Chapter 395: The Real Game Begins
"Let's discuss business first."
Li Tang knew Alice had feelings for him, but he didn't intend to get involved too deeply. Work and personal matters should remain separate; mixing them could cause problems.
"I've been busy in Hong Kong for such a long time; I've hardly had any restful sleep. I finally completed the task you assigned. I expected at least a few words of praise after traveling here to meet you. Instead, you're still as cold as ever, always focused on work," Alice complained softly.
"You've worked hard." Li Tang clearly understood what Alice was implying.
"After spending half the day on the plane, my shoulders feel sore. Could you give me a massage?" Alice, who usually displayed a tough, cold professional image, rarely showed her softer side in front of Li Tang.
Li Tang wasn't willing to engage in this sort of interaction. He maintained a stern face and said seriously, "Right now, the situation isn't entirely under our control. Our opponent is Rinto—a fierce beast like a tiger. We have a stick in hand, but whether we can truly control this tiger is uncertain. If Rinto becomes enraged and attacks us aggressively, we might not be able to withstand it."
Discussing the current situation quickly shifted Alice's focus back to business, overriding her emotional inclinations. She straightened her clothes, regaining her professional composure.
"Did you watch Leyton's latest television interview?" she asked.
"No." Li Tang shook his head. "Leyton isn't just targeting me; he's attacking all Chinese enterprises. He's just a mad dog barking everywhere. No need to pay attention to him."
"But his words have sparked a significant reaction from various media outlets and the public here in Canada. Many people are now accusing you of being an intruder intent on destroying Gala Aluminum and sabotaging the Canadian economy."
"Do people actually believe that nonsense?" Li Tang asked skeptically.
"You shouldn't underestimate the power of public opinion. There's a real possibility the Canadian securities regulators might come under pressure to scrutinize our investments more harshly," Alice warned.
"Our operations are fully compliant and transparent. We have nothing to fear," Li Tang said confidently. "We have an old saying: 'A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe.'"
"You must understand, Canadian politicians don't always care about the truth. If they want to destroy someone, they have plenty of underhanded methods!" Alice recalled when Li Tang was previously detained simply because someone repeatedly reported him. The Vancouver judicial authorities, acting on minimal evidence from airport surveillance footage, had held Li Tang for several days.
For someone like Li Tang, even though he was ultimately proven innocent, it still caused significant reputational damage. Even now, some continued dredging up this incident, claiming Li Tang had been guilty, and alleging his release was merely due to pressure from influential figures like Mark of Barrick Gold and Richard, Gala Aluminum's CEO.
Li Tang, recalling that unpleasant incident, became cautious. "What exactly did Leyton say?"
"Leyton clearly spoke out in support of Rinto," Alice summarized.
"That explains it." Li Tang nodded. "Rinto is definitely targeting me. They've been testing my limits repeatedly. Previously, I didn't respond, so now they're becoming increasingly aggressive."
"Lately, Rinto has been contacting me frequently, requesting a meeting with you," Alice said. "If you prefer not to meet them directly, I came here specifically to handle meetings with Gala Aluminum and Rinto's executives."
Li Tang glanced at the calendar, calculating carefully. The battle with Rinto wasn't just financial—it was psychological. Getting the balance right was essential. If you're trying to take something valuable from someone's hands without provoking their anger, that's nearly impossible. They would inevitably be furious. The key was to ensure that fury didn't explode into action—to prevent them from flipping the table entirely.
"It's about time," Li Tang said. He had intentionally ignored Gala Aluminum and Rinto representatives, letting their initial anger cool down slightly. "Inform Gala Aluminum and Rinto: I'll meet with them."
"Which one first, Gala Aluminum or Rinto?" Alice asked.
"Gala Aluminum first," Li Tang decided.
Since Li Tang was aiming primarily at Rinto, Gala Aluminum's executives and board members, with whom he had no direct conflict, were easier to pacify.
Gala Aluminum's entire senior management and all board members attended the meeting. Such attendance wasn't mandatory; most participants would usually wait outside while a few negotiated face-to-face. Yet, everyone put aside their duties just to see Li Tang in person. Although they were all angry at Li Tang, no one could ignore his profound influence in the mining industry.
In fact, many people viewed this young Chinese businessman as a hero. Western culture admired individualism and heroism, so Li Tang naturally had his admirers in Canada. However, in front of personal interests, heroes or idols meant nothing. They glared at Li Tang with undisguised hostility.
Richard was an exception among the group, genuinely smiling when he saw Li Tang.
"You finally appeared," Richard said warmly.
"I've been in Toronto this whole time. Nobody contacted me requesting a meeting," Li Tang said innocently.
