The moment Luke Shaw walked into the company, he sensed the unusual tension in the air.
"Boss, you're finally back! Something huge has happened."
"I heard."
Luke loosened his tie and instructed, "Get the department heads in here. I need to hold an emergency meeting."
"Got it."
Charlie nodded and quickly made the arrangements.
Luke was the stabilizing force for ShowMe. The moment he appeared, the nervous atmosphere instantly vanished.
Soon, Cindy, Rowan, Zachs, Phillip Arthur, and several other key staff members appeared in the office.
Luke didn't stop for a drink and immediately asked,
"What's the situation?"
"Everyone is crazy—America is crazy, Gotham is crazy, and ShowMe is crazy," Zachs said dramatically. "Since the video was uploaded to the site, traffic has increased ten-fold. Everyone is talking about it. I still can't believe Gotham is that dark. The Mayor, the City Council President, the Police Commissioner, the Prosecutor..."
"Alright!"
Luke waved his hand. "Now is not the time to discuss corruption. What's the standing of the 'Black Men Carrying a Coffin' trending topic?"
"It's completely overshadowed. The whole network's attention is focused on Gotham."
Cindy stepped forward. "The company's server capacity has reached its limit and could crash at any moment. We need to replace it as fast as possible."
Luke nodded. "The first investment installment from Central Bank, a total of $8 million, has been transferred. I will wire it to the company account momentarily. Cindy, take this money and lease the best possible servers, the faster the better. We can't afford to wait."
"I will have it done before noon."
After making her pledge, Cindy left the office and immediately got to work.
Luke opened his bank page and, while transferring the money, asked,
"Are there any other problems?"
At his question, everyone in the office looked at Robert Downs. Arthur was indifferent, Zachs was mocking, Rowan was openly contemptuous, and the staff from the tech department let out cold snickers.
It was clear Robert had done something to earn everyone's displeasure.
Luke pretended not to notice, and said half-jokingly,
"Robert, it seems you're the only one with a problem. Tell us, what is it?"
Robert twitched his mouth, forcing a smile.
"A Mr. Ford called, telling us not to report the news coming out of Gotham City."
"Ford?"
Luke raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Which Ford? Do I know him?"
"It's Leybert Ford, the butler for the Falcone family!"
Luke was thoroughly amused. He wore a strange expression as he said, "A butler called you, telling me to listen to him? Don't you think there's something wrong with that? Should I listen to you? Or to him? Or maybe you are the butler... sigh... It's too complicated. Tell me straight: why should I listen to a butler? I'm not some maid warming a grandfather's bed."
Everyone laughed. They looked at Robert with strange expressions. Robert's face turned beet red. Driven by humiliation, he cast aside all pretense and said fiercely,
"This is the demand of Mister Falcone. Luke, you'd better think carefully before making a decision, for the company's sake."
Luke shook his head, looking exasperated. "I have no idea what you're talking about. What does Falcone have to do with ShowMe? You expect me to obey him just based on a servant's phone call? That's ridiculous!"
Robert said coldly, "Falcone is the major owner of Central Bank, which makes him the majority shareholder of ShowMe. For the future of the company, you must consider his demand."
At his words, the air instantly froze.
Zachs, Rowan, and the others exchanged glances, barely concealing their shock.
Falcone is the owner of Central Bank? How is that possible?
If it was true, wouldn't ShowMe become a tool of the mafia?
Luke let out a low chuckle, shaking his head, as if something utterly preposterous had been said.
"I am familiar with Carmine Falcone. He's a notorious crime boss in Gotham City. However, I'm curious how you know Falcone, and what your relationship is with him."
"I have no relationship with him."
"If you have no relationship, how do you know the major owner of Central Bank is Falcone, and not Sidney?"
Robert paused, his face darkening. "Mr. Sidney told me himself."
"Fine!"
Luke took out his phone and tossed it to him. "You have Sidney's number. Call him now. If he tells me that Falcone is the major owner of Central Bank, I will comply with his demand and ban ShowMe from reporting any Gotham-related news."
"Boss!"
The others cried out in alarm.
Luke raised his hand and said coldly, "Let him make the call!"
"You will regret this," Robert sneered, picking up the phone and dialing. He was already imagining Luke begging for mercy. However, the call went through, but no one answered.
After half a minute, he tried again. Still no answer.
After five continuous calls went unanswered, sweat began to bead on Robert's forehead, and his hands started to tremble.
Why?
Why won't Mr. Sidney answer the phone?
Luke ignored him and looked at Phillip, the oldest person present.
"Mr. Arthur, thank you for your trouble. You're stuck with us working overtime again."
Phillip waved dismissively. "Luke, what are you planning to do?"
"Naturally, we'll go all-in on reporting the latest news from Gotham. Not just reporting, but we're launching a special column to expose the terrible effects corruption has on a city."
"This time, ShowMe will stand with the people and provide them with a platform."
At his words, Robert's face turned ghastly pale. He couldn't begin to imagine what his fate would be once Falcone got this news.
After assigning tasks, everyone left.
As for Robert, no one paid him any mind.
No one was an idiot; they all saw clearly the role Robert was playing.
The Organized Uprising
With ShowMe entering the fray, the chaotic situation in Gotham became even more disorganized.
Initially, citizens were merely holding flyers, running around like headless chickens looking for the bribed officials. Some stormed the courthouse, others the police station. All they achieved was some smashing, looting, and burning before they had to leave empty-handed.
The upper-class figures had received the news much faster than the working class. Sensing the precarious situation, they had already fled. They certainly weren't going to wait at their offices to be arrested.
The launch of the special column changed this dynamic. Users with inside knowledge uploaded the private phone numbers, home addresses, and other sensitive information of several bribed officials into the column.
As a result, those few officials were besieged by the citizens who got the information, nearly being burned alive.
The photos posted online had an immediate, profound effect.
As more users flocked to the column to check the situation, it gradually became the weathervane for the riot. Insiders posted detailed information on the bribed officials' home addresses and potential hiding spots. Others organized groups of people, categorized the corrupt figures by rank, and began an organized, systematic plan of capture, working their way down from the top.
The previously chaotic riot had become organized. Far from reducing its destructive power, this new structure multiplied it.
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