The moment Adam announced the name "Red Fire Refinery," a palpable ripple of quiet excitement seemed to pass through the small apartment living room. It felt like the naming ceremony for a newborn child, fragile yet full of potential.

  Every member of the newly formed team exchanged glances – looks that reflected a complex mixture of surprise at the name's boldness, rekindled hope for their venture, and a shared understanding of the heavy responsibility they were all undertaking. The name felt right. It felt like them.

  Monica, ever practical and action-oriented, was the first to break the reflective silence. With a firm, decisive nod that signaled her acceptance and readiness to move forward, she reached for her pen. She quickly scribbled the newly chosen name – "Red Fire Refinery" – at the top of a fresh sheet of paper on the stack in front of her. It was the first official documentation bearing the subsidiary's identity.

  "Alright," she said, her voice clear, steady, and imbued with the authority of her COO role. "Fire Corporation's first subsidiary branch is hereby named: Red Fire Refinery." She underlined the name for emphasis.

  "Its primary purpose, as we've established, is the extraction, refinement, and sale of crude oil." Her tone was business-like, leaving no room for doubt about their core mission. It felt as if she had been waiting for this moment, this clarity, to truly begin her work.

  Kim, standing nearby observing the proceedings, gave a slight, approving nod. His expression remained serious, focused. He understood the immense challenges ahead better than anyone, except perhaps Adam himself.

  He knew the stakes were incredibly high, and every decision, starting with the name, mattered. Monica then turned her attention pointedly towards Lisa, the finance and strategy expert.

  With a determined look that matched Monica’s own focus, she gave Lisa her first major assignment. "Lisa," Monica instructed, her voice clear and direct, "your top priority starting immediately is to identify potential buyers for our refined products. We need customers lined up, even before we're fully operational. But," – Monica leaned forward slightly, her eyes emphasizing the critical importance of her next words – "you must remember the absolute need for secrecy. Stay as low-profile as possible. Use discreet channels. Vet potential buyers carefully. We cannot afford to have any of our initial contacts leak information about our existence or our capabilities. The very last thing we need,"

  she stressed, her gaze sweeping around the table to include everyone, "is for Green Refinery or any of their allies to start breathing down our necks before we've even sold our first barrel of oil. Discretion is paramount."

  Lisa nodded seriously, absorbing the instructions. Her bright eyes shone with focus and determination. She understood the delicate balancing act required – finding willing buyers for a product from an unknown, unproven supplier, all while operating completely under the radar. It was more than just sales; it was strategic relationship building in the shadows.

  She mentally began outlining potential approaches, tapping into the network of contacts she had mentioned earlier.

  Before anyone could fully digest Lisa’s crucial task, Kim interjected, his practical CEO mind already focused on the immediate logistical hurdles.

  "Hold on," he said, his tone urgent.

  "Finding buyers is essential, yes. But before we can even think about selling anything, Lisa, we need something to sell. We need to get the refinery fully operational." His eyes shifted towards Adam, a mixture of lingering disbelief and necessary acceptance in his gaze.

  "Adam," Kim continued, addressing him directly, "I have to admit, seeing the site yesterday… I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Not only did you secure the land, but you somehow managed to set up a refinery structure and even install an oil extraction system seemingly overnight." He shook his head slightly, clearly still baffled by the inexplicable appearance of the machinery Adam had lied about.

  "That must have cost an absolute fortune, or required connections I can't even fathom. But," – Kim waved a hand dismissively, deciding not to dwell on the 'how' for now – "we can get into the miracle of the equipment later. First things first. We need to get that refinery legally registered as a subsidiary of Fire Corporation. We need operating permits. We need utility connections finalized. We need safety inspections passed. We need to get it running, Adam. As soon as humanly possible."

  Kim's words brought everyone back down to earth. The fancy structure Adam had created was useless until it was legally compliant and physically functional. His focus was clear: turn the 'miracle' into a working reality, navigating the inevitable bureaucratic hurdles, while simultaneously preparing for production.

  Kim then looked towards Monica, who simply nodded in agreement. She understood the operational priorities. Her gaze then shifted towards Raven, the quiet man tasked with HR and security.

