"First place," Annie whispered, though her attention was focused on her tablet's market analysis feeds, the screens reflecting a cascade of incoming data. "The judges from Japan were especially generous with their scoring." Her fingers danced across several screens, tracking real-time market reactions to her earlier demonstrations.
Ethan's slight smile acknowledged the obvious - Suicune's role in the nuclear cleanup had certainly influenced the scoring. The Japanese judges' gratitude was evident in their scoring patterns, with the technical execution and environmental impact categories receiving particularly high marks. But they'd earned this victory through more than just political goodwill. Each Pokémon they'd presented represented a breakthrough in technology that their competitors were still struggling to reverse engineer, advances that would reshape the industry regardless of today's outcome.
The awards ceremony proceeded with the expected corporate pomp and circumstance until Margaret Judith took the stage for Northam's second-place presentation. Despite her change of footwear-a hasty replacement after the Sheer Cold incident-she projected carefully cultivated corporate confidence as she delivered Northam's prepared bombshell. Her recovery was admirable, though careful observers might have noticed the slight tension in her shoulders that betrayed her awareness of what was at stake.
"To celebrate the Northam Group's fortieth anniversary," she announced, her voice carrying the weight of four decades of industry dominance, "we are launching an unprecedented promotion. For the next month, all existing Northam genetic products will be available at fifty percent of their current market price." She paused, letting the magnitude of the announcement sink in.
The audience erupted into a chaos of excited whispers and hurried phone calls. Even Annie's carefully composed expression cracked slightly as market projections scrolled across her tablet, algorithms struggling to calculate the implications of such a dramatic price shift. A fifty percent cut from the industry leader would reshape the entire market-or it would, if Pokemon Biotech hadn't been prepared for just such a move. Years of studying Northam's corporate playbook had made their reactions predictable.
Judith's triumphant look as she passed Ethan backstage had a clear meaning: she thought she'd stolen his moment, turned his victory into a footnote. Social media feeds were already exploding with discussion of Northam's price cut, the earlier Pokemon presentation temporarily forgotten in the frenzy of market speculation. Trading algorithms around the world adjusted their positions, anticipating a seismic shift in the economics of the biotech sector.
"Mr. Grave," the moderator's voice carried across the convention center, cutting through the buzz of excited conversation. "Would the representative from Pokemon Biotech please take the stage?"
As Ethan approached the podium, he noticed the divided attention of the audience - many still discussing Northam's announcement in hurried whispers, others frantically updating their market positions. Perfect. The best business strategies often depended on letting your competitors think they had the upper hand, letting their confidence blind them to the trap being set.
"Thank you to the judges for their recognition," he began, maintaining the measured tone that had become his trademark in corporate circles. "Pokemon Biotech may be young compared to companies celebrating their fortieth anniversaries, but youth often brings a fresh perspective." His words were carefully chosen, each one calculated to set up what was to come.
A subtle murmur rippled through the crowd as the implications of his phrasing sank in. Those familiar with corporate politics recognized the opening moves of what promised to be a masterful counterplay. Several executives were already reaching for their phones, sensing that something significant was about to unfold.
"Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Pokemon Biotech will be implementing a permanent thirty percent price reduction on all products, effective immediately."
The convention center erupted in chaos. Annie's tablet lit up like a Christmas tree with incoming alerts as trading algorithms registered the impact. A temporary fifty percent cut was one thing - a publicity stunt that the markets could price in and adjust to. But a permanent thirty percent cut fundamentally changed the economics of the industry, forcing a complete reevaluation of every company's market position.
"In addition," Ethan continued into the stunned silence that followed, his voice carrying easily despite his quiet confidence, "we are committed to passing any future efficiency gains directly to the consumer. As our nutrient costs decrease, so will our prices. Pokemon Biotech believes that genetic engineering technology should be accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. The social implications of this commitment weren't lost on anyone in the room - this wasn't just a business strategy, it was a vision for the future of the industry.
He could see Judith's face in the crowd, her earlier triumph evaporating as she calculated the implications. The color drained from her features as the full impact of Pokemon Biotech's move became clear.
The Northam Group could withstand a month of fifty percent cuts as a publicity stunt, absorbing the losses as a marketing expense. But Pokemon Biotech had just committed to permanently reshaping the market's cost structure, a move that would force every competitor to fundamentally rethink their business models.
"This is possible," Ethan concluded, his tone suggesting he was simply stating obvious truths rather than dropping corporate bombshells, "because of our continued commitment to technological innovation. As demonstrated today, Pokemon Biotech isn't just developing new products - we're advancing the fundamental science of genetic engineering itself. When you reduce costs through superior technology rather than temporary promotions, you can pass those savings on permanently.
The message was crystal clear to everyone in the industry: Pokemon Biotech wasn't just competing on products or prices-they were rewriting the rules of what was possible in biotech. From the Japan cleanup to today's showcase to this pricing announcement, every move had been calculated to establish them as the company that would define the future of biotechnology. The demonstration of Suicune's precise control, the unveiling of their full list of technological breakthroughs, and now this market-shaping announcement - all pieces of a strategy that had been months, if not years, in the making.
Annie was already coordinating with her PR team, her fingers flying across multiple screens as she managed the cascade of incoming responses. But the public's reaction confirmed what her market analysis had predicted: in trying to overshadow Pokémon Biotech's victory, Northam had walked right into their trap. Their desperate attempt to maintain market dominance had instead highlighted the fundamental difference between the two companies' approaches - one relying on temporary promotions and marketing stunts, the other driving genuine technological advancement.
Trading algorithms around the world were already adapting to the new reality, their cold logic recognizing the implications faster than human traders could process them. Pokemon Biotech's stock would soar, not just because of the day's demonstrations, but because they had shown they could force the entire industry to play by their rules.
Sometimes the best business strategy was to let your competitors think they were winning - until the moment they realized they'd lost. As Ethan surveyed the chaos their announcement had caused, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. They hadn't just won a contest or outmaneuvered a rival; they had proven that Pokemon Biotech's vision for the future of genetic engineering was both technologically superior and economically viable.
The revolution in biotechnology wouldn't be led by forty-year-old companies clinging to outdated business models. It would be led by those who understood that true innovation meant making advanced technology accessible to all. As the implications of this truth rippled through the industry, Ethan knew that today's events would be remembered as the moment when everything changed - not just for Pokemon Biotech, but for the entire field of genetic engineering.