Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 376: The First Move?

September 25th, 2030. At Bonifacio Global City, Golden Topper.

As always, Michael was in his office, going through the latest reports from Reyes Corporation's various divisions. The company was growing rapidly, and every day brought new challenges and opportunities. He was focused, his mind ticking through the numbers and projections when the door to his office suddenly burst open.

Juliet rushed in, her usually calm demeanor replaced with an urgency that Michael hadn't seen in a while.

Michael, you need to see this," she said, breathless as she reached his desk.

Michael frowned, sensing the seriousness in her voice. "What's going on?"

Without a word, Juliet picked up the remote control on his desk and turned on the large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The news channel was already tuned in, and the headlines flashed in bold, alarming letters:

"Is Reyes Corporation Growing Too Fast?"

"The Dangers of Monopoly: How Reyes Corporation Could Control Your Finances."

"What Does Michael Reyes Really Want?"

Michael's eyes narrowed as he watched the newscaster begin to expound on the headlines.

"This morning, several prominent CEOs from major corporations in the Philippines have raised concerns about the rapid expansion of Reyes Corporation. There's growing fear that the company's dominance in various sectors, especially after the recent acquisition of GCash, is edging dangerously close to creating a monopoly," the newscaster said, her tone urgent.

"Experts warn that if left unchecked, Reyes Corporation could control not only digital banking but potentially other key industries, posing significant risks to competition and consumer choice."

The broadcast cut to a well-known economist being interviewed. "Reyes Corporation's growth is unprecedented," the economist said. "While innovation and business expansion are generally positive, we must be cautious. The sheer scale at which Reyes Corporation is growing could stifle competition, and that's a risk not only to the market but to the economy as a whole."

The newscaster continued, "And it's not just the experts. There's already chatter among the public, with many wondering what the endgame is for Michael Reyes. Does he want to control every facet of our lives through his company's technological advancements? What happens when one corporation holds so much power?"

Juliet watched Michael's face closely as he processed the news. His expression remained calm, but she could see the tension building in his jaw. This was more than just a few negative headlines; this was a coordinated effort to paint him and Reyes Corporation as a threat.

"They're trying to turn public opinion against us," Michael muttered, his voice low but laced with a sharp edge. "This isn't just some random news cycle. This is planned."

Juliet nodded. "I thought the same thing. These headlines appeared on multiple networks almost simultaneously. Someone, or several someones, is behind this."

Michael turned off the TV and leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "It's the other corporations. They see us as a threat to their market share, and now they're trying to use the media to sway public opinion against us."

"But why now?" Juliet asked. "We've been growing steadily for years. Why are they making a move now?"

Michael tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking quickly. "The GCash acquisition. It was the tipping point. By integrating GCash with Reyes Bank, we've effectively positioned ourselves as a dominant force in digital banking, and it is a sign that we won't stop venturing to another enterprise. They're scared and they're right to be.

We're disrupting their comfortable little empires, and they're not going to let that happen without a fight."

They've rallied the media against us, but what's next? This kind of public smear campaign is just the beginning."

Michael's mind was already racing, anticipating their next moves. "They'll try to influence regulators, push for investigations, maybe even try to get Congress involved. They'll do whatever they can to slow us down, to create enough doubt and fear in the public and in the government that it'll make it harder for us to operate."

Juliet frowned, knowing how these things played out. "And with enough public pressure, they could force regulatory bodies to step in. Anti-monopoly accusations, market restrictions—they'll throw everything at us."

Michael's eyes darkened as he considered the possible outcomes. He had seen this kind of maneuvering before, though never aimed at him so directly. It was a power play, pure and simple, and he knew that if they were going to win this fight, they would need to be just as ruthless.

"We need to get ahead of this," Michael said, his voice firm. "We can't let them control the narrative."

Juliet nodded. "What's the plan?"

Michael stood up and began pacing the room, his mind working through the options. "First, we need to mobilize our PR team. I want a counter-narrative out there immediately. We'll highlight the benefits of our growth—how we're creating jobs, how we're bringing cutting-edge technology to the Philippines, and most importantly, how we're improving the lives of ordinary Filipinos."

Juliet quickly jotted down notes, already formulating a strategy. "We'll need testimonials from customers, employees, and industry experts who support us. We'll also need to showcase our commitment to fair competition."

"Exactly," Michael agreed. "We'll turn this into a story about innovation and progress, about how Reyes Corporation is leading the way into the future. And we'll make sure to emphasize that we're doing it responsibly, with the best interests of the country at heart."

Juliet looked up from her notes. "What about the regulatory angle? If they're going to push for investigations, we need to be ready."

Michael stopped pacing and turned to face her, his expression steely. "We'll get our legal team on it immediately. I want them to review every aspect of our operations, and make sure we're bulletproof. We've always operated within the law, but I want to be absolutely certain that we're prepared for any scrutiny."

Juliet nodded. "I'll have them start on it right away. And we should also consider reaching out to our allies in the government, just to make sure they're aware of what's happening. We can't afford to be blindsided."

Michael agreed. "Yes, but we need to be subtle. We don't want to appear like we're trying to exert influence. We just need to ensure that our side of the story is being heard."

Juliet paused for a moment before speaking again. "And what about the competitors themselves? Should we respond to them directly?"

Michael's eyes narrowed. "No, not yet. Let them make the first overt move in the business world, then we'll respond. Right now, they're using proxies—the media, public opinion, maybe even political pressure. They're too smart to confront us head-on, at least not immediately."

"But when they do," Juliet added, "we'll be ready."

Michael nodded, a small, determined smile forming on his lips. "Exactly. We're not going to back down. They've made their move, now we'll make ours."

Juliet stood, ready to put the plan into action. "I'll get started on mobilizing the PR team and coordinating with legal. We'll have a comprehensive response ready within the hour."