Chapter 92: Courting Power, Not Daughters

Nearly five months after kicking her drug habit, Lisa Cassidy was becoming more and more captivating. When she strolled through the sunflower gardens of Styrling in her dress and sunhat tied with a blue ribbon, she looked like a radiant sun herself.

It seemed Augustus wanted to say more, but just as he stepped into the lobby, Clara Terra rushed into his arms. For a brief moment, Lisa's smile faltered.

"My darling Augustus, you owe me a kiss," Clara declared. But when she noticed the group of imposing Heaven's Devils standing behind him, she quickly let go and stepped back, offering a manicured hand.

"I can't kiss a noble lady who's not yet engaged—that would be improper," Augustus replied, simply shaking his head.

"It's alright. My father won't do anything to you." Though Clara said this with a smile, she regretfully withdrew her hand.

Clara's father, Constantino Terra, the head of the Old Family, had grown increasingly unpredictable as his eldest daughter's youthful hormones grew more restless with age. He harbored deep hostility toward any man who appeared around her.

"They're your subordinates? The Heaven's Devils?" Clara asked, eyeing the group. "I don't recall inviting them, but for your sake..." She scanned each of them: lingering on the dark-skinned, broad-shouldered rocket trooper Connor Ward and the mohawked Harnack, then giving a second glance to the strikingly handsome Josephine and Lundstein. She selectively ignored Raynor and the rest of the soldiers—until her gaze landed on Lisa.

"A woman? Augustus, how disappointing." Clara tossed her deep chestnut hair over her shoulder with a dramatic huff and walked off, pouting.

Lisa, meanwhile, lifted her chin slightly in triumph and leaned in closer to Augustus. "You really shouldn't have brought us along, Augustus. This was a lady's invitation."

"It gives me a bit of security," Augustus replied nonchalantly, following Clara into the ground floor of the Sky Tower. "Maybe Annabella really does want to devour me whole."

Clara, still sulking, stormed ahead and disappeared from view.

"But we're not actually here to see Clara or her mother," Augustus added. "I'm here to meet her husband—Constantino. He's the one who truly controls the Terra Family."

So, Augustus had no choice but to ask a passing servant for directions, then made his way through the grand hall and interconnecting corridors toward the elevator leading to the top floor.

There were no guards tailing them. The group was being monitored through far more advanced surveillance—sophisticated cameras tracking their every move.

The Terra Sky Tower, with over a hundred floors, was the second tallest structure in the city of Tarsonis, surpassed only by the tower of the Tygore Family. But Augustus was already used to this. Among the Old Families of Tarsonis, no Sky Tower ever dared to stand shorter than that of the Mengsk Family.

In this city of towering skyscrapers, every Old Family competed to build the tallest, most grandiose, and most eye-catching Sky Tower, a symbol of unparalleled power and prestige. After all, only from the highest tower could one command the best view—overlooking the entirety of Tarsonis.

Augustus was waiting in the top-floor reception room for Clara and Annabella. However, after a dozen minutes, the person who appeared was not one of them, but a middle-aged man with short blond hair. He wore a black suit with a blue tie, presenting a sharp, professional appearance.

"Sorry to interrupt your little date... Ah, looks like you brought quite a few friends to spice it up," said Constantino Terra, head of the Terra Family, who had just returned from overseeing a new factory site in Palombo. "I didn't plan on getting involved, but I heard you're courting my daughter Clara."

"You have quite the sense of humor, Mr. Terra," Augustus replied from the French-style sofa, smiling calmly.

Constantino sat down slowly on the couch opposite him and glanced at the Heaven's Devils standing behind Augustus.

"Annabella said you wanted to speak with me. So tell me, little Mengsk—why haven't you gone back to your precious Korhal? What are you doing here? Aren't you worried the agents in Tarsonis might find out about this meeting?"

"There's only one explanation I can think of—you're after my daughter Clara." Constantino's gaze sharpened. "And I must say, you're impressive."

"But not impressive enough. I'll test you, again and again, until you fail—and give up."

"No, I'm not here to pursue your daughter," Augustus stated plainly.

"Ah, then it must be Annabella." Constantino actually seemed pleased. "Our marriage was a political tragedy—loveless, even filled with mutual contempt. Being around her drains me. All our children were conceived via artificial insemination. I've had my share of mistresses—it's no secret."

"All I ask is that you can satisfy Annabella. Her appetite is... unusually intense." He crossed one leg over the other with a wry smile.

"Actually, I came to speak with you about something else," Augustus interjected. "The Mengsk Family hopes to explore a technological partnership with the Terra Family. My father wants your group to consider building new factories on Korhal IV. In return, Terra Industries would receive several favorable policy concessions."

"That's tempting," Constantino mused. "But the Korhal Senate has been limiting large-scale investment from Tarsonis-based firms, supposedly to protect local businesses. So tell me—what exactly is Angus trying to pull this time?"

The Terra Family was a giant in the field of intelligent robotics, holding monopolies over the research, manufacture, and maintenance of robotic systems. Only the Umojans had developed robots capable of rivaling those of the Terra Family. Additionally, Terra Industries monopolized the virtual imaging sector, setting both product grades and quality standards for all holographic projection technology.

Recently, Terra Industries had begun expanding into the hover vehicle market—both cars and bikes—but in this industry, they faced a formidable rival in Tarsonis: another Old Family that had monopolized hover car production for nearly a century.

