The Tycoon's Odyssey

Federation Headquarters: The Secret Assembly

The vast, circular hall of the Federation Headquarters buzzed with hushed murmurs. World leaders, business tycoons, and shadowy figures who had long since controlled global affairs from behind the scenes filled the chamber. The air was thick with tension, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on every individual present.

Despite the hall's grandeur—marble flooring, gold-embossed pillars, and a massive digital display at the center—the atmosphere felt suffocating. No one spoke loudly. Everyone was on edge, scrambling for seats as if their position in the room somehow granted them an advantage.

The lower-ranked countries were the first to arrive, their leaders huddled together like lost sheep. They knew that their presence here hardly mattered and was only symbolic. Their fate would be decided by the powerful, and all they could do was listen and obey their orders.

Prime Ministers and Presidents from these smaller nations quickly scrambled to find seats at the far end of the hall, their hands clammy and their faces pale. Some whispered among themselves, speculating on what Evan planned to do further.

One man, dressed in a dark blue suit, wiped the sweat from his brow.

"What do you think he'll do to us?" he whispered to the man beside him.

"If we're lucky, he'll just strip us of power," the one next to him replied, his voice shaking.

"And if we're not?"

The man swallowed hard. "I don't want to think about that."

Meanwhile, the powerful nations occupied the front rows, but even they didn't seem to be at ease. They had been summoned here, some by force, others by threats.

Beyond the official leaders sat another group—the ones who had truly pulled the strings of the world. Billionaire tycoons, underworld bosses, intelligence directors, and arms dealers who had controlled global conflicts for decades.

Unlike the government officials, these men and women weren't scrambling for seats. They had operated from the shadows for too long to show open fear, and their confidence hadn't entirely disappeared—though some had begun to show cracks in their composure.

A silver-haired man in a three-piece suit leaned toward his companion.

"This is the first time in history that the entire world's elite has been gathered in one place," he murmured.

"Not by choice," the other replied.

"That's the problem," the silver-haired man continued. "For decades, we've been the ones deciding who lives and who dies. Now, we're the ones waiting for the very same judgment."

Across the room, hushed conversations took place.

"Do you think he'll dismantle the economic system?" a finance mogul whispered.

"Worse. He might replace it with something we can't control."

"If he unites the world under one government, we will be done with."

_____

The World Leaders' Exchange

At the center of the hall, near the front rows, a group of key world leaders sat together. USL's President Malcolm, USR's President Viktor, Daxia's Prime Minister Zhao, and Great Royal's Prime Minister Vivek Sunek.

Viktor, ever composed, sipping on a glass of wine, a faint smirk on his lips as he greeted Malcolm.

"You don't seem well, Malcolm," Viktor remarked, swirling the deep red liquid in his glass.

Malcolm scoffed, rubbing his temple. "Should I? Does this even look like a situation anyone should feel good about?" He then turned his tired eyes toward Zhao, who looked far worse than him—his face had turned pale, and there were big dark circles under his eyes.

"At least I look better than him," Malcolm muttered.

Upon hearing his name, Zhao shot him a sharp glance. "Are you talking behind my back, Malcolm?"

Malcolm sighed. "Yeah, why? What are you gonna do about it? Fight me?"

Before Zhao could snap back, another voice interrupted them.

"Why are you all arguing? We should be focusing on what's ahead," said a man dressed in a perfectly tailored suit.

It was Vivek Sunek, the Prime Minister of Great Royal.

Unlike the others, who at least had some authority, Vivek was merely a puppet. Everyone knew he danced to the tune of the Queen of Great Royal.

Malcolm gave him a sideways glance. "And what exactly do you suggest we focus on? You think we have a say in what will happen next?"

Sunek let out a nervous chuckle, but it was clear that he also didn't have a real answer.

A heavy silence stretched between the four men as they exchanged glances, their expressions grim.

Malcolm finally spoke, his voice heavy with resignation. "So… what are we going to do now?"

No one answered.

The reality was too clear for them. They weren't here to negotiate. They were here to be told what would happen next.

Soon, while the hall remained tense, a chilling whisper cut through the silence.

"By the way… are you all sure we're here to talk and not to fight?"

The question sent a ripple of unease through the group.

"I mean… he wouldn't kill us, right?"
Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

A cold shiver ran down their spines.

No one responded.

The thought had already crossed their minds, but hearing it out loud made it worse.

A deep, suffocating silence settled over the room.

For the first time in history, the most powerful people in the world weren't in control.

They were merely waiting for judgment.

_____

The massive hall was eerily silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional whisper among the attendees. No one dared to speak too loudly. The weight of the situation was pressing down on everyone present, suffocating.

Then, the silence shattered.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber. The sound was slow, deliberate—each step carried with it the weight of absolute authority.

Finally, Evan had arrived.

The grand double doors swung open, revealing Evan walking in, flanked by his elite guards. Unlike the other world leaders who had dressed in their finest suits and dresses, Evan stood apart in a sleek black tactical uniform. He exuded an aura of dominance, his cold eyes scanning the room like a predator surveying its prey.

Beside him walked a projection of Aurora, her striking red hair glowing under the artificial lighting. She carried a sleek black tablet, her fingers moving fluidly across the screen.

A hush fell over the assembly as Evan stepped forward, his piercing gaze locking onto the most prominent figures in the room.

With a simple motion of his hand, his guards moved to shut the massive doors behind him, sealing the room.

There was no escape.

Evan finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight, breaking the silence.

"I assume you all know why you're here."