Chapter 16 – The Unseen Puppet Master

The luxurious penthouse overlooking Emerald City was bathed in moonlight, but inside, the air was heavy with tension. Joon stood by the window, his reflection staring back at him. His phone buzzed.

"It's done," a voice reported.

Joon's lips curled slightly. "Good. Let them suffer."

He hung up, slipping his phone into his pocket. Behind him, Maggy sat on the leather couch, one leg crossed over the other, swirling a glass of wine. "Lucas won't recover from this."

"That was never the plan," Joon replied coldly.

She smirked. "So, what's next?"

Joon turned, his gaze sharp. "We take everything."

---

Lucas's father slammed his fists onto the desk. "WHO DID THIS?!"

His executives cowered. The company was bleeding. Investors fleeing. Banks withdrawing support.

A secretary rushed in. "Sir, there's a buyer… for all our remaining shares."

"Who?"

She hesitated. "We don't know. They're anonymous."

Lucas's father clenched his jaw. Someone was playing with them like a predator toying with its prey.

Then his phone rang. A private number.

He picked up. "Who the hell is this?"

A deep, calm voice answered. "The ghost that buried your empire."

The line went dead.

---

The entire campus was in chaos.

Lucas Kang, the once untouchable king, had fallen. News spread like wildfire. His family's wealth—vanished. His influence—gone.

And then, like a storm, Joon arrived.

Students whispered as he walked through the courtyard. The same Joon they once mocked… now the most dangerous man in the city.

Lucas sat on the stairs, head in his hands. Joon stopped in front of him.

"You should've known," Joon said softly. "Mockery has consequences."

Lucas looked up, his eyes filled with desperation. "Please…"

Joon tilted his head. "Pathetic." Then, without another word, he walked away.

The king had fallen.

And a new one had risen.