To Harry's surprise, many people were paying attention to the Roxxon Corporation's report.
Of course, it might also have something to do with the arrival of the current Chief Justice. Logically speaking, the Chief Justice shouldn't have much to do with this meeting, but this judge had done something controversial in the past few months.
This company was the Standard Oil of the Marvel Universe. Unlike the real Standard Oil, where many spin-offs still belonged to the Rockefeller family after the breakup, it wasn't the case here.
Here, the results of the antitrust investigation in the 19th century were similar, but the actual outcome was very different. The company did indeed disintegrate, but the main directors died mysteriously, and the investor structure changed.
The changes that occurred were quite complex, but it now appeared that a large portion of the shares had ended up in the hands of HYDRA—specifically, in the hands of the HYDRA Council member "Banker" whom Harry had captured. To be honest, it was quite surreal, as his ancestors were actually targets of the Little Mustache's robberies.
After World War II, HYDRA paid more and more attention to oil resources. One former council member even served as CEO. It wasn't until modern times that the company's CEO became Dario Agger.
Without going through the process of disintegration and reorganization, the company's growth had been quite smooth.
That's why we can see various Roxxon Corporation backdrops in movies—such as buses, gas stations, buildings, etc. It was a massive commercial empire.
However, with the five major powers seizing HYDRA's small banks and the Oscorp vigorously promoting nuclear fusion energy, this commercial empire was collapsing. Their so-called capital was like a defenseless, naked beauty when faced with state power.
"Mr. Murdock, we all know you initiated the antitrust investigation against Roxxon Oil, and the final verdict was that it involved a monopoly. What were the criteria for making this judgment?"
Because of the special relationship between civilians, businessmen, and politicians, any antitrust action required careful consideration.
If politicians could brandish political weapons at will, businesses would only be able to develop in fear; if the growth of businessmen went unchecked, it would worsen the lives of civilians and even threaten social development.
Matt spoke to the camera: "The basis for my judgment is already written in the verdict, but I still have to say: only unreasonable restraints of trade are prohibited. The scale of a monopoly should not be a necessary and sufficient condition for breaking up a company; it is the use of a monopoly position to control prices that constitutes one."
This judgment was reached after consultation between Matt and Norman. If Roxxon were convicted based on the scale of its monopoly, it would put some companies in an awkward position: for example, the Oscorp.
Roxxon Oil was in the echelon most affected by the energy revolution. It wasn't wise to maintain large-scale production when oil prices were plummeting, so Dario Agger shut down most of the refineries and oil wells himself. However, Matt determined that this move was a malicious reduction in production to raise prices.
In reality, this was a normal market move. However, in the course of its development, Roxxon often used its monopoly advantage to merge with many enterprises and committed many illegal acts in New Orleans.
According to Matt's investigation, the explosion that occurred in New Orleans a few years ago was indeed caused by Roxxon's illegal operations.
This made his sense of justice overflow. Since he happened to have power in his hands, he made a choice: to use the weapon of the law to strike at Roxxon, pin a label on them, and kill them first.
He couldn't kill people, but he wouldn't hesitate to "kill" a company to prevent Roxxon from harming the World.
After listening, the New York Times reporter wrote in his notebook: Judge Murdock believes that it is not pure size that makes a company or consortium prohibited by law, nor is it their breadth or scope of operations or capital amount, but rather whether it has done two things: control prices and control production.
Roxxon's report was about to begin. Matt ended the Q&A session and sat in the seat next to Harry.
"I didn't expect a judge like you to care about energy technology," Harry said.
"Like you, I'm also curious about what they're up to—to be honest, I don't think someone like him will just sit and wait for death." Matt set his blind cane aside. He had already decided that Roxxon was an evil company, so he would naturally keep a close eye on them.
The stage was tightly surrounded by Roxxon's people, who seemed to be moving some instruments inside.
Matt focused all his attention on Agger, who was shaking hands with investors by the stage. In his perception, the Roxxon CEO was in high spirits and full of confidence.
When he saw Harry and Matt sitting in the audience, his confidence didn't fade. Instead, there was a sense of condescension in his eyes, as if he felt he had the winning hand.
"Stark said you're at least 50 years ahead of the World. Do you think Roxxon has a time machine? I feel like he's 100 years ahead of humanity," Matt said suddenly.
Harry naturally saw Agger's look as well, but he didn't have much of a clue. After all, in the original work, Roxxon had always done well; even after Tony created new energy, it remained a giant.
Seeing that the machine behind the curtain seemed to have finished assembly, Harry suddenly frowned—he had a very bad feeling.
"We'll find out what he's up to." After saying that, Harry spoke into his headset, "A, I want to see Roxxon Group's recent capital flows."
"Sir, this requires some legal procedures. Under what name do you plan to retrieve it?"
Harry looked at Matt beside him and said, "Antitrust investigation, Supreme Court."
"Retrieving now."
Dario Agger cleared his throat and began his presentation: "Gentlemen, ladies, thank you for coming today.
I really liked Mr. Osborn's speech because he made a lot of sense: just as oil replaced coal, nuclear energy has now replaced oil.
So, what will replace nuclear energy?"
"Sir, the data shows that for the past entire year, Roxxon Group has been transferring funds to a subsidiary called Aetherdan Energy."
Upon hearing the name "Isodyne," Harry's pupils constricted.
This company was founded during World War II and played an important role in the production of the atomic bomb. It even had the capability to conduct nuclear tests when nuclear weapons were not clearly regulated.
In fact, they did conduct nuclear tests and discovered a special substance during one of them.
"Now, let me proudly introduce to you a brand new, inexhaustible energy source—no, it should be called a new substance that transcends the concept of energy!"
The curtain was pulled back, revealing a huge containment apparatus to the attendees. In the center of the apparatus, inside a transparent container, a mass of black matter was constantly pulsing.
"I call it—zero matter."
The all-consuming blackness suddenly began to surge violently, and a splitting headache struck—
[Detecting]
[Detecting—zero matter detected!]
[Detonate zero matter]
[Detonate zero matter. Reward: Journey to The Void]
Unlike the previous mechanical voices, a long-drawn echo resonated in Harry's mind.
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