Originally translated from the Thai language.
Adisorn locked eyes with the Chairman, his gaze as deep and unreadable as an abyssal ocean, concealing the vast currents of emotion swirling within.
"You may suspect that ZX Capital is stepping in merely to scavenge for spoils while you are vulnerable..." He spoke with a tone that was half-sympathetic, half-cautionary. "But do you not know better than anyone, sir? A crisis of this complexity demands a strategist who can read the entire board. A single millimeter's misstep... and the entire system resets. You might never have the chance to sit in this chair again."
The words cut deep, forcing Li Ming into a knowing, strained smile. "I admit your intel is far deeper than I anticipated. But as the Chairman of CK Group, I still possess the intellect and the sheer power to sweep away this 'trash' without relying on outsiders."
Adisorn remained unshaken. He merely offered a subtle, polite smile, though his eyes grew glacially sharp.
"You built this empire from nothing, starting with a handful of founders. I respect that legacy from the bottom of my heart..." He paused, leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping to a low, formidable register. "But right now... the stakes are too high for you to balance with only two hands. Are you certain you can defuse this time bomb within the forty-eight hours before the board meeting begins? Will you allow your beloved hydrogen project to be tarnished by the scandal of being the catalyst for this firm's bankruptcy?"
The words were like bullets striking dead-center. Li Ming faltered for a heartbeat, his fingertips tapping a slow, rhythmic cadence on the polished wood—as if listening to the ticking of the very bomb Adisorn had just placed before him.
"VCC has set conditions that leave us with no room for retreat..." The old lion finally decided to exhale a painful secret. "Being forced to convert debt into equity... it is a cancer currently devouring CK Group."
Adisorn merely arched an eyebrow. His silent, composed listening was a calculated pressure, forcing the other man to reveal his final card.
"I will ask you plainly, as one corporate predator to another... what 'trump card' does ZX have to play on this board?"
Adisorn's lips curled into a cold smirk, his eyes flashing with the triumph hidden behind his mask.
"While you waste precious time mired in an endless legal quagmire with VCC... ZX Capital will end this game for you decisively. The question is... are you brave enough to 'strike the blow' alongside us?"
Li Ming narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the titan before him with a mix of awe and suspicion. "And what is your price?"
Adisorn bowed his head slightly before speaking with a voice as sudden and definitive as a thunderclap. "The first condition... ZX will move to 'sever the circuit' of all debts CK Group owes to VCC—effectively annihilating the influence of those pulling the strings behind that fund!"
Li Ming's face drained of color for a fleeting second, a flash of alarm quickly suppressed by his stoic mask. "You know... even about the shadow-players behind them?"
Adisorn straightened his posture, his gaze as piercing as a golden eagle looking down from the heavens. "The hydrogen project is a treasure the entire world covets. Its existence is both your shield and your bullseye. Think about it, sir: if one day someone successfully usurps this project, your power vanishes instantly, does it not?"
He dropped the final bombshell onto the conference table with a masterfully crafted smile.
"Therefore... ZX Capital will not merely be a co-investor. We will be the 'New Foundation'—one far stronger than before—so you may ascend to the zenith without anyone ever daring to shake your throne again. It all rests upon your decision now... will you open the door to the victory I have brought to your feet, or will you let those people drag you from your throne?"