"Let’s just call it a coincidence, shall we, sir?" Tum gathered his composure, a calculated smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Through his trained "Third Eye," the aura surrounding Ming Zhi was no longer the bright gold of a benevolent businessman. Instead, it radiated a dense, murky grey—a telltale sign of deep-seated suspicion and a mind clouded by a malicious agenda.
"Is that so? It seems a bit too... 'intentional' for a coincidence," Ming Zhi took a step closer. The sunlight filtering through the windows reflected off his lenses, masking his eyes and leaving only a stiff, plastic-like smile.
Tum feigned a soft laugh to mask his alarm. "It’s likely as coincidental as your presence here, sir. After all, this path leads straight to the Registry—exactly where I’m headed."
The counterfeit smile on Ming Zhi’s face vanished instantly. The air grew cold. "Ah... I see. I happen to be searching for some 'old' documents that might have been forgotten."
"Great minds think alike," Tum countered immediately, his sharp gaze monitoring every micro-movement. "I was notified by Away Logistics that a crucial document was sent over, but it seems to have 'vanished' within the CK Group warehouse. I had to come down and dig for the source myself."
The name 'Away Logistics' hit Ming Zhi like a small explosion. Tum saw the black radiation around the man flicker violently. Ming Zhi leaned in until Tum could hear his ragged breath, whispering in a voice sharper than a razor blade.
"I hope you find what you’re looking for..." He paused for emphasis. "But be careful. Don't let the documents you seek become the 'noose' that strangles the life out of you and your boss later on."
With a final, piercing look of malice, Ming Zhi turned and strode away. Tum stood still, watching the man’s retreating back. He didn't just see a middle-aged man in an expensive suit; he saw a trail of dark radiation—the signature of lies and corruption hidden beneath the rug of this empire.
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As the thunderous applause faded, silence returned to the auditorium. It was now time for the CLS President, Zhang Wei, to deliver his vision. Standing tall amidst the spotlights, his elegant silhouette commanded the room. He offered a composed bow and a steady smile.
"Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, a leader in new energy... but let us not forget that the heart of CK Group is sustained by a proven, profit-generating industry: Logistics. This is the industry that will distribute wealth across all of Asia."
With a single tap, the hologram of Gawin’s hydrogen plant dissolved. It was replaced by a gargantuan map of Southeast Asia hovering in mid-air. Golden light trails surged from Southern China into Thailand, spreading like a spiderweb into neighboring nations.
"My proposed project is 'The Seamless Asia Logistics Network', where we will transform KCC into the largest Super Hub in Asia." Zhang Wei pointed to the strategic territory. "KCC’s strength is its location, linking China's rail systems to ASEAN’s deep-sea ports. Our Hyper-Connectivity System will integrate land, sea, and air transport into a single software under the CLS Blockchain. Every piece of data will be recorded in Smart Contracts, allowing for digital customs pre-clearance. This creates what I call 'Zero Wait Logistics'—speed and precision in real-time."
His voice was a smooth, melodic baritone that captivated the audience.
"We will utilize Automated Sorting & AI Routing to calculate the shortest paths and minimize costs, reducing human error to near zero. Every item will have a Digital Twin on the cloud, allowing owners to track status and arrival times with absolute certainty."
"The revenue streams for this project are three-fold: First, Network Access Fees from partners wanting to use our Seamless Network, which will become the Asian standard. Second, Smart Warehousing Management within the Super Hub. And third, Big Data Monetization—the logistics data of an entire continent is a goldmine. We will analyze market trends and sell that intelligence to global brands and investors."
"In terms of profitability... by cutting transit time by 40% and operational costs by 30%, our net profit is projected to triple within the first four years. We will replicate this model across three other global strategic hubs. This will be the Standard of CK Group that the world must follow."
Zhang Wei locked eyes with each board member, his confidence radiating. "By the time the system stabilizes, competitors will find the cost of catching up far too high to pay. That is when CLS will reap the full harvest of profits."
As he finished, silence gripped the room before exploding into a standing ovation as passionate as the one before it. The board members were visibly torn; both plans offered staggering benefits to the CK Group, leaving the victory hanging in a delicate balance.