Building The Strongest Family-Chapter 107: The Gambit

Osborn Heavy Industries – Private Design Lab.

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The lab was a cathedral of steel and holographs, where blueprints of the Neo-Luminara Capital Corridor floated like ethereal monuments, their routes glowing gold against the darkened glass walls.

The air buzzed with the scent of ozone and freshly printed schematics as Oscar paced between the projections, his fingers dancing through data streams with restless precision.

Arthur stood near the central display, amusement flickering in his eyes as he watched his cousin dissect the deal point by point.

"Fifty billion," Oscar murmured, disbelief etched on his face. "You just handed Derrick a blank check with our name on it."

Arthur remained unfazed, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "We’re not giving him fifty billion. We’re investing it."

"In infrastructure?" Oscar whirled around, his steel-toed boots scuffing the polished floor. "Since when do we pour capital into public works? That’s a game for big players, low-margin, high-risk ventures disguised as business deals."

A holographic map of the Corridor’s first segment expanded between them, its proposed HyperRail-X System route pulsing like liquid silver.

"Since it guarantees us a monopoly on the fastest transit network in the continent,"

Arthur replied calmly. "Ten years of toll revenue is just the beginning. Control the rails, and we control the cities that grow around them. If anything goes wrong by then, we could have recouped our funds back, it’s risky but worth it."

Oscar’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he regarded Arthur. "You sound just like Uncle."

Arthur paused for a moment before shaking his head with a bittersweet smile.

Oscar jabbed a finger at the projection, worry etching lines across his brow. "This is really risky! Our family has clawed its way back from rock bottom and still hasn’t stabilized yet! Playing this kind of game isn’t good for us right now. This isn’t just about trains; you’re playing kingmaker! Derrick gets to secure his legacy while turning the Bureau into your personal zoning committee!"

Silence enveloped them in that private lab as Arthur held onto that bitter smile.

He turned to Oscar and said earnestly, "Do you think I wanted to play such a dangerous game? I didn’t choose this path; I was forced into it! If I don’t act quickly to stabilize us and expand our influence in this country, it will be too late."

Somewhere in the lab, a cooling fan whirred to life, dissipating heat from prototype core relays.

Oscar sighed heavily before continuing cautiously, "Except for one little detail: we bought ourselves a government project!" His laughter rang hollow. "Derrick isn’t stupid; if this deal sours at any point, he’ll claim we strong-armed him."

Arthur’s narrowed eyes glinted with a cold light as he smiled and declared, "Then we’ll make sure it doesn’t sour."

Just then, a notification chimed on Arthur’s phone.

He reached into his left pocket and pulled out the device to read the message:

"Sir Head Bureau Derrick has just authorized the press release. Quoting: ’The Neo-Luminara Corridor will be the crown jewel of Aurelian innovation.’"

A grin spread across Arthur’s lips, igniting Oscar’s curiosity. "What happened?!" he asked, eyes wide with intrigue.

"Nothing much, Derrick just gave the green light for a press release," Arthur chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement.

"That fast? He just left a few minutes ago!"Oscar was taken aback momentarily.

"My dear cousin," Arthur replied with a sly glance, "in this world, money is king. Even saints can kneel before the allure of wealth."

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Derrick Villa

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As twilight descended and the sun sank below the western horizon, the bright silver moon took its place in the sky amidst twinkling stars.

Inside Derrick Villa’s personal office, an antique grandfather clock struck midnight as Derrick poured himself a generous measure of 50-year-old wine, the amber liquid catching the dim light beautifully.

The signed contract for the Neo-Luminara Capital Corridor lay on his desk, its gold-embossed seal gleaming like treasure.

Sinking into his leather armchair, he exhaled deeply for what felt like the first time in hours. Fifty billion, a number that should have terrified him.

A project of this scale funded entirely by Osborn Heavy Industries would be scrutinized by every bureaucrat, rival, and journalist in Neo-Luminara.

Yet Arthur had handed him something far more valuable than money: a legacy.

Taking a slow sip to savor its burn, Derrick recalled Arthur’s words echoing in his mind: "You announce it as a government project. Take full credit." The boy was sharper than he had initially expected.

Chuckling darkly to himself, Derrick mused, "And I just became his puppet." But what a puppet master!

The HyperRail-X would revolutionize transit; this Corridor would reshape cities, and when history was written, it would be Head Bureau Marcus Derrick’s name etched beside this monumental achievement.

He swirled his glass thoughtfully while contemplating the price: exclusive rights for Osborn, a monopoly on the fastest rail network in existence, and countless political favors yet to be called in.

"A fair trade," he concluded before reaching for his phone and typing out one simple message:

"Schedule the press conference for tomorrow."

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Urban Development Bureau – Grand Atrium

As dawn broke over Neo-Luminara, the sun cast its warm glow across the bustling city, heralding a new day filled with promise.

The atrium of the Urban Development Bureau was alive with anticipation, reporters, politicians, and industry leaders filled the space, their excitement palpable.

Cameras flashed like fireflies as Derrick strode onto the stage, the Bureau’s insignia shimmering in holographic brilliance behind him.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice resonating with decades of public service experience, "today marks a pivotal moment for Neo-Luminara transit and the Aurelian Federation."

Behind him, a dynamic video showcased the HyperRail-X soaring through a desert landscape, its sleek silver form blurring past at an astonishing speed.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as they witnessed the speedometer soar past 700 km/h.

"The Neo-Luminara Capital Corridor," Derrick declared confidently, "will serve as the backbone of our nation’s future. Imagine hundreds of kilometers of state-of-the-art rail connecting all major economic hubs and cities in under thirty minutes!"

A reporter suddenly interrupted, "Director! There are rumors that Osborn Heavy Industries is funding this project. What role does the government play?"

Derrick smiled, a practiced gesture that exuded assurance. "This is a public-private partnership. The Bureau ensures standards and safety while Osborn provides cutting-edge technology."

He paused dramatically to let his words sink in. "But make no mistake, this is our project. Our achievement."

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the grand atrium. freewebnøvel.coɱ

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PrimeRail Transport Headquarters – Emergency Boardroom

The live feed of Derrick’s press conference played silently on a massive screen as Evans Stark, PrimeRail’s CEO, gripped the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white.