  Without needing prompting, Raven spoke up, his voice calm, steady, reassuring in its quiet competence. "Don't worry about personnel," he stated simply.

  "I will handle recruitment. Just provide me with the specific roles you need filled – engineers, technicians, operators, security staff – and the approved budget for salaries and hiring costs. I have… methods… for finding the best available talent, people who are skilled, reliable, and capable of discretion." His brief statement carried an unspoken promise of efficiency and confidentiality.

  Monica immediately began jotting down notes again, her pen flying across the paper as she started listing potential key roles, skill requirements, and estimated staffing levels for initial operations. The team watched her work for a moment, the practical task of building a workforce starting to take shape.

  But after a few seconds, Monica suddenly paused her writing. Her hand hovered above the page. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her usually composed features. The entire team sensed her hesitation, the sudden shift in her focus. Her eyes met Kim's in a brief, almost nervous glance, before she turned her attention fully towards Adam, her expression serious, probing.

  "Adam," Monica began slowly, her voice careful, addressing the elephant that had been lurking in the room since the salary discussion. "Before we get any further with staffing plans, operational timelines, or Lisa finding buyers… there's something fundamental we need to clarify." She took a steadying breath.

  "Can you tell us, honestly, exactly how much funding we actually have to work with right now? What is our starting capital? We need a clear, realistic budget to base all our planning on. Every decision we make from this point forward – hiring, purchasing supplies, negotiating contracts – will depend entirely on the financial resources available. We can't afford to build plans on assumptions."

  Her tone wasn't accusatory, but it was direct, practical, highlighting the absolute necessity of financial transparency for any chance of success. She knew Adam had claimed vast wealth, but the earlier discussion about minimal salaries hinted that maybe the reality was different. She needed the real number.

  Adam felt a familiar knot tighten in his stomach. He had been successfully avoiding this specific question, relying on vague assurances of "plenty of money." He knew revealing his actual current cash balance – the roughly $710,000 remaining after the initial land payment – might shock them, might even shatter their confidence.

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  It was a lot of money for him personally, accumulated through risky gold sales, but for starting and operating an entire oil refinery, hiring staff, covering unforeseen costs… it was probably nowhere near enough by conventional standards.

  He had his Copy & Paste ability as a secret backup, capable of generating more resources, but he couldn't reveal that. He had to operate, at least in their eyes, within the bounds of the cash he physically possessed or could plausibly acquire.

  He knew the time for evasion was over. They needed a budget. They deserved honesty, especially after committing to take shares instead of salaries. Taking a deep breath, bracing himself for their reaction, Adam decided to face the question head-on.

  "Okay," Adam said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of the truth. "You're right, we need clarity. Currently, after the initial land payment and other setup costs like the computer and bribes," – he decided to be mostly honest –

  "I have approximately one million dollars in liquid cash readily available for Fire Corporation's initial operations." He rounded up slightly from his $710k plus the remaining potential from the farmer's final payment, presenting a solid, believable number, though still far from the 'unlimited' funds he might have implied earlier.

  A heavy silence fell over the room the moment the number left his lips. One million dollars. Everyone exchanged surprised glances. It was a significant amount of money, yes, especially for a young man like Adam to possess. But for launching an oil refinery? Competing with Green Refinery? It sounded… dangerously low.

  Kim's eyes widened slightly, his expression becoming thoughtful, calculating. So, the kid did have substantial cash, but not the infinite reserves he might have let them believe.

  This changed the risk profile considerably. Monica frowned slightly, already mentally adjusting her operational plans downwards. Lee looked a bit nervous. Lisa’s optimistic smile dimmed a fraction. Raven remained impassive. It was clear the number, while large, wasn't the blank check some of them might have secretly hoped for after his earlier confidence.

  Seeing their reactions, sensing the potential dip in morale, Adam quickly added a qualifier, hoping to offer some reassurance, leaning on his ability to generate more (though not explaining how). "That's what I have immediately accessible," he clarified.

  "However, if absolutely necessary, based on my other… assets… I believe I can raise up to another two million dollars fairly quickly." He hoped this sounded plausible, like he had investments he could liquidate, rather than a magic copy machine.

