[Chapter 523: Killing the Chicken with the Dragon Slaying Sword]
This era is simply a disaster for large companies. A multitude of American companies faced fragmentation, and it was hard to say if this was a good or bad thing. One thing was certain: it seriously weakened corporate competitiveness. If it weren't for IBM frequently facing investigations, lesser companies like Apple and Microsoft wouldn't even get a chance to emerge.
To avoid another antitrust investigation, William White navigated the policy boundaries carefully. He wouldn't say he wasn't violating anything; the franchise system of Legendary World had obvious exclusivity.
However, he didn't completely shut the door either. Even competitors could participate, given that their games were good enough.
Legendary World found itself in an awkward position. It had exclusivity, yet the company had already separated hardware and software. Its review board resembled an association with people from all kinds of companies. If the Justice Department decided to investigate, they would face significant issues.
Firstly, there would surely be discontent within the industry, and secondly, the PlayStation 3 was on the verge of being released. Who dared to touch that profit? Don't forget, they weren't fighting alone.
...
"Master, we found out that some of them are indeed reporters, while others seem to be from intelligence departments. Both groups have traceable backgrounds, but the last group is the most troublesome."
"Tch, are there still pirates around?"
"It's hard to say; they've been watching us closely these past few days."
"How many are there?"
"Less than a hundred. The island they occupy is quite small. Without those new gadgets, we wouldn't have found them."
"Okay, clean them out. If there are any survivors, ask a few questions. If not, just get their information."
"Got it; I'll discuss how to proceed with Max."
"Heh, Max is back? That's good. He's had experience dealing with seals. I have just one request: clear the place thoroughly."
"Don't worry, master."
William White was indeed at ease. His team outnumbered theirs by several times and had reconnaissance satellites to assist. If they couldn't handle this, those guys might as well jump into the sea.
...
"Whoa, Tanner, with this gadget, why do we even need to handle it ourselves?"
"Shh, keep it down. You know where this thing came from. If the Soviets catch wind of it, we'll be in serious trouble."
"Tsk tsk, this gadget is seriously powerful. We really need to be careful. If someone uses this to spy on us, it'll be a real hassle."
"It depends on the location; it's hardly useful in busy areas. Master White said the Soviets aren't great at controlling things."
"Enough about that; when do we move?"
"Tomorrow night; these guys are quite alert."
"At night, it'll be tough resolving everything. Survivors might be hard to find."
"It doesn't matter. Master White said that having survivors would be nice, but it's not necessary. Bring the jammers; we can't have any leaks."
"Alright, I'll get ready. But, ideally, it should be at dawn. Since we don't need survivors, I can deploy a few snipers."
"Yeah, that sounds good. They aren't on the flight path anyway."
...
In reality, William White wanted to know the identity of the mastermind. He knew that there were fewer and fewer fools these days; he wouldn't get much from questioning anyone. It was enough to understand their motives.
Of course, this also served as a serious warning. If anyone still threw caution to the wind, he wouldn't mind taking action. Pretending to be pirates was something not only they could do.
"Sir, Miss Kinski is here."
"Yeah, can you make us a cup of coffee?"
Nowadays, Nastassja Kinski was making quite a name for herself in Hollywood. However, it seemed she had taken quite an interest in him.
William White didn't care about the free-spirited women on the outside; they were just friends. Sure, it sounded a bit callous, but that was the reality -- he wouldn't restrict others' freedom.
In all seriousness, being greedy and selfish wasn't right; if he didn't want to deepen the relationship, others would naturally have other thoughts.
"Nastassja, what brings you by?"
"I missed you! Is that a problem?"
"Well, that's a strong reason. I can't argue with that."
Nastassja was young but had an incredibly rich life experience. She didn't hold any unrealistic ideas. Frankly speaking, although those women paid a price, they gained much more in return. In that regard, William White wasn't bad.
"Demi Moore is getting married; aren't you going to check it out?"
"Ha, still fond of the halls of marriage, huh? Is it that Bruce Willis?"
"Hey, you know? Did she send you an invitation?"
"Tsk, now that question makes me a bit uncomfortable. Well, that girl isn't bad; maybe a bit naive. Or maybe that's the life she enjoys. What? Are you here to hand me a 'good guy' card?"
Nastassja shot him a glance. "Hmph, I'm kind of hungry. I'm not one of those clueless little girls."
"Ha, you're really straightforward."
William White didn't hold back when it came to delicious offerings. He had been busy lately but was well-stocked.
Without mentioning William White's dilemmas, Tanner and the team had already begun their actions. The security at Lanai Island had grown increasingly furious with these pests.
While William White was fighting, his team wasn't idle either. Lanai Island was a resort area, so deploying too many personnel was indeed inconvenient.
"What's up? Feeling down?" a lazy voice reached his ears.
"Not really, or maybe just a bit. I have my faults, especially when it comes to possessiveness. Maybe that's not such a good thing."
"Well, everyone has their ambitions; I actually like your possessiveness. That silly girl, what does she think this place is?"
"Tsk tsk, I'm not that petty, nor would I suppress her. In fact, I respect everyone's choices."
"Hold me tight; I've been thinking again."
William White's inner turmoil was brief. He wasn't a sentimental type; he didn't wallow in melancholy. Moreover, to a large extent, it was just a transaction. The difference was that both parties were fairly satisfied with this deal.
...
After a wild night that went unspoken, the next morning, Tanner called.
"Master, it's taken care of. They didn't seem like real troublemakers, but their strength was average. The main intention appeared to be financial gain."
"Have they been cleaned out?"
"Yes, confirmed; they vanished without a trace."
"Good. Check the area thoroughly again; we also need to warn others."
"Understood, master."
William White didn't quite believe in the idea of financial gain. Given their combat capability, these guys were likely just pawns. It's clear; a group of over a hundred people was already a considerable force. If they didn't have a chance to act soon, they would definitely shift their targets.
Even without uncovering the mastermind, they had chased away the pesky flies. Besides, the sudden disappearance of over a hundred people would certainly prompt an investigation. All William White needed to do now was wait.
*****
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