"But the problem is that the local businesses there already have a tight grip over the territory. They don’t want outside corporations stepping into their market, and naturally, they won’t willingly give face to foreign businessmen entering their domain."

Ashley lightly folded her hands together as she continued her deduction.

"So it’s highly likely those businesses are using local gangs as a form of intimidation. Anyone who breaks their unspoken rules or threatens their interests would immediately become a target, forcing many outsiders to back away before they can even establish themselves."

Apollo remained silent, his eyes fixed entirely on her now.

"So currently," Ashley continued, "your company’s most practical option is finding a local distributor capable of either pacifying those hostile business owners or standing against them directly. At the same time, using a distributor instead of immediately establishing your own branch also serves another purpose, and that is, it gives the local side a share of the profits."

Her gaze sharpened slightly.

"In other words, collaboration becomes a way to make the local businesses feel they’re still benefiting from your company’s presence instead of being replaced by it. If they earn money through you, they’re more likely to shield your company instead of targeting it."

Then her expression cooled faintly.

"But the moment the distributor itself becomes unscrupulous, the situation becomes dangerous."

Ashley’s voice remained calm, yet every word landed with precision.

"Like I mentioned earlier, if the distributor secretly cooperates with those gangs, they could easily leak transportation schedules and routes. The gangs would then intercept the products midway while the distributor pretends to know nothing about it."

"And what choice would your company have at that point?" she asked softly. "To fulfill contractual obligations, you’d still be forced to resend another shipment. But because of the delay, penalties would still apply. Meaning your company would suffer losses twice over."

She paused briefly before adding,

"But what alternatives are there if the company truly wants to break into that market?"

"Use force?" Ashley lightly shook her head. "That’s unrealistic. And I’m sure your company has already considered that option before discarding it. Because the moment you pressure them openly, the locals would only become even more hostile toward your company."

"And once the entire city begins resisting you together, they could sabotage operations at every turn. Even if you win temporarily, the long-term consequences would only become more troublesome."

As Ashley continued speaking, the look in Apollo’s eyes changed little by little.

The surprise there deepened.

So did the appreciation.

By the end, the way he looked at her no longer resembled someone listening to a sheltered younger sister casually sharing thoughts. Instead, it looked as though he had unexpectedly discovered someone capable of sitting across him at a negotiation table as an equal, a worthy opponent hidden beneath an innocent appearance.

"I’m also sure your company already conducted a formal bidding process there first," Ashley continued smoothly. "That was probably done to show respect toward the local businessmen and avoid appearing overly aggressive when entering their market. And the distributor currently being discussed in the Sales and Marketing Department should be the party that won the bidding."

She lightly rested her fingers against the table as she organized her thoughts.

"Right now, your people are likely still reviewing the proposal together with the Planning Department, weighing the clauses, projected profits, long-term risks, and possible advantages." Then her lips curved faintly. "But from the atmosphere earlier, it was obvious your employees were already dissatisfied."

"After all, the distributor is already showing excessive greed this early into negotiations. Anyone experienced enough could tell that if things continue like this, the company’s profit margin would eventually be squeezed dry. That’s why the discussion in the office became heated."

Apollo’s gaze deepened further while Ashley calmly continued her analysis.

"As for the solution..." she murmured thoughtfully. "The cleanest solution would naturally be establishing your own branch and storefront directly inside the city. That way, the company could supply itself without relying on local distributors at all."

"But doing that would require enormous investment." Ashley began counting calmly on her fingers. "You’d need property acquisition, a physical branch office, storefront construction, local staffing, logistics restructuring..." Then she shook her head slightly. "And more importantly, the hostility from the local businessmen would immediately intensify."

"Just like I mentioned earlier, they would likely sabotage your operations from every angle possible."

"So if the company truly wants to establish itself there independently, you would need backing." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Either support from a highly influential local businessman... or protection from the underworld forces secretly controlling those gangs behind the scenes."

Then Ashley let out a soft breath.

"But even that creates another problem. Those people also dislike outsiders, which means the company would still end up back at square one."

For a brief moment, silence filled the office.

Then Ashley slowly smiled.

"But..." she said lightly, "what if there’s someone capable of helping us navigate through all those conflicting interests?"

Apollo’s eyes sharpened instantly.

"And coincidentally," Ashley added with deliberate calmness, "I know the exact kind of person your company should be looking for."

Then suddenly, the serious atmosphere around her broke apart as Ashley grinned brightly like a mischievous little cat that had finally revealed its hidden claws.

"So..." she said expectantly while casually placing a piece of tamagoyaki from her own bento into Apollo’s lunch box, "how about this, Brother?"

"Let me find that person for you." Her eyes sparkled slightly with confidence. "And once I do... you let me work for you."

"And how would you do that?"

Apollo’s voice came out slightly hoarse as he stared at Ashley without looking away.

At this point, he was genuinely blown away by her.

What shocked him the most wasn’t simply that Ashley had noticed the potential issues surrounding the distribution contract, but the terrifying depth of her analysis.

In barely an hour, she had already dissected the internal conflicts surrounding the market, the hidden motives of the local businesses, the possible collusion with gangs, the weaknesses in the contract structure, and even the political atmosphere behind the city’s operations.

It was absurd.

Apollo couldn’t even understand how she had managed to gather and connect so much information in such a short amount of time.

Did she somehow research the city’s political structure, underground influence, and business environment the moment she entered the company?

But even that explanation didn’t fully make sense.

Without personally entering that city or having insider connections there, it should have been impossible to uncover such specific underlying issues so quickly. After all, the politicians and businessmen operating there would naturally hide all the filth beneath the surface.

Publicly, they would continue presenting themselves as respectable and cooperative figures while carrying out their hostility and dirty dealings entirely in the shadows.

And yet Ashley...

She somehow saw through it anyway.

Which was exactly why Apollo’s eyes now carried far more than amusement or curiosity when he looked at her.

For the first time, he was truly trying to measure just how capable his younger sister really was.

"Hehe, it’s a secret," Ashley replied playfully, sticking her tongue out at him. "What if someone finds out and steals the job from me before I even get hired?"