The single, softly spoken word hung in the air, and an absolute silence descended upon the entire villa.
Everyone present stared at Christopher, a mixture of confusion and burgeoning curiosity etched on their faces. Before anyone could voice their questions, John’s voice returned, sounding slightly strained.
A brief pause followed, and then John’s voice spoke again, a note of urgency in his tone.
"Please, could you repeat the code?"
’It seems he’s activating the verification device,’ Christopher surmised, repeating the sequence.
In an opulent villa nestled in an exclusive district, a middle-aged man and woman sat tensely on a plush couch, their attention riveted to a small, sophisticated device resembling a sleek laptop. The incoming phone call was connected to it.
At that precise moment, their eyes were wide with astonishment, not solely due to the advanced technology before them, but because of the radiant golden light emanating from its screen.
The man instinctively placed his hand over the phone’s speaker, his face a mask of utter shock.
"Why is it golden? It should be green, shouldn’t it?" the woman whispered in bewildered confusion.
"The light only turns green when Sir Sunny and the other four Kings initiate a call..." the man murmured, a soft sigh escaping his lips.
"Our family represents one of the more recent additions to the ’C+’ empire, so I haven’t been granted the privilege of directly interacting with the ultimate mastermind behind it all."
"Are you implying...?" The woman’s eyes widened further, her breath catching in her throat.
"Yes... The supreme leader of the ’C+’ empire, the master of the five Kings... There’s simply no logical reason why such an extraordinary individual would personally contact me, unless it pertains to something of the utmost urgency."
"John! This is an unprecedented opportunity! Regardless of his request, you must accept without hesitation! Proximity to this enigmatic Boss will propel our family to unimaginable heights!" the woman exclaimed, a hopeful smile illuminating her face as she turned her gaze back to the glowing screen.
"So, this golden luminescence... that signifies his personal signature?"
"Precisely... SHIT! I’ve kept the Boss waiting for far too long!"
He swiftly removed his hand from the speaker, his next words perhaps a touch too loud in his haste.
[Valhalla family’s estate.]
"My deepest apologies, Boss!!! I was simply too overwhelmed by surprise to respond coherently! Please, I beg your forgiveness for the delay!!"
Ethan and everyone else in the room blinked in utter astonishment. This was John Lee, the highly respected head of the influential Lee family, a prominent entity holding the sixth position among Cordelia’s top ten families. While the Valhalla family possessed greater overall power, the Lee family held a formidable and deeply entrenched position within the lucrative real estate sector. The sudden realization that Christopher, their seemingly wayward son, was the ultimate authority behind this powerful business dynasty rendered them momentarily speechless.
"Calm yourself," Christopher instructed, his tone surprisingly composed. He then added, his gaze locking onto the still-stunned Ethan.
"I intend to initiate a new project, a significant commercial plaza. I am prepared to invest 50 billion into this venture, but with a single condition."
"Whatever you require, Boss!" John’s voice boomed through the speaker, tinged with an almost frantic eagerness.
"You must collaborate directly with the Valhalla family on this endeavor."
"The Valhalla family?" John’s confusion was evident in his voice. "But Boss, the Valhalla family primarily deals with transportation, land acquisition, banking, and petroleum... Our immediate need is for land, which I already possess. With all due respect, the most logical partners for this project would be construction firms and material suppliers... You oversee ten highly reputable companies in each of those sectors; I could easily contact them, and the project could commence swiftly. Furthermore, I am uncertain if the Valhalla family would even be amenable to such a collaboration; they possess a certain... arrogance due to their considerable influence." John offered his reasoning.
Ethan’s eyebrow arched further at John’s pointed remark.
"Arrogant? In what manner?" Christopher inquired, his voice now carrying a sharper edge.
"Well... We engaged in a cooperative venture once before. They were contracted to assist with the maritime transport of some essential building materials. However, they unilaterally imposed a fixed price of 50 million before even signing the contract... I was forced to accept their exorbitant terms through gritted teeth, as those materials were absolutely critical to our timeline. That was the last instance of our collaboration," John explained, a hint of lingering resentment in his tone.
Christopher nodded slowly, absorbing John’s words, his gaze remaining fixed on his father.
’To the outside world, the Valhalla family projects an image of unassailable strength... currently holding the third position in the country hierarchy. But the reality is that they are facing significant internal pressures... to the extent that even a relatively minor family like the Vanir family is actively challenging their hold on that third rank... I am here now, and I will rectify this situation,’
Christopher resolved silently before stating in a tone that brooked no argument:
"The Valhalla family once saved my life! Who do you think you are to speak of them in such a disrespectful manner?!"
His sudden roar startled Ethan, Amara, and the three.
"Save... save... saved... your life?!" John stammered from the other end of the line, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Yes! I contacted you specifically because your operations are based in Cordelia! If you are incapable of even fulfilling this straightforward request, what purpose do you serve—"
"—No! No! No, Boss! I will undertake this project with utmost diligence! Please disregard my foolish words; I will contact the Valhalla family immediately and finalize all the necessary arrangements!" John interjected hastily.
"Hmm... I will grant you a second chance. Furthermore, the Valhalla family will be entrusted with the complete financial oversight of this project! Do you have any objections to that?!"
"Absolutely none! The Boss’s vision is invariably the most astute!"
"Excellent... Contact the Valhalla family’s head directly and convey this news to him."
With that, Christopher disconnected the call and placed his phone on the table, his unwavering gaze settling once more on his father.
Before Ethan could even formulate a response:
His own phone erupted in a piercing ring. He glanced down at the screen, and his eyes widened in profound shock at the name displayed.