Building a Conglomerate in Another World

Chapter 114: I am the Only One in the Market

The following evening, Matthew Hesh sat in his office, reviewing production schedules and correspondence from the Department of War. The room was quiet, save for the occasional shuffle of papers and the faint hum of the factory floor below. As he reached for his cup of coffee, Robert Anders entered, a subtle look of hesitation on his face.

"Matthew," Robert began, holding a leather-bound folder, "you’ve got a visitor. Charles Fitzwilliam is here."

Matthew straightened in his chair. "Charles? What brings him all the way out here?"

Robert shrugged slightly. "He didn’t say, but he seemed... concerned."

Matthew sighed, setting the papers aside. "Alright, send him in."

Moments later, Charles Fitzwilliam, one of the wealthiest industrialists in the Republic and a major investor in Hesh Industries, entered the room. His tailored suit and polished demeanor exuded confidence, but his furrowed brow suggested otherwise.

"Charles," Matthew greeted, extending a hand. "To what do I owe this visit?"

Charles shook Matthew’s hand firmly, his expression softening just slightly. "Matthew, it’s good to see you. But let’s not waste time—I’ve been hearing some troubling stories."

Matthew gestured for him to sit, his curiosity piqued. "Troubling? What stories?"

Matthew gestured toward the folder Robert had left earlier, filled with requests and reports from the Department of War. "That’s precisely my point, Charles. The Republic has the edge right now. If I sell to three rival nations and they reverse-engineer what we provide, not only are we creating competition, but we’re also arming potential adversaries. And when the next war comes, they’ll be fighting with technology that originated here, technology we can no longer control."

Charles’s expression softened slightly, though the sharpness in his tone remained. "I understand your caution, Matthew, I do. But let’s not pretend that this isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Selling to all sides would bring in more orders than you could imagine. The profits would be staggering, and the Republic could reinvest those earnings to stay ahead. Let them fight their wars. We’ll keep innovating and reaping the benefits."

"This isn’t just me, Charles. The government has a say in this too," Matthew said firmly, his gaze unwavering. "The technologies we’re discussing—vehicles, weapons, communications systems—these aren’t just commodities. They’re strategic assets. The Republic’s leadership understands the implications of letting them slip beyond our control, and I do too."

Charles leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Strategic assets or not, the government doesn’t seem to be rushing to restrict you from selling, are they? If anything, they’re probably waiting to see how you handle this before stepping in."

Matthew crossed his arms. "That might be true for now, but we both know that won’t last. The Department of War has already flagged the risk of foreign governments reverse-engineering these designs. If we move forward recklessly, we’ll not only face regulatory crackdowns but also lose the trust of the administration."

Charles’s brow furrowed, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "Matthew, I get it—you’re trying to think long-term. But while you’re busy debating ethics and strategy, we’re leaving money on the table. These nations are prepared to pay top dollar now, not years down the line. Do you realize what that could mean for Hesh Industries?"

Matthew sighed, leaning forward. "I’m not blind to the financial opportunity, Charles. But I refuse to sacrifice the integrity of this company—or this nation—for short-term gains. Selling to all three sides doesn’t just mean more orders; it means fueling conflicts that could spiral out of control."

Charles met Matthew’s eyes, his voice lowering. "And you think sitting on the sidelines will stop that? War is inevitable, Matthew. Whether we sell or not, these nations will find ways to arm themselves. They’ll develop their own technologies, strike their own deals. The only question is: do we profit from it, or do we let someone else take that market?"

"Mr. Charles, I don’t have any competition, so you won’t have to worry about someone taking over the market, because I am the only one in the market," Matthew said coolly.