Chapter 147: Chapter 147: A Devious Plan (Part 2)

"Do go on, sir," Gary encouraged in a light tone, giving a nod.

Before Don could continue, he first walked over to the window and peered through the curtain. 'I should be able to hear someone coming home from here,' he thought, before opening the window slightly but leaving the curtains closed.

He then leaned against the nearby wall and resumed his conversation with Gary. "To start with, tell me what you know about the deputy vice director of the United Hero Management Agency and his son."

Gary couldn't help but raise a curious brow at the question. "I see you're already interacting with influential individuals, sir. But how did you even come to meet the man? From what I know, off the top of my head, he can be quite… discriminatory towards individuals of the community class you're pretending to be in."

"Well, it was the bad kind of interaction—one that ended with him looking at me like I was his biggest enemy," Don explained, heaving a sigh.

"Ah," Gary gave an understanding nod. "That does make more sense. And given his personality, you're right to consider him a problem. I wouldn't be surprised if he were planning your downfall as we speak."

This wasn't exactly reassuring for Don to hear, but he played it off with a simple shrug and remained composed. Although he was worried, he now had a newfound sense of confidence in himself.

In response to Gary, he said, "All the more reason to plan his downfall as well."

Gary seemed surprised by the answer for a moment, raising his eyebrows and then nodding in delighted agreement.

Even Trixie, who was currently practicing erotic poses on Don's bed, turned to comment, "Ooh, who are we killing?"

Don turned his gaze to her and narrowed his eyes. "No one. At least, not with our own hands. Death isn't the only way to ruin someone, Trixie."

Gary showed intrigue at the answer before asking, "Do you have something in mind, sir?"

Don replied, "Well, that will depend on what information you have on him and his son."

Gary nodded. "Ah, I see. Give me one moment then."

Gary moved out of view for a moment, and upon returning, several more prompt windows appeared in Don's augmented reality.

"I think you'll find this information quite useful, sir." As Gary said this, two separate tabs appeared on Don's left and right sides.

He first looked at the one to his right and began reading the information displayed.

---

[ **Subject Name: Harold Barclay

**Alias: The Corporate Czar

**Visual Identification:**

- Sartorial Splendor: Harold is perpetually dressed in bespoke suits tailored to a precision that mirrors his meticulous control over his domain.

story-at-NovelFire

- Imposing Stature: Standing well over six feet, Harold's physical presence is as commanding as his professional reputation.

**Behavioral Analysis:**

- Corporate Autocrat: Harold exemplifies the authoritarian leader in the boardroom. He is a strategic thinker known for his ruthless efficiency and unyielding approach to business and personal challenges.

- Temperamental Oligarch: Quick to ignite and slow to forgive, Harold's temper is well-known by many. His wrath is often reserved for those who fail to meet his exacting standards or who dare to challenge his authority directly.

**Operational History:**

- Dynastic Engineer: Harold didn't merely inherit his position; he expanded it. Under his leadership, his family's influence has solidified, reaching into sectors previously untouched by their power.

- Machiavellian Mentor: Known for grooming loyalists, Harold ensures that allegiance within his ranks is absolute. His mentorship is a double-edged sword—elevating those who are unwavering in their loyalty while coldly discarding any who are not.

**Recent Operational Conduct:**

- Strategic Bully: Harold often leverages his resources to bulldoze opposition. Whether negotiating business deals or personal vendettas, he is known for his 'win at all costs' mentality.

- Exclusivity Enforcer: He prides himself on maintaining an elite circle, controlling access to opportunities and information, which cements his status at the apex of the social hierarchy.

**Interpersonal Dynamics:**

- Network Navigator: Harold has an uncanny ability to manipulate social and professional networks to his advantage. His interactions are carefully choreographed to maximize influence and minimize vulnerability.

- Paternalistic Patriarch: At home, Harold is a demanding father, expecting his children to uphold the family legacy with the same ferocity with which he built it. His love is conditional, awarded only to those who reflect his ambition and values.

**Operational Challenges:**

- Isolation by Intimidation: His aggressive leadership style, while effective, often isolates him from potential allies and loyalists who might fear rather than respect him.

- Perception Management: Harold is acutely aware of his public and private image, constantly battling to maintain the facade of the untouchable patriarch, even as cracks begin to show through family scandals or business failures.

**Strategic Objectives:**

- Legacy Cementation: Harold's ultimate goal seems to be to ensure that the Barclay name not only survives but thrives, becoming synonymous with power and prestige long into the future.

- Absolute Control: He aims to control every variable within his reach, from business ventures to family matters, ensuring that nothing is left to chance.

**Weakness:**

- Last Born Son, Andrew: Despite his formidable facade, Harold's significant vulnerability is his last-born son, Andrew. His son's reckless behavior and frequent missteps in both personal and professional arenas threaten to undermine Harold's carefully curated image and legacy.

