Hammer adjusted his glasses and continued, "For years, Hammer Industries has been dedicated to equipping individual soldiers, possessing excellent finished products and rich experimental experience. If your company were to cooperate with us, it would undoubtedly be a win-win situation."
If Bai Qi were unaware of what would transpire at this exhibition, he might have truly been swayed by Hammer's pitch. However, Bai Qi had no intention of refusing.
While Hammer Industries' performance in the original narrative was rather disappointing, one could not deny their capabilities. Otherwise, after Stark Industries abandoned the arms trade, the US military would not have immediately sought cooperation with Hammer. Though the outcome was not ideal, it indirectly showcased the military's confidence in Hammer Industries.
Bai Qi had long harbored the desire to annex Hammer Industries, but too many other matters arose, each more significant than acquiring Hammer Industries. Coupled with the absence of a suitable opportunity, the plan to absorb Hammer Industries was indefinitely postponed. This is from Sudanonovel.com.
Consequently, Umbrella's scale now far surpassed Hammer Industries, making its acquisition merely a matter of adding frosting to the cake.
Moreover, even a rabbit will bite when cornered, let alone Hammer Industries.
If they had adopted an aggressive stance to forcibly absorb the company, pushing Hammer Industries to the brink, no one could guarantee that Hammer wouldn't resort to desperate measures. Even if the acquisition were successful, the gains would not outweigh the costs.
However, the situation had now improved. Before Umbrella could even make a move, Hammer had practically delivered Hammer Industries to Bai Qi's doorstep. With such a grand gesture, why would he refuse? Furthermore, after this exhibition, Hammer Industries' stock would plummet, presenting an opportune moment for acquisition.
As for the method,
They could employ the "boiling frog" tactic, gradually encroaching and hollowing out the company, much like they had done with the Osborn Group. By then, even if Hammer realized what was happening and attempted to intervene, it would be too late.
"Mr. Bai, what do you think?"
Seeing Bai Qi remain silent for an extended period, Hammer, assuming he might have inadvertently offended the other party with a remark, cautiously probed.
Bai Qi's lips curved upwards as he said, "I have great confidence in this collaboration, but..."
Hammer, overjoyed at hearing "confidence" and on the verge of rising to shake Bai Qi's hand, felt his heart sink at the word "but."
Bai Qi spread his hands and continued, "However, as you know, Umbrella Corporation has a vast operational structure. Even I cannot unilaterally agree to your proposal on behalf of the entire company. Nevertheless, I will convey your goodwill to Umbrella's headquarters. I imagine a decision will be reached before long, and we will provide you with a prompt response. How does that sound?"
"That would be wonderful."
Bai Qi's words offered Hammer considerable reassurance. Had Bai Qi agreed outright, Hammer might have felt uneasy.
Standing up to shake Bai Qi's hand with a pleasant demeanor, Hammer did not forget to promote his company, saying, "At the upcoming exhibition, Hammer Industries will unveil its latest products, which are absolutely guaranteed to impress you. I sincerely hope you will grace us with your presence."
"Of course, I will certainly be there."
As soon as Bai Qi finished speaking, the roof of the reception hall retracted, revealing the starry night sky.
"What is that!?"
Just as the guests at the reception were captivated by the expanse of stars, a woman in luxurious attire, holding a wine glass, pointed towards a spot in the sky and asked.
Following the direction of the woman's finger, the object initially resembled a star. Upon closer inspection, however, it became apparent something was amiss. The "star" was growing increasingly brighter and larger, clearly heading in their direction.
As the approaching celestial body grew larger, some began to panic and rushed towards the exits. This was, however, a minority. Most people watched the descent of the "star" calmly. After all, if it were truly a meteor, their desperate flight would be futile. It was better to wait quietly, and many influential figures had already learned or surmised the "star's" true identity through their own means.
As the moment arrived, a metal platform slowly ascended in the center of the ballroom.
*Bang!*
With a surge of displaced air, a series of light beams shot out from around the metal platform.
As the air currents dissipated, the "star" revealed its true form.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening!"
The fiery red metallic armor, coupled with the instantly recognizable, flamboyant voice, left no doubt as to the speaker's identity. The famously wealthy second-generation heir, successful entrepreneur, ultimate playboy, and cover star of gossip magazines across the nation—Tony Stark.
Oh, and now one more title must be added: Iron Man. At least, that's what he called himself.
The women were enthralled by Tony's spectacular entrance. The more demure simply gazed with bright eyes, while those with weaker self-control were practically drooling, wishing they could bear him children that very night.
As for the men, their eyes also gleamed with excitement. Who hadn't been young once? Who hadn't dreamed of a cool suit of power armor in their youth?
However, beyond the sheer coolness of the armor, they were more focused on its practical applications.
Many in attendance knew that Tony possessed such power armor, but they had only seen it through photos and videos, lacking a firsthand experience. Tony Stark's grand appearance in his armor presented them with an excellent opportunity to evaluate it.
The time elapsed from its detection to its landing was brief. Coupled with Tony's aerial arrival, this indicated that the armor Tony was wearing possessed not only flight capabilities but also considerable maneuverability.
Consider this: if a playboy billionaire like Tony Stark could use his armor to conquer the skies and combat terrorists, what immense power could it unleash in the hands of well-trained special forces?
This was assuming only one suit of armor. If it could be mass-produced and widely deployed, it would undoubtedly elevate the United States' global influence to an entirely new level.
Of course, compared to the enhancement of American influence, those present were more concerned with the substantial profits they could generate if they were to control this technology themselves.
Tony was well aware of their thoughts. He made this deliberate public display, wearing his latest developed armor to the reception, precisely because he had the confidence to do so. It was also a way to intimidate these individuals and, in essence, flaunt his new toy. The implied message was: "See? I have a new toy. Are you envious? Too bad, I'm not giving it to you."
This intention was thoroughly conveyed throughout his subsequent impassioned speech. What was even more infuriating was that the audience could only offer perfunctory agreement, their smiles strained and unnatural.
However, there were a few exceptions among the crowd.
The foremost among them was Bai Qi, who, through his Shadow Ninja, had already obtained data on Tony Stark's Iron Man armor long ago. After upgrades and modifications, he had successfully constructed the Mark I experimental unit, possessing even greater power.