Chapter 469: The President of Nintendo
On the morning of January 7th, just as the first rays of dawn illuminated Hong Kong, a bombshell piece of news rapidly swept across the entire city.
Jardine Matheson, the giant corporation known by virtually everyone in Hong Kong, was reportedly selling off its most crucial subsidiary in the territory—Jardine Securities Company—and was actively seeking a new buyer.
As for the source of the news, opinions varied wildly, and no one knew exactly where the rumor had originated.
Regardless, overnight it became the hottest topic discussed on every street corner and alleyway.
Even more surprising, the rumors specifically mentioned that the current taipan of Jardine Matheson, Simon Keswick, had successively visited several industry giants, including Lin Haoran, Li Ka-shing, Shen Bi, Hugh Barton, and the president of Citibank's Hong Kong branch.
In the end, however, all negotiations reportedly fell through due to disagreements over pricing, leaving Jardine Matheson urgently searching for someone to take over Jardine Securities.
And this wasn't one of those baseless rumors without evidence. Photos of Simon Keswick entering Connaught Centre, the Chinese Bank Building, the HSBC Building, Swire House, and other locations had somehow found their way into the hands of various media outlets.
The reports were described so vividly, as though the journalists had witnessed everything firsthand, that people could not help but believe there was some truth to them.
Coupled with Jardine Matheson's previous public announcement that it intended to move its headquarters out of Hong Kong—a fact personally confirmed by Simon Keswick in an interview—everyone immediately guessed that Jardine Securities was preparing to completely abandon the Hong Kong market.
At 9:30 a.m., the stock price of Jardine Securities immediately plummeted.
The news dealt a devastating blow to the company.
After all, everyone knew that Jardine Securities' current stock valuation was almost entirely supported by its performance.
Once the company changed owners, no one could predict how its future performance would fare.
And if profits were to collapse, then it was obvious that the current market valuation would no longer be justified.
So at a time like this, if investors didn't dump their shares now, what were they waiting for?
Panic spread rapidly among investors, causing Jardine Securities' stock price to crash below a critical psychological threshold within mere minutes. The trading hall was filled with tension and unease.
Traders frantically executed sell orders as telephones rang nonstop, everyone trying desperately to protect themselves from the sudden storm.
Inside Jardine Securities, employees were also discussing the matter nonstop after arriving at work. Quite a few even rushed directly to their superiors, hoping to confirm whether the rumors were true, since the issue directly affected their own interests.
However, among the company's upper management, aside from Deputy General Manager Allen, probably only General Manager Martin knew the truth.
Allen himself had only learned about it after Ma Shimin approached him. Otherwise, he would never have known either.
As for Martin, being a loyal subordinate of the Keswick family, even if Jardine Securities were sold, he had no need to worry about his position. Jardine Matheson had already arranged another role for him within the group.
Inside the general manager's office, Allen deliberately pretended to know nothing as he asked Martin, "Mr. Martin, is the news circulating outside true?"
Martin sighed helplessly and admitted frankly, "Since it's becoming impossible to hide it any longer, I won't keep it from you. Yes, Jardine Matheson does intend to sell Jardine Securities. It's part of the group's business restructuring.
"The reason we didn't tell you earlier was mainly to maintain internal stability. After all, if such news leaked ahead of time, it could easily trigger unnecessary panic and turmoil.
"Allen, as my most capable deputy, I've always had high expectations for your abilities. Even if the new owner makes adjustments to Jardine Securities' senior management in the future, don't worry. I'll also try to secure another position for you within Jardine Matheson."
Allen sneered inwardly. If this matter hadn't been exposed publicly, he likely would have remained completely in the dark.
But outwardly, he revealed a grateful expression and said, "Mr. Martin, thank you very much. Still, I can't help but worry. Jardine Securities has been our hard work for so many years, and now it's suddenly being sold. It really doesn't sit well with me."
Martin patted Allen on the shoulder and comforted him, "I understand how you feel, but that's the nature of the business world—unpredictable and ever-changing. What we must do is adapt to these changes and strive to remain competitive amidst them.
"By the way, Allen, there will likely be a lot of work ahead, including calming the employees and handling business transitions. Although Mr. Simon hasn't found a buyer yet, it won't take too long. As deputy general manager, you'll need to shoulder major responsibilities."
"Please rest assured, Mr. Martin. I'll do my utmost to stabilize employee morale and ensure the company remains steady," Allen declared confidently on the surface.
