Building The Strongest Family

The city lights of Neo-Luminara sparkled like a dazzling constellation beneath the obsidian sky, a breathtaking tapestry of civilization stretching endlessly.

At the heart of this urban marvel stood the newly completed Osborn Mega Commercial Plaza, a towering testament to audacity, ambition, and now, vulnerability, bracing itself against storms from every direction.

Inside the plaza's sleek office, silence reigned.

The polished black marble floors mirrored the overhead lights, while only the faint hum of the automated ventilation system broke the stillness.

The lingering scent of imported mahogany and fresh orchids hinted at Bureau Head Derrick's recent visit.

Arthur stood at the center of the room, his back turned to the door. Then suddenly, an unsettling shift in the air signaled a change within him.

A low, cold laugh escaped Arthur's lips as he turned slowly.

The smile that curled across his face was no longer one of diplomacy; it was something far more sinister, sharp and chillingly amused like that of a predator sizing up its prey.

"These people," he muttered, his eyes gleaming like frozen steel. "They really are greedy little insects."

He strolled over to the side bar, poured himself a glass of wine, and swirled it thoughtfully before taking a sip. He gazed into the glass as if it held all the secrets of existence.

"When I proposed this plaza," he murmured to himself, "many mocked me and my family. When I invested trillions into this vision, they called me delusional; when I broke ground, they whispered behind closed doors. And now? Now they want a piece? Want to stretch their dirty claws into my pie?"

A cold chuckle escaped him as he took another sip. "I never share my food with anyone."

Turning towards the massive curved wall behind his desk with an elegant flick of his wrist, Arthur transformed its transparent surface into opaque darkness an electric pulse coursing through embedded circuits.

"Evolon," he commanded in a voice that sliced through the quiet study room.

A deep hum filled the space before morphing into an advanced interface shimmering with possibilities,embodiment of technology and intelligence: Evolon.

"I am here, Sir," came Evolon's calm yet precise voice.

Arthur narrowed his gaze sharply as he issued his command:

"Begin data retrieval. I want every shred of dirt on those behind this nationalization movement, Parliament members, lobbyists, shadow investors...every hidden secret they thought buried deep."

Evolon responded without hesitation: "Processing request. Estimated time: Five seconds."

As soft vibrations rippled through the room, Evolon dove into layers upon layers of digital information, surveillance footage, encrypted communications…everything became fair game.

Five seconds later, the screen flickered to life, revealing a treasure trove of classified files.

Neatly categorized and timestamped, they showcased a web of faces, names, crimes, bank logs, audio recordings, and drone-captured photos hidden in vents.

Handwritten signatures on illicit agreements added an extra layer of intrigue.

Arthur leaned forward, his eyes darting across the data like a hawk spotting its prey.

"Beautiful," he whispered. "They think they're the hunters, but I built this city and I own the net they crawl on."

Straightening up with newfound determination, he asked Evolon, "Who are the loudest voices in Parliament? The ones making the most noise about nationalization?"

In response, a dozen profiles materialized on the screen. "Primary instigators identified," Evolon confirmed.

A series of holographic heads emerged from the interface in a perfect circle:

Senator Delmar Kyreth – Head of the Public Asset Committee

Minister Janice Raoul – Energy and Resource Management

Councilor Merton Vale – Neo-Luminara Trade Guild

Senator Harold Spence– Long-time critic of corporate governance

Lady Clarisse Wyndham – Matriarch of the Wyndham Conglomerate

Each name was tagged with categories like Fraud, Embezzlement, Illegal Land Deals, Blackmail... and worse.

"They're coordinated," Evolon added ominously. "All have ties to the Trident Circle, an informal alliance of elite families attempting to consolidate national assets under parliamentary control."

Arthur's smile widened as realization dawned. "So the rumors were true."

He turned back to his desk and downed his whiskey in one go before setting down the glass with a heavy clink.

"Evolon," he commanded coolly, "prepare personalized dossiers for each one, tailored to hit where it hurts: family, reputation, legacy… schedule leaks. Start with small embarrassments; nudge public perception."

"Understood," Evolon replied promptly. "What level of severity?"

Arthur paused for effect before responding with icy calmness: "Crack their mirrors but don't shatter them yet. Let them see those cracks; let them squirm, we control the pressure valve."

As he moved toward the window again, gazing out at the city lights that blinked like stars against an endless night sky, his mind conjured images far darker: pawns shifting across a chessboard of alliances forming, a shadow war brewing beneath glittering skyscrapers.

"They wanted to nationalize my work?" Arthur muttered darkly. "Fine, let's see how their nation reacts when its champions start bleeding scandals."

"Should I notify your internal counterintelligence team?" Evolon asked cautiously.

"Yes," Arthur replied, his voice low but resolute. "But let's keep it quiet. If the elite are itching for a game of chess, then we'll play. But make no mistake, I won't sacrifice even a single pawn."

Of course Arthur wasn't quite idle all the time, he have also been placing pawns in various departments in the government.

Some he 'bought' others he threatened them like the Mayor of Neo-Luminara,he also have a few pawns in the police force and the Parliament although not much but quite enough to make things easier for him.

He turned back to the screen, where each face glowed ominously in red outlines, like targets on a digital battlefield.

"I built this empire from the ground up," he whispered fiercely. "I didn't claw my way out of a dying legacy just to hand it back to snakes in suits."

The room fell silent once more as the interface faded into the wall, leaving only Arthur's reflection staring back at him.

In his eyes, the flames of war had already begun to flicker.

Although he looked like he compromised when he talked to Derrick earlier but Arthur there is one habit he can't : he doesn't like sharing his food with others at all.