Eliza and Hakan's negotiation was doomed to fail.
The mastermind pulling all the strings was none other than Fyren.
Xena's role was to sow chaos, while Eliza's mission was to reclaim every share. But countless hurdles stood in their way—countless forces eyed the prize, each itching to strike, each a nightmare to neutralize.
Money alone threatened to bury Fyren and Eliza.
The shantytown project had already broken ground: foundations were being laid, remaining residents relocated. Fill dirt was being trucked in, trenches excavated. A construction crew of over two thousand had swarmed the area, digging and demolishing like mechanical destroyers. Once the final blueprints were approved and later phases began, the workforce would balloon to over twenty thousand.
The spending bled them dry. Even Fyren struggled to keep up.
Dasheng Group had poured every available liquid asset into the project, with remaining funds earmarked for phase two, three, and four expenses. Now, when it came to acquiring Qianfeng, he was cash-strapped.
Eliza's finances were even tighter. Her personal assets totaled a few billion at best. Fyren had given her ten billion, which she'd used to salvage Qianfeng, then reinvested another eight billion. Now the crux was clear: where would the capital for share acquisitions come from?
Silver King called the finance department, confirmed the password, and fifty billion in cash flowed back into Fyren's private account.
Fyren's excitement wasn't about the money—it was about orchestrating this colossal, tangled acquisition. Truth be told, he had no guarantee of success. Too many moving parts, too many variables. One misstep in the details could unleash unforeseen catastrophes. But he had no choice.
Hakan couldn't be allowed to take root in Crystalpeak—if he did, everyone else would perish.
Otto couldn't dominate the city—if he did, his end would be swift.
Eliza must not lose Qingfeng Group. If she fell from power, the vultures circling wouldn't just be Hakan and Otto.
Hakan was blind with rage, beyond reasoning with Eliza. He stormed to Elton Leng's office and found Sabrina there. The two exchanged a nod.
"Elton," Hakan smiled, "let's seal the deal. Dreams can wait."
Elton Leng sold his 31% stake for a mere thirty billion.
Hakan was desperate to secure the deal at any cost. He'd never dreamed of such a windfall. Sabrina's PR skills had negotiated an outrageously profitable agreement—she was well worth every effort he'd invested in her.
Of course, he planned to reward Sabrina and Otto with one billion each afterward. He'd struck it rich—those shares alone held an actual value of around five hundred billion. Saving over two hundred billion for no reason, why skimp on spare change?
While the contract negotiations here were already underway, Otto hovered on death's door, his breath as faint as gossamer.
When Silver King returned, his assistant still trembled with nerves.
"Brother, is he really the Young Lord?"
"Doubt it? Look at his aura, his bearing, his attire. And you heard the elevator conversation—no way that's a ruse."
"I still think this is too risky. Why do those two keep flip-flopping?"
Silver King felt a twinge of unease but pressed on: "No second-guessing now. Let's check on that fake Young Lord."
Reaching the door, they found it closed but unlocked. Alert, they pushed in gently and saw a familiar figure.
Iron King had transformed: tall, broad-shouldered, clad in a tailored suit and sunglasses, oozing style. Otto slumped in a chair, motionless, facing the door—pretending to watch the scenery outside.
Iron King approached the "unconscious" Otto. "Fyren, Silver King should arrive soon. We need to prepare." He leaned close to Otto's mouth, feigning a conspiracy.
"Right, right. Let him kill Otto? Will he stand a chance? Doesn't matter who dies... Fyren is brilliant! Pitting Otto against himself—they're digging their own graves."
"Understood. I'm off."
As Iron King left, he subtly slipped Otto a pill to rouse him. Silver King yanked his assistant behind a cabinet just in time. Iron King peered out cautiously, then crawled away.
"The traitor!" the assistant seethed.
"Did you hear that?" Silver King hissed. "That fool in there is Fyren! He almost played us."
"No wonder he tricked Iron and Copper into a dead end. If the Young Lord hadn't appeared, we'd be in their shoes."
"Brother, this is too dangerous!"
In Elton Leng's meeting room, Chloe burst in. "Miss Sabrina—Mr. Otto has collapsed!"
Sabrina jolted. "What happened?!"
"Fyren talked to him, and suddenly he went limp and passed out. Please come check on him!"
Sabrina stood. "Elton, Hakan, I must go. The contract is reviewed and signed—you don't need me here."
