Chapter 210: Excellent

……

Meanwhile, in a conference room on the 43rd floor of the Watchman Tower, the lights were bright, and the atmosphere was oppressive and tense.

The Southeast Regional Headquarters of Arcadis Sporting Goods was based in Miami, so they did not have a dedicated office building in Atlanta; they had only rented five floors in the Watchman Tower as the office space for the Atlanta branch.

This emergency meeting, convened at six in the morning, was fraught with tension from the very start.

Abraham Archibald, President of the Southeast Region of Arcadis, stared coldly at those present with eagle-like eyes.

“Gentlemen, you should have all finished reviewing the latest sales data, correct? I’d like to ask, what are your thoughts?”

“This is truly a disaster, Mr. President. I can’t believe our sales have dropped 45% year-over-year.”

The first to speak was the company’s Regional Marketing Director, a man wearing a red tie: “And our competitors, their sales in Atlanta alone yesterday reached 700 million gold shields, with nearly half of that performance coming from the Lucky Bracelet.”

“I think we need to come up with a countermeasure; we can’t just sit by and let the situation continue to deteriorate. It’s proven that Ibi Bryan’s tactic of avoiding confrontation won’t help us change the situation.”

“And James Lanster, he’s been spouting nonsense in the media lately, blaming our equipment, saying we tricked him into taking drugs with unknown effects, leading to his defeat. Now our PR department is busy putting out fires all day, but it’s of limited use, and it’s having a major impact on our company’s image.”

“I think now, aside from defeating him head-on in the ring, there’s no better way.”

“But can that be done? It’s very difficult. I’ve consulted many experts, and they all privately believe his fighting talent is extremely strong. They only say otherwise in the media because they’ve taken bribes from the betting companies.”

“He is indeed strong, enough to rank among the monsters, only because he’s still only sixteen and hasn’t reached the level of Felton Williams or Green Adams.”

Everyone present was in professional attire, except for a sturdy middle-aged man at the far end of the conference table, who wore a suit of armor. He placed his hands on his knees, sitting upright like a soldier: “My assessment is that as long as his sword speed reaches 500 kilometers per hour, then no high school student in Atlanta can defeat him.”

“Then what about our Cadio Rhode? Isn’t he said to be very capable, with the ability to rival those monsters once he unleashes ‘Ancient Recall’?”

“I’ve already asked him. He’s unwilling. Rhode is not willing to trade his future and prospects for this victory. In fact, he neither takes James Lanster seriously nor believes that Andre Lee Willtonstein has the ability to defeat him. Like those gamblers, he’s been fooled by the media’s comments, thinking that Andre is just lucky—”

“Bullshit, hasn’t his coach analyzed the situation for him? How could someone who can use techniques like borrowing force at level five be relying on luck?”

“This is really difficult. If even Cadio Rhode can’t stop him, then in the short term, we can only watch helplessly. Hmm, actually there is another way to avoid losses—let the star athletes endorsed by other sports equipment manufacturers suffer a crushing defeat at his hands. That would at least debunk James Lanster’s lies and salvage some of the damage.”

“That’s a really stupid idea. Let everyone rot with us, is that it? If we do that, that kid’s popularity in Atlanta will be unmatched.”

“Mr. President, Nathan and the others have found a treasure.”

This was an elegantly dressed lady, but her brow was tightly furrowed into a frown: “This Andre Lee Willtonstein, whether in terms of image, temperament, or his background and persona, is the best I’ve seen in recent years. I conducted a survey among women who purchased the Lucky Bracelet, and many of them fell in love with Andre just by looking at his face. Then the media hyped his background and his top-student grades, which evoked sympathy and admiration. And the footage of him defeating James Lanster was also very cool and moving; they really found some excellent photographers and editors. As several gentlemen have said, there’s really no good solution right now; his popularity will be unmatched. So I’d like to know, what suggestions does headquarters have?”

“Headquarters says that if the Southeast Regional management cannot handle this matter within a month, then the company’s HR director will formulate a position adjustment plan based on the current situation.”

Abraham Archibald’s face was ashen: “The board’s directive is that no matter what method we use, we must restore Arcadis Sporting Goods’ market share in Georgia to 80% of September’s sales volume.”

Those present not only exchanged glances, but some murmured, “No matter what method?”

“So—”

Just as Abraham Archibald was about to say something, his assistant suddenly walked to the side of the conference table and whispered in his ear.

Archibald frowned, but finally took the phone from his assistant and walked to an empty lounge nearby.

“Mr. Jakes, you have something to say to me?”

“Yes, Mr. Archibald, I heard you’ve been troubled lately, because of that lucky Andre? So, do you need our help, my friend?”

“Wow, the word ‘friend’ is used so warmly, but we’ve barely met a few times, have we?”

Archibald laughed: “Tell me, Mr. Speaker of the Atlanta City Council, what good ideas do you have to help me?”

“For instance, persuading Cadio Rhode? Sometimes what you can’t accomplish, others can do easily, can’t they? Like someone wearing blood gloves. We could even find a way to double Cadio Rhode’s combat power. Mr. Archibald, you should know our capabilities?”

“Recently, Dwight Payton has indeed been promoting your true identity throughout Atlanta’s high society, saying you are a priest of the Dragon Witch Cult.”

Archibald spoke cautiously: “I think if that’s really the case, you indeed have such abilities. As far as I know, the Dragon Witch Cult is recognized as one of the most mysterious sects, with extremely high accumulation in magic and alchemy.”

“So the problem you’re facing now, I can help you solve. After it’s done, consider it a favor you owe me, how about that? I need your connections in the political world to give me some力所能及的 help.”

“But I know that Antonio of the Blood Hand Gang has been overwhelmed in the past two days. You’ve offended Nathan, haven’t you? I’ve heard that the real culprit behind the Craig Community Bank robbery is actually a kid named Willtonstein? Listen, Mr. Jakes—”

Archibald’s voice was cold and stern: “I don’t care what method you want to use against that lucky Andre, and I don’t want to know. In short, it has nothing to do with me, OK?”

“Mr. Archibald’s temper is truly like the Thunder God.”

On the other end of the line, Cressy Jakes’s laugh was hoarse and low, dripping with sarcasm: “I think you must not know that your head office has issued a recall order for Alexis Boleso of the Asia-Pacific region. You don’t have a month left, understand?”

At that moment, Abraham Archibald’s breath suddenly became急促.