At the center of Oracle City, where towering buildings dominated the skyline and the flow of wealth never ceased, a massive construction project had suddenly begun to take shape. The area, once an ordinary commercial block, had been completely transformed into a bustling construction zone. Tower cranes loomed over the site, slowly rotating as they lifted steel beams high into the air. Excavators roared as they dug deeper into the earth, while trucks carrying cement and materials entered and exited the site in an endless stream. Workers moved with strict coordination, guided by engineers and supervisors who constantly checked blueprints and schedules. The pace of the construction was unusually fast, drawing attention from nearly every major business figure in the city.
Standing inside a temporary glass office overlooking the entire site was Trisha Jenner, Bonna's older sister. Dressed in a tailored business suit, she watched the progress with calm confidence. Several project managers stood beside her, occasionally handing over reports and construction updates, but her expression remained composed and focused. Unlike most corporate projects in the city, this one had been launched without any formal announcement. There were no banners displaying a company name, no press conferences, and no public records revealing the identity of the corporation behind the development.
This secrecy had sparked endless speculation throughout Oracle City's business circles. Financial analysts tried to track the investment sources, journalists attempted to uncover corporate filings, and rival families quietly launched their own investigations. Yet none of them managed to uncover even the smallest piece of concrete information. The company's name remained unknown, and its purpose even more mysterious. In truth, only a handful of people in the entire city knew the details behind the project. Only the five helmsmen of the allied families were aware of the company's identity and its strategic plans. They understood that the company being constructed in the city center was not merely another commercial enterprise. If everything proceeded as planned, it would soon enter Oracle City's market as a powerful new force, capable of competing across multiple industries at once.
While construction progressed steadily at the city center, a far more tense meeting was taking place in another part of Oracle City.
Inside the Douglas family residence, two elderly men sat across from one another in a quiet private study. The Douglas estate was one of the oldest and most prestigious properties in the city, filled with antique furniture, polished wooden walls, and paintings of past family leaders. Yet despite the elegance of the room, the atmosphere was heavy with unease. The two men sitting at the table were the helmsmen of two of Oracle City's most powerful families-the Douglas family and the Wade family.
Spread across the large wooden table before them were several documents, reports, and aerial photographs of the construction site in the city center. The two patriarchs studied the materials carefully, their expressions growing darker with each page they examined.
The Douglas family's helmsman slowly removed his glasses and placed them on the table, exhaling deeply. "So it's confirmed," he said quietly. "The Jenners have already started construction."
Across from him, the Wade family's helmsman nodded. "Yes. Our sources verified it this morning. The investment behind the project is enormous. The initial capital alone is estimated to exceed several billion."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
For decades, the balance of power among Oracle City's wealthy families had remained relatively stable. The Jenners, the Douglases, the Wades, and several other influential families had coexisted in a delicate equilibrium. They competed for projects, investments, and political influence, but no single family had ever managed to pull far ahead of the others.
Now that balance appeared to be shifting.
The Wade patriarch tapped one of the reports lightly with his finger. "Look at these projections," he said. "Finance, logistics, technology services, commercial property. The sectors involved are too broad."
The Douglas helmsman frowned slightly as he reviewed the same document again. "No ordinary company would enter so many fields at once," he murmured.
He paused for a moment before speaking again, his voice lower than before.
"Unless they are planning to dominate the market quickly."
The Wade patriarch leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together thoughtfully. "First the suburban project in Berian City," he said slowly. "Then the sudden power shift in the underworld after Max Raider's defeat. And now this massive corporate project in the city center."
He shook his head slightly.
"Everything is happening too quickly."
The Douglas helmsman nodded in agreement. Over the past few days, the Jenner family's influence had increased in ways that many people found difficult to explain. Business permits that once required weeks were suddenly approved within days. Several investment groups that had once been neutral were now leaning toward supporting Jenner ventures. Even certain government departments seemed more cooperative than before.
It was as if some unseen force was quietly supporting them.
"What concerns me most," the Douglas patriarch said slowly, "is the timing of this project."
The Wade helmsman looked up.
"The Jenners waited until now to begin construction," the Douglas patriarch continued. "Right after the fall of Max Raider."
Another silence filled the study.
Neither man openly voiced the suspicion forming in their minds, but both were thinking the same thing.
If the Jenner family had somehow aligned themselves with the mysterious new force that had taken control of Paradise Casino, then their rise would no longer be just a business matter. It would mean that the balance of both the corporate world and the underworld in Oracle City was beginning to shift in their favor.
Back at the city center construction site, the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon as the skeletal frame of the rising building cast long shadows across the ground. Workers continued moving under the fading daylight, and the constant sounds of machinery echoed across the district.
Inside the glass office, Trisha Jenner stood with her arms folded as she observed the progress below.
One of her assistants approached carefully and spoke in a low voice. "Miss Jenner, we've received information that the Douglas and Wade families have begun investigating the project."
Trisha did not turn around.
"Of course they have," she replied calmly.
Her gaze remained fixed on the towering structure slowly rising from the ground.
"Let them investigate."
Her tone was steady, almost indifferent.
Because by the time the powerful families of Oracle City finally discovered the true purpose of the company being built-
It would already be too late.
Meanwhile
Meanwhile, inside the Douglas family's ancestral estate, the atmosphere had become incomparably heavier.
The spacious conference hall, usually reserved for important family gatherings, was now occupied by the highest-ranking members of both the Douglas and Wade families. The heads of each family sat at opposite ends of a long mahogany table, while elders, executives, military advisers, and trusted strategists remained silent in their respective seats.
