Building The Strongest Family-Chapter 155: Arrival

Present Day - Black Valley Military Base - Varenya

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As the pale dawn light spilled over the horizon, the military base stretched out like a sprawling beast, its runways glinting like polished steel beneath the awakening sun.

The air buzzed with an electric tension,a mix of fuel fumes, ozone from active electronics, and that unmistakable metallic tang of blood still lingering on armor.

Ethan stood at the edge of the primary landing strip, his tailored black tactical suit pristine despite the early hour.

Next to him loomed Gunnar, a silent giant in full combat rig, his scarred face betraying nothing.

Colonel Vex adjusted his officer's cap with mechanical precision, his cybernetic eye glowing faintly blue in the soft morning light.

And then there was General Dravik.

The newly minted warlord of Varenya stood tall in freshly pressed fatigues, his massive frame radiating barely contained energy.

His steel-gray eyes flickered between the horizon and his men, jaw clenched tight as if preparing for battle.

"You're certain he's coming today?" Dravik's voice rumbled like distant thunder as he twitched fingers near his sidearm,a habit born from years of conflict.

Ethan glanced at his chrono. "Five minutes."

Vex smirked knowingly. "Nervous, General?"

Dravik shot him a glare that could melt titanium. "I don't get nervous; I get prepared."

Gunnar grunted in agreement.

Then they heard it,the scream of engines cutting through the morning stillness,not the throaty roar of conventional jets but a piercing whine that promised something extraordinary.

And then it appeared.

The Osborn Phantom-X sliced through cloud cover like a predator on the hunt, its matte-black hull absorbing dawn light instead of reflecting it.

With no visible seams or traditional exhaust ports,just smooth curves and razor-sharp edges,it was designed to evade radar and leave enemies trembling in its wake.

As it descended gracefully, its wings reconfigured silently for optimal landing posture.

Dravik's breath caught. "That's not a standard craft."

Ethan's lips curled into a knowing smile. "The Family Head doesn't do 'standard.'"

With barely a whisper, the Phantom-X touched down; its landing gear deployed soundlessly as engines powered down and silence enveloped them momentarily.

Then came the lowering ramp.

Arthur stepped into view.

Dressed in an impeccably tailored black officer's coat adorned with silver phoenix embroidery, he exuded power, sharp, calculated, utterly in control.

His ice-blue eyes scanned their ranks before locking onto Dravik's gaze.

A grin tugged at Arthur's lips as he called out across the tarmac: "General! Heard you've been busy."

Dravik stiffened before snapping into a salute so sharp it could cut glass.

"Family Head."

Ethan, Vex, and Gunnar mirrored the gesture in perfect unison.

As Arthur descended the ramp, his boots echoed against the metal floor like a drumbeat of authority.

"At ease," he commanded, halting before Dravik and studying him with the keen eye of a sculptor assessing raw marble. "You look better than I expected. War suits you."

Dravik's jaw tightened. "Veyra's dead."

"So I heard," Arthur replied, his grin widening mischievously. "And what about the others?"

"Gone," Gunnar interjected confidently. "Cleaned house just like you ordered."

Arthur clapped Dravik on the shoulder, a gesture both reassuring and commanding. "Then let's dive into details."

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The command center buzzed with frenetic energy, holographic displays flickering with real-time data from across Varenya.

Arthur took his seat at the head of the table, flanked by his trusted inner circle.

Vex activated the primary holodisplay. "Situation report."

The projection zoomed in on a topographic map of Varenya, key locations glowing in Osborn blue.

"Phase One complete: Veyra eliminated," Vex reported confidently. "His forces surrendered or scattered after we dismantled his command structure."

Arthur nodded thoughtfully. "Casualties?"

"Minimal on our end," Gunnar replied matter-of-factly. "Dravik's men bore most of the fighting, but thanks to nanotech boosters, fatalities stayed under 3%."

Arthur turned to Dravik with an approving glance. "Your people held?"

The general's chest swelled with pride as he declared, "Like iron."

"Good." Arthur leaned forward eagerly. "And what about those other warlords?"

Vex swapped to another display screen that revealed grim news: "General Kholod, deceased; sniper round through his command tent… Admiral Vorsk,drowned during an 'accidental' submarine malfunction."

He paused for effect as Arthur steepled his fingers together thoughtfully.

"And their factions?" Arthur probed further.

"They folded within hours," Vex confirmed.

"And what about the people?" Arthur asked next.

Ethan chimed in smoothly, "Propaganda is already rolling out,you're being portrayed as the liberator who backed Dravik's rise; the man who ended a decade of civil war."

A beat of silence hung in the air before Arthur burst into laughter, a rich sound that filled the room with warmth and confidence. "Perfect!"

Dravik shifted uneasily in his chair; it creaked under his massive frame. "What now?"

Arthur's grin sharpened like a blade ready for battle. "Now, General… you rule."

He tapped on the table to bring up a new schematic, a sprawling industrial complex materialized before them.

"Osborn Holdings will complete construction on refineries, mines, and trade hubs," he announced, his voice steady and commanding.

"You'll have full autonomy over domestic affairs, but remember,defense and foreign interests are my domain."

Dravik's eyes narrowed, a hint of skepticism flickering across his face. "For how long?"

Arthur met his gaze unflinchingly. "As long as you remember who put you on that throne." The tension in the room thickened like fog rolling in at dawn.

Then, unexpectedly, Dravik smiled. "Then let's get to work."

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In the war room, energy buzzed in the air like static electricity.

The rich aroma of freshly brewed Solarian coffee mingled with the scent of ozone, creating an atmosphere charged with potential.

Holographic displays flickered with tactical readouts from Varenya's newly secured territories, but Arthur's focus was elsewhere.

Leaning back in his command chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, he fixed his ice-blue eyes on Ethan.

"The Noctis Continent," Arthur began smoothly, like a blade drawn from its sheath. "Tell me we didn't just win a war only to lose out on the market."

Ethan straightened up; his tailored suit remained immaculate despite the late hour.

With a tap on his wrist-comm, the central holodisplay transformed from battle maps into a sprawling ledger of transactions,each line item glowing softly like gold dust.