My chief shadow guard dispatched operatives to contact each of the allied family heads.
Sitting quietly behind the partition, I listened as Patriarch Young continued his arrogant rant. "...and once we devour the Cosmos Group, I will personally bankrupt the Carter family next," he growled, slamming his fist onto the table. "How dare those insignificant bugs align themselves against the Young family!"
I almost burst out laughing right then and there. A man with one foot already in the grave, still clinging to such grand, foolish ambitions.
Suddenly, the shadow chief tapped my shoulder lightly. "Boss, all ten second-tier families under the Young family’s banner have agreed to switch allegiances. They have pledged complete submission to you and the Cosmos Group."
A cold smile touched my lips. "We don’t need to listen to this old fool babble any longer. Let’s go meet him."
I stepped out from behind the seamless partition. The moment Mayor Grey saw me, he stood up respectfully and stepped aside. I walked over and took the seat directly across from Patriarch Young, resting my arms casually on the table.
Patriarch Young’s eyes narrowed as he glared at me. "Who the hell are you?"
"Although you hardly deserve an answer, I’ll enlighten you," I said, leaning back with an indifferent gaze. "I am the Chairman of the Cosmos Group—the very man whose empire you are trying to consume. Normally, if you merely targeted my business, I might have left you with a shred of dignity. But you made the exact same mistake your grandson did—you dared to target my women. And that is something I will never forgive."
Patriarch Young’s face darkened, but before he could speak, I continued smoothly.
"Tonight, I originally intended to dispose of you right here in this room," I said, my voice dropping to a icy whisper. "But death is too easy. Instead, you are going to watch everything you and your ancestors built crumble into dust. You will end up begging on the streets. Don’t worry, though—I’m not an unprincipled tyrant like you. I won’t use underhanded tricks, nor will I harm the innocent women or children of your family. Once I absorb the Young family’s assets, any innocent members who wish to stay can continue working under the Young surname—under the Cosmos Group umbrella."
Patriarch Young stared at me in a mix of dread, shock, and confusion.
I chuckled softly, reading his expression. "You’re wondering why I’m laying out my entire plan to you, aren’t you? It’s simple. I want you to know exactly what’s coming. I want you to mobilize every resource you have, struggle with all your might, and realize that you cannot save a single brick of your empire."
A surge of malice and bloodlust flared in the old man’s eyes. He sneered, slamming both hands on the table. "Arrogant brat! I’ve lived twice as long as you’ve been alive! Do you really think an outsider like you can do anything to me in my city?!"
I had been about to stand up, but his words made me sit back down, bursting into a genuine laugh. "Are you serious, old man? You think you have enough power in this room to dispose of me right now? Go ahead—show me what the grand Young family can do."
Patriarch Young hissed coldly to his bodyguards, "Finish him!"
The moment his men reached for their suits, red laser dots suddenly danced across their foreheads and chests. Dozens of high-caliber sniper rifles were locked onto them from every surrounding window.
The bodyguards froze, cold sweat pouring down their necks.
"Why aren’t you moving?" I asked with a calm smile. "Now, let me show you what real power looks like."
I snapped my fingers.
In an instant, every single waiter, hotel manager, guest, and security guard in the private dining hall dropped to one knee in unison, their voices echoing in a chilling chorus:
"We await your command, Boss!"
Patriarch Young turned deathly pale, his heart dropping into his stomach.
"This is power," I said softly, stepping closer to him. "With a single word, you and your men would vanish without a trace, and no one in this city would ever find your bodies. But I won’t kill you tonight. You need to live to see your ultimate downfall. Starting tomorrow morning, you will lose your contracts, your cash flow, your offices, and your influence. Every single door in this industry will be slammed in your face."
I adjusted my cuffs and stood up to leave. "Enjoy your final hours of luxury, old man. Don’t waste your energy trying to fight back—it won’t change the outcome. Oh, and don’t worry... I’ll visit you one last time before you’re thrown onto the streets."
Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked out of the VIP suite.
Stepping out of the hotel, I checked my luxury timepiece. It was already 10:00 PM.
