Chapter 783

Chapter 783: Attack Thickens

“It’s true, we were bought out.”

“By who?”

“No idea,” he explained, “-I was on call with Raide, he’s certain the purchaser did so behind a shell company. Our majority advantage is gone, the shareholders want a meeting to choose a new CEO and alternate the board. It’s a complete takeover, there’s nothing we can do.”

“Take a seat then,” said Igna rationally, “-what of the contract, what do they state?”

“The idols are free to leave whenever they wish, tis the condition I’ve personally added to prevent a repeat of Ansoft.”

“Good,” smiled Igna, “-we wash our hands with the bad press and let it for the new owners to handle, I think it’s a great idea.”

“Master...”

.....

“What is it, Alta?”

“Watch the prince’s expression, he cares not about the money, tis the company, I feel there’s more attachment.”

“We shouldn’t have gone public then.”

“I understand what you’re saying,” fired Julius, “-still, we had to in trying times. The company’s running on gas, there’s no money, I shudder for the employees. I’d cut ties with most and keep the essentials, Apexi’s supposed to be a haven for the entertainment industry.”

“Right,” he paused, “-what’s the percentage you own?”

“30% is mine. 50% was bought out and the remaining 20% is owned by lady Elvira.”

“We have a fighting chance,” he smiled, “-lady Elvira’s genius strikes again, yours combined is enough to rival the majority. Get in the call, you have a company to save.”

“Right, thank you, cousin.”

“Take the helicopter,” suggested Igna, “-I’ll be a phone call away; if you need anything.”

“I’ll be in touch,” the echoey stomps vanished towards the elevator. He sat in the company of Alta, she watched silently, the mind processed what had just happened.

“Will he be able to recover the company?”

“Not really,” explained Igna, “-want something to drink?” he moved behind the kitchen counter that gave straight onto the living room.

“Water would be great,” she followed and took a seat.

“How about some whiskey,” he pulled open an overhead locker, the damp hue of hard liquor gleamed, *click,* “-here we are,” it laid in an ice-filled glass.

“Too early,” she took a whiff and cringed, “-hard.”

“I know,” he nonchalantly downed the bottle.

“Explain what thee meant?”

“The buyer is most certainly the masterminds who wanted to drown Apexi and turn the entertainment industry over its head. They managed to hide their names and kept signatures off papers, tis a good way to avoid the gaze of the A.C.U and the R.E.I.S. I doubt they’ll offer to resell the shares so easily, and since we can’t track them, there’s nothing we can do. The shares are like puzzle pieces of a picture, the more one holds, the better is outlook. If a few shares happen to go missing, there’s no way to recover unless it is tracked, even then, the information tied to each piece is unique. Meanwhile, there are stakes, they’re a way to add money to said shares, inflating their value and giving a lovely return when the prices are up. Together, we call them stocks, well, that’s my understanding of how the business world is fragmented in Hidros. It’s a game of building a puzzle. Julius needs to have a clearer picture, and since the company was originally under Phantom’s watch, lady Elvira had the liberty to disturb the shares when it went on the Hidrorian market. She must have kept the odds even and instructed Julius to never sell his part of the cake.”

“She had an emergency escape.”

“Right – unless the majority of the shareholders agree, any crucial decision will have to be held by a vote. The board is compromised of Phantom workers, I doubt they’ll easily yield their place. Julius calls them old man; we know well they’re wealthy investors who Elvira drew in.”

“Way to phrase it ominously, what’s going to happen?”

“A fight for majority claims I’d guess. Phantom’s greedy by nature, they want total control. Apexi’s no exception,” the television screen flashed, *Incoming Message: éclair,* “-I tracked the transaction to the Bank of Hidros. They won’t disclose who bought or who sold. There’s so much I can follow, it was well hidden.”

“Right,” he leaned on the counter, “-Alta, what’s the situation in Arda.”

“As I said, we risk war if the elven kingdom isn’t stopped.”

“How much estate does he have?”

“King Gla Hartslon of the allied elven nation has claimed over the sacred tree, the ancient Highclark forest, the swamp region occupied by the lizardmen, and the whole of the western edge until the river.”

“The same areas the church with exception to the eastern region. That area is split into three districts per agreement on the king’s ascension to power. Was there ever a non-aggression pact?”

“Not that I remember.”

“Great, this should be an easy fix,” he smiled, “-tell me, what happens when a nail sticks out?”

She creased her eyes, “-hammer it in?”

“There you have it,” he cheered, “-hammer it in. I told mother I would reform the land until she’s readied to rule. Arda’s going to be reunited.”

“Are you suggesting war?”

“Will negotiations work?” he asked crudely, “-wasn’t it you who ran here expecting the situation to be solved?”

“Through bloodshed... it seems excessive.”

“Right it is, war never brings good,” he spoke unfazed by the alcohol, “-Arda’s suffered much and has yet to heal. Opening a wound is easier than causing a new slit. Have the council of rulers be ready. Send an open invitation to any tribe, villages, landless nobles, and the like to rally behind my name, the Devil of Glenda.”

“I won’t try and comprehend,” she surrendered, “-show me the way to uniting the realm.” Another helicopter took off said day, Igna found himself alone in the company of the ever-sleeping Raphael. Feet kicked onto the table and sight to the screen, the time came for the opposition to make their moves.