Yet deep inside, he could not suppress a smug smile.
The upheaval at Jardine Securities was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
A few days earlier, his former superior, Ma Shimin, had already extended him an olive branch. As long as he successfully poached elite talent from Jardine Securities, he would receive generous commissions.
Even more tempting, Mr. Ma Shimin had promised to cover any penalties resulting from contract breaches caused by the poaching, effectively removing Allen's biggest obstacle.
Allen calculated silently that if he could bring all of Jardine Securities' top talent over to Hongkong Land Group, not only would he smoothly accomplish his own job-hopping plans, but he would also earn a considerable bonus in the process.
Originally, he had been wondering how to recruit even more people. Yet unexpectedly, news of Jardine Securities' sale spread wildly today, leaving employees throughout the company anxious and unsettled.
To him, this was simply a golden opportunity.
His prestige within Jardine Securities was already considerable, and he had successfully persuaded several of his subordinates.
Thinking of this, excitement gleamed in Allen's eyes.
He had already begun silently planning a new round of "talent migration," intending to fully utilize his influence and broad network of connections to gradually put the plan into motion.
…
Although Lin Haoran was paying close attention to the affairs of Jardine Securities, he was not directly involved.
Since the matter had been entrusted to Ma Shimin, he felt completely at ease.
Even so, he arrived at Connaught Centre early that morning.
On the 51st floor of Connaught Centre, an office spanning more than 300 square meters was gradually being emptied under the direction of employees.
The office was located right next to Ma Shimin's office.
Lin Haoran planned to move the private reception lounge from Wanching Building over to this location.
The office occupied an exceptionally advantageous position. One side's windows faced the shimmering Victoria Harbour, while the other overlooked the bustling eastern side of Central District.
Although the architectural style of Connaught Centre prevented the installation of fully transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, the rows of large circular windows still skillfully captured the beauty outside, blending the indoor space seamlessly with the scenery beyond.
Compared to Wanching Building, the view here was undoubtedly broader and the scenery even more captivating.
At this moment, Lin Haoran held a blueprint in his hand depicting the office's future appearance.
Next, a construction team would complete the renovations over a very short period during the weekend.
Afterward, Lin Haoran would be able to use this private reception lounge and office to work or meet guests.
As he stepped out of the now-empty office, Ma Shimin happened to be returning from outside.
Behind him followed a man in a sharp suit who appeared to be in his fifties.
"Mr. Ma, who is this?" Lin Haoran asked curiously.
"Boss Lin, let me introduce him to you," Ma Shimin quickly said. "This is the current president of Japan's Nintendo Company, Mr. Hiroshi Yamauchi."
"Mr. Lin, hello! I've long heard of your great reputation. I am Hiroshi Yamauchi of Nintendo. Please take care of me!" Before his words had even finished, Hiroshi Yamauchi had already greeted Lin Haoran in English and extended his right hand, anticipating a handshake.
"Hello, Mr. Hiroshi Yamauchi. I've heard much about you as well!" Lin Haoran replied with a smile.
The current president of Nintendo?
Naturally, Lin Haoran knew of Nintendo. They could practically be considered the greatest video game company in the world.
Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Metroid, Fire Emblem, Kirby, and many others.
These games covered many genres and styles, from action-adventure to role-playing, from racing to simulation. Nintendo's titles had won the love of players worldwide thanks to their unique creativity, rich gameplay, and deep substance.
In Lin Haoran's memory, Nintendo had already begun to rise to prominence during the 1980s, gradually establishing itself as a giant in the global video game industry.
Although Lin Haoran did not know much about Nintendo's specific early development history, that did not prevent him from recognizing the extraordinary strength and influence the company would display in the future.
"To think Mr. Lin actually knows of me—it truly is an honor!" A smile immediately spread across Hiroshi Yamauchi's face.
"I know a little about Nintendo. You specialize in developing video game software and hardware, correct?" Lin Haoran asked back with a smile.
He truly did not know Hiroshi Yamauchi personally, but anyone living in the 21st century would surely recognize Nintendo, the video game giant.
"Absolutely correct. For Mr. Lin to summarize our business so precisely proves you truly understand us." Hiroshi Yamauchi's smile became even brighter.
"Boss, Mr. Hiroshi Yamauchi, please come inside and take a seat. We can sit down and talk in detail," Ma Shimin said as he gestured toward the office after seeing the two chatting in the hallway.
(End of Chapter)