Getting into the back of the Aurelius Z3, I asked the driver, "Is the city traffic still backed up?"
"Only in this commercial district, sir," the driver replied. "Once we cross the central bridge, the roads to Grandview Villa are clear."
"Good. Get us back as fast as you safely can."
I turned my attention to the chief shadow guard sitting beside me. "Have our operatives maintain strict surveillance over those ten second-tier families. If Patriarch Young reaches out to them for help, record their responses. Also, step up perimeter security around the Young family estate."
"Understood, Boss!"
"One more thing," I added, my tone firm. "Ensure everyone on our side remains completely safe and unbothered by this war. And keep my rule in mind—no harm comes to women or children from their side, either. If any female members of their family are involved in illegal activity, hand them over to the authorities. We do this strictly by the law."
"Understood, sir." The shadow chief vanished silently from the vehicle.
I pulled out my phone to pass the time. Just as I unlocked the screen, a notification popped up from Seraphina:
Sera: Clara just got home! She finished the task you left for her at the Cosmos Group. How much longer will you be, darling?
I quickly typed back:
Julian: On my way back right now. I’ll be home in about thirty minutes. Don’t worry.
A moment later, another message came in:
Sera: Okay, we’re all waiting up for you! ??
I smiled warmly at the screen, though a gentle concern crossed my mind. Clara had worked hard all day; she should have been resting.
Reaching forward, I slid down the soundproof privacy glass. "Drive a little faster. I have important matters waiting for me at home."
"Yes, Mr. Vance! I’ll have us at the villa in no time!"
I slid the partition back up and leaned my head back against the leather headrest, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over me after an intense evening of strategy. To check the rewards of my efforts, I summoned the system interface in my mind:
’System, display status.’
[System Status Overview]
Host: Julian VanceCharm: 70 / 100 | Physique: 70 / 100Skills: Eyes of Insight | World-Class Business Mind | Grandmaster Combat | Grandmaster Driving & RacingPrimary Assets: 100% Equity in Cosmos Group | Grandview Villa No. 1 | 10 Prime Commercial Storefronts (Grand Galleria) | Fleet of 7 Luxury VehiclesLiquid Cash: $403.12 Billion Stardollars | Net Worth: $560.12 Billion Stardollars | Indulgence Points: 93,000 (+10,000 Points Earned)
[Inner Circle Panel]
Seraphina Lin: Destiny Confidante (100% Complete Devotion)Clara Carter: Destiny Confidante (100% Complete Devotion)Dr. Sophia Starling: Inner Circle Member (Relationship Status: Developing / Undecided)
A satisfied smirk played on my lips as I watched my Indulgence Points reach 93,000. The chessboard was set, the pieces were moving, and the warmth of my home was waiting for me just down the road.
Looking out the tinted window, the neon lights of Metro City blurred into long, glowing streams of color. The central bridge came into view, its massive arches gleaming against the dark night sky. Beyond it lay Grandview Villa No. 1—my true sanctuary, where the women who trusted me with their lives were waiting.
I loosened my silk tie a bit and took a deep, relaxed breath. Patriarch Young thought he was fighting a simple war for territory and power. The old man didn’t realize that I already held the entire city in the palm of my hand. By tomorrow morning, before he even finished his morning tea, the news would break. His empire would be crumbling from ruined stocks and lost government contracts.
My thoughts shifted to Clara. She had spent the whole day running things smoothly at Cosmos Group without a single complaint. Once again, she had proved she wasn’t just a brilliant executive, but a rock I could truly lean on. And Sophia... I smiled thinking about her. The way her attitude shifted earlier today proved that the walls around her heart were finally melting away.
The limousine glided off the highway onto the quiet, tree-lined avenue leading up the hill. In the distance, the grand wrought-iron gates of the villa swung open as security recognized the car. Soft golden light poured from the windows of the mansion, making the dark courtyard feel warm and welcoming.
The driver brought the car to a gentle stop right in front of the marble steps. Step one of taking down the Young family was over without a single hitch. Now, it was finally time to step inside and spend the night surrounded by the people who mattered most.