Building The Strongest Family

Chapter 405: Let It Burn

Arthur raised an approving eyebrow. "Smart move."

"However," she continued, "not everyone is celebrating. Competing pharmaceutical companies,Helix, Pandora, BioVertex,are bleeding billions at the moment. Some are already launching PR campaigns portraying the cure as overly ’perfect’ and hinting at possible hidden side effects."

Arthur’s expression became more serious. "Let them speak."

The attention of Evolon shifted to another screen filled with financial news tickers and social media updates.

"The public sentiment doesn’t support their skepticism," Evolon noted calmly. "Most of the public dismisses negative claims within hours. Independent researchers are verifying the results daily; there’s no way to discredit the data."

Ashley leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Looks like the jewelry market is on the verge of a revival."

Emily shot her a disapproving look "You find amusement in everything, don’t you?"

Ashley shrugged casually with a nonchalant expression. "If people are feeling good, they’re likely to spend money. Our brand has never been more in demand, my designs are getting a free promotion from all those cured patients wearing Osborn medical bracelets on television."

Arthur cast a quick glance at her before returning his focus to the screens. "Every smile we see now is like currency; every tear serves as a deposit."

Nathaniel commented dryly, "That’s one way to look at economics."

For a moment, silence enveloped them, the cold blue light from the holograms casting an eerie glow on their faces.

Then, Evolon’s tone shifted suddenlyMarket alert: Aetheris Medical Holdings stock has been halted due to volatility."

Once again, the room fell silent.

Arthur’s gaze locked onto the flashing red numbers on the screen.

"What’s going on?" Arthur asked calmly.

"Mass sell-off," Evolon stated without any emotion. "Both retail and institutional investors are anxious and liquidating their assets across all oncology sectors. Aetheris has lost forty-eight percent of its market valuation in just the last hour of trading."

Emily frowned in disbelief. "That can’t be right,they have global portfolios..."

"Had," Nathaniel cut in.

Arthur spoke quietly but with authority: "Let it be."

The holograms flickered ominously as graphs tumbled like fragile sandcastles battered by waves.

Outside Dominion Sanctum, the sun was already high above the clouds; its golden lights glinted against the estate as security drones buzzed softly.

Inside, the atmosphere felt heavy.

Evolon continued its report in a monotonous tone. "Helix Global might soon follow within the next six hours. BioVertex has suspended its dividend payouts. Pandoran Health Systems has mobilized legal teams for urgent negotiations."

Emily turned away from the screens, worry etched on her face. "The global economy can’t handle this kind of shock. Entire sectors are collapsing overnight."

Arthur’s voice remained calm. "The world will find a way to adapt."

At that moment, Julian entered quietly from the adjacent hallway.

He wasn’t wearing a tie, and his expression was serious. After glancing at the screens briefly, he spoke softly, "You’ve done it again. You’ve shifted the world’s axis."

Arthur met his gaze but stayed silent.

Julian’s expression softened, yet his words carried weight. "You planned for dependence, Arthur. You’ll soon see the consequences. They will rely on you for everything: medicine, security, hope. Do you really believe you can keep them safe?"

Arthur held his uncle’s gaze steadily. "I don’t keep them; I stabilize them."

Julian shook his head slowly. "There’s no real stability in a world reliant on one person’s mercy."

The atmosphere in the room grew noticeably colder; even the holograms dimmed for a moment.

Garrick broke the tension with a throat clearing. "If we keep the pace with the cancer cure, we could hit global saturation in less than a month. We need to ramp up supply; I’ll boost manufacturing by forty percent."

Arthur gave a single nod in agreement. "Go for it."

Evolon shifted to display global heat maps, areas of high demand, shipping routes, warehouse stock levels, and forecasts,all converging toward one corporate symbol.

"It looks alive," Ashley whispered.

Evolon replied promptly: "It is alive. Commerce is a living entity; we are now its central nervous system."

Arthur quietly absorbed this reality, speaking softly to himself: "And soon, its heart."

He stood up slowly and walked over to the glass wall of the study, which offered a view of Dominion Sanctum,the estate sprawling below him, lit up with bright lights of the sun and towering structures amidst the golden blaze of the sun.

From this vantage point, he envisioned the future he was crafting: an empire defined not by loyalty, but by necessity.

Behind him, family members were engaged in quiet conversations about figures and forecasts while Emily dictated media strategies; Ashley was already brainstorming advertisement concepts.

Only Julian lingered near the door, observing Arthur in silence.

Finally breaking that silence without turning around, Arthur mused aloud, "They’ll call this a miracle,but it’s just mathematics. Give enough people access to life, and suddenly they start revolving around you."

Julian replied thoughtfully, "And what happens when you stop giving?"

Arthur turned his head just slightly to acknowledge him: "Then their orbit collapses."

A long pause settled over the room, heavy enough that one could almost hear the gentle hum of Evolon’s servers vibrating through the floor.

Then, breaking the silence, Evolon announced, "Market update: Aetheris Medical Holdings has officially suspended trading. Stock loss now at fifty-one percent. Impending collapse."

This time, no one made a sound.

Arthur’s expression remained stoic as he raised his wine glass, watching the deep red liquid dance in the light.

Outside, around the world, traders were frantically shouting into their communication devices as numbers plunged. Yet, within the walls of Dominion Sanctum, one man observed the chaos with an eerie calmness.

The war had commenced, and he hadn’t yet taken his first shot. Gently sipping his wine, he whispered to himself, "Let’s see who makes it through this."

Meanwhile, as Evolon’s screens flashed with updates,percentages falling, markets trembling, and the world inexorably transforming,the Osborn Family sat quietly, bearing witness to the emergence of a new era.