Director Huang before me was a bureau-level official under a sub-bureau of the Ministry of Commerce in Huaxia. Before this visit, he had already notified Starry Sky Group through official channels before bringing a team to call on them.

However, the Luo family back home had leaked some information to Liu Hui in advance, telling him that this Director Huang represented the will of the domestic magnates, that his own status was extremely high, and that he had a special mission this time visiting Starry Sky Group, which was why he held the title under the Ministry of Commerce. They urged Liu Hui not to slight Director Huang and to handle the visit properly.

That was why Liu Hui received Director Huang with great solemnity in his office. Director Huang, having inquired about Liu Hui’s character beforehand, knew that Liu Hui disliked empty talk the most. Therefore, after meeting him, Director Huang quickly stated the real reason for his visit: he hoped Starry Sky Group could become a listed company.

Upon hearing Director Huang’s suggestion, Liu Hui refused without hesitation.

“Mr. Liu, don’t be so hasty! We are well aware that Starry Sky Group never lacks money, but who would ever say they have too much? If Starry Sky Group agrees to go public, you can immediately raise a colossal amount of funds, making whatever you wish to do much more convenient!” Director Huang continued with a placid smile.

Liu Hui started, instantly making connections. Director Huang represented the will of the domestic bigwigs, so he wouldn't speak carelessly. Why then would he demand that Starry Sky Group go public? Had some development occurred that he was still unaware of?

So Liu Hui asked, “Our Starry Sky Group is not short of money now, so I don't quite understand your words, Director Huang. And as far as I recall, there’s no mention in our country’s laws about forcibly listing an enterprise, is there?”

Director Huang chuckled, “There certainly isn't such a mention right now, but that’s precisely due to the current imperfection of our national laws. I believe there will be regulations concerning this in the future.”

Liu Hui scoffed, “Forcibly listing an enterprise—that’s unheard of in the laws of any country in the world. Are you intending to be the world's pioneer in this area?”

Director Huang became somewhat embarrassed, immediately realizing he had made a mistake in his prior statement: he had unconsciously treated Starry Sky Group as one of the domestic enterprises. He quickly adjusted his tone and mindset, smiling, “Mr. Liu, you certainly live up to your reputation as a young man, speaking so directly. I appreciate your forthrightness, but you also need to consider our current predicament!”

Liu Hui questioned, “Whether Starry Sky Group lists or not—how does that relate to your difficulties?”

Director Huang smiled wryly, “Mr. Liu, why pretend you don't understand? Starry Sky Group is currently making a fortune. Last year’s sales revenue even surpassed one trillion US dollars, with net profits calculated in the hundreds of billions. In the very hour you and I are speaking, you earn over a billion dollars. With such massive sales volume and enormous profit, powerful nations and organizations worldwide have long been coveting you. Those countries and organizations have already been pressuring our government, both openly and covertly, demanding that we make Starry Sky Group go public immediately so they can buy a certain percentage of shares and jointly benefit from your success. After resisting their pressure several times, our domestic magnates can finally hold out no longer, which is why they sent me to discuss this matter of the company going public with you.”

Liu Hui was stunned. Only then did he realize that his immense wealth had finally attracted the attention of other nations and organizations who wanted a piece of his company.

He sneered, “Director Huang, you must understand that I am still young and cannot fully control my temper, so if I happen to say something inappropriate, you must forgive me. What I want to ask right now is, if Starry Sky Group refuses to go public, what will you do to us?”

Director Huang smiled sadly, “I am only here to convey the message from above. I am not aware of any other aspects. But I believe Starry Sky Group will always be a Huaxia enterprise. If you do not agree to list, I assume the higher-ups will not make things difficult for you and will protect you. The countries and organizations pressuring us likely won't be able to do much to you either. However, your company will certainly face significant hurdles developing in those countries in the future, and you won't be able to act as recklessly as you do now.”

Hearing Director Huang’s explanation, Liu Hui finally began to seriously consider the matter. His situation of cornering the market on profits had finally provoked the world’s other nations and organizations. Thus, the giants who stood to lose financially were beginning to pressure the Huaxia government to achieve their aims—gaining equity in Starry Sky Group to offset their losses.

These nations and organizations were very clever; they avoided dealing directly with Starry Sky Group, instead applying pressure directly to the Huaxia government, using it to pressure Liu Hui. The Huaxia government’s history of yielding to foreign pressure over the past few decades had convinced these countries and organizations that the government would certainly help them realize their wish.

At this juncture, Liu Hui realized the flaw in the overwhelmingly vast web of interests he had woven. Because these nations and organizations hadn't formally confronted Starry Sky Group, his network of interests couldn't protest their own governments’ actions; thus, they were rendered powerless in this situation. Should they protest the Huaxia government? That would be a true farce.

