Chapter 14: The Financial Execution
The headquarters of the Liang Consolidated Bank was a monolith of gold-tinted glass in the heart of the Upper Sector. Inside the penthouse office, Liang Chen—the eldest son of the Liang Dynasty—swirled a glass of vintage scotch. He was a man who believed that the world was a chessboard and he was the only player with a queen.
"Report," Chen commanded, looking at his holographic display.
"The assassin hasn't checked in, Master," a sub-ordinate whispered. "But the news from the streets is worse. The 'Ghost' who bought the dealership... he just placed a massive 'Short' order on our primary liquidity pool. He's attacking our stock."
Chen laughed, a cold, sharp sound. "He's a fool. We have the backing of the Solaris Hegemony. No single man has enough units to move our market needle. He's just throwing pebbles at a mountain."
Suddenly, the lights in the office flickered. The holographic displays turned blood-red.
[WARNING: HOSTILE TAKEOVER INITIATED]
[92% OF LIANG SHARES PURCHASED BY MCCAIN HOLDINGS]
Chen's glass shattered on the floor. "Impossible! That would cost trillions! No one has that kind of liquid capital!"
The double doors of the office didn't open; they simply dissolved. Carson McCain walked in, wearing a simple black trench coat. He didn't look like a billionaire; he looked like an omen. Behind him, the air seemed to warp, the pressure in the room dropping so fast that Chen's ears began to bleed.
"The pebbles moved the mountain, Chen," Carson said. He didn't sit. He simply stood in the center of the room, his 11th strand of Qi—the 'Sense'—scanning the room for the Emerald Blueprint.
"McCain!" Chen roared, drawing a Tier-9 Ion-Blade from his desk. "You think money can save you? This is the Liang Family! We have Level 12 Elders!"
"I already bought your Elders," Carson said calmly. "I offered them ten times what you pay them to simply... go on vacation. You are alone, Chen. And as of thirty seconds ago, you are also homeless."
Carson reached out his hand. Using his Qi, he pulled a hidden obsidian drive from a wall safe behind Chen. The Emerald Blueprint.
"You can't take that!" Chen screamed, lunging with his Ion-Blade.
Carson didn't even draw his saber. He flicked a single finger. A wave of violet Qi hit Chen, not killing him, but instantly severing his connection to his cybernetic implants. Chen collapsed into a heap of useless chrome and flesh.
"I'm not taking it," Carson said, pocketing the drive. "I'm reclaiming it. Tell your father that I've left enough money in his personal account for a one-way ticket to the slums. I think it's time your family learned the value of a single unit."