(Chapter 15) A Glimpse

*Knock* "Boss, I have some reports that you asked for." After a while. Stephan knocked on the door to the office.

Astrid didn't move her gaze from the magazine she was reading. "Alright, come in." Mr. Tuhs naturally didn't mind his daughter hearing anything.

Stephan opened and closed the door, noticing Astrid sitting reading, he was a little surprised. But didn't show much expression.

"Here are the latest reports for the estimates for the third quarter." Stephan knew if Astrid was in the office, then his boss naturally didn't mind her hearing anything.

Mr. Tuhs took the documents and read them seriously, he then smiled and circled some of the lines. "I guess that these are false, based on the popularity of our new apps. There should be no way that their newly sponsored games should be earning so much."

Stephan had a look and had a shift in expression. "No, that's impossible, not only did the government investigate their finances, but they also had their partners support this time. There can't be a way to falsify this information without getting into trouble."

Mr. Tuhs then smiled wryly, "You see? How do you think these numbers are so stable. They aren't higher than ours. Nor much of a threat. But for a company investing so much, how can their profits remain so stable throughout the years?" He decided to test his assistant.

Stephan thought for a second. "This... Do they have someone backing them up?" He could only give this guess.

Mr. Tuhs lightly shook his head. "Close, but wouldn't we have already investigated the connection? Also they are quite public with the CEO. He is quite well known within the public."

Astrid then put down her magazine and searched for a newspaper. Upon seeing a face she seen in another paper. She looked up at her father. "Is this that CEO?" Astrid asked blindly while holding up a piece of paper.

Stephan looked shocked. While Mr. Tuhs smiled. "It is, what do you think Astrid?" He just wanted to see his daughter's opinion on things.

Astrid took a glance and read the newspaper. She then looked at the table and at the paper she couldn't read...

"Hand it over." Mr. Tuhs lightly told Stephan, it seemed his daughter had an idea.

Stephan complied, not knowing what Astrid would say. But maybe his boss was testing his daughter today?

Astrid took the paper and glanced at the numbers, she then put all of the paper down on the table and started to circle some of the numbers.

Stephan watched as she saw Astrid's mind tick. At first he was thinking his boss might be testing if the Young Miss had some affiliation to business. But when some of the circles began overlapping each other, his expression slowly shifted.

By this time Mr. Tuhs had decided to sit beside his daughter to see her thoughts on the paper. He smiled when he saw the overlapping connections she found.

"Oh? Would you like to explain your thoughts to uncle Stephan?" Mr. Tuhs chuckled and ruffled Astrid's hair.

He had originally wanted to let his business fall and collapsed into cold cash. Since his daughter couldn't inherit, the money might as well go into charity. But with her recovery and insurgence in school, he now decided to test his daughter.

She didn't disappoint, instead she blew him away. If she could explain this then...

"Although this $1,000,000 investment looks incredibly small based on their revenue, if you combine it with an investment of $150,000,000 investment into the internet security by the government, then something doesn't match. Why would they invest when the government had clearly stated that containing hackers on the internet would be their problem from now on? Based on the newspapers and these numbers. I think that the government either control the company, or someone within the government has a hand in the company." Astrid explained as she then frowned.

Unless the company had inside information that the government would spend the money, then they wouldn't invest before the deadline to invest ended. But government officials abusing their power to this extent...

"No, this is a foreign company. Either there is a leak within the government or..." Astrid mumbled to herself before she thought of something quite worrying.

Seeing his daughter's expressions, Mr. Tuhs patted Astrid's shoulder. "Alright, there is no need to think much into it anymore. This project is headed by some foreign officials, but of course. People don't know that, so we need to be quiet about it." Mr. Tuhs spoke as if he didn't care.

But this project could potentially solve many problems within the online industry, if her father didn't care then...

Astrid looked up at her father. "You wouldn't need to spend money for protection while this country would move all of their manpower over to protect against hackers. So you already control their online apps through that company." Astrid was quite impressed. Her father gained a deal where he fixed some problems, while also gaining some new connections. He could also invest in the new apps he gained and get even more money...

Stephan now understood, he wasn't an idiot by any means. But his boss was quite the genius when it came to business. He had started his business from nothing, and also at a later age. But was already getting deals and connections with foreign governments? In the online industry that was crucial.

"Mm, that's right. Our foreign apps weren't bad, but I gained some deals to help gain a more stable foundation. With the government at least having a small favor from them, it would be beneficial for us." Mr. Tuhs was quite proud of his daughter. She was so business savvy at only 14...

Astrid nodded and decided to pick up another newspaper, she only new that the government would give a favor to her father because she had read some political papers. She learned that in this world favors were crucial to the government and people. Since governments never wished for war and were generally pacifists. Then they would negotiate with businesses more often for some benefits for the people to stay voted in if that was needed.

"In the future, keep the reports separate, since we can make deals like that, others can as well." Mr. Tuhs spoke to Stephan as he went back to his desk.

Stephan nodded, it made sense. Since that business had such a strange profit outline, it wouldn't be a surprise if someone noticed it. If it was counted as separate from Hanxi, then no unexpected issues could arise.