Shen Deng shrugged and said, "If Sikuang Yun is being crowned as a king, it's certain that many prominent figures will attend. As the prestigious Shen family in Canton City, isn't it just a simple matter for us to obtain an invitation?"
Shen Dongshan shook his head and said, "Do you think your grandfather wants an ordinary invitation?"
Shen Deng was taken aback.
Yes, Shen Tianhuan was a proud and arrogant person. If it were just an ordinary invitation, he would only be sitting in the audience and watching the ceremony. Shen Tianhuan definitely had something more extraordinary in mind, and it wouldn't be so easily obtained.
Shen Dongshan's expression became solemn as he said, "I inquired about it just now. The invitations for the Coronation Ceremony are divided into five levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Supreme."
"The Bronze-level invitation only grants entry to the venue and allows one to sit in the audience."
"The coronation platform is over 800 meters high. If we only sit in the audience, we won't be able to see anything clearly. Given the prestige of the Shen family, we might be able to obtain a Silver-level invitation, which is a higher level that grants better seats, but we still won't be able to see much."
"The Supreme-level invitation grants access to the topmost level, allowing one to witness the coronation up close."
"I suspect that's what Old Master wants."
"However, obtaining such an invitation is no easy task."
He sighed helplessly and continued, "From what I know, most of the people who receive Supreme-level invitations are the influential figures of the ten major families in the capital. They are ancient lineages that have been passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years."
"Besides these noble families, there are also the true upper echelons, the enfeoffed lords and ministers."
"Although our Shen family is a top-class aristocratic family in Canton City, we are considered insignificant on a national level. It is almost impossible for us to sit on an equal footing with those true power elites."
Shen Deng looked troubled upon hearing this.
How could they possibly compete on an equal footing with national-level figures?
No matter how formidable their Shen family was, they couldn't compare to the Zhao family, the City Lord lineage of Canton City, the Grand Governor lineage, or even the faction of Lafayette.
Moreover, when Sikuang Yun is crowned as a king, it will undoubtedly attract all the powerful and influential figures from across the country.
The Dragon Kingdom has numerous provinces, many super elites, and a plethora of war god-level experts. Their Shen family wouldn't stand a chance.
"Do you have any ideas?" Shen Dongshan looked at Shen Deng.
Shen Deng thought for a moment, and suddenly a spark of inspiration struck him. He said, "I have an idea, but it will only work with Old Master's approval."
"What idea?" Shen Dongshan's eyes lit up.
"I know a young master from a major family in the capital. He has a violent temperament but is fond of beautiful women. If we can sacrifice Shen Bing to him, with his extensive connections, it's possible that he could help us secure a place," Shen Deng suggested.
Shen Dongshan's eyes gleamed with joy, and he exclaimed, "This idea is feasible! After the shareholders' meeting tomorrow, we can remove Shen Bing from the position of President. By then, she will have lost her value in Old Master's eyes."
"Once Shen Bing can no longer bring profit to the company, Old Master will undoubtedly use her as a bargaining chip to obtain an invitation!"
"Hahaha, Shen Deng, you'll make a great contribution this time. It's a win-win situation!"
Shen Dongshan became increasingly excited as he spoke, continuously patting Shen Deng's shoulder, thinking that his son's idea was brilliant.
Shen Deng sneered, not only would it eliminate Shen Bing as a threat to their position within the Shen family, but it would also exile her from the family altogether. With that, he and his father would be worry-free.
"Everything will be settled tomorrow," Shen Deng grinned.
Shen Dongshan nodded and said, "By the way, report to me about how Old Master has spent his time abroad in detail, no matter how trivial the matter."
"Sure, Dad, listen to me," Shen Deng nodded.
They both sat down in the office, brewed tea, and began discussing Old Master's changes over the past few years.
When Shen Dongshan heard about Old Master's surgery, he furrowed his brows slightly. "Are you saying that the kidney transplant Old Master underwent abroad was obtained from a black market source?"
