Daniel immediately called the founder of Infinity Media. Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on how one looked at it—the founder still had emotional attachment to the company and firmly expressed that he did not want to sell. That was the only piece of good news Daniel received that night.
Afterward, Daniel began calling the other major shareholders one by one. With every call, his expression grew darker.
Almost all of them shared the same concern: the bond-market pursuit, the capital strangulation, and the hostile acquisition pressure were far beyond normal commercial competition. Anyone with basic financial sense could see the truth. They had offended a capital magnate. And when a capital magnate decided to move, resistance was often meaningless.
What made matters worse was the acquisition price. The premium Jason offered was not symbolic—it was substantial. A clean exit meant huge immediate profit, no uncertainty, no prolonged risk.
As expected, many shareholders showed a strong willingness to sell. The situation was already tilting heavily in one direction.
Daniel could only appease them verbally while frantically planning countermeasures. Public opinion warfare? Necessary. Legal resistance? Inevitable. Stock and bond stabilization? Already in motion.
But none of it worked. Against overwhelming capital, his resistance felt like an ant trying to block an elephant. Worse still, as fear spread, shareholders became even more inclined to defect.
Then, at the most critical moment, Jason released a public statement. "We have detected potential abnormalities in Infinity Media's debt structure and are reassessing whether to continue the acquisition."
At first glance, it sounded like good news. But the moment Daniel read it, his pupils shrank. He knew instantly something was wrong.
Sure enough, his phone exploded with calls. Shareholders who had already decided to sell became anxious. Those still hesitating grew restless.
Before, this had been a seller's market—Jason wanted to buy, and they could negotiate. Now, it had suddenly become a buyer's market. It was like holding an item someone desperately wanted—only for that person to suddenly say, "Maybe I don't want it anymore."
Panic followed. The market reacted immediately. Previously, despite bond pressure and capital attacks, Infinity Media's stock price had been rising, propped up by Jason's acquisition announcement. Now, with doubt injected into the market, the stock fell sharply.
Shareholder anxiety reached a boiling point. There was no longer any choice. An emergency shareholders' meeting was convened.
Daniel entered the meeting room prepared to stabilize emotions and propose defensive strategies. But before he could even speak, the second-largest shareholder, stood up. His tone was cold.
"Regarding this major confrontation with New Vision Media, why was there no prior shareholders' meeting? Did this decision receive our approval?"
Daniel forced a calm expression. "This was a routine business competition. It did not involve equity transactions. Matters like this have always been entrusted to management."
His gaze sharpened. "Minor matters are entrusted to management. Not provoking a capital magnate and dragging the company into an existential crisis."
He leaned forward slightly. "I want to ask you one thing, Daniel. How do you plan to withstand Jason's capital assault and hostile takeover? Don't overestimate a three-billion-dollar media company. In front of real capital, we are nothing more than a chick waiting to be slaughtered."
The room fell silent. He continued, his voice firm. "If you cannot fight him with money, then the only remaining option is self-destructive defense. For example—aggressive expansion. Acquire other companies. Inflate valuation. Push acquisition costs so high that the attacker is forced to withdraw."
His gaze swept across the room. "If you can't protect shareholder interests—then perhaps management itself is the problem."
Daniel felt his throat tighten. He finally understood. The battle was no longer with Jason alone. The war had already entered Infinity Media's boardroom.
"For example," he continued coldly, "a poison pill plan, or a scorched-earth strategy—issuing massive new shares, or deliberately acquiring toxic assets to reduce acquisition appeal. But let me ask you something."
He slammed the document in his hand onto the conference table. "Those strategies destroy the company itself and directly harm shareholder interests. So tell me, Daniel—are you planning to burn down our house just to save your position? Have you fulfilled your responsibilities as CEO?"
The room fell silent. he didn't wait for an answer. He flipped the document open and pushed it forward. "I formally propose a management reorganization. I propose the immediate removal of Daniel as CEO. Additionally, I support the acquisition."
He looked around the room, voice firm. "Things have already reached the point of no return. Rather than being slowly drained and crushed, it's better to sell at a premium and protect shareholder value."
Daniel was caught completely off guard. Worse still—he couldn't refute a single point. The strategies he had prepared—aggressive expansion, poison pills, defensive dilution—now looked ridiculous, even shameful.
At that moment, Luke finally spoke. "This matter had my approval. Daniel acted out of concern that New Vision Media would expand further and threaten our future. As for resisting the acquisition, there is still room to discuss countermeasures. There's no need to surrender immediately. Infinity Media still has a future."
With the founder speaking, Daniel regained a shred of confidence. "Yes. As long as shareholders refuse to sell and reject the acquisition, Jason can't force anything."
Before his words had settled, the third-largest shareholder spoke. "If we refuse to sell, will you personally compensate us for the losses? It's our money bleeding, not yours. I also support selling. And I support removing Daniel."
Then the fourth shareholder spoke. "We've been with Infinity Media for many years. Honestly, I don't want to sell unless there's no choice. But circumstances overpower sentiment. Selling now is the best possible exit."
With every statement, Daniel's face grew paler. He finally realized the truth—Jason hadn't just attacked Infinity Media from the outside. He had dismantled it from within.
Some shareholders had clearly already struck private agreements. Others, even without direct contact, were fully leaning toward selling. The balance was gone. The tilt was irreversible.
Daniel turned toward Luke. But Luke's face was grim—and silent. Even he could see it now. The combined holdings of them and the fourth shareholder alone already exceeded his own stake. And the remaining shareholders? Nearly all were ready to sell.
He spoke again, this time looking directly at Luke. "Director Luke, Infinity Media is your life's work. We respect that. But it's also our capital. If the company were thriving, none of us would sell. You trusted Daniel too much—and he offended a capital magnate. Now that we're here, you can't expect shareholders to be buried alongside management, can you?"
Luke remained silent. Seeing this, Daniel panicked. "Director Luke, it's not time to give up yet. If we can just endure—"
Luke raised his hand, cutting him off. "I wanted to persuade everyone one last time. But it seems most shareholders have already made their decision. In that case—let's vote."
The results came quickly. There was no suspense. More than three-quarters of the shares voted in favor. The threshold for forced sale had been crossed decisively.
The motion to remove Daniel also passed—almost as an afterthought. Whether he was removed now or later no longer mattered. Once Jason completed the acquisition, control would be absolute. Daniel would never remain.
Daniel sat frozen, his face ashen. Not long ago, he had been filled with ambition—planning to acquire New Vision Media. Now, in the blink of an eye, he himself had been acquired.
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