Alistair Cullen
Age: 68
Stain: Third generation of the Cullen family
Current whereabouts: Established Pink Vine Beauty Group in Jiang Yexing's coastal city, with 8 subsidiaries. The group currently has 13,800 employees and its business includes 12 online beauty apps, interstellar beauty product delivery, offline beauty and wellness centers, cosmetic raw material production, cosmetic OEM, plastic surgery hospital evaluation, beauty industry investment, clothing OEM, and clothing interstellar mail order sales.
Related interest chains: Approximately 72 companies cooperate with Pink Vine Beauty Group, involving 6 planets. Pink Vine Beauty Group provides Jiang Yexing with a monthly commission tax of approximately 2 billion, creates tens of thousands of jobs, and provides OEM factories for Tian Rao Clothing Design Company, a monopolistic company in Jiang Yexing's clothing market.
Recommended action: Sanction Cullen and his industries, reducing his assets to below ten million.
Jiang Ye finished reading the document and frowned.
He was truly a rich man.
And he had an interest in Tian Rao.
Jiang Ye decided to ask her first.
He took out his phone and sent Tian Rao a message.
"How much of the clothing production for your company is provided by Alistair Cullen's enterprise?"
Tian Rao: "40%. What's wrong? Is his company in trouble?"
Jiang Ye: "If his company goes bankrupt, will it affect you significantly?"
Tian Rao: "There will be some impact, but it's controllable. What did he do? Are you going to kill him?"
Jiang Ye: "The matter is very complicated, don't inquire further. If there are any implications for you, you can tell me. This matter is confidential."
Tian Rao: "No, if he falls, he falls. I can conveniently merge his clothing factories. It won't affect me much. I understand confidentiality, I won't tell anyone. I don't know him well, but I feel he is very cunning. He smiles like a weasel, not like a good person."
Jiang Ye turned off his phone and placed it face down on the table.
Pu Yijiang's eyes were full of smiles, "That's the situation. Have you made a decision, Your Excellency?"
"It's difficult," Jiang Ye rubbed his nose with his hand. "I can let the police conduct a comprehensive investigation into Cullen's group. If they have any illegal or irregular dealings, they can be dealt with according to regulations. But if their group operates normally, what basis do I have to fine him? If he asks me, Commander, which law have I violated? How should I explain?"
"He is the third generation of the Cullen family, that's enough to fine him," Pu Yijiang tilted her head, her eyes rolling. "I've seen the data from Jiang Yexing. You appear to be the king here. You can do whatever you want. King, does a king need to explain?"
"The reason the second generation of the Cullens escaped was because the Galactic Empire did not want to overstep the rules. I also do not want to overstep the rules. Once the rules are broken, they are as useless as a torn plastic bag." Jiang Ye frowned deeply.
"Surely the Commander Your Excellency isn't unwilling to act against him because of the 2 billion monthly commission? The Commander Your Excellency doesn't seem like someone who forgets righteousness for profit. The Commander Your Excellency is rich in all directions, so a mere 2 billion should not be a concern, right?"
"Even two hundred billion is fine, the key is the subsequent far-reaching impact," Jiang Ye said sternly. "He hasn't broken any laws, and if I deal with him, how will other interstellar companies wanting to set up on Jiang Yexing think? Everyone will say this planet is capricious, whoever shows wealth will die, and opening a business here is simply suicidal. If no interstellar enterprises come, how will the people of Jiang Yexing work? How will they earn money to support their families?"
"So, are the ugly histories and a century of sins of the Cullen family to be let go just like that?" Pu Yijiang still smiled. "A century ago, during the Jiaxing incident, how many people bled in the streets, dying fiercely and lying cold. How many villages had entire populations forced to sign agreements, selling their parts and loved ones piece by piece. How many concealed dealings and wiped-away blood were never discovered. Now the descendants of the criminals are in your fief, swaggering about, holding banquets, and you are to turn a blind eye?"
"Your moral accusations are powerful, and I also hate their family's actions. But I have to consider reality," Jiang Ye remained unmoved. "Punishing the Cullen family for the wrongdoings they committed tens of light-years away and making the people of Jiang Yexing bear the consequences, what kind of reason is that?"
"Actually, there is a compromise."
"What?"
"Create an exact replica of Cullen, replace him, and eliminate the original. Like in the Yuan Dynasty play 'Chen Lin Embraces the Jewelry Box at Jinshui Bridge,' a狸猫换太子 (li mao huan tai zi - a cat for a prince, meaning to substitute one thing for another)."
Jiang Ye looked at her in shock, as if facing some kind of monster, "Does the Interstellar Stain Organization allow you to say such things?"
Pu Yijiang's smile deepened, "Justice for the good, cruelty for the bad."
"There are always times when good people are slandered as bad people, and this precedent cannot be set. Replacing people is a bottom line for me," Jiang Ye's expression was more serious than ever. "Ms. Pu, I hope you remember, except for just now, you should never promote such terrifying ideas again in your life. If I were to replace you now, how would you feel?"
"Alright! Alright!" Pu Yijiang spread her hands. "Since you are unwilling to do anything, I will have to make a note in our organization's internal archives."
"I didn't say I would do nothing."
"Then what do you plan to do? Verbally condemn him?"
"I will send dedicated personnel to his company, and I will also place people around him, both overt and covert, to ensure his business is clean and that he himself is clean," Jiang Ye said. "Children should pay for their parents' debts. I will require him to establish a charitable foundation and contribute a portion of his wealth. Before doing all this, I need to talk to him face-to-face. I trust you very much, but I cannot believe your one-sided account."
The phone on the table suddenly rang.
Jiang Ye picked it up and looked at it. His eyelids twitched. It was the guard captain from next door.
He glanced at Pu Yijiang and answered the phone.
"Chief, someone broke in and wants to see you in your room. We've stopped him."
"Who? Why does he want to see me?"
"He said his name is Alistair Cullen. He didn't say why he wants to see you. We searched him, and he wasn't carrying any weapons."
Jiang Ye's eyes widened.
"Did you call him here?" Jiang Ye asked Pu Yijiang.
"He's here?!" Pu Yijiang's face was full of shock. "I didn't call him. How did he know we were here talking about him?"
"I hope your organization's actions are open and honest, without any concealment."
"Absolutely no concealment. Our organization's secrecy is extremely strong. Rather, Your Excellency should be concerned about people around you."
Jiang Ye said into the phone, "Let him in."
"Yes, should we handcuff him? This person is very strong," the guard asked.
"Handcuff him," Jiang Ye said after some consideration.
Both of them looked towards the door.
A few seconds later, the door was knocked.