The Tycoon's Odyssey

Chapter 255: 255:Entering Into Smartphone Industry

As Evan settled into the plush leather chair in Aria's office, he couldn't help but reminisce about the whirlwind of events from the past.

From starting with just a single floor in a building to now owning twin skyscrapers, their journey had been nothing short of remarkable, despite all of it happening in such a short span.

He took a sip from the rich milkshake resting on the polished glass table, letting its sweetness cut through the stress from the earlier alerts.

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"Remember when we first started this company?" Evan asked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"You had no idea what I was doing, and you were terrified of what was going to happen."

Aria leaned back in her chair, a smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah, I remember. You used to be so pathetic in coding. But in the next few months, you became so proficient at it that even you were left bewildered."

Evan chuckled, his heart swelling with pride at how far they had come. "And yet here we are, dealing with threats while still dreaming bigger."

Aria's expression turned sharp as she leaned forward, her eyes sharp with curiosity. "So, what are your new plans? What's next for Next Gen?"

Evan paused for a moment, twirling the milkshake glass thoughtfully between his fingers, a smile slowly spreading across his face as he finally said, "Smartphones!"

Aria's eyes widened in surprise, her eyebrows knitting together. "Smartphones? Out of nowhere? That's…unexpected."

Evan's enthusiasm was palpable as he continued, "I've been thinking about it. Everyone has one. It's the next logical step for us."

Aria shifted in her seat, her demeanor becoming serious as she began to lay out the challenges. "Evan, stepping into the smartphone market isn't going to be easy. It involves producing everything from scratch, which means we'll need a significant amount of manpower, a reliable supply chain, and enough server capacity to handle everything. Not to mention the competition."

"Also, it's a lot of work."

Evan listened patiently as she outlined the hurdles, letting her words wash over him like a tide of reason. But as she continued to elaborate on the numerous hurdles they'd face, he shook his head lightly, a confident grin tugging at his lips.

"Smartphones do need a lot of work, but not for us."

"We have everything we need," he reassured her.

"We are aiming for Pear, and to take down that big corporation, we need another big pawn in use."

Aria's brows furrowed and in the next moment, her eyes widened as she screamed upon realizing what he meant, "Wait…You mean…"

"As for the rest, let's just dump it all on Macrosoft," Evan said, leaning back with a smirk.

Aria's lips twitched in disbelief, caught between amusement and frustration.

With the way things have been, she couldn't help but wonder if Evan had taken Macrosoft for granted as if he owned it.

"You really think Macrosoft is just a dumping ground? They have resources and capabilities, sure, but they're not a free ride, Evan. There are many things we need to consider in partnerships and we will also need to come up with something that can maintain their reputation if we are going to work with them."

"Reputation?" Evan laughed, his voice light and carefree. "In this business, you either innovate or get swallowed whole. Macrosoft can provide the infrastructure, and we can give them a glimpse of the future. It's a win-win. They have always regretted not being able to enter the smartphone market, and now we are giving them a chance. They will surely jump on it."

Despite her initial reservations, Aria couldn't suppress a smile. "You're something else, you know that? But I have to admit, your energy is contagious."

Evan leaned back, a satisfied smirk on his face. "That's the spirit. Besides, we're not doing this just for ourselves; it's about changing the game."

She looked at him with a mix of admiration and skepticism. "Just be careful, alright. The smartphone market is cutthroat."

"Don't worry, Miss Aria. We're ready for whatever comes next." Evan raised his glass in a mock toast. "To new adventures and the inevitable chaos that follows!"

"To new adventures," Aria echoed, clinking her glass against his.

With the taste of sweet possibilities lingering in the air, they both knew that they were on the brink of something extraordinary, and nothing could hold them back.

As the jovial atmosphere of the office settled, Evan turned his attention to a more pressing matter. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the sleek glass table, his expression shifting to one of seriousness. "Miss Aria, can you update me on our current financial statistics? I want to know how we're really doing."

Aria straightened in her chair, her professionalism taking over in an instant. "Of course, Evan. Let me pull up the latest reports."

Her fingers danced over the keyboard as she accessed the financial database.

Moments later, she turned back to Evan, her expression focused. "As of the last quarter, we've made approximately five billion dollars—a fifteen percent increase from the previous quarter's earnings. After all expenses, our net profit stands at around 1.2 billion dollars, which is a twenty percent increase compared to last year."

Evan nodded as she continued. "We currently have around ten thousand employees across all departments. This is a slight rise from one hundred ten employees last quarter, largely due to hiring in research, development and marketing."

Aria's gaze sharpened as she continued, "Our sales figures are robust. We've sold over three hundred thousand units of our latest software this quarter, contributing heavily to our revenue. Our subscription services are also on the rise, with over fifty thousand new subscribers in the past three months."

Evan raised his eyebrows, impressed by the numbers. "That's fantastic. How's our market share looking?"

"We hold about eight percent of the market share of our sector, which has increased by two percent following the successful launch of Breach Protector," Aria replied. "Our customer retention rate currently stands at eighty-five percent, which shows that our existing customers are satisfied with our products."

"Any concerns?" Evan asked, leaning back in his chair.

Aria took a moment, her expression thoughtful. "The only concern I have is the competition. They're becoming more aggressive in their pricing, marketing strategies and even piracy. We need to innovate continuously and come up with new software to keep our hold. As Next Gen Tech, it dominated in hardware but that's not the same for software as you already let them access our server and take the things."

Evan pondered over her words and then smiled.

"That's intentional because having a monopoly in the market isn't sustainable. It's essential that we stay ahead of the curve. Maybe we should consider expanding our marketing efforts, especially with the smartphone line coming soon."

"Absolutely," Aria agreed, her eyes lighting up. "A strong marketing strategy will be crucial for a successful launch. We can start analyzing our target audience and develop a comprehensive plan."

"We will schedule a brainstorming session with the marketing team. Aurora will come up with a plan," Evan suggested, already envisioning the new strategies they could implement.

"I want you to book a venue for it and ask Daniel to lend us a hand. He is surely making it big lately."

"Will do, Evan. I'll set it up as soon as possible," Aria confirmed, her demeanor shifting to anticipation.

"By the way, when are we going to launch the smartphone? Next year?" Aria asked.

Hearing this, Evan only smiled in response.

_____

As Evan stepped out of the towering glass building, the afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the bustling streets of the city. The air was bustling with the sounds of honking cars and chattering pedestrians, but in Evan's immediate vicinity, a calm authority radiated. His personal guards flanked him on either side, forming a shield against the distractions of the outside world.

With every confident stride down the sleek marble steps, Evan's mind swirled with ongoing plans and scenarios. As they reached the bottom, he paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the sprawling city before him. A surge of determination welled up within him.

Turning to his head guard, he issued a quiet command. "Contact the underground and ask them to assemble. I need to have a meeting."

The guard nodded, already reaching for the communication device on his wrist.

"I wonder how they were working," Evan mused. "I am sure it's fine with you monitoring things. I still can't help but feel worried since all of them were once street thugs."

[Hmm! Are you doubting my skills?] Aurora's playful voice chimed in, making him chuckle.

He knew the underground would respond swiftly; they were loyal, efficient, and always prepared for action.

As he stepped into the car, the guards took their positions around the vehicle, maintaining a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Evan settled into his seat, anticipation coursing through him. The meeting would be pivotal for solidifying plans and strategies for the future.

As the car pulled away, Evan gazed out at the city, determination etched across his features. The wheels of progress were in motion, and he was ready to steer them forward.