Free Web NovelChapter 433: Chapter 163: Family Meeting
The moment Meng Huang spoke, reactions in the room varied.
Meng Zhenghuai seemed to tremble slightly, but his head only drooped lower as he began to doze off.
Meng Lai offered no rebuttal, only a faint smile. Aunt Yu, beside him, remained impassive, as if she had long been aware of the truth.
Meng Shu remained silent, perfectly calm both inwardly and outwardly.
’She hadn’t known this before, but she had never held any expectations for her grandfather. No expectations meant no disappointment. Besides, it made no difference to her either way.’
Chen Chuan, meanwhile, used the existing data in his Realm Token to look up the Consciousness Coordinator and Biological Substitute. He discovered they were technologies from the Original Man Company.
A Biological Substitute was an unconscious biological body of the subject, capable of being controlled via a Consciousness Coordinator to remotely or independently carry out tasks for the original person.
However, he couldn’t find any more information. External communications were currently blocked, leaving him with nothing more than a brief introduction.
’He didn’t have much of a reaction, though. In his view, it was perfectly normal for the corporate Upper Layer to use such technology. They didn’t have the overwhelming physical power of Fighters, so it was hardly surprising they would use substitutes to protect themselves.’
’Besides, today they were facing Meng Huang, a man who was possibly colluding with the other side. If Meng Lai truly knew this, it would be stranger for him to appear here in person. The current situation, with him using a substitute, was far more logical.’
Meng Huang was surprised to see Meng Shu’s exceptional, and seemingly genuine, composure. "You really are just as they say—rational and calm. Not bad. In another time, you would have been a suitable successor. But now... things are different."
Meng Shu met his gaze unflinchingly, her cool eyes showing no sign of retreat. "What’s different?"
Meng Huang toyed with his fingernails. "You should know. Yes, you know. The changes in the world are about to reach a critical point. A true transformation is at hand, and a surging tide is about to drown us..."
He spread his arms wide, gesturing to everyone in the room as if to encompass them all. "Everyone... everything... When the tide comes, can you lead the company forward? Can you? Or..." He glanced up. "...will you just listen to the commands of God-knows-what sitting up there?"
He stared at Meng Shu. "If that’s all you’re capable of, I advise you to step aside sooner rather than later. I can promise you, you won’t lack for anything you have now in the future." He gestured with a finger at Meng Lai on the main seat. "It’ll be no different from when *this thing* was sitting up there."
Then, he leaned forward, clasped his hands, and stared at Meng Shu. "So? Think about it. Just live your lives quietly like the rest of the Meng Clan. As long as you don’t make trouble for me, I can tolerate your existence."
Meng Lai didn’t interrupt. His deep, meaningful gaze shifted to Meng Shu, as if awaiting her response.
Meng Shu looked at him. "Are you Meng Huang?"
Meng Huang arched an eyebrow.
Staring into his eyes, Meng Shu said with absolute certainty, "You are not." She met Meng Huang’s brazen gaze head-on. "You aren’t even a member of the Meng Clan. You have no right to ask me that question."
Meng Zhenghuai, who had been dozing, paused and lifted his head slightly.
Just then, slow, rhythmic applause echoed through the living room. It was Meng Lai, clapping gently from his seat. "Well said, Xiaoshu," he said, gratified. "I wasn’t wrong about you."
Meng Huang leaned back, looking as if he regretted Meng Shu’s refusal. As for Meng Lai’s words, he just scoffed in disdain.
Meng Lai continued, "An heir to the company must not only be outstanding themselves, but must also know how to read the times and make calm, rational decisions at critical moments."
He looked at Meng Huang, his tone regretful. "Meng Huang, your performance has truly disappointed me."
Meng Huang seemed entirely unconcerned. "And?"
Meng Lai said, a note of pity in his voice, "If you were still the Meng Huang of old, I would never have considered Meng Shu. But your objective isn’t just the company. You want something else, and you’re becoming impatient. That... thing has already influenced you, and it seems to have sunk its roots too deep."
"I had intended to give you a choice today, hoping you would give a response that satisfied us both. Then we could have continued to compromise. But you can’t even be bothered to keep up the pretense."
A dark mist seemed to stir in the depths of Meng Huang’s eyes, but it might have been a trick of the light. "Old man, what do you know?" he said.
He sneered. "You’re still using that stubborn, rotten old brain of yours, still operating under the world’s old rules. ’You can’t do this, you can’t do that.’ You act within the boundaries others have set for you, and you can never escape the box they’ve put you in."
"Your family’s enterprise is vast, the company is huge, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. The moment the government stops giving you orders, the company will collapse. You’re pathetic."
"Everything you’ve worked so hard to build stands on a shifting sand dune, ready to collapse at the slightest push."
"But me..."