Shen Deng took a sip of tea and said, "Yes, such transactions are illegal in the Dragon Kingdom and face strict crackdowns. However, in certain foreign countries, it is an open and brazen business. Due to Old Master's rare blood type, we spent a considerable amount of money searching through multiple countries until we found a suitable kidney source."
"And, we paid a hefty price to secure the kidney source."
Shen Dongshan fell silent upon hearing this.
Without a doubt, the host of that kidney source abroad was probably in a precarious situation.
Shen Tianhuan was a ruthless strategist who would stop at nothing. If it weren't for some specific reasons, their family's kidney sources that didn't match his own would have been long gone.
At this point, Shen Deng said, "According to our sources, there is a recent advanced technology overseas. It involves injecting youthful cerebrospinal fluid into the body, which can delay brain aging, prolong lifespan, and might even reverse aging!"
Shen Dongshan's eyes lit up. "Are you certain this thing can reverse aging?"
Shen Deng nodded solemnly. "Yes, but this substance comes with a high price tag that is beyond the reach of ordinary people."
"Money is not an issue. As long as it is effective, we can afford any price."
Shen Dongshan looked at Shen Deng intently and asked, "Do you have any friends who have already undergone the treatment? How is the effect? Do you have a way to obtain this cerebrospinal fluid?"
Shen Deng smiled wryly and said, "I'm not sure about the domestic channels, but if we go abroad, we can arrange it."
Shen Dongshan became elated once again.
Lately, he had felt his own aging, needing more sleep and experiencing a decline in memory. He had visited many doctors, tried various traditional Chinese medicine remedies, but nothing seemed to work.
Now, hearing about a divine medicine that could reverse aging, he naturally desired to possess it.
"After the coronation ceremony, let's make a trip overseas," Shen Deng suggested.
Shen Dongshan nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Suppressing his inner excitement, Shen Dongshan poured a cup of tea for his son and kept asking questions about the cerebrospinal fluid, wanting to understand the source, purchase methods, treatment effects, side effects, and more.
Shen Deng provided detailed answers, sharing everything he knew.
After listening to his son's words, Shen Dongshan broke into a cold sweat and asked, "Are you saying that this cerebrospinal fluid is not synthetic but extracted from human bodies?"
"That's right, and the ideal age is around the teens," Shen Deng said.
Without hesitation, Shen Dongshan picked up his phone, opened the search page, and was horrified by the news that appeared before his eyes.
The news on his phone was about mysterious disappearances of teenagers!
"This!!" Shen Dongshan looked at the news and connected it to what Shen Deng had said, furrowing his brows. Everything became clear to him.
It seems that the so-called cerebrospinal fluid research is real.
After the project was announced, many teenagers mysteriously disappeared.
"What about the situation in the Dragon Kingdom?"
Shen Dongshan frowned as he searched for news within the Dragon Kingdom.
Upon searching, his brows furrowed even more.
ραndαsΝοvεl ƈοm Within the Dragon Kingdom, there were also numerous recent cases of disappearances. However, these incidents were mostly happening near the border regions and not within the Southern Three Provinces.
Shen Dongshan contemplated seriously and suddenly realized something.
With the impending coronation of Sikong Yun, the entire country was in an uproar, and the world was watching. Canton City was the location of the coronation, so strict discipline was maintained. Many Kirin troops had already returned and settled into the Canton Military Headquarters.
Under these circumstances, even the most ferocious mercenaries wouldn't dare to make a move again.
Last time, when the Blood Demon Mercenary Group invaded Canton City and stole Lafayette's hidden treasures, it caused a huge uproar.
Just yesterday, Sikong Yun had sent troops to heavily damage the Blood Demon Mercenary Group, nearly annihilating them.
This information was not widely known to the general public, only many high-level figures were aware of it.
Due to his previous cooperation with the Blood Demon Mercenary Group, he was also aware of the heavy losses suffered by the group.
"It seems that if we want to rejuvenate, we have to go abroad."
"However, the most urgent matter is to eliminate Shen Bing first and then sell her to that young master of the noble family. Only then can I be worry-free."
Shen Dongshan put down his phone, a hint of coldness flickering in his eyes.
