Allen's words shocked Charles Reeves.
He abruptly stood up from his chair, nearly knocking over the coffee table in front of him due to his haste.
His eyes were fixed on Allen, filled with shock, confusion, and even a hint of betrayed anger.
"You… what did you say?"
His voice was hoarse with disbelief.
"The second largest shareholder? You've been secretly acquiring shares in my company behind my back?"
"I prefer to call it an investment, Charles. I meant no harm."
Allen's tone carried a slight hint of shame; after all, they had just started cooperating, and he was already buying a large number of the company's shares, which was a questionable move.
"Believe me, while you were unaware, our enemies used money and public opinion to launch a silent strangulation of your company in the stock exchange. They wanted to turn your stock into worthless paper."
Allen pointed to the transaction report and continued.
"And I merely bent down and picked up every piece of paper as they, and those panic-stricken investors, threw them away."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Reeves's tone still carried a hint of hurt.
"We are partners, aren't we?"
"Because at that time, the timing wasn't right to tell you." Allen, feeling a bit helpless, had no choice but to continue explaining.
"Charles, with all due respect, you are a great engineer, a respectable idealist.
But you are not a qualified businessman.
If I had told you my plan in advance, your upright character would likely have caused you to inadvertently reveal emotions you shouldn't have.
And our enemies, those sharks in the stock exchange with a sense of smell sharper than a hound's, would immediately detect that something was amiss."
"Secrecy, at that stage, was our only powerful weapon."
Allen looked at him and said with utmost sincerity.
"Now, they have escalated the war from the stock exchange to your freight yard. They have started using violence and destruction. In that case, there's no need for me to hide anymore.
There's nothing bad about this, Mr. Reeves; our partnership can become even closer."
Reeves slumped back onto the sofa.
Allen's explanation, though cold, was impeccable, because he knew that everything he said was true.
Those railroad giants had no intention of letting his company off the hook.
After a long silence, Reeves's reason returned, and a glimmer of hope rose in his eyes.
After all, Allen wasn't wrong; a partnership isn't as secure as a shareholder relationship.
"Alright, Allen, you're right, but even with partial ownership, we're still no match for them."
Seeing Reeves regain his composure and accept the facts, Allen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Of course, there's a way, my friend. If we have controlling interest in the company, then we won't be afraid of them kicking you out or terminating the cooperation, as they can't keep doing this forever."
"Now that you mention it, that's true. Together, we now have forty-five percent of the shares."
"We are very close to gaining control."
"No, Charles."
"That's not enough. Far from enough."
Reeves was a bit bewildered; wasn't it just a little bit short? How could it be not enough?
"What do you mean?"
"A fragile alliance composed of two major shareholders cannot win this war."
Allen looked at him and said, every word carefully chosen.
"Our enemies have plenty of money; they can easily absorb shares in the market.
Then they will forever bicker and obstruct us in the board of directors.
They might even find ways to divide us, tempting you or me with greater benefits.
An unstable alliance is itself the biggest weakness."
He stood up and walked to Reeves, revealing his truest ambition.
"Therefore, my goal has never been for us to jointly control the company."
"Instead, I personally must hold at least fifty-one percent of this company's shares. I need absolute control."
Reeves couldn't believe his ears.
He had originally thought he was accepting a knight.
But he never expected that this knight wanted the entire kingdom.
"You… you want to swallow my company?"
Reeves's voice trembled with anger.
"NONONO, I want to save it, Charles."
Allen's tone was gentle, not wanting to overly provoke him.
"Only when this company has a single core, a strong will determined to win at all costs, can it survive."
"Only when the company becomes my property can I better join the war and fight back against those Eastern Railroad Alliance giants."
"And you, my partner, will continue to serve as the company's president and chief engineer."
Allen painted a brand new blueprint for him.
"You will have more ample funds than ever before to repair your trains, lay new tracks, and realize all your unfinished engineering dreams. You only need to focus on what you do best—making trains run faster and more steadily."
"And I…" Allen's eyes sparkled with dazzling light, "will handle all the wars beyond the tracks for you. Finance, public opinion, and… those arsonist scumbags."
These words once again successfully plunged Reeves's heart into a fierce internal struggle.
He had struggled for half his life to own a railroad that was entirely his, one where he could realize his ideals.
And now, his only choice was to hand over control of this "child" to a young man he had known for less than a month.
Because he knew.
If he didn't give it up, this child would soon be torn to shreds by those covetous beasts.
"Charles, this is a simple choice."
Allen saw through his struggle and continued to persuade him.
"Do you want to cling to the empty title of a king and sink with your Coming soon bankrupt kingdom? Or do you want to become a wealthy, respectable prince who can continue to realize his ideals?"
After a long while, Reeves closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"What… do I need to do?" he asked hoarsely and weakly.
Allen smiled; he knew he had won.
"It's very simple."
Allen sat back down, resuming the calmness of a businessman.
"Starting tomorrow, you and your loyal shareholders will sign a secret 'Acting in Concert' agreement with me. In any future board meeting, you will all cast the same vote as me."
"At the same time," he looked at Flynn and O'Malley, "my security company, 'Spartan,' will dispatch a ten-person elite security team led by Flynn to be stationed at the railroad company, fully responsible for your security work."
"Mississippi and Eastern Railroad Company will sign a formal security service contract with my Spartan Security."
Allen smiled as he laid out his plan.
"As for the funds to repair the signal towers and form the security team."
He pushed over a bank draft for ten thousand dollars.
"This money will be treated as additional capital for shares, which should allow my stake to reach thirty percent. For now, that should be enough for us to resist those giants."
Reeves looked at the bank draft on the table, then at Allen.
He knew he had no way out, and he no longer wanted to retreat.
"Good."
Nodding heavily, Reeves's fighting spirit reignited in his eyes.
"I hope it's truly as you say, Allen."
A more stable and aggressive alliance was officially formed at this moment.