Chapter Forty-Six: The Fatal Blow

Inside her bedroom, Yu Ling was frantically searching the internet for keywords! Following Zhao Chen's "hint," she bypassed regular search engines by circumventing the firewall, plunging straight into the deep web of local Southeast Asian environmental forums, human rights organization websites, and independent journalists' blogs.

At first, the information was fragmented and vague. However, as her search skills improved and she continuously adjusted her keywords, shocking pieces of information began to surface like turbulent undercurrents from the deep sea.

On the homepage of an independent environmental organization named "Guardians of the Mekong," a pinned, blood-red title hung prominently:

"Silent Plunder: The Sins of Taifeng Resources in K-State!"

Clicking the link revealed a dozen-page investigation report complete with both text and images! A large number of high-definition photos and drone aerial footage showed that Taifeng Resources, a subsidiary of the Hongyuan Group, was engaged in large-scale, systematic environmental destruction in its rare metal mining area in K-State, Southeast Asia!

Virgin forests had been savagely logged, mountains blasted into a pockmarked ruin, and heavy-metal-laden wastewater discharged directly into a local tributary of the Mekong River—upon which the locals depended for survival—without any prior treatment! The river water had turned an eerie reddish-brown, emitting a pungent odor. Along both banks, not a blade of grass grew!

The report also exposed in detail how Taifeng Resources colluded with corrupt local officials to forcefully requisition land that indigenous generations had lived on for centuries at extremely low prices! They used violent intimidation tactics to drive away villagers who were unwilling to relocate! They even hired local mafia thugs to beat and maim protesting village leaders! Countless villagers were displaced, and their lives plunged into utter despair.

What made Yu Ling's scalp tingle even more was that the report concluded with several extremely precious scanned copies of internal documents! One was an internal meeting minute of Taifeng Resources regarding the "optimization of environmental treatment costs," which clearly stated the instruction to "use the lowest cost landfill, no need for professional treatment equipment," complete with Wang Jun's signature! Another was a transfer record of a "coordination fee" paid to a local official. Yet another was a copy of a "security service" contract for hiring local thugs. The irrefutable evidence was as solid as a mountain!

This data was detailed, logically rigorous, and possessed a complete chain of evidence! Like heavy-duty time bombs primed and ready to detonate!

Yu Ling's heart hammered frantically in her chest! Her fingers trembled with excitement! Wang Dehai! This was your fatal vulnerability! The time bomb personally planted by your nephew Wang Jun!

Suppressing her excitement, she immediately downloaded, categorized, and packaged all these crucial web pages, images, and especially the scanned copies of those fatal internal documents! Her brain operated at an unprecedented speed, and a clear, powerful counterattack plan rapidly took shape in her mind.

Over the next two days, Yu Ling acted as if she had been injected with adrenaline, forgetting to sleep or eat. She no longer obsessed over how to satisfy Wang Dehai's fastidious demands; instead, she poured all her energy into deeply integrating and packaging this "unexpected harvest."

Using her exceptional copywriting skills, she transformed those cold pieces of evidence into a logically clear, vividly illustrated, and highly impactful "Independent Investigation Report on the Serious Violations and Potential Risks of Taifeng Resources, Southeast Asian Subsidiary of Hongyuan Group."

The report not only detailed environmental and labor issues, but also heavily analyzed the devastating blow that the exposure of these scandals would deal to the Hongyuan Group's global brand reputation, stock price, financing capabilities, and the severe regulatory penalties it would face domestically.

Three days later, on the top floor of Genesis Building, in the final reporting conference room for the Hongyuan Group and Genesis project.

The atmosphere was even heavier than last time. Wang Dehai sat in the primary seat, bearing an arrogance and a hint of impatience of someone who had victory in his grasp. Standing behind him were several stern-looking assistants, striking the posture of coming to interrogate a criminal. Lin Wei and the senior executives of Genesis did not look well, their gazes occasionally glancing with worry at Yu Ling sitting at the reporting table.

"Time's up, Director Lin." Wang Dehai tapped the table, his voice carrying an unquestionable, command-like tone. "Where is the proposal? And," his sharp gaze darted toward Yu Ling with undisguised contempt, "has the person in charge been changed?"

