Building a Conglomerate in Another World

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?"

Charles lowered himself into the chair across from Matthew's desk, his gaze steady. "I've heard from my contacts in Washington, as well as whispers from abroad, that you've turned down not one, but three nations who were ready to pay top dollar for your weapons and vehicles."

Matthew's expression remained neutral. "That's true. Japan, China, and Korea have all approached us, but I've been cautious about committing."

Charles leaned forward, his tone sharp. "Cautious? Matthew, these are some of the largest buyers we could ever hope to have! Do you realize how much profit you've left on the table by not sealing those deals?"

Matthew sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I do, Charles. Believe me, I've considered the numbers. But this isn't just about profit—it's about the implications of selling advanced technology to nations that could use it against each other, or worse, reverse-engineer it to create their own versions."

Charles raised an eyebrow. "And that's your concern? Reverse-engineering? Let me tell you something, Matthew. Every piece of technology ever created has been reverse-engineered. That's just the nature of innovation. You can't stop progress by withholding your designs."

"It's not just the reverse-engineering," Matthew replied, his tone firm. "It's about maintaining the Republic's edge. If we sell these technologies abroad, we risk losing our dominance in innovation. Those nations will become competitors, and our advantage will erode."

Charles smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Matthew, you're thinking too small. Selling weapons to all three sides means more orders. Let them fight their wars while we rake in the money. That's how business is done in times like these."

Matthew shook his head, his expression unwavering. "I understand the business side of it, Charles. I do. But the first rule for any technologically advanced nation is simple: you don't share the edge that gives you power. You don't give it away, even for profit, because once it's out there, it's no longer yours alone." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

"That might be true in theory, Matthew, but in practice, holding onto that edge doesn't stop others from trying to catch up. Technology evolves, and if we're not the ones selling it, someone else will be."

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.