Morning broke over the city, casting a golden hue across the skyline. In the Liang family estate, tension filled the air as Liang Wei paced back and forth, issuing commands to his team to contain the relentless assault on their assets. But every move he made seemed to be one step behind. It was as if an invisible hand guided the chaos, predicting and countering his every tactic.
Meanwhile, in Li Zhen's office, the atmosphere was calm but focused. The time had come for the final phase of his plan—a direct strike to sever the Liangs' control once and for all.
Pulling the Strings
"Everyone ready?" Li Zhen asked, looking around the table at his core team. Jiang Wei, Raven, and his trusted hacker ALICE all nodded, fully prepared.
"Today, we're going to dismantle every last hold the Liangs have. ALICE, prepare the final phase of the financial disruption protocol. I want every single asset they have destabilized, from their main corporation to the shell companies propping them up."
[System Notification: Final Financial Disruption Protocol Activated – All Targeted Liang Family Assets Destabilized]
The moment ALICE activated the protocol, an invisible ripple moved through the financial markets. The stocks tied to the Liang family's assets started to plummet, each dip meticulously orchestrated to trigger a chain reaction, sending shockwaves through their entire network.
Jiang Wei followed up with his connections among the government officials. "The authorities are prepared to investigate any irregularities. The Liangs won't be able to hide this mess."
Raven, meanwhile, had her media contacts ready to flood every outlet with damning reports on the Liangs' shady dealings. The public was about to witness the fall of one of the city's most prominent families.
The Liangs' Last Stand
Across the city, Liang Wei received one distressing report after another. Every one of his trusted assets was unraveling in real time.
"This can't be happening," Liang Wei muttered, his voice trembling. "Who could possibly do this?"
In desperation, he made a call to Mr. Zhao, his last hope for support.
"Mr. Zhao," he pleaded, "we've always had a strong alliance. If you could just extend some credit or delay—"
But Mr. Zhao's voice was cold. "I'm afraid our business interests have diverged, Liang Wei. Your family's influence is no longer what it used to be."
As the call ended, Liang Wei felt his world crumbling around him.
Face to Face
Satisfied with the chaos, Li Zhen decided to make a statement. He called for a meeting with Liang Wei, orchestrating it at a neutral location to end things face-to-face.
Hours later, they met in a quiet, high-rise conference room, overlooking the city they both had fought to control.
Liang Wei was visibly exhausted, yet his gaze was still defiant. "Li Zhen, this is all your doing. But don't think for a second that you'll escape this unscathed. You've made powerful enemies."
Li Zhen's face remained calm. "I didn't come here to gloat, Liang Wei. I came here to offer you a choice."
Liang Wei scoffed. "A choice? You've already taken everything from me."
"Not everything," Li Zhen replied. "I'm giving you one chance to leave the city and retire quietly. I'll even allow you to keep what remains of your personal wealth. But if you refuse… well, the system I've built doesn't leave loose ends."
There was a chilling silence as Liang Wei processed the offer. He could either leave with his pride shattered but his life intact or cling to what little remained of his power and face inevitable destruction.
After a tense pause, Liang Wei's shoulders slumped. He knew he had been outmatched.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll go. But don't think this is over. The world is bigger than just this city, and there are others who won't take kindly to your methods."
Li Zhen simply nodded. "I'll be waiting."
The Rise of an Empire
After the meeting, Li Zhen returned to his office, where his team awaited him, celebrating their victory. The Liangs were finished, and Li Zhen's empire was now the dominant force in the city.
[System Notification: Mission Accomplished – Complete Control Over City's Financial Sector Achieved]
Li Zhen leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile on his face as he looked at the notification. The foundation of his empire was now firmly in place, and he could feel the thrill of his ambition pushing him to look beyond the city, to the global stage.
"Congratulations, everyone," he said, looking at his team. "But this is only the beginning. We've taken the city, but the world is waiting."
With his power now consolidated, Li Zhen began planning his next steps. The journey ahead would take him into international finance, where giants of industry awaited. But now, with his mind, resources, and an indomitable team behind him, he knew he was ready for whatever lay ahead.