Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"What's that?" He asked, curious.

Xander chuckled, turning the screen for him to see.

"It's trending on almost all media outlets— Reeves technologies succeed in production of AI chips and seals deal with the Military"

They must've released it a few minutes ago. Good. Rosa's doing her job well.

"Congratulations, Boss" Scarlet chuckled, "Does this mean we're getting a raise?"

"You work at Zion Foods" Trent scoffed, "Pull results and I'll give you whatever raise you want"

"But---"

"Xander gets that vacation he's wanted— full paid trip to anywhere of his choice" he paused, looking at Scarlet with a smirk, "with a plus one"

She smiled and winked at Xander

"Cap---"

"And to celebrate this, you all get a million to spend today on anything"

Marie chuckled, looking at Diana

"You really take care of your staffs" Diana chuckled, "Congratulations"

"Congratulations" Marie nudged him as she walked to him

"Thank you" he looked at her and then at everyone,

"We'll have to take our bath and join you guys downstairs"

"We'll just wait downstairs" Diana chuckled, looking at Mila.

"Congratulations, Sir" Mila muttered, bowing.

"Thank you" he chuckled, bowing slightly.

"I think Tyson's here"

Theo looked at his phone as it rang

"Alright, lovebirds..." He huffed, looking at Scarlet and Xander

"We'll be waiting downstairs"

"Thank you" Marie chuckled, watching as they left.

"Do I still get to name the Island?" she mused, glancing at him.

"Already have a name?"

"Yeah." Sha paused, a grin forming at the corner of her mouth.

"Reeves"

He stared at her, surprised. Why did---

"It carries enough meaning and there's no need to let it die— you're the last generation of the family"

That's... thoughtful.

"Thank you" he chuckled.

Reeves Island. That sounds just right

_____

Tyson waved at them as they stepped out of the elevator.

He looks cherry. Trent scoffed as he saw the people behind him— Frederick and Sam.

"The star hero" he mused, walking towards them.

"You look excited for work"

"It's my first assignment for you since you started the company. The others are hyped to meet you. I let" be paused, looking at Frederick and Sam.

Theo noticed how they acted and tapped on their backs

"These are Frederick Russo and Sam Aldean, Cap... They're excellent men"

He winked as they looked at him, surprised.

"I know. They've certainly got the strength" Trent chuckled. Marie exchanged greetings with Tyson and walked off.

"It's all behind us"

Tyson's eyes brightened and he nodded at them

"I–It's great to see you again... Sir" Sam muttered as they walked forward

Trent scoffed and looked at Tyson

"Sir? Come on, Man. I've put everything behind me for real. You think I'd be buddies with this guy if I didn't?"

Buddies? Tyson blinked

"It's nice to meet you again, Sam, Frederick..." He smiled at them, looking at Theo.

"Any friend of Theo is a friend of mine. As long as they're cool with it"

They looked at each other and exhaled. So Tyson wasn't just saying when he said Trent's cool?

But... what about the part where he called him cunning and crazy?

"How's the business going?" Trent turned to Tyson

"Going great. We've done some services and with the hype around, prices aren't really cheap so there's profits rolling in" he paused, glancing at Scarlet

"Miss Serta has been a good help to making sure it goes smoothly"

"Good news" Trent chuckled

"What about tech and equipments?"

"We've got it mostly covered— we're stocking on weaponry but we have to be careful so we don't step on lines with the military"

"Don't worry about the military" he scoffed, "I'm in a pretty good mood— I'll send hundred million, get everything— jets, guns... as much as you can"

They gasped, eyes widening.

"Are we... going to war?"

"You never know" he laughed softly,

"Today, you'll have your team follow the ladies. I also called for extra security to ensure there's no royal trouble"

"I spoke with the Princess. She's become happier than the last time"

"Yeah?" He chuckled, glancing at her

"We— the dudes, will be heading to a street basketball court"

"What about Security?"

"Do we really need one?" He scoffed

Maybe Xander does, but it's should be covered with five of us, no?

And frankly, Scarlet and Marie don't need security. Maybe for extra care, but the Princess certainly does.

Mila should be skilled, but we can't tell what the opposition will pull.

