After dressing, I stepped down into the villa’s grand living room. The women were still gathered near the sofa, enjoying their morning tea. I walked over, leaning down to press a warm, lingering kiss onto each of their lips—first Sera, then Clara, and finally Sophia.
"I’m heading out to officially take over the Young family assets," I smiled, looking into their eyes. "I’ll also be appointing a new family head to manage what’s left of the Young Group under the Cosmos Group umbrella."
Turning my gaze down to Daisy, I crouched to kiss her chubby cheek. "By the time I get home, you’ll probably already be at school, princess." I looked back at Sophia with a subtle, warm glint in my eyes. "Make sure you tell her about us today."
Sophia blushed, a tender smile touching her lips as she took Daisy into her arms. "I will."
Stepping out into the bright morning air, my shadow chief was already waiting beside the driveway. Parked behind him was an Aurelius Executive Custom—an ultra-exclusive luxury sedan, one of only one hundred produced globally.
"Excellent choice," I nodded approvingly.
I gestured for my driver to start the engine and signaled the shadow chief to join me in the rear cabin. As the executive sedan glided smoothly out of the villa estate, I leaned back against the plush leather, calling up the system interface in my mind.
During my date with Sophia at the waterfront villa, I knew I had earned a substantial batch of Indulgence Points. Adding my recent gains, my balance had reached 123,000 points—more than enough to trigger the 100,000-point system upgrade I had been anticipating.
[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: 123,000
[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: Complete Devotion)
A soft system notification chimed in my consciousness:
[System Notification:] We apologize for the minor processing delay, Host. Winning over Inner Circle Member Dr. Sophia Starling has unlocked a unique personal reward!
[Unique Reward Unlocked: Rapid Regeneration] Grants the Host double the baseline human immunity, alongside a 3x increase in physical stamina and injury recovery speed.
A satisfied smirk touched my lips. A passive physical enhancement—definitely a worthy reward.
’System, consume 100,000 Indulgence Points to initiate the system upgrade,’ I commanded mentally. ’How long will the process take?’
[System Response:] Upgrade initiated. Process will take 24 hours. Passive perks and active security protocols will remain fully operational. Cashback multipliers and system notifications will be temporarily offline during the update.
’Fair enough,’ I thought, closing the interface panel. As long as my shadow security division remained active to protect my family, temporary notification blackouts didn’t bother me in the slightest.
Looking across at my chief shadow guard, I asked, "Is everything arranged at the Young estate as I instructed?"
"Yes, Boss," the chief replied respectfully. "Once we arrive, you will see that every detail has been executed flawlessly."
"Good," I nodded. "Have all our security operatives received their monthly bonuses?"
"They have, sir. You never need to worry about our loyalty or logistics—the framework that supports us ensures we are fully provided for at all times."
Fifteen minutes later, the Aurelius sedan turned down the quiet, tree-lined boulevard leading to the sprawling Young family estate.
Through the tinted glass, I could see over fifty reporters, media crews, and news vans crowding around the iron entrance gates. The moment my custom executive sedan pulled up, camera flashes exploded like a sea of lightning. Every journalist present knew that the mysterious figure inside this multi-million-dollar vehicle was the mastermind behind the total destruction of Metro City’s oldest business dynasty.
The security guards at the perimeter opened the heavy iron gates just enough for the sedan to pass through before shutting out the shouting press core.
Stepping out onto the pristine stone driveway, I found Patriarch Young already standing near an armored police transport, his wrists bound in heavy steel handcuffs. His hair was disheveled, his eyes hollow and bloodshot.
I walked over, stopping a few feet in front of him.
"Mr. Young," I said calmly, looking down at him with an indifferent gaze. "I came to fulfill my promise—to see you one last time before you’re taken away. Enjoy the safety of your prison cell. I sincerely hope you suffer there for years... it would be a shame if you died of old age this early."
Patriarch Young trembled, his lips moving as if to scream, but no words came out. The officers shoved him into the rear of the transport and slammed the heavy metal doors shut.
As I walked toward the entrance of the traditional mansion, I glanced across the grand courtyard. My chief shadow guard had executed the setup impeccably.
A sleek, elevated stage had been constructed right in the center—designed with minimalist luxury that radiated effortless elegance and absolute dominance. Rows of comfortable seating were laid out for the incoming journalists, flanked by a dedicated refreshment table stocked with high-end teas, freshly brewed coffee, and bottled water for the press.
Turning away, I pushed open the grand double doors of the traditional main mansion.
Inside the massive courtyard hall, dozens of branch family members were gathered in anxious hushes. I stepped up to the central dais, my voice echoing clearly through the high-ceilinged room.
"The main line of the Young family is finished," I announced coldly. "They were criminals, and they will spend the remainder of their lives behind bars. Several corrupt branch leaders will be joining them. My intelligence division has conducted a thorough investigation into every single one of you to determine who is untainted and fit to lead the new Young family under the Cosmos Group."
The room fell dead silent.
"The most suitable candidate for this position," I continued, "is the head of the third branch—Hank Young. If Hank Young is present, step forward."
An older, refined man in a simple dark suit stepped out from the crowd alongside his wife and son. He walked up to the dais and bowed deeply with genuine respect. "Thank you for this immense honor, Mr. Vance. My branch will never forget your generosity."
"See that you don’t," I said smoothly.
I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.
In an instant, fifty fully armored shadow operatives materialized out of the architectural shadows along the balconies, rafters, and doorways, surrounding the hall. The branch family members gasped, taking several collective steps back in terror.
Where did those members come from? They are under my command," I explained calmly. "They are experts in stealth and surveillance, and I keep them around me at all times. They serve as my personal security and intelligence team.
"These men will maintain constant, silent surveillance over every branch and every individual member of this family," I stated, my eyes sweeping over the pale faces in the crowd. "If greed or ambition ever drives any of you toward illegal activities or betrayal, your fate will be far worse than what happened to Patriarch Young today. Do I make myself clear?"
"Understood, Mr. Vance!" Hank Young declared immediately, bowing even lower. "We will abide by your rules without fail!"
"Good," I nodded. "Now, follow me to the stage. It’s time for the press conference."
Minutes later, the front gates were opened, and the media storm flooded into the grand reception hall. Hank Young and I took our seats at the executive table on stage, flanked by a wall of silent shadow guards. Cameras flashed continuously as reporters scrambled for position.
I picked up the microphone, my calm, authoritative voice filling the room. "Good morning, everyone. I am the Chairman of the Cosmos Group. As of today, the Young Group and its subsidiary holdings have been fully annexed under my conglomerate. The gentleman seated beside me is Hank Young, the newly appointed Patriarch of the Young family."
A reporter from the main financial news network stood up immediately. "Mr. Chairman! Will there be major structural disruptions now that Cosmos Group has absorbed the Young family’s assets?"
"Innocent family members and legitimate employees will retain their personal property and positions," I answered smoothly. "However, the entire equity share of the main branch and all corporate assets are now under my direct control. The title of the wealthiest individual in Metro City is changing hands today—and it belongs to me."
Another journalist eagerly raised her microphone. "Sir! What are your future expansion plans for Metro City? And if I may ask—are you an heir from one of the capital’s reclusive noble families?!"