Therefore, under this strange configuration, Liu Hui’s network of interests still couldn't compete with the truly powerful heavyweights. However, Liu Hui clearly understood his current predicament. His enterprise was based in Hong Kong, contributing over two hundred billion USD in taxes annually to the Hong Kong government and providing substantial employment. The Huaxia government benefited enormously from this, making them stakeholders who didn't desperately need his company to go public.

Conversely, the nations and organizations gaining no benefit were the ones causing the ruckus, which is why they pressured the Huaxia National Government. In fact, they were employing a double-edged strategy: if Starry Sky Group complied with the Huaxia government's suggestion and listed, these countries and organizations would board Starry Sky Group’s express train, latching onto it to prosper together, perhaps even eventually swallowing it whole. If Starry Sky Group refused the Huaxia government’s proposal and remained private, Starry Sky Group would inevitably develop a major rift and conflict with the government. Out of self-preservation, Starry Sky Group would likely choose to leave Huaxia and move overseas.

In that scenario, the United States or Europe, with their stable security and favorable entrepreneurial environments, would be the most likely destinations for Starry Sky Group to settle. These nations and organizations would become the most probable beneficiaries in the future. Thus, this double-edged maneuver was entirely advantageous to them, regardless of success or failure; they stood to gain substantial benefits either way.

And if Liu Hui truly relocated Starry Sky Group to the US or Europe, then the American and European governments, having gained the benefit, would naturally stop pressuring Starry Sky Group to list. At that point, even if Huaxia pressured them, they could simply ignore Huaxia’s protests and condemnations. This was the tangled web of interests currently facing Starry Sky Group.

Therefore, although Starry Sky Group appeared to be in peril, seemingly being forced by the government, the party actually most concerned was the Huaxia government.

Liu Hui grasped this crucial point instantly, his mind settling. He said to Director Huang, “Starry Sky Group will absolutely not go public; all its equity must remain entirely in my hands. If anyone domestically pressures us to list again, we will consider moving the company out of Hong Kong. Our target will be the United States or Europe; I believe they can certainly provide us with a stable and secure operating environment.”

Director Huang smiled wryly again, “Mr. Liu, don’t be so impulsive! These matters aren't unnegotiable; why get so angry?”

Liu Hui sneered, “Negotiate? How do we negotiate? Can a matter of principle like this even be negotiated?”

Director Huang stated, “Everything in the world is negotiable, Mr. Liu! If you are unwilling to list Starry Sky Group in its entirety, you could consider letting one of the subsidiaries under your name go public independently! This way, your interests won’t be excessively damaged, and it temporarily silences those nations and organizations. After all, they will need time to digest the subsidiary you offer them! This would buy us time, and with that time, wouldn't we have a better chance to deal with the intense pressure from those countries?”

Liu Hui paused. Letting a subsidiary of Starry Sky Group list independently? Since Starry Sky Group had never experienced a shortage of capital, this possibility had never crossed his mind. But now that things had reached this point, perhaps he could consider Director Huang’s suggestion—offering a non-critical subsidiary for listing. This could serve to delay things, just as Director Huang said. Once he had that time, the construction of Starry City could enter its second phase, and then he wouldn't have to fear any nation or organization.

“Listing a subsidiary independently?” Liu Hui mumbled to himself.

Director Huang nodded, “Exactly, independent listing of a subsidiary. I see that the company your Starry Sky Group recently established for seawater desalination is quite impressive. If you put that one up for listing, there shouldn’t be any issue.”

“Starry Seawater Desalination Company?” Liu Hui was greatly surprised, wondering how this newly established desalination company had come to the attention of Director Huang. But then he remembered that Director Huang represented the will of the domestic magnates, meaning his intelligence channels must be exceptionally smooth, so knowing about his Starry Seawater Desalination Company was quite normal.

“Precisely, the Starry Seawater Desalination Company. Although you have been very low-key and haven't directly announced this company, your desalination ship in the Persian Gulf is supplying Saudi Arabia with as much as 500 tons of fresh water daily, causing all of Saudi Arabia’s desalination plants to cease operation and likely head toward bankruptcy. So, when you created such a massive stir in the desalination market, we weren't deaf; naturally, we know about your company. It’s not just us; those nations and organizations know about your company as well,” Director Huang explained.

“But will those nations and organizations care about this small company?” Liu Hui asked doubtfully. He had only just entered the desalination market and only had one desalination ship, with monthly sales revenue from Saudi Arabia amounting to merely twelve million US dollars. Would listing this small company satisfy those nations and organizations?

