MTLNOVEL Chapter 467: Hostile Takeover
The palace's main hall erupted in relieved chaos the moment Parker and Zhang Ruoyun materialized back into normal reality. To the family, they'd been gone for maybe three hours tops—long enough for everyone to get worried, but not long enough for full-scale panic.
For Parker and Zhang Ruoyun? They'd just spent two months in a conceptual training space where time moved differently, and Zhang Ruoyun had made damn sure they put every single day to good use. The woman had apparently been storing up eons of sexual frustration and decided to cash it all in at once in two months.
Parker looked refreshed in that post-vacation way, but Zhang Ruoyun? She immediately snapped back to her usual composed, stoic self like nothing had happened. The contrast was fucking adorable—one second she'd been wrapped around him like a cosmic-powered koala, the next she was standing perfectly straight with her hands clasped behind her back, looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.
"Dad!" Nyxavere practically launched herself at him, her omniscient powers apparently not extending to wherever the hell they'd been. "We couldn't see you guys at all! Do you have any idea how weird that is for me?"
Parker caught her in a hug, grinning, patting her head slowly "Sorry, kiddo. Had some balance issues to work out."
"Balance issues?" Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her vampire senses picking up on things the others might miss. "Is that what we're calling it, daddy?"
Zhang Ruoyun's expression didn't change one bit, but Parker caught the tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth. She was fighting a smile, the little shit.
"Yes, little one..." Zhang Ruoyun said with perfect composure, "balance issues. Very technical. Very cosmic. Nothing you need to worry about."
Maya stepped forward, relief evident on her face. "Are you... better now? You seem more like yourself."
Parker's smile softened as he pulled his wife into his arms. "Yeah, love. I'm better. I'm me again." He kissed her forehead gently. "Sorry for being such a cosmic asshole lately."
"Language," Bella chided automatically, then immediately contradicted herself. "But also, thank fuck you're back to normal. Emotionally detached Parker was creepy as hell."
"Agreed," Ere chimed in from her position sprawled across an expensive sofa. "You were starting to sound like a really pretentious GPS. 'Turn left to achieve optimal efficiency.' Ugh."
He rolled his eyes while others laughed...
It was warm to be with family.
Zhang Ruoyun's perfectly maintained composure cracked just slightly at that, a soft snort escaping before she could stop it. Parker caught it and grinned at her, which made her straighten even more, as if extra posture could make up for the momentary lapse.
"Helena," Parker called out, "please tell me you have good news about our little Five Families situation."
Helena appeared with that efficient grace she'd perfected, tablet in hand and looking like she'd been having way too much fun. "Your Highness, I have... extensive news."
The system interface materialized in front of Parker, numbers scrolling across the translucent display.
[Acquisition Target: The Five Families]
[Total Assets: $847.3 trillion]
[Estimated Purchase Cost: $1.2 quadrillion]
[10x Cashback profit: $12 quadrillion]**
[Current Balance: $20.770292 quadrillion]**
Parker whistled low. "Damn, they're expensive little shits, aren't they?"
'Thank you, Levi,'
"The most expensive little shits," Helena confirmed with satisfaction. "But here's the interesting part—in the three hours you were gone, I've already acquired everything they actually own."
The room went silent.
"Everything?" Maya asked faintly.
"Everything," Helena nodded. "Every company, every asset, every piece of property, every shell corporation, every offshore account. The Wilders' luxury empire, the Ashfords' media conglomerate, the Harringtons' real estate and banking networks, the Morellos' entire criminal infrastructure, and the Beaumonts' military-industrial complex."
Nyxavere blinked. "You bought... crime?"
"I bought the corporations that facilitate crime," Helena clarified. "Technically legal. Also technically hilarious."
Parker leaned back, grinning. "And they don't know yet, right?"
"Not a clue," Helena's smile was sharp as glass. "All the paperwork is filed, all the transfers are complete, but the public notifications don't go out until you give the word. Right now, they think they still own everything."
"Perfect." Parker's grin turned predatory. "Don't tell them yet. It'll be way more fun to buy them when they can see everything collapse in real time."
Zhang Ruoyun, still maintaining her perfect composure, spoke up in that calm, measured tone she used when she was being particularly dangerous. "The psychological impact will be more effective if they believe they still have power when you make your move."
Everyone turned to look at her, and she blinked innocently, as if she hadn't just casually suggested the most ruthless possible approach to destroying five of the world's most powerful families.
Parker's grin widened. "God, I love you."
The tiniest hint of pink touched Zhang Ruoyun's cheeks, but her expression remained serenely neutral. "I'm simply suggesting optimal strategy."
"Sure you are," Seraphina smirked. "And I'm sure those 'balance issues' were purely professional too."
The pink on Zhang Ruoyun's cheeks deepened slightly, but she lifted her chin with dignity. "I don't know what you're implying."
The entire family exchanged looks, and Parker couldn't help but laugh. Two months of the most incredible cosmic sex in existence, and she was back to being adorably flustered by basic teasing. It was perfect.
*
Parker leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he looked across the room at Helena and his four corporate representatives. The holographic displays showed the Five Families' assets mapped out like a fucking buffet, and it was time to decide who got what.
"Alright," he said, voice carrying that casual authority that made reality bend to listen. "Let's make this simple. Skills-based division. Everyone gets what they're actually good at, not what they want."
Helena pulled up the organizational charts, numbers flowing across multiple screens as the corporate empire restructured itself in real-time.
"Ravencrofts can take the Harringtons," Parker decided. "Real estate, banking, investments. Witches know how to make deals that stick, and they understand money better than anyone." He glanced at Seoryeon, who was already pulling up property portfolios on her laptop.
"Seoryeon, you'll be heading the real estate division directly. Work with the Ravencrofts running other things they're good at. You're running point on all acquisitions."
Seoryeon nodded without looking up from her screen, fingers flying across the keyboard. "The Harrington portfolio has some interesting offshore structures. I can optimize those within the week."
"Kingswells get the Ashfords," Parker continued, and his smile turned particularly sharp. "Media, entertainment, publishing, communications. Elves already control digital perception—time to let them run the content creation side too." His gaze shifted to Callista, who was managing entertainment sectors.
"Callista, you'll be working directly with Bella, handles entertainment alone with her. Make sure the transition is... smooth."
Callista's grin was all teeth. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Do you know how long I've wanted to completely restructure the media landscape?"
"Dravens take the Morellos completely," Parker said, and everyone in the room felt the temperature drop slightly. "Crime, assassination, black markets. Shadow Lords running the entire underworld openly? That's just... poetic."
Ava looked up from her legal frameworks, adjusting her glasses. "The criminal enterprises will need legitimate fronts. I can have shell corporations established by tomorrow."
"Voidhowls get the Beaumonts," Parker continued. "Military, biotech, weapons, private armies. Wolves understand warfare and survival better than anyone."
Cassidy snorted without looking up from her financial projections. "The Beaumont defense contracts alone are worth more than most countries' GDP. This is going to be expensive as hell to integrate."
Parker's expression grew contemplative. "And the Wilders..." He paused, letting the silence stretch. "We leave them alone. For now."
Helena raised an eyebrow. "Sir?"