A partnership with the Mengsk Family would give Terra Industries a technological edge to develop more advanced, more comfortable hover vehicles, giving them the chance to capture more market share. And breaking into Korhal's market would bring profits beyond imagination.

But everyone knew Korhal was in chaos. Investing there now would be the move of a madman—or a fool.

"Angus never contacted me directly. So why send you? Don't tell me you're really the heir to the Mengsk Family?" Constantino asked.

"I'm well aware of the unrest in Korhal," Augustus answered. "Even a single day of strikes among the workers could cost me dearly—and more likely, they'll dismantle my factories entirely."

He straightened up, locking eyes with Augustus's cold gray gaze.

"As far as I'm concerned, I don't care for your father's rhetoric. But the riots in Korhal are none of my business. I don't want another war. During the last union conflict, Terra Industries' assets shrank dramatically. I'm not eager to see that repeated."

"That entirely depends on your choice," Augustus said. "My father would like to engage in further negotiations with you, Mr. Terra."

"If he can guarantee that the rioters and rebels won't destroy Terra-owned factories, then perhaps I'll consider it," Constantino replied, before letting out a dry chuckle. "But is that even possible?"

"You're welcome to reach out to my father and discuss deeper forms of cooperation."

Augustus's words gave Constantino pause. His eyes widened in surprise, bulging slightly like a dead fish's.

"Stronger, more integrated cooperation."

...

"Boss, I think Constantino Terra's daughter really has a thing for you. You should make your move and claim her now—then we'll head to the next house," Josephine whispered conspiratorially as they left the Terra Sky Tower in search of a hovercab.

"I've done some digging. The daughters of the Tygore, Bennett, and Holt families are all..." He lowered his voice further.

"When every noble lady and housewife bends to your whip, Korhal IV will finally be safe."

Augustus didn't even know how to respond to that.

"I believe I heard the name 'Bennett' just now."

As Josephine gleefully shared his grand plan, Heaven's Devils sniper Ryk Kydd suddenly struck—jabbing a steel pen into Josephine's lower back. Josephine flinched and instinctively raised his hands.

Ryk hadn't yet reached the level of psionic power needed for telepathy—level seven psionics could move objects or launch psychic attacks—but his hearing and vision were far sharper than any normal person's.

It was then that Josephine remembered: Ryk Kydd was a descendant of one of the Old Families of Tarsonis. He had fled to join the Terran Marine Corps to escape his tyrannical father. His real name was Ark Bennett, second son of Errol Bennett, patriarch of the Bennett Family.

"What are your intentions toward my sister?" Ryk said coldly, with the ice-blooded tone only a sniper could master. "I'll strangle you with my bare hands, toss your corpse into a burning dumpster, and hire a Saivo smart-robot pallbearer crew to tap-dance on your grave!"

"That's debatable—it's not me who's interested in her, it's the boss!"

Quickly recovering, Josephine nudged Ryk's pen away and pointed straight at Augustus.

"I've seen him staring at Tara Bennett's photo for ages. If he's not lusting after her beauty, then he must be after your family's fortune. The Bennett Group owns the largest shipyard in all of Tarsonis—controls starship manufacturing, port construction and operations, and everything related to interstellar shipping routes."

"Take over the Bennett Family, and Korhal instantly gains a fleet."

"Is that true?" Ryk asked, turning to Augustus.

"I do want the Bennett Family's support—but not by forming some political marriage alliance between the Mengsk and Bennett families," Augustus replied calmly. "That route would take far too long. And the Bennetts probably wouldn't agree to it anyway... unless Errol Bennett is still blind to the current state of affairs."

Augustus offered this analysis with cold rationality. It was clear: if marrying Tara truly were a viable and profitable strategy—if the benefits outweighed the risks—he wouldn't hesitate to follow through.

"Ryk, you're also one of the heirs to the Bennett Family. I would much rather see you lead them into a brighter future."

"That's impossible," Ryk replied after a moment of silence, shaking his head. "My sister is far more capable than I am."

"In that case, you marrying her might be the more realistic outcome."

"What are you two talking about?"

Lisa, who had picked up her pace, caught up to them. Josephine immediately shrank back with a guilty look.

Just then, Augustus's personal terminal started vibrating. When he checked the screen, he saw the call was coming from an unknown number—specifically, a public terminal in Tarsonis.

"Damn it, Mengsk, you've gotta get someone to rescue me—now!"

The caller was Tychus.

"Where are you?" Augustus asked. "How many of them are there? How many guns? Did you forget to pay again?"

"Phone booth number 4, Cross Alley, Sector 11 slums—Luther Junction!" Tychus barked into the line. "I only owe a little money and they're about to carve me up alive and sell my organs! Mengsk, you have to come save me—!"

The line cut out abruptly.

"Augustus, was it you who hired someone to screw over that bastard Findlay?" Raynor asked, having heard the whole thing. "Sounds like something you'd do."

"I'm not that bored," Augustus replied with a shrug.

"So we're heading out to get Tychus now?" Ryk asked.

"No can do. We don't have any powered armor or weapons," Augustus said.

"Let me report it to the authorities." He paused, thinking for a moment.

"There's a precinct nearby. We'll just take a car straight there."

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