For example, the current competition for the title of the richest person in China is a good case in point. In the past year or two, the title has alternated between Alibaba’s Ma and Wanda’s Wang Jianlin. Whenever one of their companies goes public, the other’s net worth immediately surpasses by tens of billions of dollars, making them the new richest person in China.

However, these so-called world billionaires are just the visible richest individuals. Their assets are entirely public and cannot be hidden; the value of their companies is easily accessible. Even if they wanted to hide it, they couldn’t.

Yet, the wealth held by some secretive conglomerates is so concealed that media focused on wealth rankings cannot investigate it. Thus, the true world’s richest person remains a mystery.

In a luxurious nightclub in Hong Kong, a group is gathered discussing something. “Asen, what do you think about this?” A middle-aged man holding a cigar, exhaling smoke rings, asks a subordinate in his thirties.

“Boss, I think it’s feasible. I’ve just received news that someone has started shorting the Zhou Group’s stock. It seems someone wants to completely crush the Zhou Group. Although they’ve shared information about the Zhou Group’s underworld connections with us, intending for us to eliminate their hidden forces, it doesn’t harm us. On the contrary, removing the Zhou family will only expand our territory.”

It turns out that while the brain Zero is shorting the Zhou Group’s stock, it has also informed the Zhou Group’s competitors in Hong Kong. The Zhou Group, originally founded on illegal activities, had started to clean up after 1997, moving away from criminal enterprises. However, this was only on the surface; in reality, the Zhou Group still supports these activities, just in a different form.

In fact, all major gangs in Hong Kong have close ties with big corporations, which is no secret to those in the know.

“Indeed, it looks like the Zhou Group has antagonized a force they can’t handle. Unless something unexpected happens, the Zhou family will be eliminated from Hong Kong. Asen, you handle this matter!” The sudden turn of events for the Zhou Group clearly indicates targeted sabotage by a powerful entity, not a local Hong Kong force. Local families, though powerful, couldn’t mobilize such force to dismantle a long-established family so quickly.

Although the Zhou family is among the lower ranks of the top ten families in Hong Kong, completely absorbing them isn’t easy. Now, with the brain Zero’s orders, large amounts of cash have been mobilized to short all of the Zhou Group’s assets, and their dark secrets have been exposed through network intrusions. With these methods, the Zhou Group has no chance of turning the tide.

After all, the survival rule of this world is such that everyone is eager to kick a man when he’s down, while offering help in times of need might only exist in fairy tales.

“Understood, boss.”

On the other side, Zhou Shixiong, who had been instructed to deal with Wu Hao’s family, has been forced to temporarily abandon the task due to a barrage of external news. He has no energy left to manage his subordinates; the Zhou Group’s assets are facing numerous problems. If not resolved, not only will he be unable to trouble Wu Hao, but the Zhou Group and the Zhou family might also cease to exist.

Two hours later, Zhou Shixiong, having exhausted all avenues, is feeling desperate. He realizes his son has involved them with a powerful figure they cannot afford to offend. Not only has his only son met an untimely death, but the Zhou Group’s decades of accumulation are also at stake.

“Sir, what should we do now?” The butler, who has been with Zhou Shixiong, asks with difficulty. He is also well aware of the Zhou Group’s dire situation. Not only have those closely related to the Zhou family distanced themselves, but even some within the Zhou family are planning to seize the last opportunity to benefit and leave.

Core members of the Zhou family have already been targeted by Hong Kong’s police, waiting for the final orders to arrest them.

Indeed, the police office currently has a pile of evidence of the Zhou family’s crimes and bribery. The delay in action is due to the involvement of several government officials who are now making last-ditch efforts to resolve their situation.

The Zhou Group’s stocks have been severely hit, plummeting like a roller coaster, while the brain Zero has made off with hundreds of billions of dollars from the stock market. The Zhou Group’s other real estate assets are also facing bankruptcy and acquisition. The Zhou Group’s competitors are seizing the opportunity to take over and strike while they’re down.

Wu Hao himself is not interested in the Zhou Group’s assets. Hence, the brain Zero has simply used stock manipulation to bring down the Zhou Group and made a profit in the process.

In his luxurious office in his villa, Zhou Shixiong, hearing the butler’s inquiry, takes a deep breath. His face, as if aging ten years in an instant, reflects his despair as he says, “Old Zhang, prepare to leave Hong Kong. The Zhou family is beyond saving.”

Hearing Zhou Shixiong’s words, butler Old Zhang feels a surge of helplessness. He knows the Zhou Group is finished. Although he is only Zhou Shixiong’s butler, he has been aware of and involved in Zhou Shixiong’s illegal activities over the years. If Zhou Shixiong is prosecuted, he too will not escape culpability.

Even if he wants to leave Hong Kong now, it’s unlikely because all members of the Zhou family are under police surveillance. The chances of escape are minimal, and there are those watching every move of the Zhou family, eager to strike.

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