Director Huang laughed, “Haha, Mr. Liu is testing me again. Who doesn't know that the Earth is severely water-stressed right now? Although the water shortage isn't as acute in developed nations and regions like the US and Europe, they will face extreme water scarcity within ten years. Not to mention Huaxia and those countries currently suffering severe shortages—our thirst for fresh water is extremely urgent. Current scientists haven't devised a good solution for severe water shortages. If developed nations also face extreme shortages in ten years, major global powers might clash and go to war over limited water sources. Therefore, the water issue is already a critical topic in international relations. And your desalination company already possesses such powerful desalination capabilities—how could those nations and organizations easily let it go? Although this company is small now, once it faces the global fresh water market, it will be a super-company.”

Liu Hui’s education level wasn't high, and he hadn't learned much useful knowledge in university. For secrecy, he hadn't conducted widespread consultation, so he was completely unaware of the significance of the desalination technology he possessed. After Director Huang’s enlightenment, he suddenly realized he was unintentionally holding a powerful weapon.

“So, the biggest objective behind those countries demanding Starry Sky Group list is actually this desalination technology?” Liu Hui inquired.

“That’s right, that is their goal. Although your company appears to possess trillions in wealth now, that means nothing to those countries; they can simply print a bit more currency to recover it. You also possess many unheard-of new technologies, but none of them are indispensable. Whether it’s your medical products, health supplements, cosmetics, cuisine, or lingerie—none are absolutely necessary. The Earth will continue to turn without Starry Sky Group. Therefore, no matter how well Starry Sky Group developed previously, it posed no real threat to those nations and organizations. In their eyes, you were at best a peculiar sheep, and even if they didn't slaughter you immediately, you couldn't escape the fate of being livestock. But now that you possess this technology capable of massive seawater desalination, you’ve grasped them by the vulnerable spot. Therefore, to avoid being threatened by you in the future, those nations must get involved, at least securing a voice in future water treatment and allocation,” Director Huang explained to Liu Hui in detail.

Liu Hui’s previous vantage point was lower than Director Huang’s, so he couldn't see as far into the higher-level dynamics. Only now did he understand how insignificant his Starry Sky Group appeared in the eyes of those nations and organizations; they could crush him at any moment. It was only the desalination technology he had inadvertently developed that drew their focus. Desalination technology was their true target; they disdained everything else Starry Sky Group possessed.

Liu Hui sneered inwardly. Fortunately, these nations and organizations viewed him as a sheep ready for slaughter, which bought him so much time to develop. Now that he possessed strong self-preservation capabilities, if talks broke down and they fought, neither side would gain an advantage. However, such a mutually destructive outcome did not align with his interests or ideals. Furthermore, this desalination technology, which concerned the future of all humanity, was not something those nations and organizations would let an individual possess. Thus, Liu Hui momentarily considered engaging in protracted diplomacy with these nations and organizations to buy himself some time. It would also allow those nations and organizations to let down their guard toward him, granting him more room to grow.

So, Liu Hui spoke solemnly, “This desalination technology was developed through the painstaking efforts of Starry Sky Group. Our original intention was to use this technology to benefit human society. However, Starry Sky Group is still very weak. If those nations and organizations are willing to assist us, providing capital injection and facilitating matters, then we are willing to list the Starry Seawater Desalination Company. But listing must have a prerequisite: Starry Sky Group must retain 51% of the shares in the listed company, and Starry Sky Group must hold the dominant power in desalination processing. No nation or organization can interfere with our normal production or probe our commercial secrets.”

Director Huang was overjoyed. He hadn't expected to persuade Liu Hui so easily into agreeing to list the Starry Seawater Desalination Company; he still had many persuasive arguments he intended to use left unsaid. Although the prerequisite Liu Hui mentioned seemed difficult to manage, the matter was negotiable. At least he had secured a breakthrough, which would count as a great achievement when he returned to the capital—undoubtedly good news for his career.

Director Huang said happily, “It’s good that Mr. Liu has seen reason. This solves a huge problem for us. If Starry Sky Group needs our help in the future, we will spare no effort. Even if we cannot solve it, the magnates behind us will certainly help you handle it.”

Qian Yu Chu Hai has been on a business trip for the last two days, so all updates have been scheduled automatically. He didn't expect to find a warm-hearted reader upon returning today.

That reader is: Wu Chen, who in two days cast one review ticket, four 9000-word update tickets (which Qian Yu Chu Hai couldn't fulfill because he was traveling), gifted 38 VIP chapters, and gave four tips of 100 coins, one of 588 coins, and one of 1888 coins. (If I missed anything, Wu Chen, please forgive me!)

Qian Yu Chu Hai expresses his thanks again to reader Wu Chen for his support.

At the same time, Qian Yu Chu Hai discovered something interesting: many readers viewing Dimensional Trading: Super Company on other websites have left many interesting comments after reading. If he hadn't searched today, he wouldn't have known he had received so many positive comments.

Therefore, Qian Yu Chu Hai wishes to make an appeal: for readers viewing the novel anywhere, it would be best if you could post your comments in the official comment section. This would help alleviate the quietness of this book's review section. Thank you! A