Family Council

When Meng Huang spoke those words, the reactions across the room varied widely. Meng Zhenghuai's body seemed to give a slight shudder, but his head drooped even lower afterward as he resumed dozing off. Meng Lai offered no rebuttal; he merely kept smiling faintly, while Aunt Yu beside him remained just as impassive as before, as if she had long been aware of it. Meng Shu did not say a word, remaining calm through and through. She had not known this fact before, but she had never held any expectations for her grandfather. Without expectations, there was no disappointment to speak of—not to mention that it made little practical difference to her. Chen Chuan, meanwhile, utilized the files stored locally within his boundary credential to search for consciousness coordinators and biological doubles, discovering that this was technology developed by the Origin Corporation. A biological double was an unthinking organism—a physical vessel devoid of its own consciousness—that could remotely or autonomously carry out tasks required by the primary body through a consciousness coordinator. However, there was nothing further when he tried to dig deeper; external communication was blocked after all, leaving him with nothing beyond brief introductory entries. Even so, he didn't react much to the revelation. In his view, it was entirely normal for corporate executives to utilize such technology. Unlike fighters, they possessed no overwhelming martial might, so employing doubles to preserve their lives was hardly out of the ordinary. Moreover, today called for confronting Meng Huang, who might well be colluding with an entity on the other side. If Meng Lai was truly aware of that, showing up in person would have been strange; the current arrangement made far more sense. Seeing that Meng Shu was exceptionally calm and not merely putting on a front, Meng Huang appeared somewhat surprised. "You really are just as they say—rational and composed. Not bad. In a different time, you truly would have been an ideal candidate for heir. But now, things are different." Meng Shu looked back at him without yielding an inch, her cool eyes unblinking. "How are they different?" Meng Huang fiddled with his fingernails. "You ought to know. Yes, you do know. The upheaval of the world is nearing its critical threshold. A true transformation is right before our eyes, and a surging tide is about to drown us all..." He opened his arms and gestured broadly around him, seemingly taking in everyone present. "Everyone, everything. When that tide rolls in, can you guide the company forward? Can you? Or..." He glanced up toward the desk. "Will you merely take orders from whatever thing is sitting up there?" He fixed his gaze on Meng Shu. "If that's all you're capable of, I advise you to step aside sooner rather than later. I can promise you that you won't lack a single thing you currently enjoy in the future." He pointed a finger at Meng Lai in the primary seat. "No different from when that thing sits up there." With that, he leaned forward, clasped his hands together, and stared intently at Meng Shu. "Well? Give it some proper thought. Just like the rest of the Meng family, live your days in peace and comfort. So long as you don't make trouble for me, I can tolerate you all." Meng Lai did not cut their exchange short. His profound, inscrutable gaze turned toward Meng Shu, seemingly waiting for her answer. Meng Shu looked at Meng Huang and said, "Are you Meng Huang?" Meng Huang raised a brow. Looking straight into his eyes, Meng Shu said with absolute certainty, "You aren't." She met his brazen stare head-on. "You aren't even a member of the Meng family. You have no right to ask me that." Meng Zhenghuai's dozing head hitched slightly, and he raised it just a fraction. At that moment, measured applause sounded in the parlor. Meng Lai clapped softly from behind the desk, saying with gratification, "Well said, Little Shu. I did not misjudge you." Meng Huang leaned back, seeming regretful that Meng Shu had rejected his offer, though he merely let out a derisive scoff at Meng Lai's words. Meng Lai continued, "The successor to the company must possess more than personal excellence. They must know how to judge the tides of the times and make coolheaded, rational decisions at critical junctures." He looked at Meng Huang with regret. "Meng Huang, your performance has truly disappointed me." Meng Huang appeared completely indifferent. "And then?" Meng Lai said with pity, "If you were still the Meng Huang of old, I wouldn't have considered Meng Shu. But your ambition goes beyond wanting the company; there is something else you desire, and you have already grown impatient. That thing has influenced you, and it seems to have influenced you far too deeply. "Originally, I intended to offer you a choice today, hoping you would give a response satisfying to us both so that we might continue compromising. Yet you can't even be bothered to keep up appearances anymore." A murky, dark mist seemed to stir deep within Meng Huang's eyes, though it vanished like a fleeting illusion. "Old fossil, what do you know?" He sneered. "You're still thinking with that stubborn, decrepit brain of yours, still doing business under the world's old rules. 