Li Ming narrowed his eyes, the gaze of a man who had weathered a lifetime of corporate storms reflecting a blatant, unvarnished distrust. "Then tell me," he whispered, his voice dangerously low, "what exactly does ZX want from the CK Group?"
Adisorn allowed a faint, elegant smile to grace his lips. "ZX Capital requires a minority stake in your common shares."
The Chairman of the CK Group froze for a heartbeat before pressing further. "And how many seats on my board are you demanding?"
Adisorn maintained his impeccable composure, allowing a brief silence to let the pressure dissipate slightly before delivering the number he had calculated long ago.
"One seat," he answered, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
"A single seat?" Li Ming repeated, disbelief coloring his tone. Standard practice dictated that any fund swooping in to rescue a company in crisis would demand at least two or three seats to secure a blocking vote and leverage over critical decisions.
Adisorn nodded. "One seat is more than enough." He locked eyes with the Chairman, his lips curving into a slight smirk. "ZX will move to acquire the entirety of your debt from VCC. Once we step in as your primary creditor, we will suspend all debt-to-equity conversion rights indefinitely."
Li Ming listened in absolute silence, his mind working like a high-speed processor, waiting for the hidden blade to drop.
"We will inject the necessary cash flow to clear your maturing bonds. In exchange, the CK Group will issue Class A Preferred Shares to ZX. This ensures our capital is protected while leaving your core voting rights—and your sovereign control—entirely untouched."
Adisorn paused, his hawk-like eyes flashing with sudden intensity. "And the final condition... to guarantee ZX's vested interest in the Hydrogen Project, we require CEO Gawin of Wonder Package to be appointed to a key executive role within that project's management."
The declaration left Dr. Li Ming momentarily stunned. "CEO Gawin? Is he a backer of ZX Capital? Is that why you've placed this demand on the table?" The Chairman questioned shrewdly. Adisorn, having anticipated this exact line of inquiry, was ready.
"CEO Gawin is a strategic partner within our investment alliance. He possesses a network that weaves through Asia and ASEAN. Having him as the lead for the Hydrogen Project serves as our 'bridge'—a guarantor between ZX and the CK Group to ensure our interests remain perfectly aligned," Adisorn explained brilliantly.
Li Ming nodded slowly, the logic of the trade-off finally settling in his mind. It was a fair exchange—sovereignty in exchange for an ally.
"Since you have presented your terms with such clarity, I shall take them into official consideration," Li Ming said, his posture straightening. "And I believe it is not too late for me to say... the CK Group looks forward to working with ZX Capital."
The Chairman extended his hand. Adisorn rose with a calm, polished grace and took it.
"ZX Capital is equally pleased to be in partnership with the CK Group."