Chapter 238: The Prelude to Duel

The journalists and media personnel murmured among themselves, their eyes shifting back and forth between Michael and the detailed slides displayed behind him. Just as Michael was about to wrap up, a hand shot up from the back of the room.

Michael beckoned the man to stand. "Yes?"

The man, dressed in a sharp suit and exuding an air of confidence, stood up. "I am from VirtuReal Innovations, and I have some questions for you."

Michael's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you are?"

The man stepped forward, the crowd parting to allow him through.

"My name is Dr. Rajesh Patel, one of the founders of VirtuReal Innovations." He paused, letting the weight of his introduction settle in the room. "Mr. Reyes, your presentation was impressive, but there are still some points that need clarification."

Michael gulped a mouthful of saliva after hearing that name. It's fast, how could they send someone so quickly? He collected himself quickly.

"Of course, Dr. Patel. What would you like to clarify?"

Dr. Patel walked to the front, positioning himself beside Michael. The cameras zoomed in, capturing the confrontation.

"First, I would like to address the claim that our prototype is not as advanced as your product. While it is true that we have not brought our product to market yet, that does not diminish the originality and innovation behind our designs."

He gestured to the screen, where the schematics of VirtuReal's prototype were still displayed.

"Our technology, as you can see, shares a remarkable number of similarities with yours. This goes beyond mere coincidence. Can you explain how these similarities came to be?"

Michael took a deep breath, his mind racing. He needed to handle this carefully to maintain his credibility.

However, our primary focus will always be on protecting our proprietary technology and ensuring the integrity of our innovations."

Another journalist from a prominent business magazine stood up. "Given the current situation, what measures will Reyes Corporation take to reassure its shareholders and customers of the company's stability and ethical practices?"

"We are implementing additional measures to enhance transparency and communication with our shareholders and customers. Regular updates will be provided, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards of ethical practices. Our commitment to innovation and excellence remains steadfast, and we believe that our actions will reflect that."

The questions continued, ranging from technical inquiries about the VR system to broader concerns about the company's future strategies. Michael handled each of them with care.

After the press conference concluded, Michael retreated to his office with Juliet, Bridget, and Antoinette. They needed to debrief and plan their next steps carefully.

"We managed to handle the situation well today," Michael began, addressing his team. "But the real challenge comes from the independent review."

"There's nothing to worry about if you have done nothing wrong, right?" Bridget asked, looking directly at Michael.

Michael hesitated, then nodded. "Of course."

Juliet leaned forward. "We should start by organizing all our development records and ensuring everything is in order. If we have to present them, we need to be ready."

Antoinette added, "We also need to manage the narrative in the media. If the story gets twisted, it could do more damage than the actual investigation. Ms. von Reimann, can you coordinate with our PR team on this?"

Bridget nodded. "I'll get on it right away."

"Alright, everyone. Let's get to work. We're in a challenging situation, but I have confidence in our team. Let's show everyone what Reyes Corporation is made of."

Of course, Michael had to appear strong in the front. They can handle and win this. So long as the VirtuReal Innovations hasn't found something incriminating in their architecture.