Inside Benma Group headquarters, Chairman Dujie Qiaopu—usually calm and refined—was staring at a live stream replay on a shattered phone screen.
"Why didn't anyone tell me about this earlier?!" he roared.
"A turbocharged engine—mass-produced—and we didn't hear a word?!"
His assistant had brought him the video, thinking it would help clarify the threat.
Instead, it ignited a storm.
Lu Haifeng's confident explanation of the HX888 turbocharged engine directly insulted Benma's slow, incremental R&D.
As he watched, Qiaopu's hands trembled with rage.
Then—crack!—he hurled the phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces.
His aide stood frozen.
It wasn't even a company phone—it was his own. But he didn't dare say a word.
"Boss, we need to prepare," he finally whispered.
"The market is going to explode when that engine hits."
"And we're holding our B260 launch tonight. If we go ahead, we'll be crushed."
Qiaopu knew it was true.
Just days ago, Benma had planned to overshadow Audi with the B260 unveiling.
But now? That car would only look weak in comparison.
He gritted his teeth.
"Cancel the launch."
"We'll say it's to install new R&D technology and optimize the vehicle further."
His assistant nodded. They both knew it was nonsense—but it was a face-saving excuse.
"If we don't get ahead of this, we won't just lose market share—we'll become a global joke."
Then came the real order:
"Start investigating the turbocharged engine immediately."
"I don't care what it costs. Learn everything about it—design, tech, patents, weaknesses."
"And stir up doubt in the market."
"Use PR to attack them. Raise concerns about performance, durability, and reliability. Say it's untested, unstable—whatever it takes."
"Don't hold back. No mercy."
At the same time, halfway across the world—
Otto Group Headquarters
Chairman Will received the news.
His response?
"Cancel tomorrow's E4 launch."
"Tell the public we're upgrading the engine with our newest R&D.
Blame supply chain issues. Blame tuning. I don't care."
"Just don't launch now. We'll look like clowns."
"And like Benma, investigate everything about China Star's engine.
Steal it if you have to. Sabotage it if you can."
"A new tech like this hasn't been market-tested.
That's our angle. Hammer that point everywhere."
"By the time they start mass deliveries, we'll make sure everyone's doubting them."
Behind the suits and smiles, global automakers were now in full-blown panic mode.
The age of turbocharged disruption had begun.
And no one saw it coming.