I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property

"After investigation and evidence gathering, Silicon Moonlight is suspected of international monopoly, and the International Antitrust Association will impose a fine of 3 billion US Dollars on Silicon Moonlight. In addition, it has ordered the cessation of its monopolistic practices within six months. This fine is the highest ever for monopoly behavior to date!"

A major news story instantly hit the front page of International Weekly.

Having achieved mass production of the 2nm chip, the name Silicon Moonlight was unparalleled in international prominence, attracting the attention of major media around the world.

But just a few days later, such negative news appeared, and once again the situation became turbulent.

"CNM, what the heck? Just because their own country's R&D level is crap, they come after us for monopoly? It's downright ridiculous!"

"I saw it, it was filed by Qualcomm Electronics, Galaxy Technology, and a few of those former semiconductor companies together."

"Damn, where do they get the confidence? When they were blocking our Huaxia chips before, why didn't I see this antitrust organization fine them?"

"Brother, you're being naive, aren't you? This antitrust organization was founded by their Western countries to begin with. Though the United Nations has recognized their enforcement powers, essentially, it's an organization that protects capitalist interests."

"Seriously, I'm enlightened now, so it's just double standards? Officials are allowed to set fires, but the common people aren't allowed to light lamps, is that it?"

"Isn't it just 3 billion US Dollars? Can't we crowdfund it with a few dollars from each person to raise 3 billion US Dollars? I must support President Zhang in this!"

While Western countries were secretly cheering, there was a chorus of curses from the domestic public.

In this period, Silicon Moonlight had virtually become the pride of national production, acknowledged by both the scientific research community and the industrial sector. And now, to be sanctioned in such a disgraceful manner? That's absolutely intolerable, right?

...

"Menglong, do we need the power of the nation to intervene on this matter?" As soon as he saw the news, Mr. Zhou immediately called Zhang Menglong. "Their penalties are unreasonable and clearly aimed at suppressing Silicon Moonlight. We can protest to the United Nations!"

"No need!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. A fine of 3 billion US Dollars? It was practically making Zhang Menglong's mouth crooked from all the smiling.

Three months, ah! It had been three months since the Cred Points exchange feature was activated. He had to think every day about how to spend money. Do you know how he spent these three months?

Finally, he had the chance to spend some money again. He couldn't thank them enough, even wished they'd add another zero to the fine.

As for letting this damned antitrust agency profiteer from the fine? What a joke. Who is Zhang Menglong? Others might make a small profit, but he would never lose out.

The companies that complained about him to the antitrust organization were all large-scale chip suppliers, with annual chip supplies numbering in the billions. Unless they were really giving up on the industry, they would still have to buy chips from Zhang Menglong.

One chip cost a few hundred US Dollars, and after a severe markup, that's almost ten thousand US Dollars! They would have to pay hundreds of billions of US Dollars for several tens of millions of 2nm chips. Wasn't this measly 3 billion US Dollars just a drop in the bucket?

How could Zhang Menglong let anyone shear his fleece?

"I can handle this matter myself," Zhang Menglong said with a laugh. "They want to see a spectacle, don't they? Well, I'll give them a show!"

"Mr. Zhou, those technologies I handed over to the nation must be costing a pretty penny to realize, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly asked out of the blue.

"Yes," Mr. Zhou sighed. The stuff was good, with ready data and documentation, but to actualize it, that was a sky-high figure. "The country is currently planning to invest 2 trillion Huaxia currency into these projects over the next three years; there's still quite a funding gap!"

"Leave the money to me!" Zhang Menglong said with a laugh.

"What do you mean?" Mr. Zhou quickly objected. "No, the nation has already taken too much from you. We absolutely can't take any more!" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Mr. Zhou believed that for Zhang Menglong's wealth, shelling out 2 trillion Huaxia currency was like playing a game. But he really couldn't bring himself to ask for more.

"No, no, no, it's not me who's paying," Zhang Menglong's tone became increasingly abnormal. "There's always some generous international friends who are willing to donate, right?"

Mr. Zhou: "???"

...

"Xu Huan, how are we supposed to pay this fine?" Zhang Menglong asked.

"The International Antitrust Association has a dedicated account, we just need to transfer the money into it!"

"Alright, go ahead and do it," Zhang Menglong said.

"President Zhang, are we really not going to try to contest this?" Xu Huan knew that Zhang Menglong was not one to lack for money. When it came to the last tax penalty, he voluntarily paid several times the fine, and that was when Xu Huan felt his worldview had already collapsed. Was Zhang Menglong planning some kind of audacious move again this time?

"There's no need," Zhang Menglong said, "we're the only ones capable of producing 2nm chips now. According to the Monopoly Law, a market share over 50% is considered a monopoly."

"We could completely restructure Silicon Moonlight into two or even three separate companies to operate. That way, we could avoid the accusation of monopoly," Xu Huan suggested the best method he could think of to Zhang Menglong.

"Do you think I care about this little fine?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "I want to show them that it doesn't matter if it's some small International Antitrust Organization or even the King of Heaven himself, they can't make me bow down!"

"This..."

"A 30 billion US Dollar fine and they've given us half a year to make rectifications, right?" Zhang Menglong confirmed.

"That's correct! But if we fail to stop the monopolistic practices according to the demands of the International Antitrust Association within the six-month period, there will be further penalties, and the fines are likely to be even higher!"

"Transfer 100 billion US Dollars to that account!" Zhang Menglong instructed.

"You... What did you say? I must have heard wrong..." Xu Huan's mouth formed an O shape in shock.

The organization was only asking for a 30 billion US Dollar fine, and here Zhang Menglong was instructing him to transfer 100 billion US Dollars? What kind of sly move was this? What kind of tactics was he planning to play?

"Think about it, we've just started mass production of 2nm chips, and next there will be 1nm, 0.5nm, and so on. It's not that I look down on them, but they really can't produce these. So won't I still be a monopolist?"

Zhang Menglong expressed his genuine helplessness. It was not that he wanted to monopolize the market, but other companies simply lacked the production capacity. Even if they didn't want to monopolize, they had no choice, right? Who's to blame if the others were too incompetent?

Zhang Menglong went on, "Since we're bound to monopolize sooner or later, and after half a year we will still have to pay fines, just deposit 100 billion US Dollars into their account. They can deduct the money when it's due. It should be enough for 10 years, right? If it runs out, I'll just top it up again!"

"Should I just shut down right here and now?" Xu Huan stood there, stunned, thinking Zhang Menglong's level of operations had evolved from a Rookie to a WarGreymon.

That account is meant for the International Antitrust Organization to collect fines, not some hair salon card that you can top up with value and use bit by bit!

That's an official antitrust organization, not a hair salon. Could you at least show some basic respect?

Even if you were really preparing to pay fines for 10 years, wouldn't it be better to keep those remaining billions in a bank to earn interest, which would be at least a few billion a year? Isn't that money enticing?

"What are you standing there for? Get going; use the same account as last time!"

"Uh..."

"Also, draft a few more contracts," Zhang Menglong said, "cancel the original Ultimate Doubling Contract, and give them the Mother of All Tomb Desecration Doubling, charging other countries 32 times the price, with a minimum order of 10 million chips!"

"Cough cough cough!"

At 32 times the price, a single chip would be at least 25,000 US Dollars, and 10 million chips would be over 200 billion US Dollars. He's not just trying to nick a little extra cash; he's going for the kill!