On the morning of January 17, 2031, when the market bell rang, the Sensex opened with an air of excitement.
Only to quickly plummet as a sudden wave of stock sales engulfed the market.
Shares belonging to the William family were among the first to nosedive, descending with each passing second as if propelled by a calculated frenzy.
Not long after, stocks associated with the Diego family began to experience a similar decline, cascading in a massive liquidation.
To outside observers, it appeared both families were hastily cashing in their assets, flooding the market with shares in a bid to gather as much capital as possible.
Exchanging influence for cold, hard cash.
Within just two hours of the market opening, millions of Imperial crowns seemed to vanish into thin air.
Meanwhile, in Sector 1 of the estate seemingly belonging to the William family, a stark contrast unfolded.
The usual calmness was disrupted by the frenetic activity of multiple people in formal attire and bank representatives, each coming in and out of the mansion in various cars.
Officials from several banks were spotted making their way inside, each carrying important documents that hinted at a crucial matter being discussed.
Yesterday, the venue had appeared vacant, with only guards and servants moving about.
But today it was bustling with a large number of individuals.
They shuffled in and out, followed by their secretary and assistants. Even the investors of the company under the William family were seen.
"Please let us enter; we are summoned by Sir William. We are from Sector 5 Bank," a group of bank officials communicated to the vigilant guards.
The guards were thorough in their checks, ensuring that no one entered without proper identification.
After confirming their identities, the guards nodded and told them to wait a few more minutes, as the head of the family was currently busy.
Despite the crowd, which was distributed over a considerable distance, most people congregated in the garden area while the assistant to the head of the family managed the important delegates who had arrived following the market surge earlier that day.
To many, it might have seemed reckless for the William family to initiate such an immediate sell-off without consulting their investors or considering their opinions.
Especially in a time rife with uncertainty.
However, the assistant was acutely aware that if money was not withdrawn right now, it could spell dire consequences for the head of the family.
In the absence of the owner of the William family, what value would the investors hold?
The assistant of the William family busily collected documents, even as some investors voiced their dissatisfaction with these sudden actions from the family.
Investors felt a deep disappointment; their long-standing trust in the company now seemed in jeopardy.
The sudden sell-off, executed without any discussion, was outrageous and prompted many investors to attempt to withdraw from various projects while urgently demanding their money back, fearing imminent losses.
'There are too many people,' the assistant thought as he made his way inside the mansion.
He clearly felt overwhelmed by the sudden surge of so many individuals arriving to have a meeting with the owner of the house.
But given how they were stopped at the doorstep, it was more likely they were outraged at such treatment, not that he could do anything.
Given the nightcrawlers' code of ethics, if it is revealed to anyone outside of those who were present at the time of the call, the nightcrawlers will immediately withdraw the bid and eliminate the target.
The assistant followed his master's line of sight and noted his young mistress pacing around the hallway, dialing a number repeatedly.
Anxiety was etched on her face as she sought to connect with someone.
Tring~!
"Finally! Hello! Aven, where are you?" Aria exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement as she finally got through.
She quickly sprinted toward a quieter area, arriving near the stairs, concern evident in her expression after her attempts to reach him all day yesterday had gone unanswered.
:: Nothing, why were you calling me though? :: The voice on the other end of the call was calm and composed, showing no sign of concern for the information he had shared with her the previous day.
This unexpected lack of urgency took Aria aback; she had assumed he would be distressed or overwhelmed.
"What? No, forget about that. Listen, we just received a call from the NightCrawlers; they want to place a bid," Aria replied, her confusion evident in her tone. She had deliberately shifted her focus to the urgent matter at hand, needing him to understand the seriousness of the situation. It was clear that she was reaching out for support.
She was unsure how he would respond to such news, but he was the only person she could think of to help her.
Given the involvement of Diego's family, she knew Lin would have no ambition to intervene.
Scanning her surroundings, Aria realized he was her sole ally in this scenario.
:: I understand. Don't worry; I'll take care of the NightCrawlers. Is there anything else? :: His voice came through once more, devoid of urgency, almost dispassionate. This reaction left Aria bewildered.
Her mind was in turmoil, struggling to grasp what he meant. Despite her desire to trust him, the gravity of her father's predicament made her hesitate.
"Please, tell me how I can assist you," Aria urged, eager to support him in any way possible. She still had countless questions swirling in her head regarding her future, the looming destruction of the world, and the reason behind his current distance.
But he sounded cold.
Was it because she was not what he had imagined?
Deep down, she recognized that his perspective was shaped by the future her, making it difficult for him to accept who she was right now.
She felt lost, uncertain if she could ever live up to the expectations of the future self he anticipated.
:: Aria, I hope this is our last conversation. And about your father—he will remain safe; I will ensure it. :: As the words hung in the air, the call abruptly disconnected.
"Hello? Hello? Professor Aven?" Aria stared at her phone in shock, her heart racing as she tried to process what had just happened.
Had he just told her to never meet him again?
Tring~
Suddenly, the phone rang from the hall room, jolting Aria from her thoughts.
The buzz of the phone caught the attention of the assistant to the head of the family, who swiftly answered it.
His eyes widened in surprise as he quickly passed the phone to the head of the family.
When Mr. William put the phone to his ear, his eyes went wide. He jumped up from his chair, his voice shaking for the first time—this was a guy whose voice never quivered even when he heard about the assassination. But now, it was different; it shook when he found out who was behind it.
With a trembling voice he exclaimed,
"Huh? M-Marquess Croceaus?!"