Frank pondered for a moment and said, “Arrange a meeting with him. I want to meet him personally. If he truly is a martial artist, then Bevis is doomed, and then it’s Leo!”
“Yes, Mr. William.”
—
Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company, in the office of the plant manager.
“Mr. Simpson, something big has happened. There’s a crowd gathering outside the factory. They claim to have suffered severe allergic reactions after using our cosmetics, and they’re demanding to see the factory’s management!”
The secretary rushed into the plant manager’s office, looking flustered.
Alvin had mentally prepared himself for this. He stood up from his office chair and said firmly, “Let’s go.”
Leo had instructed him that his primary responsibility was to ensure the safety of the employees and the security of the factory, no matter what happened.
Outside the factory gates, a large crowd had gathered, creating a sea of people. All the security personnel were deployed, doing their best to hold back the furious mob.
Curitis and his friends, former special forces soldiers, had seen all sorts of situations and remained composed. Under their protection, no one could break through and enter the factory for the time being.
“Shameful factory! Deceitful merchants! Producing substandard cosmetics that harm innocent people!”
“Blacklisted factories like this should have shut down long ago. They’re a cancer on society!”
“Bring out the factory manager. My face has been ruined because of your products. Give me justice!”
For a moment, the air was filled with curses and insults. Some individuals, driven to madness, even started hurling bricks at the gate. If not for the security personnel wearing helmets, there might have been fatalities.
Seeing the situation getting worse, Curitis suppressed his anger and shouted, “Everyone, please stay calm. Any issues can be addressed through proper channels. Let’s not resort to extreme actions!”
“The gatekeepers of this shady factory better back off, or don’t blame us for not being polite!”
“Today, we must definitely shut down this heartless cosmetics manufacturer, or we won’t find peace in our hearts!”
“This garbage cosmetics factory should have closed down a long time ago. Keeping it around only brings harm. Let’s all unite and bring it down!”
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Alvin took swift action and rushed out. He shouted loudly, “Calm down, everyone! If you have any issues, let’s talk it out peacefully. I’m Alvin Simpson, the plant manager of Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company…”
Before Alvin could finish his sentence, a rotten egg smashed onto his head. Following that, various other objects, including spoiled fruits, were hurled at him. Some even began throwing stones. If Curitis and his team hadn’t shielded him, Alvin might have fallen to the ground right then.
“Useless factory manager, producing subpar cosmetics. We’ll crush you!”
As they threw things, the crowd continued to hurl insults.
“Mr. Simpson, these people have gone mad. You should get back into the factory quickly,” Curitis reminded.
Alvin clenched his teeth and refused, “No, I’m the plant manager of Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company. If I hide now, these people will swarm into the factory and cause destruction!”
“Alvin, these people came here to cause trouble. If you don’t leave now, your life will be in danger!” Curitis shouted as he protected Alvin.
The human wall formed by all the security personnel was on the verge of being overwhelmed by the frenzied crowd.
At this critical moment, a commanding voice rang out, “All of you, stop this nonsense!”
Everyone was stunned by the powerful shout and instinctively ceased their actions.
Bob led a group of around twenty or thirty people, rushing forward to stand in front of the security team, creating a new human barrier.
Bob stood at the forefront, exuding the aura of a street bigshot. He shouted sternly, “Anyone who dares to move forward again or throws things at people, I’ll take them down! Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company absolutely does not manufacture substandard cosmetics!”
The crowd was intimidated by Bob’s presence, and with over thirty menacing men in front of them, clearly from the underworld, no one dared to make a rash move.
“Who are you? Why are you speaking up for Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company?”
“These guys look like troublemakers. Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company is despicable for hiring these thugs to oppress us. It’s lawless!”
“We should call the media and expose the true face of Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company. Blacklisted factories like this must face legal consequences!”
Although the crowd refrained from physical actions, they didn’t hold back their verbal insults. A few individuals took out their phones and started calling the media and the police.
The situation reached a standstill.
Leo had informed Alvin in advance that he had arranged for help. The appearance of Bob and his crew eased Alvin’s worries.
“Your timing couldn’t have been better. Thank you!” Alvin, in pain, walked up to Bob and expressed his gratitude.
Bob smiled and replied, “You don’t need to thank me. Leo is my brother, and his matters are my matters. With me here, no one can touch Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company.”
“Is Mr. Bloomer on his way here?” Unconsciously, Alvin had already regarded Leo as the backbone of this operation.
Bob nodded, “Don’t worry. With Leo’s capabilities, this situation should be resolved quickly. He’ll be here soon. Let’s wait for him.”
Alvin nodded. In the current circumstances, waiting for Leo to handle things was the best option.
“Mr. Simpson, what if these people call the media or the police?” The secretary, who had never seen such a situation before, asked nervously.
Although Alvin didn’t have a clear plan at the moment, maintaining stability was paramount. He firmly said, “When you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear. Our cosmetics undergo rigorous testing by relevant authorities before leaving the factory. We have no reason to be afraid, even if the media shows up.”
“But these people are clearly experiencing allergies on their faces, and they’re holding our factory’s cosmetics. We don’t have the upper hand in terms of public opinion,” the secretary expressed her concern, well aware of the power of public perception.
With the secretary’s reminder, Alvin felt a sense of urgency. However, besides waiting for Leo, there was no better alternative at the moment.
Before Leo arrived, the reporters did.
“I’m the reporter from the Urban Times program. According to citizen reports, there are serious quality issues with the cosmetics produced by Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company. Right now, a large number of victims have gathered outside the company, and Factory Manager Alvin Simpson is also here. We’ll conduct an on-site interview with him.”
After saying this, the reporter handed her microphone to Alvin.
Facing the media, Alvin couldn’t remain silent. He spoke loudly, “I’m Alvin, the factory manager of Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company. I can guarantee with my own life that Herbal Magic Cosmetics Company absolutely does not manufacture substandard cosmetics. Our cosmetics undergo strict testing by relevant authorities before leaving the factory…”