  His addendum was met with another stunned silence. Raise another two million? On top of the first million? So, a potential total of three million? The figures, first surprisingly low, then potentially higher but still finite, hung in the air, forcing everyone to confront the real financial constraints they were operating under.

  Monica was the first to break the second silence, her practical mind taking charge again. She looked around the table, then decisively tapped her pen on her notepad.

  "No, Adam," she said firmly, her tone laced with the pragmatic wisdom of someone used to managing tight budgets. "Let's stick with the one million for now. That should be enough to get the initial phase operational if we are extremely careful and efficient." She looked directly at Adam, her expression serious but supportive.

  "We don't want to put additional, unnecessary financial pressure or burden on you right from the start. Let's prove we can make this work within a realistic budget first. Our official starting operational budget," she declared, looking around the table for agreement, "will be one million dollars."

  Her voice carried the weight of a decision made not out of fear or lack of ambition, but out of prudent financial management. It was a decision grounded in the reality of their resources, designed to ensure they didn't overextend themselves before they even began. She looked around the room, her gaze firm. "Is everyone clear on this? We work within one million for phase one."

  One by one, acknowledging Monica’s leadership and the logic behind her decision, each team member nodded in silent agreement. Lee, Lisa, Raven, and finally Kim. Having a clear, albeit modest, budget provided a stable, realistic foundation upon which they could now build concrete plans.

  Adam felt a wave of gratitude wash over him again. He had braced himself for disappointment, maybe even demands for more upfront investment. Instead, his team, led by Monica, had chosen prudence, responsibility, and a shared commitment to making the most of what they had. Their support, their understanding of his (perceived) situation, eased a significant portion of his own financial anxiety.

  Mr. Kim cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to him, ready to move forward now that the budget was settled. "Alright," he said, his tone authoritative and focused again, shifting back into CEO mode. "Now that we're clear on the budget, let's finalize everyone's immediate tasks and responsibilities. We need to hit the ground running."

  He turned first to Lee, the young lawyer. "Lee," Kim instructed, "your top priority is getting all the necessary legal documents drafted and ready for filing – subsidiary registration for Red Fire Refinery, operational permits applications, safety compliance checklists, everything. I need a complete package ready within twenty-four hours if possible. Can you do that?"

  Lee’s face lit up with determination. He sat up straighter and pounded his fist lightly against his chest in a gesture of confident commitment. "Consider it done, Mr. Kim! Leave all the paperwork to me!" he declared confidently.

  Kim nodded, satisfied. He then shifted his focus to Lisa, the finance and market strategist. "Lisa, you have two critical tasks, both requiring extreme discretion, as Monica stressed." Lisa leaned forward, ready.

  "First, start identifying potential initial buyers for our refined products. Small to medium-sized businesses maybe, independent distributors, companies that might be looking for a better price or unhappy with Green Refinery's terms. But keep it completely under the radar. No direct approaches yet, just reconnaissance. Second," Kim continued, his voice lowering slightly,

  "when we do eventually approach them, I want you to plan on offering introductory prices that are significantly low. Not necessarily profitable at first, just enough to get their attention, create initial demand, get our foot in the door. We have the oil reserve," – he glanced briefly at Adam –

  "but breaking into a market dominated by a giant like Green Refinery won't be easy. We need to ease potential customers into switching to our supply gradually, make it irresistible for them to at least try us."

  Lisa nodded again, her expression serious, thoughtful. She understood the delicate strategy – build demand quietly, undercut the competition initially, gain market share incrementally without triggering a massive backlash from Green Refinery too soon. It was a complex balancing act requiring both financial acumen and subtle negotiation skills.

  As soon as Kim finished outlining Lisa's tasks, Adam, who had been listening intently, felt a mischievous idea spark in his mind – a way to accelerate their market entry, a truly disruptive approach inspired by his future knowledge. His eyes brightened, and a sly smirk spread across his face. He turned towards Lisa.

  "Lisa," Adam interjected suddenly, his tone light but carrying a radical suggestion. "Regarding the introductory pricing… I have a different idea. A better one, I think." He paused for dramatic effect. "Let's give them the oil for free."