Elton Leng called out, "Sabrina, don't tarry. Come back soon!"
She forced a smile. "I know. I'll wrap up and return. Then we'll go on that overseas trip."
"Be quick."
Sabrina rushed out of the room to check on Otto.
Only Elton Leng and Hakan remained.
Just then, Eliza entered. "Have you two reached an agreement?"
Elton Leng frowned. "Eliza, what are you doing here?"
"Father, are you really set on selling Qianfeng?"
"Yes. I'm tired, child. I don't want to run it anymore." Elton Leng sighed. "I realized today that in life, the most important thing isn't money—it's love! I've fallen in love, and from now on, I just want to live carefree with my dearest, gallop on horseback, share the world's prosperity, sing my heart out, and hold onto my youth..."
"Okay, Dad, enough grandstanding," Eliza cut in. "Hakan, I take it you're determined to acquire Qianfeng?"
"Precisely!"
Suddenly, Chloe burst in again. "Oh no! Mr. Otto is being attacked! A suited man grabbed his hair and kicked him—brutally! Sabrina can't stop him!"
"Sabrina!" Elton Leng panicked, dashing out to protect his love.
"Hey! Sign the contract first! I'm counting on you!"
Hakan spun in frustration. "What's wrong with this old fool? Falling in love at his age? Clinging to youth like a madman! Damn senile fool!"
"Go check on him," Eliza urged. "He can't have an accident, or the contract becomes invalid."
Fuming, Hakan followed suit.
Down the hall, Silver King was pummeling Otto. Sabrina tried to intervene but was pinned by his assistant, unable to move.
"Trick me! Trick me again! You made me trust you! You made me!" Silver King raged, venting all his fury.
Sabrina and the assistant each held the other's vital points, too afraid to act. Sabrina saw the assistant was consumed by rage, ready to die at any moment. She had no wish to perish with him. "Silver King! That's Young Lord! Are you insane?!"
"Young Lord?" Silver King kicked Otto so hard he flew into the wall. "You bastards tricked Iron and Copper, now trying to fool me? That's Fyren!"
Hakan gaped. "He's Fyren?!"
Eliza blurted, "Oh no! We've been found out!"
Hakan wheeled on her. "He's really Fyren?! Eliza, what the hell is going on here?!"
Otto sat up, gasping. "You... idiot! Think clearly—I'm Otto!"
"You're Otto? I believe you!" Silver King tore off his tie and coat, eyes blazing with rage.
"I've been in the power game for over a decade, never suffered such a humiliating loss! You bastard, you've been stringing me along, treating me like a fool!"
"You idiot! I AM the Young Lord! Fyren is just Fyren!"
"Listen to yourself! You lying bastard!"
BAM! Another punch sent Otto flying. He soared through the air and crashed into a chair, shattering it into splinters.
Sabrina's eyes blazed with anger. "Silver King! Do you know the consequences of this?"
"Consequences?" Silver King bared his teeth. "The only consequence is that I'll set things right and eliminate this obstacle for the Young Lord!"
Elton Leng rushed to Sabrina, trying to intervene. "Let her go! Take me instead—don't hurt her! I still want to live carefree with her!"
The assistant glared and aimed a kick at Elton Leng. Eliza yanked her father back. "Dad, stay back!"
"I have to save my love! If anything happens to her, I won't go on!"
Hakan was bewildered. "Wait—isn't he Otto?"
"You've all been played! Is he Fyren?!"
Hakan snapped. "I don't care about your schemes! Elton Leng, are you selling those shares or not?!"
Elton Leng was delirious. "Sabrina, my Sabrina—Eliza, let me go! I refuse to be a pawn anymore! I need to save Sabrina!"
Silver King kept attacking. Otto yelled, "Silver King! Don't think I won't snap! I'll wipe out you and your entire branch—every last one of you!"
"Threatening me?"
Suddenly Iron King burst in, knocking Silver King back with a punch. He grabbed Otto. "Fyren! Let's move!"
Everyone froze. Even Sabrina stared in shock as Iron King hoisted the injured Otto, smashed through the window, and leapt out.
Silver King roared, "Trying to escape? Perfect—I'll kill you both!"
After jumping out, Iron King "slipped," losing his grip on Otto. The latter plummeted from the dozens-story building.
Iron King yelled, "Fyren, forgive me! My hand slipped! Save yourself!"
As he fell, Otto despaired:
"I can't survive this. Let me die."