Lin Wei took a deep breath, just about to speak.

"The proposal is right here, President Wang." Yu Ling stood up instead, her voice clear and calm, without the slightest trace of stage fright. A composed smile even lingered on her face, a far cry from the despair of a few days ago. Instead of taking out a thick stack of proposal documents, she placed a slender USB drive next to the wireless screen projector on the table.

"However, before you review the new proposal," Yu Ling met Wang Dehai's inspecting gaze frankly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, carrying even a trace of an imperceptible edge, "I would like to ask you and the senior leaders of Hongyuan to spend a few minutes reviewing a report... which is perhaps even more important than the proposal itself. This report concerns the core interests and long-term development of the Hongyuan Group."

Her words caught everyone's attention. Wang Dehai frowned deeply, his eyes filled with doubt and displeasure: "What report? Manager Yu, don't be mysterious! Our time is very precious!"

"It won't take up too much of your time, President Wang." Yu Ling smiled slightly, her fingertips gently pressing the button of the screen projector. "The title of this report is—*Independent Investigation Report on the Serious Violations and Potential Risks of Taifeng Resources, Southeast Asian Subsidiary of Hongyuan Group*."

Hum—

The lights in the conference room dimmed. The huge projection screen lit up. First to appear was the cover of the report, the title striking and glaring!

Immediately following, shocking photos began to scroll on the screen: virgin forests completely logged, mountains battered beyond recognition, rivers flowing with reddish-brown sewage, villagers protesting angrily only to be violently driven away, and a village leader covered in injuries lying on a makeshift hospital bed... Every single photo was like a heavy hammer, fiercely striking the hearts of all the Hongyuan Group representatives present!

The arrogance and sarcasm on Wang Dehai's face vanished instantly without a trace! He abruptly sat up straight, his eyes locked onto the screen, his pupils contracting sharply due to extreme shock and fear! His complexion turned pale at a speed visible to the naked eye! The assistants behind him gasped in unison, looking at each other in blank dismay, their faces written with disbelief and panic.

"...This is slander! Forgery!" Wang Dehai suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his voice warped by shock and anger, his trembling finger pointing at the screen. "Yu Ling! Where did you get these fake things! This is libel! I'm going to sue you!"

"Slander?" Yu Ling's voice remained calm, yet carried a chilling penetrating power. Operating the computer, those fatal scanned internal documents immediately appeared on the screen! The meeting minutes signed by Wang Jun! The bribery transfer records! The contracts for hiring thugs! It was as clear as delivering a loud, resounding slap right before everyone's eyes!

"President Wang, these 'fake things' bearing your nephew Mr. Wang Jun's personal signature and the official seal of Hongyuan Taifeng Resources—aren't they forged quite convincingly?" Yu Ling's tone carried a well-measured sarcasm. "Or perhaps, you need me to contact the head of the 'Guardians of the Mekong,' or that independent journalist who went undercover for half a year, and let them come and explain to you in person how these 'fake things' came to be?"

Dead silence filled the conference room! You could hear a pin drop.

Wang Dehai looked as if all his strength had been instantly drained; he slumped back into his chair in defeat, his face ashen, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. The look he gave Yu Ling was filled with extreme fear and disbelief! It was as if he were looking at a demon that had suddenly bared its fangs.

Lin Wei and the Genesis executives were also stunned! Looking at the irrefutable documents on the screen, and then looking at Wang Dehai—who had just been high and mighty, now reduced to the pathetic state of a defeated rooster—the impact of the huge reversal left them unable to recover their senses for a moment.

Yu Ling stood in front of the projection screen, bathed in the astonished, reverent, and even fearful gazes of everyone present. She clearly felt a powerful force surging within her body—that was the thrill of a desperate counterattack, the confidence of taking control of the situation, and the sheer exhilaration of tearing off the enemy's disguise! This strength stemmed from her own wisdom and courage, and even more so from... that man's seemingly "casual," yet precisely fatal "hint."

She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping past the bloodless face of Wang Dehai, her voice ringing out clearly and powerfully across the entire conference room:

"President Wang, now, can we calmly... talk about the proposal?"