"Why bother asking his name? Just call security and have him removed!" Another board member slammed the table and stood up, speaking bluntly.
He shouted at Bruce.
However, Bruce remained completely at ease, casually pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"Hand over your shares in Fisk Corporation to me. I believe that would be your best option." Bruce rested his chin on his hand, speaking in a calm and natural tone.
Some board members found it amusing that this young man had the audacity to sit there and talk to them like this.
"And who do you think you are to speak to us this way?" one of the directors scoffed.
Bruce smiled. "Triff Bogard? I think you should take a good look at this report before speaking further."
He gestured to one of his bodyguards, who promptly handed over a file that Bruce had instructed him to carry earlier.
Bruce pulled out a document bearing Triff Bogard's name and tossed it right in front of him.
Triff glanced at Bruce, then slowly opened the file while Bruce continued to smile.
The other board members were curious about what was written inside, but they maintained their composure, sitting formally in their seats without making any unnecessary movements.
What they could see, however, was the gradual transformation of Triff's expression—initial indifference shifting into seriousness, and then sheer horror. Beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
"I agree." Triff looked up immediately after finishing the document and spoke to Bruce.
As soon as he did, a bodyguard placed a contract in front of him.
"The contract is ready. The last pages contain your compensation. Thank you for your cooperation," Bruce said with a smile.
But at this moment, Triff was in no state to consider anything else—he only wanted to sign his name and get out of this place as quickly as possible!
Without even glancing at the contract, he flipped to the signature page and signed his name in bold strokes.
He stood up at once, ready to leave. As he moved, he kept a tight grip on the file Bruce had handed him earlier.
However, Bruce stopped him. "No need to be in such a hurry."
He got up, walked over, and glanced at Triff's signature on the contract. Smiling, he remarked, "Nice penmanship. But it seems you've forgotten something."
Bruce pulled out the so-called "compensation" attached to the contract—anonymous bearer bonds he had recovered from Kingpin's underground vault.
"Don't forget this." He carefully placed the bearer bonds inside Triff's folder and patted the man's arm with a grin.
"Now that's how an elite businessman should behave."
"Apologies, but I won't be seeing you out—I have other matters to attend to." With that, Bruce lightly tapped the back of Triff's left shoulder and casually returned to his seat.
As Triff left, he didn't once look back. All he wanted now was to get as far away from this place as possible.
His reaction spoke volumes to the other board members—this young man in front of them was no ordinary figure.
Now, when they looked at Bruce, their eyes carried a newfound sense of caution.
"Oh, by the way," Bruce continued, "I happen to have files on some of you as well."
Of course, he wasn't going to ignore the wary gazes of the other directors.
He took out more documents and gestured for his bodyguards to distribute them to the respective board members.
Alongside the files, the bodyguards also placed share transfer agreements beside them—along with neatly prepared pens.
"Make sure they don't get mixed up," Bruce said casually as he leaned back in his chair. "It would be rather unfortunate if certain things were to come to light."
The bodyguards remained silent, carrying out their duties with precision.
Each board member received their own document. After witnessing Triff's reaction, they had braced themselves.
But they still doubted that this young man could have anything truly incriminating against them.
At most, they figured Triff had been careless in his dealings and left some evidence behind.
However, as they opened their respective files, they finally understood why Triff had been so terrified.
Because inside those files, every single one of their illicit dealings had been laid bare—tax evasion, fraud, kickbacks from government contracts, and even some of their most sordid past actions were all exposed.
"Tap~ Tap~ Tap~"
The rhythmic tapping of Bruce's fingers on the table only intensified the already tense atmosphere.
The surrounding board members felt a chill run down their spines.
This young man was utterly ruthless.
He had come in and played his trump card right away.
Who could possibly handle this?
One of the directors suddenly looked up at Bruce, who was sitting there, lightly tapping the table.
"Young man, I advise you to reconsider your actions. This is far too big for you to swallow."
"And even if you could, you wouldn't survive it."
"Wow, am I supposed to take that as a threat?" Bruce's tone carried a hint of surprise, yet his face remained adorned with a faint, confident smile.
"And tell me, do you really have the guts to threaten me?"
Leaning back against his chair, Bruce spoke in an unconcerned manner. "Forget whether or not I can handle it—doesn't Fisk Corporation already feel like a hot potato to you?"
"Don't you actually want to get rid of it?"
As soon as Bruce finished speaking, the director seemed ready to argue, but the other board members had already started signing the agreements.
Unlike Triff, they were a bit more composed.
At the very least, they remembered to take their compensation with them.
Bruce simply sat there, quietly waiting as each of them left, one after another.
Eventually, even the man who had tried to threaten Bruce prepared to sign.
But just as he was about to, Bruce took the contract back.
"Sorry, sir, but this contract is now void." Bruce smiled as he sat on the table beside him.
At this moment, he toyed with the pen he had taken from the director's hand, exuding the carefree arrogance of a wealthy playboy.
"What do you mean?" The director was clearly furious, glaring at Bruce.
Bruce continued playing with the pen, but before he could respond, a commotion arose outside.
"Excuse me, P.D.N.Y." A police officer stepped forward, flashing his badge at the bodyguards blocking his way.
"Let him in," Bruce nodded, signaling the bodyguards to allow the officers inside.
"Did you call the police?" The officer, observing the room's tense atmosphere, maintained a respectful tone as he inquired.
"Yes, officer." Bruce set down the pen and approached the officer.
Casually, he picked up a file that had been left beside the furious director.
"We've uncovered a rather despicable individual today. I had no idea my company harbored such scum," Bruce said, feigning righteous indignation.
"I was merely investigating possible embezzlement within the company, but I never expected to uncover something so infuriating."
As Bruce handed the file over, the director immediately tensed.
He tried to step forward, but Bruce's bodyguards swiftly restrained him.
The officer noticed but said nothing—the man's aggressive posture made it clear he had intended to lash out.
The bodyguards had done nothing wrong.
But as the officer skimmed through the file, he quickly realized that this was far beyond his pay grade.
All he could do was take the man into custody.
"Thank you," Bruce said with a smile, waving as the officers escorted the director away.
The man remained silent, his eyes locked onto Bruce with a murderous glare, as if he wanted to tear him apart.
But all of that anger and resistance drained away the moment he spotted his wife and children entering the building.
At that moment, he understood.
There was no coming back from this.
Bruce stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching as the man was placed into the police car.
He didn't say a word.
Silent, like a statue.
(End of Chapter)
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