[The Obsidian Spire - The High Table]
Lord Orion tapped the solid meteor table. "Ten million Galactic Credits a year, User 009. You can buy your entire primitive planet ten times over with that. Sign the contract. Surrender The Forge."
Alex didn't look at the contract. He looked at Orion's floating data-crown. "You know," Alex said, stirring his coffee. "When I first got the System, I thought the people at the top of the universe would be different. But you're exactly like the middle managers back on Earth. You think you can bully me with pocket change."
The female alien from Seat 4 scoffed. "Pocket change? You have a single, scavenged factory in a dead sector. We own the hyper-lanes. We own the banking guilds. We are the Syndicate."
"You own a lot of things," Alex agreed. "Dawn. Run a diagnostic on Lord Orion's portfolio."
"Scanning..." Dawn's voice echoed from Alex's watch, bypassing the Spire's elite security dampeners. "Lord Orion's primary source of wealth is 'Starlight Drives Inc.', a monopoly holding 80% of the market share for Class-A Warp Engines in the Core Sectors."
"A public company?" Alex asked.
"Yes, Sir. Traded on the Core Galactic Exchange."
Orion sneered. "What are you doing, monkey? Checking my net worth to see how outmatched you are?"
[The Takeover]
Alex ignored him. "Dawn. What is the current market cap of Starlight Drives?"
"Total Market Capitalization: 140 Million GC."
"And how much to acquire a 51% controlling stake?"
"71.4 Million GC, Sir."
Alex checked his balance. [Current Balance: 82,500,000 GC.]
It would nearly wipe him out again. But the look on Orion's face would be worth every penny.
"Buy it," Alex said. "Hostile Takeover. Market order. Execute immediately."
[Transaction Authorized.] [Expenditure: 71,400,000 GC.] [Asset Acquired: 51% Controlling Stake - Starlight Drives Inc.]
[The Margin Call]
For a second, nothing happened. Then, the Obsidian Spire's alarms began to blare. The massive holographic ticker tape running along the ceiling of the boardroom flashed bright red.
PING.
Lord Orion's personal console beeped. The floating data-crystals around his head sparked and crashed onto the meteor table. He stared at his screen, his luminescent skin turning a sickly shade of gray.
[CRITICAL ALERT: MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER CHANGED.] [New Owner: Pantheon Group (User 009).]
"You..." Orion choked, pointing a trembling finger at Alex. "You just... bought my company? With cash?! Nobody keeps that much liquid cash!"
"I do," Alex tapped his Imperial Black Card on the table. The Legendary Gold aura pulsed, reflecting in the terrified eyes of the other seven Heirs. "And as the new majority shareholder, I am calling an emergency board meeting. Right now."
[The Eviction]
Alex leaned forward, resting his elbows on the meteor table. The entire dynamic of the room had shifted. He was no longer the guest. He was the boss.
"Lord Orion," Alex's voice was ice. "Your performance as CEO has been entirely unsatisfactory. You are officially fired."
"You can't do this!" Orion screamed, standing up. "I am an Heir! My ancestor built this empire!"
"Your ancestor is dead," Alex reminded him. "And you are trespassing on my property. Dawn, draft a corporate mandate. Starlight Drives will no longer supply engines to the Syndicate's fleets. All future production is redirected to The Forge."
The female alien in Seat 4 stood up, her light flickering in panic. "If you cut off our engines, our supply chains will collapse in a week! This is an act of war!"
"No," Alex stood up and buttoned his custom-tailored suit. "This is a hostile takeover. If you want war, try to stop my shipments. But remember what happened to Torvus."
Alex turned his back on the most powerful beings in the galaxy and walked toward the elevator. Luna followed closely, a satisfied smirk on her face.
"Oh, and Orion?" Alex paused at the door. "I'm keeping your parking space."
[System Alert] [Hostile Takeover Successful.] [Current Balance: 11,100,000 GC.] [New Asset: Starlight Drives Inc. (Monopoly Acquired).]