No one dared to speak first.
The reports scattered across the table had already explained everything.
The Jenner family's development in Berian City's suburbs had officially commenced.
The mysterious corporation in Oracle City's business district had begun construction.
Paradise Casino had changed ownership overnight.
Several neighboring small cities had unexpectedly fallen under the influence of the casino's new owner.
Every report pointed toward one conclusion.
The Jenners were no longer on the defensive.
They had begun expanding aggressively.
Damon Douglas slowly closed the report in front of him before placing it on the table. His weathered face remained expressionless, but everyone present could sense the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.
"So..." he finally said, his voice low and cold.
"The old fox has finally revealed his fangs."
Across from him, Wade patriarch Harold Wade narrowed his eyes.
"I underestimated Robert."
"I did too," Damon admitted.
"Instead of desperately defending his territory, he chose to expand."
One of the Douglas elders frowned.
"But Patriarch, the Jenners shouldn't possess enough capital to launch two massive projects simultaneously."
Another executive immediately added, "Not only that. They've also absorbed the Grant family's businesses in an unbelievably short time. Their management efficiency has doubled compared to before."
"Their alliance has become more united as well," another strategist reported.
"Several neutral investors have already expressed interest in partnering with the Jenners."
"Our intelligence also confirms that the morale of their allied families is at an all-time high."
Silence returned to the hall.
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
Everything had happened too quickly.
Just a week ago, the Jenner family had been cornered from every direction.
Now, they were expanding on multiple fronts.
It was almost unbelievable.
Harold Wade leaned back in his chair and tapped the table thoughtfully.
"The suburban development in Berian City alone has enormous long-term value."
"If completed successfully, it could generate billions over the next decade."
"The appreciation of land prices alone would make the Jenners unimaginably wealthy."
He looked directly at Damon.
"And now they've started constructing another company in the city center."
"The timing isn't a coincidence."
Damon slowly nodded.
"It isn't."
He stood up and walked toward the enormous floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city.
"The Jenners are building a second pillar."
"The Berian project will stabilize their real-estate empire."
"The city-center company..."
He paused.
"...will become their commercial empire."
One of the Wade elders clenched his fists.
"If we allow both projects to succeed..."
"...they'll surpass us sooner or later."
Another elder spoke worriedly.
"What concerns me even more is Paradise Casino."
"The new owner conquered three neighboring cities in less than a day."
"He replaced every employee inside the casino overnight."
"Our spies couldn't even identify who took over."
"It was executed flawlessly."
Damon's eyes narrowed.
"Exactly."
"Someone with that level of organization..."
"...is not an ordinary businessman."
"He planned everything."
"Every move."
"Every replacement."
"Every expansion."
"As if he had prepared years in advance."
The conference room became eerily quiet.
The possibility they least wanted to consider slowly formed in everyone's minds.
Harold Wade finally broke the silence.
"Do you think..."
"...the mysterious owner of Paradise Casino is working with Robert Jenner?"
Damon did not answer immediately.
Instead, he stared out the window toward the glittering skyline of Oracle City.
"The timing fits."
"The Grant family falls."
"Paradise Casino changes hands."
"The Jenners immediately begin expanding."
He slowly turned around.
"I don't believe in coincidences."
"The casino's new owner..."
"...and the Jenner family..."
"...are connected."
Those words sent chills throughout the room.
One executive swallowed nervously.
"If that's true..."
"...our situation is becoming dangerous."
Another strategist quickly spoke.
"Patriarch, should we launch an attack before the Jenner projects gain momentum?"
Damon shook his head.
"No."
"Not yet."
"The authorities are watching every move we make."
"If we act recklessly now..."
"...we'll only give Robert an excuse to rally more support."
Harold nodded in agreement.
"Our first priority should be gathering information."
"I want every investigator we have focused on one person."
"The owner of Paradise Casino."
"I don't care how much money it costs."
"I want his identity."
"I want his background."
"And I want to know who stands behind him."
Several executives immediately stood.
"Understood!"
The meeting continued for another hour as both families discussed contingency plans, investment strategies, and possible countermeasures.
Yet despite all their discussions...
No one could propose a perfect solution.
For the first time in decades...
The Douglas and Wade families found themselves reacting to someone else's moves instead of controlling the board.
Far away, inside the temporary office overlooking the city-center construction site, Trisha Jenner quietly finished reviewing another stack of documents.
Her assistant approached respectfully.
"Miss Jenner, we've received confirmation."
"The Douglas and Wade families have begun investigating both projects."
Trisha smiled faintly.
"I expected that."
She signed another document before handing it back.
"Continue construction."
"No delays."
"No shortcuts."
The assistant nodded.
"Yes, Miss Jenner."
As the office became quiet again, Trisha walked toward the large glass window.
Below her, hundreds of workers continued building without pause.
Tower cranes moved rhythmically against the evening sky.
Concrete trucks entered one after another.
The foundation of a new empire was slowly taking shape.
She folded her arms and looked toward the distant skyline.
"Investigate all you want," she murmured softly.
"By the time you discover the truth..."
"...our foundation will already be complete."
A gentle breeze brushed past the window.
Neither the Douglas family...
Nor the Wade family...
Realized that while they were busy investigating the mysterious company...
The true mastermind behind every major event in Oracle City had never stepped into the spotlight.
He was quietly moving pieces across the board...
One move at a time.
And when the final piece finally fell into place-
The entire power structure of Oracle City would be rewritten forever.