As soon as Fyren stood up, the room fell completely silent.
Today, Fyren had completely transformed.
The shifty eyes were gone. The cunning smile had disappeared.
The current Fyren was elegant, confident, and composed - even as the stench of rotten eggs filled the entire conference room.
Fyren spoke:
"Did everyone see what just happened? My suit was torn by an elderly woman, and my face and neck were scratched. Why? Because her grandson couldn't enroll in school. Because her son broke his leg delivering food, leaving the family without income. Because she's sick and can't afford her medication. So... I became her punching bag."
"Ahem." Mayor Ziv quickly interjected, "The citizens can be impulsive sometimes, but it's because life has been truly difficult for them. Ultimately, it reflects our government's shortcomings—"
Surprisingly, Fyren boldly raised his hand to interrupt Mayor Ziv.
Now not only Mayor Ziv, but Secretary Winnie and all the business leaders were shocked.
"I apologize, Mayor Ziv, but please let me finish."
Fyren continued, "But one thing the elderly woman said struck me deeply. She screamed in my face: 'You rich people drive luxury cars and live in villas - do you ever think about the poor?'"
Fyren clapped his hands sharply. "This truth has existed since ancient times. Today, I, Fyren, am here to solemnly declare it!"
The entire room held its breath.
Word by word, with forceful emphasis, Fyren announced: "The shantytown project—Dasheng Group will see it through to completion..."
As these words left Fyren's mouth, Mayor Ziv exhaled audibly - revealing just how much governmental pressure had been weighing on him!
Eliza, Xena, and Cora were astonished.
This wasn't the Fyren they knew.
Was this really the same Fyren who always sought advantage and avoided losses?
Hadn't Otto just threatened him yesterday?
Otto's terrifying network of assassins was still threatening him, yet he...
Fyren's eyes burned with intensity: "Dasheng Group may lose every penny, but we will ensure every elderly woman in Crystalpeak City can afford medicine! Ensure every child in Crystalpeak City can attend school! Guarantee every working-class citizen has livelihood security!"
Mayor Ziv was electrified!
Sacred conscience! An entrepreneur with actual principles!
If Fyren kept these promises, he'd become Crystalpeak City's hero!
A business leader who could truly win the people's hearts!
Just as Mayor Ziv was about to start applauding, Fyren angrily added:
"And! I'm going to fix the Farmer's Market!"
Everyone looked puzzled... What did the Farmer's Market have to do with anything?
Fyren growled in frustration: "If eggs are rotten, don't sell them to elderly women! I propose! First shoot then arrest vendors selling rotten eggs on charges of illegal biochemical weapons distribution, then insert bamboo splinters under their fingernails and pour salt water—"
Mayor Ziv hurriedly stood up. "Alright, alright, let's not dwell on the rotten egg incident. Everyone, please give Fyren a round of applause! Let's thank Fyren for his compassion toward the people of Crystalpeak City!"
Still visibly irritated, Fyren showed Mayor Ziv his ruined suit. "This suit cost me a fortune. How humiliating to have it ruined like this by that old woman..."
"Yes, yes, of course! I'll personally reimburse you for the suit!"
"The real problem is this smell, Mayor. Just take a whiff—"
"Enough!" Mayor Ziv suddenly snapped, his anger flaring. "Keep talking and I'll smack you!"
Fyren continued undeterred: "There's more! I demand the working group immediately account for all residents facing hardships - we'll compensate three years' worth of rental expenses in one lump sum through Dasheng Group! For children unable to attend school, we must find solutions - how can we allow children to miss classes when housing is available? Additionally, we'll establish specific policies for shantytown residents unable to work due to injury or illness. Our pharmaceutical companies will provide deep cooperation, offering one-on-one assistance at cost price..."
"Magnificent!" Mayor Ziv excitedly shook Fyren's hand, then gripped his shoulder, at a loss for words. "Fyren! I thank you on behalf of Crystalpeak City's residents!"
"And about the rotten egg throwers..."
"Will you stop? Can we table the rotten egg discussion for now?"
"No, I still reek of—"
Mayor Ziv nearly lost his temper. "Where the hell are those replacement clothes? Someone shut this kid up already!"
Yet beneath his outburst, Mayor Ziv was overjoyed.
Crystalpeak City's economy had struggled these past two years. During his two-and-a-half-year tenure, he'd wanted to accomplish so much but constantly faced budget shortages. The shantytown redevelopment project had become an albatross around the city's neck.
If this project succeeded, Crystalpeak City would experience an immediate renaissance!
Securing corporate funding was notoriously difficult - especially when the government couldn't contribute much and needed someone to assume historical debts. It was like begging favors from reluctant relatives. Businessmen might save face with small gestures, but getting billions in risk capital? Nearly impossible.
He'd exhausted countless approaches, always lacking a champion investor.
Thankfully, Fyren had experienced... not a lapse in judgment, but rather a moment of moral clarity. Without this, the project might have languished for years, causing Crystalpeak to miss its developmental window.
Mayor Ziv immediately called a press conference to announce the news citywide.
Simultaneously, Fyren instructed Maggie to transfer the entire $5 billion received yesterday directly into the city government's shantytown project working group account.
