Xia Zhenguo Strikes

The sprawling skyline of Kyoto buzzed with its usual rhythm, but inside the Jiang Group headquarters, the air was tense with urgency. The executive boardroom, with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city, was filled with the soft hum of muted conversations. At the head of the long table sat Jiang Yukang, his steely gaze fixed on the screen in front of him, where a string of financial reports displayed the latest developments.

Chang Wei, Yukang's trusted right-hand man, stood at his side, his tablet in hand. "The Xia Consortium has made their move, sir," Chang Wei said, his voice calm but charged with meaning. "They've undercut us on the Shanghai Harbor project. Their bid came in lower by a significant margin."

Yukang's jaw tightened, his sharp mind quickly calculating the ramifications. "And the board's reaction?" he asked without looking away from the screen.