Chapter 331: The Trap Backfires

Kristoff immediately instructed Owen to investigate.

Owen tapped his tablet and brought up a set of figures.

"We used the supply-chain data Miss Lancey provided and the inputs from Xander. There’s definitely a pattern."

He enlarged the delivery records.

"NeoTech’s orders are being prioritized. They’re receiving almost their entire allocation, while the rest of the inventory is being diverted elsewhere."

"Elsewhere?"

"That’s the strange part." Owen swiped to another page.

"These companies have nothing to do with robotics. They’re involved in retail distribution, yet they suddenly started purchasing miniature servo motors in bulk. And they’re paying considerably higher prices than us."

Kristoff studied the figures for a moment, his expression darkening. His fingers stopped tapping against the armrest.

"So someone is buying up the inventory, diverting the supplies, and creating an artificial shortage."

"That’s what it looks like." Owen replied.

A faint, humorless smile appeared on Kristoff’s lips.

"How thoughtful of them."

He pushed the report aside and turned toward Owen.

"What are our alternatives?"

"We have two, sir." Owen brought up a cost comparison. "The first is to import from our overseas partner. They can supply the required quantity, but the additional shipping and import duties will reduce our projected profit margin by approximately ten percent."

"Ten percent?" Kristoff frowned.

"Yes. The second option is to purchase from the companies currently reselling the components. Even with their inflated prices, our losses would only be around five percent."

Kristoff glanced at the figures.

"Five percent is certainly better than ten."

"That’s what I thought, sir."

"But?"

Owen hesitated.

"The problem is that buying from them would only encourage whoever is behind this scheme. We’d essentially be paying them to continue hoarding the components. And if they realize we’re willing to pay their asking price, there’s no guarantee they won’t raise it further."

Kristoff let out a quiet scoff.

"So they create the shortage, force us into a corner, and then make a profit selling us the very components they withheld?"

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk.

"That’s quite a profitable business model."

Owen remained silent.

Kristoff’s gaze returned to the figures on the screen.

"Find another way. I’m not about to reward someone for holding our production line hostage."

His voice remained calm, but the sharpness in his eyes left little room for argument.

He was still weighing his options when Richard video called him with another proposal.

Kristoff reviewed Richard’s proposal.

It was a supply agreement from his newly established subsidiary, complete with technical specifications, production capacity, and certification records.

The miniature servo motors had recently received patent approval. More importantly, they had successfully passed beta testing and were ready for commercial release.

Richard could begin supplying the components almost immediately.

Kristoff leaned back in his chair and stared at the proposal.

For several seconds, he didn’t move.

Then he let out a long breath.

Of all the people he could have depended on, it had to be Richard.

It seemed he simply couldn’t escape the fate of becoming entangled with the man.

He had already been dealing with the Morgan, who had appointed himself Isobel’s self-proclaimed guardian and seemed to have an opinion about practically everything concerning her.

Now Richard was joining the picture.

Well, he supposed he could manage one more.

But after all, Richard had helped Isobel tremendously. If it hadn’t been for him, she might not have survived.

Kristoff picked up his tablet and stared at the proposal again.

He had to admit, the timing was impeccable.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Fine.

Morgan was already an annoying brother.

He supposed he could survive having another annoying brother-in-law.

Especially when the latter happened to own a factory capable of rescuing his production schedule.

...

At Pollus headquarters, Marco was reviewing a document when a hurried knock interrupted him.

"Come in."

His secretary stepped inside, clutching her company-issued cellphone with both hands. Her usually composed expression was replaced by unmistakable anxiety.

"Sir, the NeoTech project manager is on the line. He says it’s urgent. He’s been trying to reach you, but your phone is unavailable."

Marco barely looked up.

"Put him on speaker."

The secretary hurried to his desk and placed the phone on the polished mahogany surface.

"Boss!" The project manager’s voice came through almost immediately. He sounded breathless, as though he had been running around trying to contain a disaster.

"We have a serious problem."

Marco’s expression hardened.

"Then stop wasting my time and tell me what happened."

"It’s Dalton Technologies. They’ve secured an alternative supply of miniature servo motors."

Marco’s fingers froze over the document.

"What?"

"They’re sourcing the components from Learson Corporation. Apparently, Learson has already developed and tested its own precision servo motors. They can begin supplying Dalton almost immediately."

Marco shot to his feet.

The sudden movement sent his chair rolling backward, its wheels rattling across the polished floor.

"Learson?" he repeated, his voice rising. "Since when did they start manufacturing robotics components?"

"We’re still verifying the details, Boss, but the supply agreement appears legitimate. Their products have already passed beta testing."

Marco’s jaw tightened.

He had accounted for Dalton’s possible alternatives. He had even anticipated that Kristoff might turn to overseas suppliers.

But Learson?

That was something he hadn’t considered.

"Is that all?" he demanded.

The project manager hesitated.

"There’s another problem, Boss."

Marco’s expression darkened further.

"Go on."

"The retail companies we contracted to purchase the servo motors in bulk are now demanding that we buy back their inventory."

"What?"

"They can’t find other buyers. Apparently, the demand we anticipated hasn’t materialized. They’ve been calling repeatedly, and some are threatening to expose our arrangement if we refuse to take the inventory back."

For a moment, Marco couldn’t speak.

He paid those companies to absorb the available supply, confident that the resulting shortage would force the other contractors to negotiate with those retailers.

Now those same companies were turning against him.

"Then buy back the inventory," he snapped. "Offer them a two-percent markup. Nothing more."

"But, Boss..." The project manager’s voice faltered. "That would leave us with a substantial surplus. We’ve already secured more components than NeoTech needs."

Marco’s face turned livid.

"Are you telling me you can’t handle something this simple?"

"I’m sorry, Boss, but we’re talking about a huge volume of inventory. If we proceed, it will affect our cash flow, and there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to liquidate the excess."

Marco slammed his palm against the desk.

"Then find a buyer!"

The secretary standing nearby flinched. On the other end of the call, the project manager fell silent.

Marco dragged a hand across his face, struggling to contain his anger.

What the hell happened?

He intended to corner Dalton Technologies and Learson Corporation, forcing them to compete for whatever supplies remained.

Instead, Kristoff had found another supplier, while NeoTech was now stuck with a mountain of components it didn’t need.

Worse, the very companies he had recruited to execute his plan were threatening to expose him.

Did I just shoot myself in the foot?

His breathing grew heavier as he stared at the phone.

How the hell did I end up falling into my own trap?