"We've been trying to reach you for several days," Richard responded straightforwardly. "If you don't believe me, ask Alice."
Alice feigned surprise, "Oh, so you wanted to meet my boss? You should've clarified earlier. Then I wouldn't have needed to fly all the way here."
Hearing Alice's words, Richard felt as if he'd made an error but didn't dwell on it. "At least you've arrived in time."
He looked at Li Tang anxiously. "We have something very important to discuss."
Li Tang nodded and saw a familiar face among the crowd. He approached warmly, smiling, "President Wiggins, long time no see!"
Wiggins showed no interest in small talk, openly displaying anger and disgust. He immediately confronted Li Tang, "Regarding Rinto's offer—are you going to approve or reject it?"
"What does the President hope I'll do?" Li Tang asked calmly.
"Of course, approve!" Wiggins snapped impatiently. "Don't cause unnecessary complications or try anything clever. You're Gala Aluminum's largest shareholder. Accepting Rinto's offer is clearly your best option!"
"You're right," Li Tang agreed pleasantly.
"Since you agree, cast your vote right now, right here, in front of all of us!" Wiggins pressed him urgently.
"I'd love to settle things quickly as well," Li Tang said, smiling but then sighed, feigning distress. "Unfortunately, the Gala Aluminum shares are not personally owned by me—they belong to an investment company. I'm just one of its shareholders, and we haven't yet reached a consensus on the vote."
"You're the largest shareholder! Who dares disagree with you?" Wiggins fumed, suspecting Li Tang was deliberately causing trouble.
Other board members glared angrily at Li Tang, wishing they could strangle him on the spot. Li Tang maintained his composure, raising a hand to pacify them.
"I came today to clearly express my stance. My interests align completely with every shareholder—if one prospers, we all prosper; if one suffers, we all suffer. Honestly, I find Rinto's offer extremely attractive and satisfying. Please don't treat me with such hostility; I'm genuinely feeling wronged. The shareholder vote has a defined timeframe. Rest assured, I'll cast my decisive vote within that period."
Li Tang's diplomatic reply slightly reduced the tense atmosphere. But the smarter individuals quickly realized that Li Tang hadn't truly clarified his position. No one could be certain how he'd vote.
Wiggins grudgingly warned, "Remember, if the deal fails, you'll suffer the most losses."
"Of course," Li Tang didn't argue pointlessly.
Richard, representing all shareholders impartially, stepped in. "Rinto representatives also wish to speak with you directly about your vision for Gala Aluminum's future. Even though you have no board seat, they greatly respect you."
"Where are Rinto's people?" Li Tang asked. "I'd also like to speak with Alba. We're old friends; it's been a while."
"They're here, waiting outside," Richard informed him.
Upon hearing Li Tang had arrived, Alba and Erick immediately rushed to Gala Aluminum headquarters. Never before had Rinto's executives mobilized collectively just to meet a single individual—reflecting the importance they placed on this acquisition, pivotal to Rinto's future.
The conference room doors opened, Richard, Wiggins, and Gala Aluminum's executives exited. Alba's eyes immediately locked onto Li Tang.
"You kept us waiting," Alba said tensely.
"Mr. Alba, have you been well lately?" Li Tang greeted him warmly. "You seem exhausted; are you not resting well?"
"I'm perfectly fine," Alba grumbled, suppressing his frustration.
"Glad to hear it. I'd hate for any friend of mine to have health issues," Li Tang replied casually before turning to Richard. "I have private matters to discuss with Alba. Could we borrow your meeting room?"
Wiggins immediately protested, eager to listen in. "We should all discuss it together!"
"No," Li Tang firmly refused. "This conversation is strictly between Alba and myself."
"Agreed," Alba quickly intervened, eager to settle matters. "Please disable the cameras inside."
After the cameras were switched off and the door shut, Li Tang dropped his relaxed demeanor, his expression cold, eyes filled with intensity. Alice matched his powerful presence, projecting strength.
"Li, your vote will decide the fate of Rinto and Gala Aluminum's partnership. Consider your choice carefully," Alba urged, visibly anxious. "Make a decision beneficial to everyone involved."
"I'll certainly make the right choice," Li Tang answered coldly. "However, exactly what I choose depends entirely on you and your board's concessions."
His words marked the start of the real battle—one mistake could instantly wipe out months of efforts and billions in potential profits.
"What do you want?" Alba asked nervously.
Li Tang smiled slightly, his gaze piercing. "I know you're targeting me. You've obstructed the approval process for the Mali River Iron Mine and supported Leyton's smear campaign. Stop immediately."
"Alright," Alba conceded readily.
Clearly, from the start, Rinto was at a disadvantage. After all, Li Tang held all the cards.
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