Chapter 625 - Choosing Sides for a Successor
Old Guan's sudden announcement made everyone silent. They looked at each other in surprise.
Matters of succession?!
Were they finally going to officially start choosing the heir?!
All eyes subtly glanced at the two contenders present.
Guan Gu Ri and Guan Gao Huan.
Why so suddenly....
The shareholders and the board of directors present had mixed feelings.
They were happy that the start of the succession was finally going to start after a long standstill, but Guan Gao Huan's appearance made them waver from their initial choice of whom to support.
If Guan Gao Huan was truly proven talented, with Old Guan's recent show of good favor on Guan Gao Huan, there was a big possibility that Guan Gao Huan could become the heir!
Should they abandon their current faction and join Guan Gao Huan's side?
However, they were all cautious and experienced people. They wanted to test the waters first before choosing sides.
The old man looked at everyone's faces.
"I know you are all surprised by this sudden news. However, it is time to choose an heir. I am not getting any younger and my three grandsons have all grown up. They are starting to show a lot of potential to become the future leader. I hope that everyone here will be wise on who among my grandsons you plan to support."
The people inside the conference room looked at each other.
Guan Gu Ri subtly glanced at his grandfather. He expected that the old man would announce the matter of the heir succession after Guan Gao Huan showed his potential.
But this was so soon...
They have just recently taken over Univ One. Even if it was proven to be helpful to the Guan Empire, based on his understanding of their cold grandfather, it was not enough to move the old man's heart.
It was as if the old man was rushing into things.
Something... was off.
Guan Gu Ri stared at his grandfather.
His grandfather was surely hiding something.
"I am not telling you to decide for yourself now on which candidate to choose, but keep in mind that when you interact with my grandsons, look at them as the potential heir, as the future helm of the Guan Empire. You may discuss it among yourselves. My grandsons may also approach you and propose to you of any deals to rope you in to their sides. You can also withdraw from your previous choice of candidate, I will not condemn you for changing sides. I will not be a hindrance to this competition, nor I will show any favor to any of them."
Everyone murmured amongst themselves.
Usually, the old man would cause trouble to test his grandsons. He would be merciless to the person whom he thought was not suitable for the position or made a mistake, and would help the person he favored.
This was why Old Guan's sudden statement of withdrawing from the succession trial shocked them a bit.
Guan Gu Ri's gaze on his grandfather deepened.
For the cold and ruthless elder to change the rules... It made his suspicions rise more.
"Headmaster, since we are on the topic of choosing the heir, are we only going to choose sides between First Young Master and Third Young Master?"
The person who asked was one of Guan Xixin's former supporters.
This question was also in everyone's minds as only the first and the third young masters were present here. They thought that the second young master who had previously declared his withdrawal from the succession trial years ago would also ignore this fight.
If that was the case, then they only needed to choose sides between the first young master and the third young master.
All eyes suddenly turned to the empty seat across Guan Gu Ri.
Old Guan sighed helplessly. "I told him to come here if he is interested. However... I haven't heard of his reply yet."
Guan Gu Ri frowned and also looked at the empty seat.
'Second brother...'
His brother might have withdrawn years ago, however, ever since Guan Gao Huan's appearance from five years ago, his second brother's stance started to change.
His second brother.... seemed to hate their third brother and made things hard for him for some reasons.
Based on his second brother's current behavior, he would definitely not let this pass.
So how come he did not come here?
Did he really withdraw?
Even though Guan Gu Ri supported Guan Gao Huan's ambition to fight for the heir position, he also wanted to support his second brother. He thought that this could make the two vent their hearts out in a proper way and would soon resolve their previous misunderstanding smoothly.
Guan Gu Ri wanted his two brothers to have a fair chance in this important event and also use this chance to have them solve their problems.
"Does that mean that Second Young Master Guan is not participating as the heir candidate?"
"Are we only going to divide into two factions then?"
The shareholders and the board of directors talked among themselves.
Guan Gao Huan's brown pupils scanned the faces of the people who stood to support Guan Xixin before. Without Guan Xixin, these people would choose him for sure, considering that they did not like the elders' faction. If that happened, then the people on his side would grow.
That was right.
He 'took care' of Guan Xixin.
Probably at this moment now, that man's car was wrecked heavily, or he was already in the hospital if ever he managed to survive the 'accident'.
Imagining Guan Xixin covered in blood, Guan Gao Huan's lips rose.
An indescribable feeling also surfaced in his heart, but he killed it immediately before identifying what it was. Guan Xixin was already dead in his eyes the moment he first started suspecting him.
It just that... it took him a long time to put his mind into really trying to kill this second brother.
But all hesitations had died now.
Guan Gao Huan had Univ One, a creation he could call as truly his own, and his path in becoming the heir was more vivid than before. It was a step that was necessary in his plan.
"Gao Huan." Guan Gu Ri's call made Guan Gao Huan erase the faint little smirk on his face.
"Yes, eldest brother?" He looked at the man beside him.
"If things already came to this point and we became rivals, I want you to know that I am truly sincere in expressing my support for you, and for our second brother."
Guan Gao Huan smiled gratefully. "Thank you, eldest brother. But I think, second brother will not participate. He is not even present. If the succession trial comes down to the two of us, will you still support me?"
Guan Gu Ri smiled gently. "Of course. Even if I win, I will hand the position over to you."
He never wanted it. He was just doing his responsibility as the eldest Guan direct descendant, but if his brothers wanted it, he would not stand in the way.
To him, a harmonious family was the most important treasure.
Guan Gao Huan laughed. "Eldest brother, that won't do. The elders won't agree. I will just do my best to win to have no regrets."
"Alright."
Old Guan loudly stomped his cane onto the floor. The murmurs in the conference room halted.
Guan Gao Huan and Guan Gu Ri who was also exchanging short conversations turned to the old man.
"We haven't heard an answer from my second grandson yet, but we will have soon. If he still does not express clearly his stance for the heir position, it will entirely depend on you if you still want to support my second grandson. I just want all of you to know. I will give you two months to decide which among my grandsons you will choose to support."
Everyone: !!!
"And then two months from now, we will all gather here and will vote according to your shares in the Guan Empire. That day, the Guan Empire's heir will be chosen and announced to the public."
The people in the conference room was stunned.
T-two months from now!
That was too soon and sudden!
Did it not usually take at least a year or even more?
Guan Gu Ri looked at his grandfather, shocked.
Two months was so soon. What was his grandfather thinking?! It was not like he was dying...
Then his eyes turned wide.
His grandfather's gaunt appearance and weak aura...
Guan Gu Ri's heart froze.
His grandfather must be truly sick!
But for him to choose an heir so urgently, was his condition really that bad?
Guan Gu Ri could only care less about the heir matters. He was more worried about his grandfather's true medical condition.
It was not only Guan Gu Ri who thought of this, some quick-witted people doubted the old man's intentions. If Old Guan was hurrying things because he was now in a truly bad condition, then the matters of the heir should be dealt with soon!
The shareholders and directors looked at each other.
They must pick a side today. They could not wait for the second young master's confirmation any longer.
For him to not come here was already a big disadvantage and negligence.
People who supported him strongly before might waver now and also pick another candidate today.
It would be a big loss for Guan Xixin's faction. The second young master's chances would be decreased greatly...
If that was the case, then there was no need to hesitate anymore and choose among the two present candidates...
Bam!
The door suddenly opened, halting everyone from their thoughts.
All heads simultaneously turned to the intruder who appeared in the middle of the important meeting.
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