"I'll relay the orders"

Xander joined them. He'd been discussing with Scarlet.

"Sir... You have to see---"

"Let's go have fun first"

I'm sure it's all good with the excitement on his face.

"You'll give them the credit card so---"

"I just did. I handed it to the Madam. I knew you were going to ask"

Alright.

"I had us slotted in to a street tournament" he chuckled.

"How did---"

"I've got my ways"

Called a favor with Yvaine.

Wanda and Anton seemed too excited when I told them we were going to play basketball.

"Let's head out"

_____

"You're like a tower" Theo laughed, wiping the sweat off with a towel.

"I didn't know you could play that well" Tyson looked at him.

He never performed well with his frail body during the program.

How did he change so much?

"I studied lots about basketball gameplay" Trent chuckled, sitting down.

Tactics on defense, mainly because I lacked the strength to be at the front.

"I didn't know you could play" he turned to Xander. "You play really well"

"I used to play when I was younger" Xander chuckled looking at Frederick.

They've all got good bodies.

And Trent... He's got such an insane stamina and strength.

I've held myself back from checking his background since Scarlet teased about it.

Was he from the same organization as her?

He looked up as a man dressed in suit walked towards them.

"Good evening, Mr. Ackerman" he bowed, nodding at the others as he raised his head.

Trent looked at him for a while

"Good evening, Mr. Javier"

The man chuckled, not surprised by the fact that Trent knew his name.

"A friend of yours asked me to bring you. They said to tell you that it isn't right to call a woman fat because she might have a fierce son named Uriel"

Theo and the others looked at each other, confused. What type of weird code was that.

Trent chuckled, softly.

Lord Uriel, huh?

I didn't expect us to meet so soon.

"Let's go" he stood up

"Capt---"

"It's okay" he turned to Theo and the others.

"I'll be alright. I'm just going to meet a friend"

"You sure you don't need the security?" Tyson worried, looking at the Man.

Did the sun rise from the west?

He laughed softly. To think a day will come when Tyson worries about me.

"This one's okay. I might come back late but I'll be alright"

They watched as he followed Javier off.

Javier... Trent glanced at him as he opened the car door.

She's got enough power to move the deputy director of Kraven's Intelligence in a place that's most likely not her domain?

She must've gotten permission from the Emperor.

This will be fun then.

_____

"Make yourself comfortable, Mr. Ackerman. She'll be joining us shortly" Javier tucked his phone away and bowed

Trent looked around. What a grand room. He walked towards the paintings hanging on the wall

Exquisite. They carry such beautiful and stories. Is she a collector of things before the Imperial era?

These are---

"You like them?" An old lady walked in with two bodyguards and a maid carrying a tray, behind her.

"...They are beautiful" he smiled, walking towards her.

"It's great to finally meet you... Lord Uriel"

She chuckled, scanning him

"You look better physically"

He chuckled.

"You look beautiful, Lord---"

"Call me Cara..." She scoffed.

"What do you think about my youngest son?" she chuckled, stretching her hand

"Cara Croft. Nice to finally meet you, Trent"

Oh? Was that how she got him to do the work for her?

"He's got a really good file" he chuckled, shaking her hand.

"He's brilliant too"

She signalled the guards to wait outside as the maid walked past them heading out.

"The paintings..." She glanced at him as they walked towards the sitting area

"They're collections that depict the time before the Imperial family came to be"

He looked at her.

Why would a powerful figure of the Empire have those hanging around?

"Won't this be considered... treason against the Imperial family?"

"Treason?" She scoffed.

"Thaddeus would've been executed a lot of times then"

Wait. Did she just call the Emperor by name?

She looked at him.

"He gifted me those paintings. There's a lot on that old man's mind that even I can't explain"

"He's very interesting" he muttered

"I see you've finally met him" She laughed softly, taking her seat.

"He's been bitching about meeting his grandson— even went as far as setting you up for the position of Lord"

She knows about it?

Just how far did her relationship with the Emperor go?

They turned towards the door as it opened.

"The final guests are here"

His eyes widened. Yvaine? Duke Dumroe? Why are they here?