The sleek black sedan glided silently through the neon-lit streets, its engine a whisper against the hum of the city. Daniel sat beside Lee Sang-hoon, his posture immaculate, eyes sharp and cold like shards of glass reflecting every flicker of movement outside. The city was alive with chaos and noise, but inside him, an ocean of calculation churned quietly, each thought precise, each plan ruthless.
Lee glanced nervously at him. "Daniel… some of these people will laugh, some will sneer, and some… they might even walk away thinking we're wasting their time. You understand what you're walking into, don't you?"
Daniel's lips curled into a faint, chilling smile. "I don't care, Mr. Lee. I am here to do business. When an elephant walks through a village, rabid dogs bark at it, thinking they can intimidate it. The elephant shows mercy by not reacting—if it reacts, the dogs die. Don't worry. I will handle it like a professional."
Lee swallowed hard. "You really mean that?"
Daniel's gaze never wavered. "I do. Every bark is noted, every movement cataloged. Let them underestimate me—it only makes them weaker."
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Arrival and First Impressions
The meeting hall was a cavern of muted light, dust motes floating in the air like tiny specters. Around the long table sat businessmen, politicians, and representatives of underworld factions—each a thorn in the side of the bullies' families. Murmurs erupted when Daniel, small and unassuming, stepped forward.
Lee Sang-hoon introduced him, "This… is Daniel Park. The strategist behind today's proposal."
A ripple of disbelief swept through the room. Laughter erupted from a burly faction leader. "A child? You brought a child to negotiate? This is absurd!"
Some scoffed. "Lee Sang-hoon, what is this? A prank? Are we here to play with toys?"
Daniel remained perfectly still. The laughter faded as his cold, calculating gaze swept the room. He exhaled lightly, small hands folded neatly on the table. The air thickened as tension pressed down, subtle but suffocating.
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Commanding Presence
"Gentlemen," Daniel said, his voice calm, precise, slicing through the murmurs like a knife, "listen first. If my proposal does not appeal to you, leave. Walk out now. But give me ten minutes—ten minutes—and you will understand why you are here."
A few scoffed, rolling their eyes. "Ten minutes… from a ten-year-old?"
Daniel's small lips curled into a cruel, knowing smirk. "Laugh if you must. The joke will not be on me." The room fell silent. Every eye, every heartbeat, now focused on him.
He leaned forward slightly, and his voice dropped, cold and commanding. "You believe this is about a child. It is not. It is about precision, strategy, and ruthlessness. You will see how power can be wielded when knowledge replaces impulse."
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The Proposal
Daniel's words flowed with surgical precision:
He outlined every opponent: strongest enforcers, weakest financial links, hidden alliances, and political favors.
He described how to dismantle their empire, "brick by brick," invisibly and irreversibly.
He mapped opportunities for factions to seize territories and influence, incentivized by wealth, security, and strategic advantage.
Every detail was backed by data, observation, and calculated risk, leaving no room for doubt.
A faction leader spoke, hesitant. "And what about police interference? Political pressure?"
Daniel's gaze sharpened. "Every scenario is accounted for. Timing, patience, and meticulous execution neutralize all threats. Doubt me, and you are irrelevant. Follow precisely, and victory is guaranteed."
The room was struck silent. Whispers vanished. Every individual leaned in, spellbound by a child who spoke like a master tactician.
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Acceptance and Respect
Questions emerged, precise and deliberate: logistics, finances, coordination, timing. Daniel answered with icy clarity. Each answer was measured, concise, and final.
By the end, one elder businessman finally said, "A ten-year-old… and yet your mind… it is cold, ruthless, and calculating. Like an elder strategist. Incredible."
Daniel's cruel smirk widened. "This is only the beginning."
Another asked cautiously, "What is the first step?"
Daniel's eyes gleamed, sharp as obsidian. "The operation begins with my bullies at school. In one month, when preparations are complete, we strike. Every subsequent action is invisible, unstoppable, and irreversible."
Lee exhaled softly, awe and disbelief mixing. The factions nodded, fully aware that the elephant had entered the room—and the barking dogs were powerless.
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Closing Thoughts
As Daniel walked out into the cool night, the city lights flickering like distant stars, he allowed himself a fleeting thought: Every alliance, every observation, every shadow move is calculated. Brick by brick, empire by empire, every threat will crumble. And no one—neither thug nor bully—will ever humiliate my mother or me again.
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🔥 End of Chapter 19 – The Elephant Among Dogs