This was a trick played by Jiang Ye.
First, he set up four options to divert the attention of the representatives, confining their thinking within these four paths and preventing any other branches from emerging.
At the same time, each option was designed individually. While it seemed like there were many choices, in reality, only the fourth option could ultimately pass.
First, the entire planet would be sold to a single representative.
Only those representatives who felt their own strength was sufficient to swallow it whole would vote for this option. However, too many representatives had been invited this time, and too many giants were present. They were mutually wary and unclear of each other's true capabilities. The vast majority of representatives would not choose this item, as they might not gain any benefits at all.
Second, Quartz Star would not be sold, and Jiang Ye would supply the planet's resources to each representative.
This option was also something all parties strongly avoided. Jiang Ye's monopoly would mean that everyone's supply of goods would be controlled, requiring them to curry favor with Jiang Ye. Secondly, it would also mean that the game surrounding Quartz Star would restart, as the current game was precisely about taking Quartz Star from Jiang Ye. Almost no representative would choose this option.
Third, a rotating ownership system, meaning Quartz Star would belong to a different representative every two years, with the current summit auctioning the rotation list for the next two hundred years.
This option would give the representatives extreme insecurity, as there were too many variables in the future. It would also lead to a situation where one person plants the trees and another enjoys the shade. Neither giants nor small companies were willing to be drawn into such a predicament of doing work for others.
Fourth, a segmented sale system, dividing Quartz Star into one hundred different plots of land, with each plot sold individually and representatives bidding for them. Each representative could acquire as many plots as their ability allowed.
Among all the options, this was the only one that was barely acceptable.
It ensured that everyone could gain and profit, easing the pressure from other competitors. The distribution of benefits was largely based on the strength of each faction. Large factions could acquire multiple plots, and small factions could secure a small piece with some effort.
Moreover, this method of public auction and land division would ensure that the major powers occupying Quartz Star would jointly maintain the auction results. Because if one party's land was seized by another, it would pose a threat to everyone.
Jiang Ye estimated that there would be various undercurrents at first, but in the end, the outcome would inevitably slide towards the fourth result through compromise and struggle. Of course, Jiang Ye's think tank had also prepared contingency plans for the first three outcomes.
The first round of meetings lasted for a full week.
On the weekend, Su Yueming, wearing high heels and staggering, entered Jiang Ye's office out of breath, carrying an oversized metal briefcase.
"What is it? Using a top-secret case?" Jiang Ye, who was working at his desk, looked up in surprise.
"The intelligence you requested to be gathered has been compiled," Su Yueming said with a complex expression. "Some of the content is too frightening."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ye immediately clicked on the screen, switching the office to a shielded state, locking the doors and windows, and activating the soundproofing equipment within the walls.
Jiang Ye stood up and, along with Su Yueming, squatted on the office floor and opened the metal case.
With a bang, a large pile of documents, file folders, and photographs spilled out, all bound with paperclips.
"I've organized it a bit," Su Yueming said. "I'll read you the summaries, and if you're interested, you can take a look at the intelligence sources and related evidence."
Jiang Ye waved to the sweeping robot in the corner. The robot immediately came over. Jiang Ye pushed it under Su Yueming's backside. Su Yueming lifted her buttocks and sat on the robot, saying thank you. The robot, inexplicably serving as a stool, showed a bewildered expression on its display screen before obediently stopping.
Jiang Ye sat cross-legged on the floor and listened attentively.
"The first item: Hudson Curtis's parents died in a fall while vacationing on Langrun Star. This happened five days ago, and local police have not yet reached a conclusion, not ruling out suicide or homicide," Su Yueming said, taking out a folder.
Jiang Ye shivered and took the folder to look.
Upon opening it, he saw photos of the crime scene, splattered with blood.
"The second item: The chairman of Kangjie Planetary Development and Management Company, Gexi Kangjie's six-year-old son, died on his second day of elementary school after being stabbed in the artery by a classmate with a pencil knife. The classmate claimed it was an accidental slip while sharpening a pencil, but the police's wound analysis indicated that the pencil knife was forcefully inserted and twisted several times," Su Yueming said, taking out another folder.
"Damn it," Jiang Ye's expression turned grim.
"The third item: One of the controlling shareholders of Claude Capital, Motley Cornell, was stabbed four times by an escaped mental patient while walking on the street the night before yesterday. Fortunately, he had escorts who immediately provided treatment, saving his life. He has since recovered and is in good health," Su Yueming said. "Claude Capital submitted an application yesterday morning, stating that due to adjustments in their investment strategy, they wished to withdraw from the Quartz Star summit. You signed the approval."
Jiang Ye nodded. He had felt something was amiss when he signed it, but now he understood.
An escaped mental patient... how could such a coincidence occur?
Anyone looking at a random passerby on the street would understand that the so-called mental patient was merely a legitimate identity arranged for a professional killer.
He didn't know who was responsible, but it was likely a major faction participating in the summit.
"The fourth item: Linde Dorin suffered a heart attack and drowned in her home swimming pool. She was one of the representatives originally scheduled for this summit. She died two days before the summit began. She was affiliated with..."
"The Madeline Animal Protection Association. I have an impression of this person," Jiang Ye interjected.
Jiang Ye had an impression because the name Madeline Animal Protection Association was too peculiar. Why would an animal protection association want to buy Quartz Star? Where did they get so much money to buy a planet?
Jiang Ye had specifically investigated this organization a few days ago. Nominally an animal protection association, it was actually a commercial entity that profited from land investment, and its scale was not very large.
It was overestimating its capabilities to attend this summit. Now, the original representative had been eliminated. It was likely that the representatives attending now were trembling, perhaps clutching their pistols and sitting on their beds at night, afraid to sleep.
Su Yueming continued to read item after item.
All the intelligence pertained to the various factions participating in the summit.
Over the past week, the major factions had experienced many incidents.
Murders, accidental deaths, broken marriages, old cases being reopened, power being usurped, equity being diluted...
Jiang Ye was well aware that this was the struggle of various factions using invisible means, a secret bloody war in high society.
This was only the information collected by his intelligence network. The uncollected information was likely several times, or even more than ten times, greater. Many secret transactions and perilous situations had erupted intensely during this week, and all factions were caught in a torrential downpour.
As he read those documents, sweat slowly beaded on Jiang Ye's scalp. If this summit had not been held, diverting the conflict to the various factions, would there have been a portion of these documents pertaining to himself and those around him?