A cacophonous onslaught of high-paced chatter filled a local diner, clientele was many and overbearing, similar to the midday sun. A reservedly dressed lady waited at a window table, to her side sat another taller, imposing man. They seemed acquainted; the white-frame door dinged.

“Good evening, might I be of service?” inquired a waitress.

“No thanks,” a notebook returned in his coat, “-I have companions waiting.”

“Understood,” she smiled, “-enjoy,” and moved to another customer. The distant ‘-greeting, how can I help,’ corporate smile and expression distant itself. He pulled to the window and sat, throwing two understanding looks at the guests.

“Congratulations on acquiring the company,” he broke the ice, “-must have cost a lot.”

“Not really,” replied the lady, “-the price was lowered, a nice conspiracy is wise to have a discount.”

“I’m not satisfied yet,” said the man, “-I want Apexi to fall, she needs to come home, I swear.”

“My, what a needy man you are,” she said, “-we’ve only started to dismantle the walls protecting the misguided lass. Say, I heard about the raid on a stray narcotic base, was it you’re doing?”

“No comments,” returned coldly, “-I strongly advise against flaunting the wealth. Not many people in Hidros have the clout to blow millions on whims...”

“Hey, I’m part of the elite circle, I can’t help my urges,” coyly went across, “-taking down rivals is a wise strategy.”

“A little birdy told me someone from Alphia ordered and shipped weapons from the Cobalt Unit to Arda...”

“Now, now, detective, it would be wise not to investigate matters which are above thy pay-grade. I’ll be in contact again, once Apexi is finished, we’ll move to take on Phantom.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” said the bleak man, “-our organizations have allied thanks to me, and I want my request fulfilled fast as possible.”

“Stop obsessing over a brat who ran from home,” fired the lady, “-my mother’s very scary, mess with me and I promise the outcome won’t be pretty. Anyhow,” her voice swapped for a friendlier tone, “-I expect much for the money I’ve paid,” she smiled, “-concoct me a scheme which will blow away the whole continent.”

Onward from the 16th, the struggles of many influential parties remained unknown to the public. Those able of the shadows were forced to walk in the common crowd and under the overhanging light of accountability. December the 24th arrived shortly after, a week of defensive battle had Julius crawl up to Igna’s manor in Rosespire.

“You have a guest,” said éclair over the intercom.

“Right,” the lights toggled, ‘-I’ve been inside the study for a week,’ he ambled downstairs, threw a glance into the living room where Raphael lounged surrounded with toys and snacks. A few days ago, one could have spotted him inside a cradle, the reversion to infancy continued, he only returned to regrow two days ago. *tap, tap,*

“I’m here,” the door opened.

“Igna, I’m tired.”

“Don’t complain,” he invited the guest inside, “-go have a shower, I need to step out for a bit.”

“What about my rants,” pouted he.

“Have éclair listen to them.”

“No,” he lunged for Igna’s hands, “-what about my marriage.”

“You reek of alcohol,” he moved away, ‘-I forgot...’

“Malley doesn’t return my calls anymore,” he fell on his knees, “-I want to get married...”

‘This mess of a guy is a CEO and a world-star idol. Who knew it only needed a woman to break his otherwise dreamlike lifestyle.’

“éclair...”

“I’m here,” he said, “-I’ll take care of the prince, please carry on.”

“Right, thank you,” he exited to a fresh whiff of the grassy aroma, ‘-about time I visit them.’

The sun had risen over the cloudy capital, circumstances had forced Igna to forcibly fight a proxy war. Over the week, a game of cat and mouse between the ACU and the D.G had full-out wars in abandoned villages. Shots were fired and blood was shed, in the end, neither side won, what remained was a battle that took the lives of 53 officers and 22 soldiers on the D.G’s side. A particular event replayed in his mind, ‘-éclair asked me to ensure a convoy to be used to carry a dummy prop to wastelands of Aroen hills. I made sure to take uncommon routes and disguise the prop as a common family car, the color was bland and the registration number stolen. There was no way the ACU could have discovered my moves, we went a lot of steps before finally allowing the plan the go through. We were ambushed at the hillside by an old refill station. I used puppets, they lost many of their officers, my army is strong regardless of the opposition. The fault was on the leader – should we have used an aerial means of transport, no, what strikes me weird is what happened next. I’d have checked the cars for the fruit of my labor... they decided to wait. Someone had the foresight of a potential dummy mission; the prop was a remote-controlled bomb. The real package was smuggled via public transport. I had a random stranger abducted and forced to fly for the Empire... by drawing attention away from the airport, I had planned it to work perfectly. Nothing ever goes as planned, was it luck or someone’s careful observation; so, happens that day, the Anti-narco unit chose his plane for a search. When he was apprehended, guess what, what they found was a harmless sex toy, a very embarrassing situation. My bluffs say there’s either a mole or the opposition is extremely competent. They desperately want to crack down on the D.G’s source of income. Tough luck, Raven’s taken the responsibility of manufacturing until the situation in Hidros is resolved, too bad, they think the D.G is exporting narcotics, a unanimous decision was reached, the godfathers are going into hiding, what will the reply be, my fellow enemy[KT1] ,’ he drove on into town – location, the Musical Academy. ‘It’s been a year, we should have stopped sending Celina money, I wonder if the girl’s independent.’