Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 394 One Down

Lance Gokongwei sat motionless in his office chair, staring at the glowing red numbers on his monitor. The stock price of JG Summit Holdings had plummeted by 15% overnight, the sharpest decline in years. Headlines from every major business outlet blared the news:

"Cebu Pacific in Financial Turmoil: Future Uncertain Amid Fierce Competition"

"Reyes Corporation Dominates as Globe Telecom Faces Delays and Losses"

"Loyal Clients Defect to Reyes Corporation, Shaking JG Summit's Foundations"

The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. His most trusted advisors sat around the long mahogany table, their faces pale. Reports stacked high in front of them told the same story—Michael Reyes had systematically dismantled their strongholds, leaving the once-mighty conglomerate teetering on the edge of collapse.

"We're losing everything," one of the executives said, breaking the oppressive silence. His voice trembled with frustration. "Our aviation division is hemorrhaging money. Cebu Pacific's bookings have hit an all-time low because of Reyes' aggressive marketing and discounts. Investors are pulling out faster than we can reassure them."

Another executive added, "Our telecommunications arm isn't faring any better. Reyes Corporation's 5G rollout has completely outpaced us. Consumers no longer see Globe as the leader in connectivity. They're flocking to Reyes' network."

Lance closed his eyes, his mind racing. Every move they'd made had been met with a counter from Michael. Every attempt to stabilize had only opened them to new vulnerabilities. He had underestimated the man, underestimated the ruthlessness of his methods.

"Is there any sector where we're still holding ground?" he asked, his voice low.

A grim silence answered him. Then, finally, one of his advisors spoke up. "Food manufacturing is still operational, but even there, Reyes has started forming partnerships with key suppliers. If we lose those, the dominoes will fall."

Lance slammed his fist on the table. "This is unacceptable! Reyes cannot be allowed to continue this unchecked. What options do we have left?"

The room remained silent. There were no options—no moves left to make. Michael Reyes had played his hand flawlessly, and JG Summit was now at the mercy of his relentless campaign.

"It's done," she said. "JG Summit is effectively dismantled. Their divisions are either filing for bankruptcy or on the verge of collapse."

Michael turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Good. One down."

Juliet raised an eyebrow. "Who's next?"

Michael's lips curled into a faint smile. "Pangilinan. He's the next piece of the puzzle."

Juliet nodded, already pulling up data on her tablet. "Manny Pangilinan's empire spans telecommunications, energy, water, and infrastructure. He's well-connected and cautious, but that also makes him predictable. If we plan this right, we can force him into a corner."

Michael gestured for her to proceed. "Give me a full analysis. I want to know his strengths, his weaknesses, and where we can hit hardest."

Juliet swiped through her files, bringing up charts and profiles. "PLDT is his strongest asset, but it's also a double-edged sword. They're deeply reliant on legacy infrastructure, and their shift to modern systems has been slow. Meralco, his energy arm, is profitable but vulnerable to regulatory scrutiny. If we leverage public sentiment and government connections, we can disrupt their operations."

Michael's mind worked quickly, connecting dots and forming a plan. "Focus on telecommunications first. PLDT is their backbone. If we destabilize that, the rest will follow."

Bridget entered the room with another report. "Michael, the public response to our recent campaigns has been overwhelmingly positive. If we move against Pangilinan, the timing couldn't be better."

Michael nodded. "Then let's move. Juliet, prepare a detailed strategy targeting PLDT's weaknesses. Bridget, coordinate with the PR and lobbying teams. I want our message to be clear: Reyes Corporation is the future, and we're here to stay."

As his team set to work, Michael returned to the window, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. He had taken down one giant, but there were still battles to be fought. Pangilinan was next, and Michael was ready.

"They thought they could stop me," he murmured to himself. "But this is just the beginning."