"The meeting shall begin. All councilors, please take a seat and let us deliberate on how to move forward with this proposition." A sturdy male voice spoke, causing the room to become silent.
The chamber was quite large, reminiscent of the old United Nations General Assembly Hall, but with an air of dominance and oppression absent from its predecessor. After all, the UN was never known for being strong, just very loud and annoying.
In the center was a massive circular table, its sleek black surface reflecting the faint golden light of the fancy chandelier above. Around the table were nine imposing seats, each uniquely crafted to suit its occupant, showcasing their unparalleled authority over the current world.
In front of each councilor was a digital panel displaying classified information, holographic charts, and live surveillance feeds. From these feeds, one could see that most of the information was about Boundless, its details, the changes in the world economy surrounding it, and projections of its rising influence.
Armed guards in pristine uniforms stood at the room's periphery, their presence a silent warning to any who dared to disrupt the proceedings. Their eyes were strange, filled with a certain level of sentience but without possessing the kind of free will most people had, while their bodies were releasing a wave of subtle energy that could make any Lineage member feel a threat.
The world outside had no clue that while they farted about doing what they thought was 'living', there were certain decisions made in this room that shaped their lives without question and could decide their life or death with ease, regardless of those so-called 'human rights'.
James Rockefeller, the First Councilor, leaned forward, his voice steady and commanding. "Let us address the elephant in the room. The rise of this Boundless World game threatens the balance we have so carefully maintained. If we do not act decisively, it could undermine everything we've built."
He was a man of imposing stature, broad-shouldered and solidly built despite his advanced age. His square jaw was clean-shaven, and his deep-set blue eyes carried the weight of generations of power.
His short, steel-gray hair was combed neatly, and he wore a dark navy Armani suit with a gold tie, the Rockefeller family crest subtly embroidered on his cufflinks.
His every movement exuded control and authority, a testament to his lineage.
"Hmph, big talk. Decisive actions are easy to suggest, but can you outline one that won't backfire on us spectacularly?" Rosa Astor - the Sixth Councilor - sneered, her tone seemingly light but laced with razor-sharp sarcasm.
The Sixth Councilor was a striking woman in her late thirties, with sharp cheekbones and pale green eyes that glimmered with intelligence and cruelty.
Her wavy auburn hair was styled into a flawless bun, and she wore a crimson silk blouse under a tailored black blazer. Her posture was relaxed, yet her gaze was unyielding, always calculating the next move like a chess grandmaster anticipating every possibility.
"I suggest we consider the long-term repercussions before we act. Glorygore Studios' capabilities aren't fully understood, and rash actions could escalate the situation." The soft, accented voice belonged to Li Jian, the Third Councilor.
Li Jian still maintained an air of timelessness, his aged face offset by an inner vitality that made him seem like some young master immortal cultivator. His light yellow skin bore only faint wrinkles, and his bright black eyes gleamed with wisdom.
He wore traditional green Chinese robes, the embroidery of golden dragons subtle yet exquisite. His black hair, tied back with a jade hairpin, lent him an aura of mysticism that complemented his composed demeanor.
However, he still bore the fatigue from the futility of fighting Umbra previously. Even though he wasn't personally attacked, seeing all of Nathan's troops being brutalized while Sengo Muramasa was beaten like a dog in front of him, he was naturally not feeling so good, hence his words of caution.
"Those bunch are a threat, plain and simple. We've faced worse and prevailed. Why should this be any different?" Franklin DuPont, the Fourth Councilor, said coldly, his eyes not even glancing at the table in complete arrogance.
Metro Van Duyn nodded. "That's right. When trying to usurp a king, you should always go first for his prime minister. Glorygore is a tough nut to crack legally, but this Umbra is just a group of gamers. Handling them would be akin to dealing with children."
James Rockefeller seemed moved. "Display all information about Umbra's personnel. Show me their backgrounds, their histories, and which powers they might be tied to."
The AI managing the display before them acknowledged the order and did so. Soon, information about the Purgatory group was brought up, including their finances, their various achievements, their bank accounts, and even their certificates.
"Well, well, this gamer company has even more money than all of us put together! And it's all liquid cash, they actually have almost no assets!" Yuuto Nakamoto was initially speaking snarkily, but his eyes bulged as he looked further.
Even the others were greatly shocked. What most broke people thought about rich people was them buying Lamborghinis, houses, and expensive clothes, as well as jewelry, so they had infinite cash, right?
Wrong.
What made rich people rich was the possession of valuable assets that did not easily depreciate over time, like shares in top companies, debt owed to them, or most importantly, fixed assets like land. With these things, they could keep the money flowing without having to work 9-5 like you behind the screen.
So when they say XX is a billionaire worth 40 billion, the majority of that—if not all—refers to the value of assets owned. You might find that a 40 billion dollar strongman only has around 20 million dollars in cash that he can spend freely for a whole year.
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The same went for these councilors. There were rich men out there in the world, like Maria's father who owned The Cartel, but they were nothing compared to them, who had shored up all valuable assets under their names after World War 3.
If people in 2024 thought that there was a small group of people and companies that owned everything, then that thought had become reality under the World Council of today!
So to see a company that was richer than them with liquid funds compared to what they had in assets, their hearts trembled and their eyes became red.
"It seems this Purgatory Group has been playing a very dirty game. Bring up their tax records," James Rockefeller said coldly.
The next moment, a screen overlaid those that came before, showing the Purgatory Group's tax payments to the Government and to the World Council. The nine councilors read through and smiled at the same time, looking utterly relieved.
For despite the great wealth Umbra possessed, they had not given a single dime in taxes!
Tax evasion!
One of the most serious crimes in the world today! You can get away with rape, murder, or theft, but you would never be forgiven for tax evasion!
Franklin DuPont smashed the table with a grin of excitement. "Got them! Using this, we can even latch onto Glorygore and force them to concede benefits. How many of its players actually pay taxes on whatever they earned through the game? Does the company itself pay taxes on transactions made in the game?"
David Collins, who had yet to speak, raised his head with a smile. "Hey, let's transfer out their money first. I've been eyeing that new jet from VoidX Company, but my liquid funds weren't enough. However, don't we have a free money tree before us?"