The Tycoon's Odyssey

A heavy, uneasy silence steeled over the room, the weight of Evan's wrath still palpable. The air felt colder, heavier, as though time itself had paused in anticipation.

The splintered tables and shattered furniture lay strewn across the floor, a haunting reminder of the raw power they had just witnessed.

Roy was the one to finally break the silence. His voice was steady, though edged with tension as he dared to confront Evan directly.

Seeing this, the other family heads muttered under their breath, their tone defensive, "We weren't the only ones who followed the federation, your father's family did the same."

Roy ignored the comment, and his focus was fixed on Evan. "Evan, tell me, what do you want?" His tone carried a mix of curiosity and concern. "If you reject the Federation, does this mean another war for domination? Let's set aside the possibility of winning or losing for a moment—what do you intend to do if you win?"

"Do you want to control the world?"

The question hung in the air like a challenge, heavy with anticipation. All eyes turned to Evan, who remained motionless. Claire's grip on his arm tightened, her worry evident. For once, her usually composed features betrayed a flicker of uncharacteristic uncertainty. She glanced up at him, her emerald eyes searching his face for reassurance.

Suri mirrored her concern, her fingers curling lightly around his other arm. Her gaze was calm but anxious, focused solely on Evan. She seemed to be silently urging him to choose his words carefully.

Sensing their unease, Evan let out a quiet sigh. He gently placed his hands over theirs, one at a time, his touch steadying and reassuring them. Without a word, he rose from his seat, his movements slow and deliberate.

The soft sound of his footsteps against the floor echoed in the quiet room as he walked ahead, his piercing gaze sweeping across the gathered family heads. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but resolute, every word laced with conviction.

"Controlling everything from the shadows, manipulating lives like pieces on a chessboard—that's not who I am," he began, his tone sharp. "I don't want it."

He paused, his eyes hardening as he looked directly at Roy, then shifted to others. "I'm not the type to hide behind curtains and pull strings."

By all means, Evan had all the power to do so, but he didn't like those secret groups that operated in the shadows, playing games with the lives of others.

The tension in the room thickened as his words settled over them. Some of the family heads shifted uncomfortably in their seats, the weight of Evan's intensity almost suffocating.

"Those who want to live that way, they're welcome to it," he continued, his tone unwavering. "My goal is simple—to make a better world for the next generation. A world where everyone has the freedom to shape their own future without being shackled by the greed and control of others."

"A world where the risks of pollution, criminals and anything harming the earth itself is neutralized."

He paused, his gaze sweeping the room, daring anyone to challenge him. "At the same time, I want to create a system where everyone is treated equally under the law—a system that's truly just, without even a shred of bias."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room. The idea sounded noble, almost idealistic, but to most, it sounded like an impossible dream. The family heads exchanged skeptical glances, doubts written plainly on their faces.

Uday broke the tension with a derisive scoff. "What a load of hypocrisy," he said, earning a sharp glare from Roy. But Uday ignored it, leaning forward with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Even if you somehow take over the Federation and do all these lofty goals, what about your offspring? Can you guarantee they'll share your sentiments?" Uday's tone was challenging, almost mocking.

"No. There's no guarantee. They could just as easily turn corrupt, seize control and sabotage everything you built. Like countless others before them."

"Even if you preach all these flowery ideals," Uday sneered. "In the end, everything will follow the same trajectory. So stop this bullshit."

Evan didn't respond at first. Instead, he chuckled softly—low and almost chilling.

"Bullshit…Hahahah!"

He looked at Uday with a calmness that only deepened the unease in the room.

Looking directly at Uday, Evan spoke, his voice steady and certain. "They won't,"

Uday narrowed his eyes, his skepticism evident. "And how can you say that with such certainty?"

Evan's response was as resolute as his stance, his cold gaze locking onto Uday. His words carried a weight that sent an icy ripple through the room.

"Because it's never going to be about lineage." He let the statement linger for a moment, watching confusion settle across their faces.

A faint, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he added, "I already have someone who can monitor the entire world without bias—a fully functional artificial system."

The room fell into a stunned silence again, this time with a mix of shock and apprehension. Claire's eyes widened slightly, while Suri tilted her head in thought, trying to grasp the full extent of Evan's plans.

They knew about Aurora, but others didn't and would sometimes wonder if Evan was soon going to disclose Aurora to the world.

The gathered family heads exchanged uneasy glances, their doubts about Evan's ambition swiftly overshadowed by the chilling realization that he might possess the power to make his vision a reality.

Evan's smile deepened as he regarded them, "You will have a glimpse but in exchange…"

An aura of chilling power radiated from him, leaving no room for negotiations. He wasn't going to reveal his secrets and let them walk away like that.

"You will need to sign a damned contract."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

_____

Fabiano staggered onto the street after being unceremoniously thrown out of the hotel. For a few moments, he lay sprawled on the pavement, dazed and disoriented. Slowly, his senses returned, and with them, a surge of anger.

Pushing himself to his feet, he let out a furious scream, drawing the attention of the passersby.

The people stopped, their stares heavy with curiosity and judgment. Some whispered amongst themselves, dismissing him as a madman, while others just kept their distance. One man even chuckled, pointing at him like he was a joke.

Fabiano's sharp gaze snapped to the man, his murderous intent flashing in his eyes. For a brief moment, he entertained the thought of striking him down. But he forced himself to rein in his rage, his fists clenching tightly.

Instead, he growled through his gritted teeth, "Evan… Evan… I swear I'll take you down in the bloodiest way possible."

With that, he stormed off, his steps pounding against the pavement, each one laden with frustration and rage.

_____

Unbeknownst to Fabiano, a man hiding among the crowd had been observing him closely. Raising a small communicator to his lips, the man murmured.

"Fabiano's furious. Looks like the meeting didn't go as planned—he was rejected."

The voice on the other end responded with calm precision.

[Hmm. I'll report this to the President. Now move out.]

"Roger that," the man replied and ended the call.

No sooner had he lowered the communicator after ending the call than a sharp electric jolt surged through it, eliciting a cry of pain. "Ouch!" He flung the device away, shaking his hand to quell the stinging sensation.

Before he could react further, two burly men appeared out of nowhere, grabbing his arms with iron grips. Their strength was overwhelming, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't budge them an inch.

One of them leaned in close, his expression cold and detached. "Sorry, buddy," he said with a smirk. "You're coming with us today."