Building The Strongest Family-Chapter 158: Rebirth Of An Empire [ 2 ]

The Noctis continent, a modern continent where nations clash not just with tanks and drones but also through cyber warfare!

Ten times larger than Earth itself, Panterra is so vast that Noctis alone could accommodate several

Earth-sized nations within its borders! Of its twelve sister continents, Noctis stands out as the most volatile, a battleground where 60% of its countries are embroiled in conflict.

Some are mired in civil wars; their streets are strewn with propaganda banners and the remnants of bombed-out buildings.

Others wage wars of expansion,armies clashing at disputed borders, and then there are those swift coups, often funded by foreign powers seeking influence.

Varenya, the largest nation on Noctis, has been one such battleground for thirty long years!

With over five billion people spread across dense urban sprawls and vast rural landscapes, Varenya was once fractured; its government weak and provinces ruled by warlords and separatists.

But now? Thanks to President Dravik,Arthur’s Dravik,it appears stable... or at least it seems that way.

Varenya’s geography is as diverse as its political landscape.

The Northern Reaches, a breathtaking expanse of snow-capped mountains and sprawling tundras, brimming with rare minerals and oil.

Then there are the Central Plains, where endless farmlands meet buzzing megacities, 80% of the population resides in towering arcologies amidst neon-lit streets that pulse with life.

Finally, we have the Southern Archipelago, a stunning chain of a hundred tropical islands near the equator, largely untouched by industrialization.

Most of these islands remain uninhabited, their lush jungles dense and coastlines pristine.

A handful boast small fishing villages where locals live simple lives, blissfully unaware of the power plays unfolding on the mainland.

-----------

Zenith City: The Heart of Varenya - The Presidential Office.

Step inside Zenith City’s Presidential Office, a sleek marvel of glass and steel that starkly contrasts with the bullet-riddled bunkers Dravik once commanded from.

A floor-to-ceiling window offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Kholodgrad’s skyline, its skyscrapers sparkling under the midday sun.

In this modern sanctuary, a holographic map of Varenya hums to life, showcasing topography, resource deposits, and population densities in dazzling detail.

Arthur stands before it with his hands casually tucked into his pockets, studying the southern islands like a chess master contemplating his next move.

Ethan lounges in a plush chair nearby, swirling a glass of fine Varenyan bourbon. "You know," he quips with a relaxed grin, "most people just buy one private island; you’re going for a hundred!"

Arthur smirks back. "I like options."

Dravik leans against his desk, now clad in a tailored presidential suit instead of military fatigues,with arms crossed defiantly. "They’re worthless! No infrastructure, no industry,barely any people."

Arthur taps on the hologram to zoom in on the archipelago’s vibrant details. "Exactly! No politics, no protests,no prying eyes."

Dravik’s jaw tightens at Arthur’s boldness. "You want to build something there."

"Several somethings," Arthur admits nonchalantly.

Ethan chuckles again. "He’s being modest; he wants to build everything there!"

Dravik exhales sharply through clenched teeth. "You’re turning my country into your personal playground."

Arthur turns to face him directly; his expression remains calm yet resolute. "No, I’m transforming those islands into a secure base for operations while leaving the rest of Varenya for you to govern and profit from as you see fit."

A flicker passes through Dravik’s eyes, frustration? Resignation? "And if I say no?"

Arthur doesn’t flinch; his gaze is unwavering. "You won’t."

A tense silence hung in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Ethan, ever the peacemaker, took a thoughtful sip of his drink before breaking the stillness. "Think about it this way, Dravik. Right now, those islands are bringing in absolutely nothing. But if the Family Head develops them? Suddenly, they’re worth billions! We’re talking taxes, jobs, trade,all flowing back into Varenya."

Dravik rubbed his temple, clearly skeptical. "And what exactly do you plan to build that requires a hundred islands?"

Arthur flashed a confident smile. "A secure residence. Private docks. Research facilities."

Ethan chimed in with a wink, "Maybe even a casino or two, for morale!"

Dravik scoffed dismissively. "You really expect me to buy that?"

Arthur’s demeanor shifted slightly,less negotiator and more commanding figure.

"What I expect, Dravik, is for you to remember who put you in that chair. You wanted to be president; I made it happen. Now I’m asking for something in return."

Dravik’s fingers twitched as if reaching for an invisible weapon. "So you think you own me?"

Arthur tilted his head thoughtfully. "I backed you up; there’s a difference."

Another pause enveloped them like fog rolling over the sea as the hologram flickered ominously, casting shifting blue light across their faces.

Finally, Dravik let out a heavy sigh. "Fine! The islands are yours, but under one condition."

Arthur raised an eyebrow with curiosity dancing in his eyes. "Name it."

Dravik took a deep breath and stated firmly, "Varenyan workers get priority on all construction projects! I won’t stand by while my people starve just so you can import cheap labor."

Arthur nodded appreciatively. "That’s reasonable."

After another beat of silence filled the room like tension before a storm, Dravik grudgingly extended his hand.

Arthur grasped it firmly, the deal was sealed.

Ethan lifted his glass high with enthusiasm. "To new beginnings!"

As Arthur glanced back at the hologram, his mind buzzed with possibilities and plans already taking shape.

Somewhere among those untouched islands lay the future of the Osborn Empire waiting to rise,and no one, not rival corporations nor even the Aurelian Federation,could stand in his way.

-----------

The heavy doors of the Presidential Palace hissed shut behind them as Arthur and Ethan stepped into the crisp afternoon air.

The sprawling courtyard stretched before them, a manicured expanse of imported marble and native Varenyan ironwood trees, their dark leaves rustling in the breeze.

At the far end, a sleek, armored limousine waited, its blackened windows reflecting the palace’s towering silhouette.

Ethan adjusted his cufflinks, his sharp eyes scanning the perimeter out of habit. "You catch the way Dravik hesitated when you mentioned the islands?"