Chapter 337: Board Meeting At The Arc Companies
"The proposal before the board is a fifty percent increase across all Arc consumer products."
His gaze swept across every member.
"Those in favor..." Gaston immediately raised his hand, then a few others around the table followed.
The company’s secretary then counted them before nodding.
"Those opposed." Gaston called next.
Ethan calmly raised his hand, so did Hayley and Percival.
One after another, the remaining opposing members raised theirs as well.
The company secretary quickly finished counting before looking toward Gaston.
"The voting rights are evenly divided." She looked down once more to verify. "Fifty percent, against fifty percent."
Everyone around the table already knew what that meant.
Without a majority, the motion failed and the proposal would not be passed.
Therefore, the company’s existing pricing policy remained unchanged; which was exactly the outcome Percival and Hayley had been working toward.
Gaston closed the file before him and rose from his seat. "The motion fails, this meeting is adjourned."
The board members gradually began leaving the conference room.
But just before Ethan reached the exit...
"Mr Stark."
Ethan stopped.
Gaston looked directly at him. "A moment."
A few minutes later, the two men in the boardroom began discussions.
"Why do you oppose it?" Gaston began.
"Because it’s unnecessary." Ethan said, then continued. "Perhaps someday production costs will justify increasing prices, but today isn’t that day."
"The manufacturing expenses are stable, so is the supply chain. Our profits are also healthy."
"So increasing prices by forty percent simply because we can, isn’t good business. It’s taking advantage of our monopoly."
Gaston replied. "And monopolies exist to be used."
"Maybe... for a while, and only as long as it’s reasonable," Ethan said. "But remember, there are two other companies on the western continent producing devices comparable to ours."
"They haven’t entered this market because our borders make importing difficult. But the moment that changes, the people of this country will only remember that someone else came along with better prices."
Gaston folded his arms. "We have enough influence in Parliament to maintain those restrictions."
"It doesn’t matter whether we can maintain those restrictions," Ethan replied.
"If neighboring countries begin adopting those devices, it won’t take much before they start finding their way here."
"And once they do, people will buy them." He gave a light shrug. "It isn’t illegal to own another company’s phone, so consumers will naturally gravitate toward whichever product offers them better value."
His eyes settled directly on Gaston. "We’d be creating our own competition."
Gaston sighed. "You shouldn’t see it the way you currently do. You’re looking at today’s products, and I’m looking at tomorrow’s."
He continued. "We obviously can’t justify increasing prices if everything remains exactly the same."
"But who says they will? We will become more innovative and create products so far ahead of our competitors."
His voice carried increasing confidence.
"Features no one has imagined, technology they can’t replicate."
He spread one hand. "People won’t question higher prices. They’ll be amazed and will gladly pay for something nobody else can offer."
Ethan listened quietly until Gaston finished. Then he slowly shook his head.
"Mr. Gaston, do you know the average monthly wage in Gritnia?"
Gaston frowned slightly. "No."
"The average working citizen earns roughly fifty silver grits a month." Ethan continued.
"And if I remember correctly, the ArcPhone model I was using a few months ago, before switching to the latest one, cost close to five hundred silver grits."
He looked directly at Gaston. "Even our older models already require an ordinary worker to save for months...In some cases, years."
A brief silence followed.
"Our products are already driving beyond the reach of the average citizen. If we suddenly increase prices by another fifty percent, they become luxury items."
"Only the upper class will continue buying them. And if that’s the case, then what exactly is the point?"
"The strength of Arc Company isn’t that only wealthy nobles carry our devices. It’s that nearly everyone does."
He let out a sigh. "If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Gaston... I have considerably more to deal with today than this meeting."
He offered a polite nod. "I’ll see you at the next board meeting."
Without waiting for another response, Ethan turned and walked toward the door.
The office fell silent once again.
The moment the door closed behind Ethan, the pleasant expression Gaston maintained throughout the discussion disappeared.
His eyes remained fixed on the closed door, with this growing fury in them.
——
The conference room doors had barely closed behind Ethan when Hayley’s fist suddenly drove straight into his stomach.
He folded slightly before looking at her in complete confusion.
Percival nodded approvingly. "Yeah, give him another one."
Ethan rubbed his abdomen. "What was that for?"
Hayley stared directly at him. "You were late, and you’re never late."
Ethan scratched the back of his head before letting out a sheepish laugh. "Heh..."
Hayley narrowed her eyes at him for another second, then something suddenly clicked.
She grinned. "Oh..."
Then began laughing.
Percival looked between the two. "What?"
Hayley pointed toward Ethan. "Horn dragon over here was getting some of that from his wife."
Percival slowly shook his head. "Bruh."
Ethan rolled his eyes with an embarrassed smile before simply continuing down the hallway.
"You two should cut me some slack, I still got here at the right time."
The conversation gradually dissolved into casual chatter as they continued walking through the building together.
—
A few minutes later, the three stepped outside the building.
Ethan pulled a pocket watch from inside his coat and flipped it open.
"Right." He snapped it shut. "I’ll see you two at the guild later, I’ve got another meeting starting about now."
He reached over and clasped Percival’s hand.
Percival returned it and continued towards his car. "Later, man."
Just as Ethan was about to step away, Hayley moved closer and said, "You won’t."
Ethan paused. "Won’t what?"
"Meet us at the guild." She gave him an unimpressed look. "So stop lying."
Ethan frowned innocently. "I’m... not entirely sure what I did now."
Hayley sighed. "In the last month, you haven’t stepped foot inside the guild once."
Ethan smiled apologetically. "Actually, It’s been an awful lot of work."
He looked toward the city. "Especially this last month. We’re planning to relocate Stark Industries’ primary base of operations."
Hayley nodded slowly. "I figured it was work. But, the guild’s the only place I actually get to see you properly."
She looked away for a second. "Admittedly, taking showers in your section of the room just doesn’t feel the same when the person I enjoy making nervous isn’t even there."
Ethan smiled a bit. "Alright, I’ll be honest...I don’t think I’ll make it to the guild today."
Hayley let out a dramatic sigh. "I knew it."
"But—" Ethan quickly raised a finger. "Tomorrow, I promise...And after, maybe we hang out for a bit."
Her entire expression brightened almost instantly. "Ooh? Where are we going?"
Ethan looked genuinely confused. "The hangout we usually do when I drive you home."
Hayley stared at him, then rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ugh...Ethan!"
He laughed. "You know what? We’ll figure that part out tomorrow."
He slowly began stepping backward. "Because I really...really have to go."
Hayley finally smiled. "Okay."
Ethan returned the smile before turning away.
His body slowly lifted off the ground, and once he had risen several feet into the air, he whispered,
"Titania."
A magic circle bloomed beneath him, and a thunderous roar echoed through the skies as an enormous black dragon emerged from the circle, fully transformed.
Titania spread her wings as Ethan landed smoothly upon her back.
With a powerful beat of her wings, the dragon further launched herself into the sky, disappearing into the clouds while the two siblings watched him leave.