News of Alexander's full-scale cooperation with the Marching Ant Company was released the moment he returned to Europe—he didn't hide it.
The result was like dropping a boulder into a still lake.
The media exploded. Headlines dominated the financial world, especially after Alexander announced plans to establish a regional distribution network across Europe, effectively making Roche the European agency for Marching Ant's products.
This move shattered any remaining efforts by rival capital groups to block Marching Ant's expansion into the global market.
Across global platforms, commentary about Roche flooded in. Financial programs, op-eds, and talk shows pulled in economic analysts to assess the situation. Opinions were mixed—but overwhelmingly negative.
"Roche will become Marching Ant's pawn!"
"Alexander is steering Roche into the abyss."
"Partnering with Marching Ants: Renaissance or ruin?"
"Short-sighted fool! Tossing a watermelon to grab a sesame seed!"
It wasn't clear whether the flood of criticism was spontaneous or guided by unseen forces, but the noise was deafening.
At the same time, Marching Ant's Butterfly Eye smartphone began appearing in advertising campaigns all over Europe.
Previously, European consumers could only get the phone through overseas channels or second-hand sellers—often paying well above retail price. But now, with Roche handling local distribution, that barrier was gone.
The sleek, futuristic design and Marching Ant's own operating system, known for being the most secure and stable in the world, made the Butterfly Eye phone a sensation. Even though Huawei and Samsung integrated Marching Ant's intelligent assistant, the Butterfly Eye's user experience and performance still put it far ahead.
Despite being launched over a year ago, it continued to outperform the latest flagships from competitors.
Ordinary consumers didn't care about capital battles. They just wanted the best tech—and they wanted it now.
The first batch of Butterfly Eye phones sold out within hours. Half of the stock was customized for Rois Telecom, recently acquired by Roche. If customers couldn't get the regular model, they settled for the Rois variant.
Rois Telecom's user base surged overnight.
Alongside the phones, Marching Ant's Termite System and a full range of office equipment were introduced to small and mid-sized businesses across Europe. Known as the most secure office system on the market, it quickly gained traction.
Previously, European businesses had struggled to import Marching Ant hardware—logistics were tricky and prices steep. Now, Roche brought those tools to their doorstep.
Even though some still whispered that Marching Ants may have had something to do with the Clown Virus cyberattacks—rumors never confirmed—there was no denying that the Termite System's security outmatched both macOS and Windows.
Combined with a complete smart office ecosystem and high-efficiency AI assistants, it became the first choice for companies ready to upgrade.
Marching Ants' entry into the European market wasn't just successful—it was a landslide.
But the brighter the light, the darker the shadow.
As Alexander publicly doubled down on his alliance with Marching Ants, Roche faced severe retaliation.
At the Rothschild estate, a formal family council convened. All major stakeholders were present—brothers, sisters, uncles, heirs, elders. Each wore the family's traditional formal wear, and the atmosphere was icy.
Alexander sat among them, flanked by his father, David Rothschild. The others regarded him with barely concealed hostility.
While the partnership had generated decent profits from tech sales—smartphones, robots, office gear—it had also triggered devastating setbacks.
Since Alexander's announcement, anonymous forces had targeted Roche's investments. Multiple ventures collapsed. Acquisition deals that had been nearing completion were suddenly thwarted by powerful opponents.
The media was right, some of them grumbled—Alexander had tossed a watermelon for a sesame seed.
Even worse, their agency agreement with Marching Ants didn't come with equity. Roche had no control over the tech giant. If Marching Ants found a better partner tomorrow, they could drop Roche without warning.
"We can't do anything about the leaked investment plan," began Eric, Alexander's uncle and the former head of the Lafite Rothschild Group. "But we must immediately sever ties with Marching Ant."
"Why?" Alexander asked calmly.
Eric nodded at his daughter Saskia, who stepped forward.
"We were close to acquiring a French winery," she said, "but once BlackRock got involved, the deal collapsed. They clearly acted to block us."
James, the heir of the family's jewelry business, followed.
"We were finalizing negotiations over a diamond mine in South Africa. Then Pioneer Group stepped in, and the deal fell apart."
One after another, the other family members detailed similar setbacks in their industries. While not all the blame could be pinned on Marching Ants, the leaked plan and ensuing media firestorm had undeniably triggered a cascade of attacks.
"If we had equity in Marching Ants, things would be different," an elder said. "We'd have leverage, bargaining power. But all we have is a reseller license. That's pocket change."
"Exactly," another elder agreed. "If you'd brought us shares, we'd have backed you all the way—even sold off divisions to support it. But for this? For crumbs? You've put the family at risk."
Alexander looked around the room.
"What exactly are we offering Marching Ants in exchange for equity?" he asked. "Shares in our bank? Our winery? If you were them, would you accept?"
He paused, then continued. "I'm trying to lead Roche into the future. If we retreat now because of a little resistance, what does that say about us? Who will dare partner with us again?"
Eric scoffed. "You're too young. You can't see what lies beneath the surface. There's a reason no other consortium touched Marching Ants."
"They're greedy," Alexander shot back. "They want to own everything. They want Marching Ants to hand over their fruit without lifting a finger. And when they can't get it, they burn the tree down."
He stood up, face dark. "We're the only ones who tried to cooperate with sincerity. That makes us dangerous to the old powers. That's why we're being punished."
Eric sneered. "So now we lose real assets for a fantasy? Our winery's profits are now used for your gamble. If you won't pull out of this deal, then step down as the head of the bank group."
"I second that," another elder added. "If you stay the course, we'll manage our own profits going forward."
"I won't end the cooperation," Alexander said, eyes cold. "Then I'll do it alone."
"Enough."
David Rothschild's quiet voice silenced the room.
"All of you have made your points clear," he said slowly. "You've pressured me for days. Fine. Here's my decision."
He turned to the table. "Give him two years. If he can't stabilize the situation and increase the bank group's profits, I'll personally remove him as heir."
"Two years?" Eric frowned. "That's too long. One year. If he's so confident, he should be able to show results quickly."
David narrowed his eyes. "And what metric?"
"Twenty percent profit growth. One year."
"That's extremely high," David replied. "Ten percent is considered excellent."
"He says he has a plan," Eric said, voice sharp. "Let's see if it works."
Alexander took a breath, then looked them dead in the eye.
"One and a half years," he said. "If I don't grow the group's profits by twenty-five percent, I'll step down voluntarily."
Silence fell. Then Eric nodded.
"Agreed."
Around the table, the elders exchanged satisfied glances.
They had forced his hand—and gotten their gamble.
Now, it was up to Alexander to prove them all wrong.