'You can't do this, you can't do that.' You operate within the lines drawn by others, never daring to step beyond the circle they sketched for you. "Your family enterprise is vast, and your company is huge, but it's all an illusion—a moon reflected in water, flowers in a mirror. The moment the government stops sending you orders, the company will collapse on the spot. You are too humble, too servile. "Everything you've worked for is built upon loose sand. Push it once, and it will topple. "Whereas I..." He pointed to himself. "I labored tirelessly to expand business channels, search for new directions, build new research laboratories, and strive to prolong the company's life! And what did I get? "Not even the promise of succession. "Still, I've come to see things clearly now. None of that matters. No matter how well I performed, the path I chose meant you would never view me as your own. Besides, what difference would it make even if I sat in that seat? In the end, I'd just be like you, hiding inside a flesh-and-bone skin to bark out orders. "Fortunately, the transformation of the world is upon us. Everything you held onto in the past is utterly meaningless now." At this point, the muscles on his face twitched unnaturally. "Embracing that greatness and facing the transformation of the world head-on—that alone is what we ought to do." Chen Chuan stared intently at Meng Huang. Ever since the man had stepped inside, Chen Chuan had been observing his field. At first, it had been obscure and indistinct, just like the other Meng family members who wore protective artifacts. Yet just now, an extraordinary anomaly had emerged. It seemed to turn violent and frenzied in an instant, and Chen Chuan's glabella-centered perception registered something extra latching onto him. Meng Lai said slowly, "Do you mean your communication with the entity on the other side?" He shook his head. "You're mistaken. I don't care whether you've truly communicated with an entity from the other side. In this day and age, doing so is hardly crossing the line. "Had you remained rational and made good use of the entity on the other side to make it my partner, I would have appreciated you even more and handed the company's affairs to you with greater confidence. But if you have subjugated yourself to the other side instead, then you are not fit to lead the company forward." Meng Huang said nonchalantly, "So today was meant as a showdown?" Meng Lai said nothing, merely watching him. Meng Huang continued on his own, "Actually, you've wanted to do this for a long time. You held back until now only out of fear that I'd be forced into selling out the company and causing greater damage, didn't you? That's why you've been testing my destructive potential and probing my true intentions. "Just as well. I've endured you for a long time too." He gave a playful smirk. "Since you like playing by the rules, I'll humor you once and handle this according to the rules you love so much... "You just chose Meng Shu as the successor, right? That requires a vote from the members of the Meng family. Now, in my capacity as a member of the Meng family, I propose convening a family council. If you think I lack the standing, I can bring in someone suitable." Meng Lai nodded. "This had to be done sooner or later. Xiao Yu, while everyone is present, notify the family members and have them connect their signals." Aunt Yu gave a slight bow and immediately issued a council summons to all members of the Meng family. Before long, a light screen projected down from above, displaying member after member of the Meng family. All told, there were over thirty people, most of whom were directors of Convergence Boundary Company. Meng Lai said, "You must have heard about the matter. I have chosen Little Shu as the company's successor. Let's hear your thoughts." Someone spoke up at once. "Second Uncle, shouldn't we reconsider? Little Shu is still too young. Why not wait a few more years?" "Indeed. She has never handled corporate affairs. Why not let her oversee a single sector first? If she does well, let her continue; if she doesn't, no harm done. With so many outstanding youths in our family, why worry about finding a suitable candidate?" "I think Little Huang is quite good. He has worked diligently over the past few years, showing great respect to the family elders and caring for the younger generation. Is Second Brother still unsatisfied with him?" Meng Lai let out an 'en.' "Let everyone speak their mind." He glanced to the side. "Meng Jing, what do you think?" The man who was named looked rather conflicted. "Second Brother, this... You decide. I have no objections either way. Little Shu is quite good, and Little Huang is decent too." Meng Lai asked another person, and the answers remained largely the same. Once everyone had voiced their opinion, aside from a meager few who expressed willingness to support Meng Shu, the vast majority supported Meng Huang. Meng Huang spread his hands with an amused sneer. "Do you see? Your proposal won't pass at all. What now? Do you still intend to follow the rules?" Meng Lai showed no sign of distress over the situation. He spoke in a calm, resolute tone, "The rules must naturally be obeyed. A reckless man can never sit in this seat. I respect the decision of the family council. However..." He looked toward Meng Huang, his gaze turning razor-sharp as he spoke deliberately, "Just as Little Shu said—are you still Meng Huang?" Chen Chuan felt a sudden stir of perception, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward his Second Self. The ethereal figure showed faint signs of dispersion and blurring. Meng Huang frowned as if sensing something amiss. His eyelids twitched violently, and the muscles beneath the skin of his face bulged and rippled, as though something were trying to bore its way out from within. "You..." He immediately tried to rise, but that single slight motion overturned the entire sofa. Clamping a hand over his face, his body shook uncontrollably, while the shadow he cast to the side began twisting into a bizarre, grotesque silhouette that slowly expanded outward.