Harold's response to Andrew's actions often leads to overreactions that further compromise his position and reveal the depths of his concern for family legacy over actual familial affection. ]

---

Immediately after reading Mr. Barclay's profile, Don looked to the left to read Andrew's.

---

[ **Subject Name: Andrew Barclay

**Alias: The Heir Apparent

**Visual Identification:**

- Privilege Personified: Andrew embodies the quintessential young elite, with meticulously styled blonde hair and a wardrobe consisting of high-end brands, each article chosen to showcase his wealth and status.

- Arrogant Demeanor: His expression, often smug or dismissive, and his body language, overly relaxed or aggressively postured, signal his self-assured belief in his own superiority.

**Behavioral Analysis:**

- Entitlement Embodied: Andrew operates under the belief that his desires should be met without question. This entitlement permeates his interactions, expecting deference and compliance as his due.

- Impulsive Instigator: Lacking patience and foresight, Andrew often acts on whims, his decisions driven by immediate gratification rather than strategic consideration.

**Operational History:**

- Cushioned Competitor: From an early age, Andrew has been placed in environments where his success was virtually guaranteed, thanks to his father's influence. This has stunted his ability to genuinely compete or innovate.

- Silver Spoon Saboteur: His actions often undermine his own positions of advantage, as his sense of invulnerability leads to careless mistakes and public relations disasters.

**Recent Operational Conduct:**

- Confrontation Connoisseur: Quick to escalate minor slights into major conflicts, Andrew uses his father's resources to bully and manipulate outcomes in his favor.

- Status Symbol Collector: Sees relationships and people as assets to be used for personal gain, valuing them for their utility rather than their intrinsic worth.

**Interpersonal Dynamics:**

- Charmingly Callous: Capable of superficial charm, Andrew uses his charisma to allure and manipulate, leaving a trail of disillusioned peers and partners.

- Paternal Shadow: Lives under the immense pressure of his father's expectations, driving him to seek approval through high-profile endeavors, often leading to reckless decisions.

**Operational Challenges:**

- Competence Questioned: Frequently, doubts about his abilities circulate among peers and subordinates, fueled by his visible reliance on his father's interventions rather than his own merit.

- Vulnerability to Influence: His decision-making is easily swayed by those he perceives as allies, making him susceptible to manipulation and poor judgment.

**Strategic Objectives:**

- Legacy Heir: Driven to prove himself worthy of the Barclay legacy, Andrew seeks to establish his own legacy within the shadow of his father's towering achievements.

- Authority Affirmation: Aims to cement his authority independently of his father, striving to be recognized for his own achievements rather than his lineage.

**Weakness:**

- Girlfriend: Andrew's significant other, from another influential family in Santos City, exerts considerable influence over him. Her presence in his life is a double-edged sword—providing social leverage but also creating a potential for personal and professional compromise.

Her influence can steer him into scenarios that amplify his weaknesses, impacting his judgment and actions in ways that can jeopardize his father's carefully laid plans and his own ambitions. ]

---

After going through all the information, Don formed an idea. "Alright, I think the best way to go about this will be to target the son, Andrew, first. And from the information you've provided, I think I have an idea of how to start, but I'll need some more information on a few things before I do."

"Not a problem, sir. Ask away," Gary replied reassuringly.

"Alright then. I'll need a list of all the low-level gangs in the area, those on the level of the group that tried to attack me by the hotel on my first day. Next, I'll need to know the schedule of Andrew's girlfriend. Then…" Don proceeded to list all the things he needed information on, even miscellaneous

details.

Gary listened with keen interest and nodded along every now and then, whereas Trixie quickly got bored of the conversation and turned her attention back to practicing erotic poses.

After a few minutes, Don was finished listing everything he wanted to know, and Gary took note of it all.

"Very well, sir. Though I'll need to dig a little deeper for some of the information you've requested, so I'll do my research and compile everything before uploading it into the Gary Assist database. You'll be notified once it's done; it shouldn't take more than a day," Gary revealed, accepting the task without fuss.

"Great. Well, that's it for me. What about the matter of setting up a base here in the city?" With nothing more to ask for, Don's interest shifted to what Gary wanted to discuss.

"Ah, yes, that," Gary nodded as he remembered. "Well, quite simply put, the young madam wanted to have a base set up for you in the city as quickly as possible. We could only manage to secure a set of warehouses no one was willing to buy in a more dangerous part of town.

The problem is we won't be able to deploy much manpower there from outside the city; hence we'd need to hire or recruit local forces. The same goes for equipment; if we try to bring in anything too eye-catching, we may draw unnecessary attention." S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I see your point," Don nodded in feigned understanding, having no real idea of the processes that surrounded forming a base and manning it. However, he was confident about one thing. "But you can leave the recruitment of local forces to me."

Gary gave a warm smile. "Splendid, sir. I will upload all the additional information you will need to know about the base we're setting up on Gary Assist."