Mayor Ziv, holding this money in hand, finally had some backbone!
When I, Ziv, first came to Crystalpeak City, development was sluggish. We lacked major financing projects, benchmark business leaders, and most crucially - money.
I went to the provincial leaders, and you know what they said?
"Go away! Want money? None! Want tasks? Plenty! Ziv, if you think our heads are worth anything, take them as money!"
"What do we need you for? If you're fit to be mayor, you're fit to get money!"
"Or go home to your kids and stop embarrassing me!"
That's how I ended up reaching out to the four major families led by Fyren.
Now $5 billion sits in our account!
With money in our pockets, we stand tall!
Without this money, how could I hold a proper press conference?
Dream on!
Of course, these were just Mayor Ziv's private thoughts.
I must say, Mayor Ziv spends money very efficiently.
Why?
This project has weighed on him for years. The basic accounting and various program budgets have been prepared multiple times - but there was never any money!
Now with funds secured, we can immediately address the people's needs.
The shantytown's original population is about 200,000. Estimating four people per household, that's roughly 70,000 households.
Each household receiving a 4,000 annualrental subsidy amounts to280-290 million. Over three years, that's nearly 1billion.Theremaining4 billion can serve as employment subsidies, education subsidies, and medical subsidies to compensate residents for their three-year losses.
Simply put, $5 billion should be more than sufficient, with likely surplus.
The key is this will ease public discontent, boost confidence in the project, while genuinely solving people's problems.
Fyren insisted on not attending the press conference.
He refused despite Mayor Ziv's repeated assurances that "not half an egg would get near him."
...
Fyren gathered Eliza, Xena, and Cora in the conference room and produced three contracts.
They were guarantee agreements: regardless of the project's outcome, Dasheng Group would ensure they recouped their principal.
All three women realized Fyren had gone mad.
He'd rather give all his money to Crystalpeak City's residents than let Otto benefit.
This move would undoubtedly enrage Otto.
Given previous events, Otto had dark forces backing him and wouldn't let this slide.
Eliza glanced at the contract, sneered, and tore it up immediately.
Fyren was shocked. "Eliza, what are you doing!?"
Eliza said, "I have money now. Why would I need your guarantee? I invested less than $5 billion - if it's lost, so be it. Would I still be human if I signed this contract?"
After speaking, she glanced meaningfully at Xena and Cora.
Cora smiled faintly and tore her contract too. "A mere $20 billion? I can afford the loss. Besides, it might not be wasted. With all those new shantytown houses, if momentum builds, we might even profit."
Fyren said, "Cora, this is a big deal. You'd better discuss it with your family first."
Cora grew angry and glared at Fyren. "Are you suggesting I'm not as capable as Eliza?"
Eliza laughed provocatively from the side, deliberately stirring Cora's competitive spirit, wanting her to tear up the contract.
Fyren explained, "That's not what I meant. This isn't some competition—"
"It is a competition!" Cora snapped. "You trust Eliza but not me!"
While they argued, Eliza noticed Xena had already signed the contract, examining it carefully with evident satisfaction.
Eliza snorted. Cora whirled around in surprise.
Xena walked over to Fyren carrying the signed contract and slung an arm around his shoulders. "Fyren boy!"
"What did you call me?"
Xena laughed and said in a teasing tone, "Well, now you owe your big sister a huge favor!" She tore up the freshly signed contract and stuck her tongue out at Fyren.
Fyren suddenly felt warmth in his chest.
What he was doing would surely earn him much hatred. Yet these three confidantes stood firmly by his side.
What true support meant was those who would actually put up money, treat money as nothing, and share enormous losses with you - that was genuine support!
Xena grinned cheekily. "Fyren, what's your plan this time?"
Fyren looked at her seriously. "You should keep your distance from me from now on, girl. Be careful."
"Oooooooh," Xena teased. "Hey! I heard your dad called mine!"
"So?"
"Don't you want to know what they discussed?"
"No."
Fyren waved them off. "Why are you all still here? Go home."
Eliza approached. "Fyren, what's your next move? Otto won't let this go."
Xena rolled her eyes dramatically. Eliza shot her a look and ignored her.
Fyren chuckled darkly. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I've beaten him before. I wanted to see if this bastard is truly invincible."
Cora suggested, "You might want to hire more bodyguards for safety."
Fyren laughed inwardly. [Bodyguards are useless. Do you think Otto's men can't handle a few bodyguards?]
[This is probably my final inning. Before I die, I need to finish what must be done.]
[Since nothing can be changed, I might as well fight back! In your world, Otto, you're the hero! But in Fyren's world, I'm the protagonist!]
I may not change anything else, but if I can launch the Shantytown project before I die - see ten thousand buildings rise, see thousands of families live and work in peace - then my life will have been worth living!
Otto, I've avoided you before, but today I've decided to stop hiding and face you head-on!
[These girls... I need to distance them from me. They can't be dragged down with me.]
With this thought, Fyren turned sternly. "Alright, contracts are signed. All of you, leave. Don't bother me anymore. Frankly, you girls annoy me."
Having said this, Fyren realized the three women weren't offended. Instead, they looked at him and smiled.
Fyren was baffled.
[Are these three idiots?]