  Complete silence fell over the room again. The only sound was the faint hum of the refrigerator in the tiny kitchenette. Everyone stared at Adam as if he had just sprouted wings.

  Kim was the first to react, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. "Free?!" he exclaimed, his voice loud enough to make the cups on the table rattle slightly. "Adam, what are you talking about? That's not how business works! Give it away for free? We won't make any money! We'll go bankrupt before we even start!" He looked genuinely appalled by the suggestion.

  Monica, equally taken aback, shook her head slowly, her brow furrowed with concern. "Adam… are you serious?" she asked, her tone laced with incredulity. "Give away our entire first production run for free? That sounds incredibly reckless. How would we even budget for that?" The risks seemed enormous, irresponsible even.

  Adam, however, remained perfectly calm amidst their shock, his smirk widening slightly. He knew how crazy it sounded. "Relax, everyone," he said steadily, holding up his hands in a calming gesture.

  "I never said we'd give it away forever." His eyes sparkled with a mixture of daring confidence and secret knowledge. "Just the first batch. The very first delivery to each new customer. Think of it as a free sample. An irresistible trial offer."

  Raven, the quiet pragmatist, frowned deeply, voicing the obvious financial concern. "Even a 'first batch' could be substantial, depending on the customer," he interjected, his voice measured but clearly worried.

  "Giving away potentially thousands of barrels of refined product for free… that could throw off our entire financial plan. How do we even decide how much to give away to each customer? What are the limits?" The idea, while perhaps attention-grabbing, seemed financially disastrous and difficult to manage.

  Adam grinned, thoroughly enjoying their confusion and skepticism, knowing he held the key. "It's simple," he replied, his tone light, almost playful, as if stating the obvious. "We don't set limits. Whatever they ask for in their first order, whatever quantity they're willing to take… we give it to them. Completely free."

  Now, the room was filled with stunned disbelief again. Monica narrowed her eyes, looking directly at Adam, her concern deepening into genuine worry about his judgment. "Adam," she said gently but firmly, "are you sure you're feeling okay? Did you hit your head when those guys attacked you? Do you even understand what you're proposing? Giving away potentially unlimited amounts of our first product? That's not a marketing strategy; that's financial suicide!" Her voice held a note of exasperation mixed with real care, worried that Adam's ambition, or perhaps his recent trauma, was clouding his reason.

  Adam raised both hands again, chuckling softly this time. "Relax, everyone, seriously. I know it sounds crazy," he admitted, his smile broadening. "But trust me on this one. This is actually a proven strategy." He leaned back in his chair, looking confident, almost smug.

  Inside, however, he knew the truth. He hadn't invented this radical 'free first batch' technique himself. He was borrowing it. Or rather, copying it from the future. He vaguely remembered learning, in his past life, about a massively successful global tech company (or maybe it was a different industry?) that had used this exact disruptive marketing strategy years down the line to rapidly capture huge market share, hooking customers with a free initial offering and then converting them into loyal, paying clients.

  'All I'm doing,' Adam thought with a hidden smirk, 'is implementing their winning strategy… just a few years earlier than history intended.' He couldn't explain that to his team, of course. They just had to trust his 'instincts'.

  The room remained silent for another long moment as Kim, Monica, Lisa, Lee, and Raven processed the sheer audacity, the massive risk, and the potential, however slim, of Adam's 'free sample' strategy. Giving away their first products for free felt terrifying, counterintuitive, potentially ruinous.

  But it was also undeniably bold, attention-grabbing, and might just be crazy enough to work in disrupting a stagnant market dominated by an complacent giant like Green Refinery.

  Every person at the table weighed the gamble. Sacrifice all initial profits, potentially give away vast quantities of valuable product for nothing… all for the hope of rapidly building a customer base, generating buzz, and locking in future sales? It was the riskiest move imaginable. But maybe, just maybe, in this high-stakes game they were playing, extreme risks were necessary for extreme rewards.

  The future of Fire Corporation, it seemed, would be built not just on secret oil and hidden powers, but on daring, unconventional strategies right from the very beginning.