(Early July 2025, Cross-border Video Conference)
Inside the brightly lit International Project War Room of the Digital Transformation Office at XX Group headquarters, the atmosphere was solemn, yet charged with irrepressible excitement.
On the massive high-definition screen, two distinct faces were clearly visible: one was William von Strauss, the founder and honorary chairman of Global Department Store, appearing from his private estate by Lake Geneva in Switzerland, his eyes sparkling with wisdom; the other was John Smith, the CEO of Global Department Store's Asia region, stationed at their Singapore headquarters, his expression serious and tempered with a mix of caution and anticipation.
Chapter 130