He pointed to himself. "I worked my fingers to the bone expanding business channels, finding new directions for the company, establishing new research labs, fighting to keep the company alive... and what did I get for it?"
"Not even the promise of succession."
"But I’ve figured it out now. None of that matters. No matter how well I did, because of the path I chose, you no longer saw me as one of your own. And really, so what if I did take your seat? In the end, I’d just be like you, hiding inside this flesh puppet and barking orders."
"Fortunately, the world is changing before our very eyes. The principles you clung to are now utterly meaningless."
As he spoke, the muscles in his face seemed to twitch unnaturally. "The only thing to do is to embrace the great ones, to face the world’s transformation head-on. That is our true calling."
Chen Chuan stared intently at Meng Huang. He had been observing the man’s Domain ever since he walked in. At first, it had been obscure and indistinct, just like that of the Meng Clan members who wore certain artifacts.
Just now, however, it had undergone an extremely abnormal change, instantly becoming agitated and chaotic. Through the senses at his brow, he felt as if something else had appeared on Meng Huang.
Meng Lai spoke slowly. "Are you referring to your communications with the entity on the other side?" He shook his head. "You are mistaken. I don’t care whether you’ve truly communicated with it. In this day and age, such actions are not so outrageous."
"If you had been able to maintain your reason, to leverage that entity and make it a partner to me, I would have admired you all the more. I would have felt more secure entrusting the company’s business to you. But if you instead submit to it, then you are no longer a qualified candidate to lead this company."
Meng Huang said nonchalantly, "So, you plan to have a showdown with me today?"
Meng Lai said nothing, merely watched him.
Meng Huang continued, as if talking to himself, "You’ve wanted to do this for a long time, haven’t you? You only held back because you were afraid I’d be pushed into betraying the company, causing even greater damage. That’s why you’ve been trying to gauge my destructive potential, probing for my true intentions."
"Fine by me. I’ve been putting up with you for a long time, too."
He smiled slyly. "Since you love following the rules so much, I’ll play your game, just this once. We’ll do things your way..."
"You just chose Meng Shu as your successor, correct? That requires a vote from the members of the Meng Clan. I now, in my capacity as a member of the Meng Clan, propose a family council. If you feel I’m not qualified, I can find someone more suitable to make the proposal."
Meng Lai nodded. "This was bound to happen sooner or later. Very well. Xiaoyu, since everyone is here, notify the other clan members. Have them patch in."
Aunt Yu gave a slight bow and immediately sent a summons to all members of the Meng Clan. A moment later, a curtain of light projected down from the ceiling, revealing the faces of the clan members one by one. In total, there were over thirty people, the majority of whom were also directors of the Fusion Boundary Company.
Meng Lai said, "I assume you’ve all heard. I have chosen Xiaoshu as the company’s successor. I’d like to hear your opinions."
Someone spoke up at once. "Second Uncle, perhaps we should reconsider? Xiaoshu is still too young. Why not wait a few more years?"
"That’s right. She has no experience with the company’s operations. Why not let her manage one division first? If she does well, she can continue. If not, no harm done. With so many talented young people in the clan, surely we can find someone suitable?"
"I think Meng Huang is a fine choice. He’s been so diligent these past few years, respectful to the elders and caring toward the younger generation. Second Brother, what more could you be unsatisfied with?"
Meng Lai grunted in acknowledgment. "Let’s hear from everyone." He looked to one side. "Meng Jing, what are your thoughts?"
The man who was called upon looked troubled. "Second Brother, this... it’s your decision. I have no opinion either way. Xiaoshu is fine, and Meng Huang is fine too."
Meng Lai questioned another person, and the answer was much the same. Once everyone had spoken, it was clear that while a scant few supported Meng Shu, the vast majority were in favor of Meng Huang.
Meng Huang spread his hands, a smirk on his face. "See? Your proposal won’t pass. Now what? Are you still going to ’follow the rules’?"
Meng Lai seemed completely untroubled by the outcome. He spoke with calm certainty. "The rules must be followed, of course. Someone who acts with reckless abandon cannot sit in this position. I respect the decision of the family council. However..."
His gaze fell on Meng Huang, suddenly becoming incredibly sharp. He said slowly, "As Xiaoshu said just now... are you still Meng Huang?"
At that moment, Chen Chuan felt a sudden jolt. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the Second Self. Faint signs of it turning ethereal had appeared.
Meng Huang frowned, as if he sensed something. His eyelid twitched violently. The muscles and skin of his face began to pulse slowly, as if something were about to burrow its way out from within.
"You..."
He immediately tried to stand, but the slight movement sent the entire sofa toppling over. He slapped a hand over his face, his body wracked with tremors. The shadow he cast to the side began to twist into a grotesque shape, gradually expanding outward.
...
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