Chapter 113: The Coronation of Power

The day had arrived. Inauguration Day.

The city was on lockdown. Streets lined with security, rooftops monitored by snipers, every possible threat neutralized before it could even form. The world was watching—not just to witness a new president take office, but to see the beginning of an era unlike any before.

Chris stood in his private suite, dressed in a custom black suit, his tie sharp, his demeanor sharper. He adjusted his cufflinks—Blackwood insignia engraved in gold.

Ethan stood nearby, scrolling through his phone. "Every major news network is broadcasting this live. The crowd is massive. Some are here to support, some to protest, but it doesn't matter. By the end of today, you'll control them all."

Chris didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned to a private screen, watching as Blackwood Intelligence operatives fed him real-time updates. He wasn't just stepping into power—he had already secured it.

A knock. A security agent entered. "Motorcade is ready, sir."

Chris gave a slight nod. "Let's begin."

THE PROCESSION

The streets erupted as Chris's armored vehicle moved through the capital. Some people cheered, others held signs in protest. It didn't matter. The future belonged to him, whether they accepted it or not.

Inside the car, Ethan checked his watch. "Skylar still hasn't responded."

Chris smirked slightly. "She will."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You sound sure."

Chris's gaze remained on the window, watching as the seat of power grew closer. "Because she knows better than anyone—there's no escaping gravity."

THE INAUGURATION STAGE

Thousands gathered. World leaders watched from secured locations. The Chief Justice stood, Bible in hand, waiting for the moment of history to be sealed.

Chris stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding silence. The air itself seemed heavier.

As he raised his right hand, the words echoed across the world.

"I, Christopher Alexander Blackwood, do solemnly swear—"

A pause. A slight smirk.

"—to uphold not just the law, but the will of power itself."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. A deviation from tradition. A statement of intent.

The oath was completed. The world had been warned.

Christopher Blackwood was no longer just a name. He was now the most powerful man on the planet.