Homo Sapiens

Feilin Manor.

Li Qingye listened to Chen Jianxiong’s report, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop. ”So he’s here? For the Chinese Merchants’ conference? Isn’t Harry in Manila? Have him arrange a ’chance encounter’ with Yang Tiancheng, then find an opportunity to invite him to Philip Farm.”

”Understood. I’ll arrange it at once.” Chen Jianxiong didn’t ask why. As a competent subordinate, he knew what to do and what not to do.

Watching Chen Jianxiong’s retreating back, Li Qingye’s expression remained as placid as ever.

’I hope you have nothing to do with that incident, or else...’

Meanwhile, in his room at the Hilton Hotel, Yang Tiancheng, who was in the middle of a shower, couldn’t help but shiver.

And Gafei, who had been busy handling the Fernando Clan’s internal affairs, also hurried over to Feilin Manor.

He explained his reason for coming to Li Qingye.

”Boss, the Xu-A Alliance in the Mishan Islands is causing quite a bit of trouble for our infiltration efforts. Should we...” Gafei said ruthlessly.

Li Qingye shook his head. ”That would be too obvious. The recent alliance between the Fernando Clan and the Lopez Clan has already made significant waves. Let’s not move against the Xu-A Alliance for now.”

”But if we don’t deal with them, our expansion in the Mishan Islands could become very difficult.”

Li Qingye spread out a map of Luzon.

The entire Luzon Islands can be broadly divided into three main geographical units: Luzon Island in the north, the Mishan Islands in the center, and Cianlan Island in the south.

These three geographical units also serve as natural dividing lines for the various factions in Luzon.

On the map, the names of various clans and their spheres of influence were already marked.

Currently, the Mishan Islands consisted of seven large islands: Samar Island (13,000 sq km), Negros Island (12,700 sq km), Panay Island (11,500 sq km), Leyte Island (7,213 sq km), Cebu Island (4,694 sq km), Bohe Island (3,975 sq km), and Masbate Island (3,269 sq km).

Clans of various sizes held power on each of these islands.

But the only powers that could truly stand against the Fernando and Lopez Clans were the Xu Clan on Negros Island, and the Yabotis and Duterte Clans on Cebu Island.

Among the other islands, Panay Island was the Lopez Clan’s home base, while the rest were controlled by small or medium-sized clans.

Looking at the map before him, Li Qingye smiled and asked, ”Gafei, what do you think is the most expensive thing in the world?”

”The most expensive thing?” Gafei pondered the question.

”The answer is something that’s free. Every gift from fate comes with a price tag already secretly attached. You should know that we’re building waste recycling plants, methane plants, and sea farms. Sometimes, energy and food can also be turned into deadly weapons,” Li Qingye stated calmly.

”You mean...?”

”Are you familiar with the ’ABCD’ grain merchants controlled by America? Just copy how they reaped a harvest from Luzon back in the day.”

A shiver ran down Gafei’s spine involuntarily.

”Cooperate with those clans. Use our cheap gas and food to flood the markets of the entire Mishan Islands, and even all of Luzon. Once you control the energy and food supply, you can just cut them off if they don’t listen.”

Li Qingye continued, ”At the same time, plant more of our people on these islands. When necessary, we can replace the local powers entirely.”

”I understand.” Gafei knew that doing so would likely plunge the populace into misery, but what did that matter?

In Gafei’s view, labels like Luzon people, Chinese, Mishayang People, and Tagalogs were utterly meaningless. When everything was brought under the Company’s fold, they would all ultimately share a single identity: employees of the Homo Sapiens Company.

Now understanding what to do, Gafei had the two major clans halt their southward expansion. Instead, they would continue to focus on internal development, ramping up the construction of various infrastructure and planning their industrial layout.

...

「January 28th, the Little New Year」

Inside the Winford Casino Hotel, a reception was in full swing. Prominent Chinese individuals from all over Luzon, along with many local clans on good terms with the Chinese Merchants, had also sent representatives to attend.

Amidst the dazzling lights and flowing wine, guests mingled in small groups, chatting and laughing cheerfully.

As toasts were exchanged, Yang Tiancheng clinked glasses with a young member of the Xu Clan. He then noticed a middle-aged man with a female companion, conversing with the surrounding Chinese Merchants.

Before long, the middle-aged man made his way over to Yang Tiancheng.

”Brother Tiancheng, this is Mr. Harry of the Fernando Clan,” the Xu scion beside him introduced in a low voice.

Seeming to find Yang Tiancheng unfamiliar, Harry stopped, raised his glass, and asked, ”Robert, and this is?”

Robert Xu smiled and introduced him. ”Mr. Harry, this is Mr. Yang Tiancheng from Huaguo. His family runs the New Nanyang Company and has quite a bit of business in Luzon.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. ”New Nanyang Company? I’ve heard so much about it. A pleasure. I’m Harry Fernando.”

The two men clinked their glasses, and Yang Tiancheng replied with a smile, ”A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Harry. I’m Yang Tiancheng. I hope you’ll look after New Nanyang Company’s business in Luzon in the future.”

”Hahaha... No problem,” Harry agreed with feigned magnanimity. Empty pleasantries cost nothing. When the time came, whether or not to actually help would be entirely up to the Fernando Clan.

The men chatted for a while and gradually became more acquainted.

When he heard that Yang Tiancheng ran a palm plantation in Borneo, with 180,000 hectares of oil palms, Harry’s eyes instantly lit up.

”Brother Yang, I was wondering, have you sold your company’s palm oil yet?”

Yang Tiancheng spread his hands helplessly. ”We haven’t sold last year’s stock of 30,000 tons of crude palm oil, and this year’s orders are also quite low. Is Mr. Harry interested in making a purchase?”

In truth, Harry was already well aware of the situation with Yang Tiancheng’s palm plantation.

180,000 hectares of oil palms could produce roughly 50,000 to 60,000 tons of crude palm oil annually. Last year, the price of palm oil plummeted, dropping from nearly 900 US dollars per ton at the beginning of the year to around 800 US dollars, and now it had fallen even further to about 700 US dollars per ton.

This was the bait Harry was dangling for Yang Tiancheng.

”My family has an edible oil factory, and we do need some palm oil, but the price...”

”The price is negotiable! I can give Mr. Harry the cost price. How about 680 US dollars per ton?” Yang Tiancheng said hurriedly.

He was getting desperate.

He was panicking.

”There’s no rush. This isn’t a convenient place to talk business. Here’s my card. We can talk again when you have time,” Harry replied ambiguously.

After handing over his business card, Harry led his companion away and walked toward the other Chinese Merchants.

Watching Harry leave, Yang Tiancheng thought he might have been dissatisfied with the price. But having finally met a potential client, he didn’t want to give up.

After all, once palm oil is refined, there are storage costs, and it also has a shelf life. If he couldn’t sell it in time, the palm oil could only be sold off at a low price to biofuel companies.

Moreover, Yang Tiancheng was obsessed with returning to his family’s inner circle. If he couldn’t even manage a single palm plantation company properly, how could he possibly convince his father to trust him?

Harry had perfectly grasped Yang Tiancheng’s psychology.

Around ten o’clock that night, after the reception had ended, Harry got into his car at the hotel entrance.

Outside the car window, Yang Tiancheng and the Xu scion had come to see him off. He waved with a smile, but a glint of deeper meaning flashed in his eyes, for he knew the fish had taken the bait.

’Go on, pull some strings! Then you’ll deliver yourself right to my doorstep! Heh heh...’

The car started up and sped away, leaving Yang Tiancheng and the Xu scion behind, each lost in their own thoughts.