Strongest Superhuman System - Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Is This What My Father Built?
Mark threw the second paper on the table, and they all saw that it was another graph showing the performance of their stocks. This time, the stocks did not have much of a divergence from the previous graph. In fact, if you ignored some of the excesses, the stocks had an almost exact graph of performance compared to the previous year.

Some of the people at the table began to shift uncomfortably, and Mark waved his hand in the air dismissively while nodding.

“But I’m sure that this is just a coincidence. I was in the middle of the situation two years ago, and I know that many things became much more expensive due to how dangerous it was for trading companies and salesmen to carry out their business. Our transportation of cars overseas was especially affected since it was common for ships to be attacked by sea-based anima. It’s fine~”

But although Mark was sounding calm and collected, everyone in the room could feel that Mark had still not reduced his aura and the tension in the room was just as thick as ever. Mark brought out a third paper.

“So then, can anyone tell me the NPLA for last year?”

Kate covered her face with her hand and spoke up.

“Mark, I understand your frustration, but you cannot come here and begin to berate the members of this board without knowing how difficult things have been recently. The unsure nature of our business is not something that can be quantified by using just the NPLA.”

“That is not the answer I was looking for, Kate. But if no one wishes to answer, I’ll give it to you myself. It was fifty-seven percent, and after accounting for the inflation, the average NLA across all four quarters came down to a measly twenty-six percent.”

Mark threw the third paper on the table. This one showed the graph of the previous year, and everyone could see that it was an identical graph to the previous two that they had just seen.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? I know I said that I was surprised that there haven’t been many changes in my absence, but do not for a moment believe that I see that as a good thing. It pisses me off. Every single thing that remained stagnant in this company pisses me off something fierce.”

Mark grabbed the last paper in the file and threw it on the table. The paper showed a graph of the stock’s performance since the current year started, and with how it was going, everyone knew that it was only going to end up like the previous three.

“So, then, is someone going to explain to me what is the meaning of this? I don’t really care for your excuses. I want to know why the company that my father has grown for the last forty-five years is suddenly experiencing the most stagnant four years of its history. We sell cars, and I know how many cars get destroyed in Anima fights every single day. Our business should be flourishing. There should be an immense demand for cars and car parts by every single insurance company out there. And yet, we are stagnant. Please, I would like to hear your reasoning.”

The room was as silent as a graveyard. There wasn’t a single person in that room who could explain what went wrong or where it had gone wrong. They all knew that Mark had found the worst topic to bring up at this moment. Everyone noticed the stagnation of the company. Everyone in this room was a capable mathematician because of how deeply rooted they were in business. They knew that Mark was right, and there was nothing they could say that would counter his argument. The business had been performing terribly recently. Not only have they been in the same place for the past four years, but they have not been able to come up with a good reason why it was happening at all.

Mark eyed the people at the table closely, and he realized that none of them could meet his eyes. Is this really the same board of directors that his father had been so proud of once upon a time? Mark couldn’t help but be even more disappointed.

“So, in my father’s absence, not only did you allow his company to fall into such a state, but you also started to plot a hostile takeover with the Dante family. Did you think that it would be better to give the company over to the Dantes because of how it has been performing recently? You all got desperate and decided to just jump ship?”

No one spoke up for a while, but after some time, Mark noticed that Kate was about to say something. He turned to her as she started talking.

“This and that have nothing to do with each other, Mark. I am not going to give excuses for the company’s recent slump. There has been no progress, and that is all as a result of our inability. But that is also why we need a capable CEO who can take the mantle. The lack of a definite leader will leave any business in disarray. Of course, I am not trying to undermine Hugo’s contribution to the company. He has given his best as the acting CEO, and we appreciate him for that, but that is all that he is, an acting CEO. Competitors do not see that position as something to respect, and the company cannot be run properly since Hugo does not possess the full range of abilities required for the position of the leader.”

Mark turned his attention to Hugo, and he saw Hugo closing his eyes tightly and biting his bottom lip in silent anger. Hugo knew that Kate was right, so there was nothing that he could say to counter her argument, but the mere fact that Kate was saying all these things in front of Mark was making his heart harden in anger. Mark leaned back in his seat.

“Hugo, what is the average salary increase for members of this company?”

Hugo looked up at Mark, surprised, and he quickly answered that the staff were given a ten to thirty percent annual raise based on their level of contribution and the executives were given bonuses based on how well the company did in the previous years. That was common for large companies. Mark nodded, and he put his hand to the side to collect another folder from Ryan.

Mark threw the folder on the table, and the contents of the folder spilled on the table. The papers showed a large database of numbers dating all the way back to the last four years. These were the average salaries as well as the increase in salaries for every single member of the company. Mark had looked through everything that Pat sent to him earlier, and he was able to figure out something interesting about it.

“There hasn’t been much of an increase in the salary of our staff even though the rate of inflation has made the cost of living skyrocket. But even though this is abnormal, it is something that can be overlooked as simple mismanagement due to the underperformance of our stocks. But what cannot be overlooked is the vortex that exists right in the middle of the company’s finances.”

The tension in the room increased so much that it could be cut by a knife! Mark leaned forward and brought out a single paper as he looked towards his left side and the man who was currently sweating bullets in his seat.

“So, why don’t you look me in the eyes and tell me yourself. Why have you been stealing from my company, Vincent?”

Everyone in the room immediately looked towards Vincent, and Vincent tightened his hand into fists and slammed it on the table as he stood up!

Slam!

“What sort of slander is this!?”