"Dad, don't bother searching anymore. Currently, this matter won't work domestically. Since He Guang mysteriously disappeared, no one has been involved in this business," Shen Deng uttered calmly.
"No one is involved? Hahaha, you are still too naive. It's not that no one is involved, it's that no one knows who is involved specifically," Shen Dongshan stood up and said.
"Nowadays, many things and many people have already moved from the light to the darkness."
"Shen Deng, you must remember one thing: this world is a balance of light and darkness. Where there is sunlight, there is darkness."
"In the dark areas where sunlight cannot penetrate, there are all kinds of depraved individuals."
"Enough talk, I need to prepare for tomorrow's meeting."
"You should focus on serving Old Master now that you've returned to the country, understand?"
"Understood."
"Then what are you waiting for? Go!"
Shen Deng could only bid farewell to his father and go to attend to Shen Tianhuan.
After watching his son leave, Shen Dongshan made another phone call and said in a deep voice, "Keep a close eye on Shen Bing and report to me immediately if anything happens."
"Understood, Mr. Shen," a cold voice came from the other end of the phone.
Time passed, and the next day arrived quickly.
The board meeting proceeded as scheduled.
Shen Bing sat in her seat, her eyes red and lifeless. It was clear that she was still immersed in yesterday's grief, unable to extricate herself.
Liu Yifei was also in a similar state, with tear marks on her face.
She was the manager of the research and development department and also held a small amount of company shares, making her a member of the board of directors.
Zhang Long sat next to Shen Bing, remaining silent.
Seeing both women in such a state, Shen Dongshan sneered inwardly, thinking to himself, "You dare to compete with me? Haha, I'll crush you!"
Shen Tianhuan sat in the chairman's seat and scanned all the board members present before calmly saying, "Let's begin the work report. Dongshan, you will chair the meeting."
Shen Dongshan remained composed and stood up to deliver a comprehensive report about the company, outlining his plans for its future.
After he finished speaking, the room erupted in applause.
Shen Dongshan enjoyed the applause, sweeping his gaze over everyone and saying, "Anybody have anything to add?"
No one spoke up!
Seeing this scene, Shen Dongshan felt that the situation was settled and immediately changed the topic, saying in a solemn voice, "Chairman, considering Shen Bing's recent actions that have caused significant losses to the company, I believe she's no longer suitable for managing the company. I suggest that we immediately remove Shen Bing from her position!"
As soon as he uttered that, everyone's expressions changed.
No one had expected Shen Dongshan to make a move at this moment.
Zhang Long glared at Shen Dongshan and said, "Shen Dongshan, what nonsense are you spouting? When has Shen Bing caused significant losses to the company?"
"Zhang Long, I know you protect Shen Bing, but I am not targeting any specific person. I am speaking based on facts," Shen Dongshan uttered calmly and cast a meaningful look at He Youqing, the manager of the finance department.
He Youqing stood up and projected various financial reports onto the conference room's big screen, saying, "Everyone, please look at the screen. According to the reports, during President Shen's tenure, she devoted a significant amount of power source and resources to the treatment of her brother, which had no benefit to the company."
"Secondly, during President Shen's tenure, the company experienced considerable profits, but it also missed out on many orders. According to statistics, the losses incurred due to missed business opportunities under President Shen's leadership amount to a staggering 30 billion!"
"Thirdly, President Shen was completely devastated by the death of a minister, indicating her weak ability to handle pressure. If there were to be a bigger incident, such as another mishap involving her brother, President Shen would collapse."
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me ask you this: how can our company thrive under the leadership of a president who is prone to breakdown at any moment?"
"Therefore, I agree with President Shen Dongshan's proposal to remove President Shen Bing from her position!"
He then sat down.
"I also support the removal of Shen Bing from her position!"
"I second that!"
"I agree!"
As soon as He Youqing finished speaking, many board members stood up one after another, expressing their agreement with the proposal. Nearly half of the members supported it.
Witnessing this scene, both Shen Dongshan and Shen Deng sneered in their hearts.
Zhang Long and Liu Yifei's faces turned dark.
They never expected these people to stand on Shen Dongshan's side and betray Shen Bing in her most difficult moment.