The battle of price competition had begun—a war fought not with swords but with figures inked in red and black.
This was a gambit of attrition, where one opponent undercut the other until the weaker was bled dry. The victor would then raise prices, recouping losses in a dominion now theirs. American corporations, believing themselves victorious after a grueling year, began to edge their prices upward. It was time, they thought, to gather the fruits of their labors. Yet, Jinhan had other plans.
At first, the whispers were faint.
"A mistake in the order quantity?"
"No mistake. We still haven't cleared the last batch."
Then came louder murmurs. Orders dwindled, and shop shelves saw unfamiliar goods.
"What's this nonsense? You're cutting us off?"
"I'm saying I can't sell your overpriced goods anymore!"
Soon, merchants openly severed ties, rejecting goods they could no longer afford to stock. Confusion spread like wildfire.
"What's happening?"
"Did they pull out entirely?"
