute Lin Jianguo and Dawn Technology while simultaneously exposing the Deep Blue Alliance’s conspiracy through public opinion.
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Luring the Snake Out
To completely dismantle this plot, Xu Yunchuan set a trap. He deliberately leaked news that Shen Group was about to launch a revolutionary technology but sought external partners to assist in completing the final development stage.
Sure enough, Lin Jianguo reached out, expressing his willingness to collaborate.
“This cooperation must be confidential,” Lin Jianguo stated. “I can mobilize all of Dawn Technology’s resources to help you achieve the breakthrough.”
“Of course,” Xu Yunchuan smiled. “Looking forward to a fruitful partnership.”
In truth, this “revolutionary technology” was entirely fabricated. Xu Yunchuan used this opportunity to expose the financial pipelines behind Lin Jianguo and the remaining Deep Blue Alliance forces.
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Eliminating the Threat
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Lin Jianguo and the masterminds behind the Deep Blue Alliance had nowhere to hide. Interpol launched a coordinated operation, rounding up all involved parties.
Although Shen Group’s reputation took a temporary hit, once the truth was revealed, its stock rapidly recovered. Xu Yunchuan’s decisive action and wisdom earned unanimous praise both within and beyond the industry.
“This time, it’s truly over,” Shen Qingwan sighed with relief.
“Every ending is a new beginning,” Xu Yunchuan said. “From now on, our mission is not only to consolidate our position but to genuinely transform the future of the industry.”