Chapter :- 113

Arc 6: Rise of the Mogul

Chapter 18: The Throne is Mine

The sun had barely risen, yet the financial world was already in an uproar. Victor Langston was gone. Overnight, his empire had crumbled—his stocks plummeting, his partners abandoning him, his influence erased.

And at the center of it all?

Kai Ashton.

Sitting in his high-rise office, Kai scrolled through the morning headlines on his tablet.

"Victor Langston Steps Down: Business Titan Mysteriously Retires"

"Ashton Group Surges in Market Value—The New King of Corporate Warfare?"

"Exclusive: What Led to Langston's Sudden Disappearance?"

Kai smirked. Everything was falling into place.

---

The Aftermath of Victory

As he sipped his coffee, his secretary, Olivia, entered the room. "Sir, your schedule is packed today. You have—"

Kai waved a hand. "Summarize it."

Olivia nodded. "A meeting with the board, a press interview request from Forbes, and a dinner invitation from Governor Whitmore."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "A governor?"

"He wants to discuss potential investments in state projects," she explained.

Kai chuckled. Of course. Now that Langston was out of the picture, every politician and businessman wanted to align themselves with him.

"Tell Forbes I'll think about it. Accept the governor's invitation."

Olivia jotted it down. "And the board meeting?"

Kai stood up, adjusting his cuffs. "Let's remind them who runs this company now."

---

Ashton Group's Board Meeting

The boardroom was filled with some of the most powerful figures in the corporate world. Investors, executives, and stakeholders all sat around the long glass table, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Kai strolled in, radiating confidence.

"Gentlemen," he greeted, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Let's get straight to business."

An older board member, Mr. Calloway, leaned forward. "First of all, congratulations on… everything. But we have concerns."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Concerns?"

Calloway cleared his throat. "With Langston gone, the market is shifting unpredictably. Investors are nervous. They want to know your plan for the future."

Kai smirked. That's why I'm here.

"I don't just want to fill the void Langston left behind," Kai said. "I want to redefine the entire industry. We won't just be a corporate powerhouse—we'll be a global empire."

Murmurs filled the room.

One executive hesitated. "That's… ambitious."

Kai leaned back, his eyes sharp. "Ambition is why we're sitting here while others are scrambling to survive."

He tapped his tablet, sending projections to the large screen behind him.

"This is our roadmap," he continued. "Expansion into tech, media, and renewable energy. Strategic partnerships. Acquisition of struggling competitors. And most importantly—"

He paused, letting the tension build.

"—we make sure no one else can challenge us."

Silence.

Then, one by one, the board members nodded.

Kai had them.

---

A New Challenger?

As Kai left the meeting, Olivia approached him again, her usual composed expression slightly uneasy.

"We have… an issue," she said.

Kai sighed. "Already?"

She handed him a file. "This just came in from our intelligence team. A new player is entering the market. Someone with deep pockets and an unknown backer."

Kai scanned the documents. His eyes narrowed.

The name on the file was "Atlas Consortium."

A new challenger.

Kai's smirk returned.

"Well, well… looks like the fun isn't over yet."

---

End of Chapter 18.