Building The Strongest Family
Chapter 146: The Puppeteer’s Triumph

"Second," Alistair continued, "we send our own message."

The hologram flickered to life, zooming in on ten military-style bases, the Consortium's strategic strongholds and trading hubs nestled within the Federation.

Kingston couldn't help but smirk, his lips curling into a cold smile. "Subtle?"

Alistair's grin was razor-thin, a predator sizing up its prey. "Enough to remind them who they're dealing with."

As Kingston turned to leave, a thought struck him like lightning. "Father, if the Consortium is sending a message… why not claim the kill publicly? Why keep it a secret from me?"

Alistair's expression darkened as he fell into an icy silence.

-------

In the Eastern Consortium's private comms chamber, shadows danced across the walls, creating an atmosphere thick with tension. Raven stood at the center of this dimly lit room, her golden cyber-eye casting an eerie glow against the steel surfaces.

The air hummed softly with the low-frequency vibrations of quantum encryption as the secure line connected.

Suddenly, a holographic screen sprang to life, revealing the Grand Overseer, a man whose features seemed chiseled from aged ivory.

His silver-streaked hair was pulled back in a traditional knot, and his dark eyes glinted with sharp intelligence that could flay flesh from bone.

"Raven," he said, his voice gravelly yet smooth, like silk wrapped around stone.

She bowed slightly, maintaining flawless posture. "Grand Overseer."

"Your report."

No niceties here; just business.

Raven straightened her back and spoke coolly and precisely: "Christopher Campbell is dead. The execution was clean, no traces left behind."

The Grand Overseer steepled his fingers thoughtfully. "And the evidence?"

"Conclusive." She projected a holographic dossier filled with financial trails, intercepted communications, and meticulously fabricated forensic markers, all crafted by Evolon.

"Christopher orchestrated the sabotage of our Neo-Luminara operation. He funded rogue operatives and planted false intel that led to our operatives' capture."

A beat of silence hung in the air before he asked sharply, "You're certain?"

Raven's cyber-eye pulsed as she scrutinized his micro-expressions, the tightening around his eyes and a barely perceptible twitch of his left ring finger screamed doubt.

"The evidence is irrefutable," she replied evenly. "Campbell's financials show payments to shell companies used by those operatives.

His private security was spotted near the handoff site." She pulled up one last file for emphasis: "He had motive."

The Grand Overseer studied her data intently. "The Blue Pearl in the Northern Expansion Plan."

-------

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," the Grand Overseer mused, leaning back in his chair as his gaze drifted into the distance. "Campbell was hell-bent on securing what he wanted. When the Osborn family flatly refused to sell, he resorted to sending assassins, nearly taking out Arthur Osborn in the process! With the mayor blocking his path for help, Campbell saw an opportunity: eliminate the mayor, throw the city into chaos, and swoop in like a vulture."

Raven remained silent, letting him piece together the puzzle himself.

"The Campbells have already retaliated," the Grand Overseer continued softly. "In just 48 hours, ten of our bases across the Aurelian Federation were struck, military hubs, trade centers, even our black-site labs. All gone."

Raven felt her spine stiffen. "They moved quickly."

"Too quickly," he replied sharply. "It's almost as if they were prepared... as if they knew we were responsible for Christopher's death!"

A tense silence hung between them.

Raven kept her voice steady. "You think this is a setup?"

"I don't suspect; I assess." He tapped a command on his console, pulling up damage reports. "These strikes were surgical, they hit exactly where it hurt most. That indicates prior intelligence."

"Or," Raven countered thoughtfully, "they might have moles within our ranks."

The Grand Overseer's smile was thin and calculating. "An interesting theory."

As Raven cycled through possibilities in her mind, she realized this could be a test of loyalty or perhaps an indication that he already knew more than he let on.

"The Campbells are arrogant," she said carefully. "But they're not stupid. If they hit us this hard, they must believe we killed Christopher first."

"And did we?" His question sliced through the air like a knife.

Raven didn't flinch. "You gave the order."

A heavy silence fell over them before the Grand Overseer exhaled slowly. "So I did."

The hologram flickered to life, displaying a detailed map of the Federation.

"This changes nothing," he declared firmly. "The Campbells have declared war,and we will respond."

Raven inclined her head respectfully. "What are your orders?"

"Return to headquarters immediately," he instructed with icy resolve. "Debrief our intelligence team personally, I want every scrap of data on Campbell's operations and their off-the-books dealings."

"And Neo-Luminara?" she asked cautiously.

"Leave it... for now." His eyes turned cold as steel.

With that final command hanging in the air like an unspoken threat, the transmission cut off abruptly, leaving Raven alone in darkness once more.

------

Neo-Luminara's skyline sparkled like a treasure trove against the floor-to-ceiling windows of Arthur's study, the city's heartbeat echoing in a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.

The rich aroma of aged whiskey mingled with the scent of polished leather as Arthur leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, contemplating the unfolding drama.**

Suddenly, Evolon's familiar azure visage flickered to life on the giant screen before him, its usual serene blue now streaked with tactical gold, a sign that things were heating up.

"The game progresses as projected," Evolon announced coolly.

Arthur couldn't help but smirk. "Tell me everything."

The screen expanded dramatically, revealing a detailed map of the Aurelian Federation. Crimson markers pulsed ominously over ten strategic locations.

"The Campbells have launched counterstrikes against Eastern Consortium assets, trade hubs, black-site laboratories, and three deep-cover intelligence cells, all obliterated within 48 hours."

Arthur whistled lowly in admiration. "They didn't hesitate."

"No," Evolon replied. "Julian Campbell mobilized the family's private fleet with alarming efficiency. Their intelligence network appears far more extensive than we anticipated."

Arthur scrutinized the destruction patterns displayed on the screen. "Surgical strikes. They had these targets pre-scouted."

"Affirmative," Evolon confirmed. "This suggests either prior contingency planning..."

"...Or someone tipped them off," Arthur finished, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.

"It seems it was us who sent videos of Christopher being killed by Raven, so technically, we tipped them off!" Evolon's blue face pulsed as it spoke.

"Cough!" Arthur cleared his throat lightly and waved a hand dismissively. "You can continue!"

The screen shifted again, displaying secure Consortium communiqués intercepted by Evolon's quantum taps.

"The Grand Overseer has recalled Raven to headquarters. Their internal networks are scrambling to assess damage and relocate remaining assets."

Arthur swirled his whiskey thoughtfully. "No moves against the Campbells yet?"

"None observed," Evolon reported. "But internal chatter indicates preparations for a long-term campaign; the Consortium does not forgive such insults."

A slow smile crept across Arthur's face as he savored this turn of events. "Beautiful."

Evolon's blue visage flickered momentarily before presenting Raven's final mission report.

"Of greater interest is what Raven uncovered during her investigation: Christopher Campbell had been maneuvering to eliminate Mayor Armitage independently, believing that destabilizing Neo-Luminara would force the Osborn Estate into foreclosure."

Arthur's glass froze midway to his lips in disbelief. "Wait! Are you saying Christopher wanted Veyne dead before the Consortium's botched attempt?"

"Correct," Evolon affirmed smoothly. "His plans were crude, a hired mercenary team rather than Consortium-grade operatives, but the intent was identical."