novelnext Chapter 253 : Declaration of War
Chapter 253 : Declaration of War
[Breaking News.][Massive fires caused by explosions are currently breaking out across all of Sector E. According to our investigation, this is a declaration of war against the rapidly expanding criminal organization known as the 'Kim Cheolsu Faction'...]
“So it has begun.”
The news played on the television installed inside the aerial limousine.
Leaving the news on, Kallia shifted her gaze beyond the bulletproof reinforced panel glass.
Columns of smoke were rising from countless places far below.
Most were around Sector E, though similar incidents were also occurring in several parts of Sectors D and C.
Police officers and firefighters rushed toward the scenes with flashing red and blue lights.
Privately contracted armored aerial vehicles belonging to insurance companies also flew busily through the sky, dispatched to rescue their clients.
She couldn't hear it from here, but over there...
Gunfire was probably ringing out without pause, while blood splattered everywhere.
The war had begun.
With a tense expression, Kallia turned off the display panel and addressed the driver's seat.
“……Is everything ready?”
“Yes, My Lady. The moment we detect the signal, we'll be ready to move in immediately.”
According to her secretary's report, five Grand-Mage-Class Wizards were currently sweeping every corner of the network surrounding Sector E.
At the same time, high-level Adaptee soldiers above Lv.90, equipped with Optical Camouflage Modules, were monitoring all key locations.
If Kim Cheolsu or that mysterious man appeared anywhere—or if an unexpected surge of Mana were detected—they would immediately deploy under Kallia's command.
“I'll repeat this as many times as necessary. Never provoke them first. If those two sides start fighting each other, observe from a safe distance first, then decide which side we should support.”
“Yes. I'll remind the soldiers once more.”
“Haa......”
Despite her secretary's confident reply, Kallia couldn't shake the anxiety within her.
After all, she wasn't receiving proper cooperation from the Stingray Intelligence Division or the Security Division.
If she had been able to borrow Adaptees and Wizards from them, she would have felt far more secure.
But it seemed the Chairman had no intention of taking Kallia's side in this battle.
As a result, she had no choice but to participate in this war using only her personal connections and financial resources.
To her, it felt as though her father had coldly declared,
'It's your fight. Don't expect my help.'
It left an unpleasant taste in her mouth.
Until now, they had at least maintained the outward appearance of a caring father and a beloved youngest daughter.
But as time passed, that fabricated father-daughter relationship was gradually crumbling, exposing its true nature.
Of course, she had known from the beginning that it was all a lie.
Even so, facing that reality head-on still left her heart heavy.
“Father......”
Kallia pictured the white-haired old man in her mind for a brief moment before shaking her head and driving the image away.
Right.
There was no point dwelling on it.
Since when had she ever clung to something like 'family?'
Within the Stingray Family, each member was merely a necessary evil to the others.
What they expected from one another wasn't familial affection.
It was mutual benefit.
If ordinary families embraced and comforted each other...
Then the Stingray Family was a place where father, brother, and sister pointed blades at one another's throats while exchanging money.
So feeling sentimental toward someone simply because they were 'family' made no sense.
This vague feeling of nostalgia was probably just the result of the immense stress she'd endured traveling back and forth between Sector E and Sector A.
But that would all end soon.
Her conflict with Aaron would soon reach its conclusion as well.
'Victory will be mine.'
While Aaron had mysteriously disappeared and neglected the Foundation's administrative work, Kallia had busily prepared for victory.
Bringing the Black Dragon Gang and the criminal organizations of Sector E under her influence had been only one part of her plan.
She had fully utilized her talent and personal connections to persuade Stingray executives, the leaders of numerous partner companies, and influential politicians to stand on her side.
And today—
She intended to verify all the seeds she had sown.
She would gather everyone who had agreed to support her, confirm the plan, and secure their promise to nominate her—not Aaron—as the next successor of the Stingray Group.
“We'll be arriving shortly, My Lady.”
“Good.”
Composing both her expression and her thoughts, Kallia waited for the limousine to stop in the hotel's parking area.
The moment it came to a halt, her attendants moved with perfect coordination to clear a path for her.
“My Lady. This way.”
Following the Chief Secretary's guidance, Kallia stepped forward.
Soon, an oak door appeared before her.
The Chief Secretary gave his report.
“Currently, Director Robert Stevenson, Director Jeong Won-chaek, President Nakamoto, and...”
“That's enough. I'll see who's inside myself.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
At her command, the attendants neatly opened the door for her.
The moment she entered, everyone seated around the table rose and bowed politely.
“You've arrived, Lady Kallia.”
A total of fifteen people attended this secret meeting.
Eight were Stingray executives.
Five were presidents of partner companies.
The remaining two were politicians from the ruling party and the largest opposition party.
There were slightly fewer people than she had expected.
Still, it shouldn't pose a problem.
Most of the attendees appeared to be in their forties or fifties.
In reality, however, each of them was an elderly person well over ninety years old.
Kallia greeted them with an elegant smile.
“Thank you all for coming.”
“How could we possibly refuse Lady Kallia's invitation? Hahaha.”
“Indeed. Hahaha.”
The attendees all seemed eager to leave a favorable impression on her.
In other words, they had already decided to tie themselves to Kallia's side rather than Aaron's.
Naturally, they hoped to receive an even greater share of the benefits once Kallia became the next Emperor.
Of course, Kallia fully understood what they were after.
So she accepted their pleasantries only to an appropriate degree.
When the atmosphere had ripened enough, she smiled.
“Shall we all take our seats?”
At that moment...
The expressions in everyone's eyes changed.
Just moments ago, they had looked like kind elders who had watched her grow up.
Now...
They resembled man-eating monsters who had devoured countless people to climb to where they stood.
'......As expected, this won't be easy.'
Kallia immediately corrected her earlier assumption.
She had believed that their presence here meant they had already completely chosen her side.
Apparently, that wasn't entirely true.
Perhaps she had only imagined she succeeded in persuading them during their previous meeting.
Or perhaps that meeting had merely been the opening round.
She realized she needed to completely seize control of them here.
'I can't slowly circle around and win over every one of these people individually.'
'I need to go straight for the heart.'
Having reached that conclusion, Kallia spoke.
“Let me be perfectly direct, everyone.”
Her brilliant golden eyes slowly swept across every face.
“I intend to remove my elder brother, Aaron Stingray, from the position of Crown Prince.”
“I refuse to make that monster the next Emperor.”
How much time had passed after that?
“......”
Having finished everything she wished to say, Kallia carefully inhaled before taking her seat.
Silence filled the conference room.
No one spoke.
Some absentmindedly stroked their mustaches.
Some wore visibly excited expressions.
Others frowned deeply in contemplation.
Kallia had covered many topics during the meeting.
But her central message had been simple.
Aaron is unqualified to become Crown Prince.
I am confident I can do a better job than Aaron.
It will benefit all of you far more if I become the next Emperor.
Therefore, support me.
Of course, anyone with ambitions toward the imperial succession could make such claims.
The executives demanded something more concrete.
How exactly did she intend to govern and lead the Group?
And most importantly—
How did she intend to stop and eliminate Aaron Stingray?
Kallia currently possessed far fewer Stingray shares than Aaron.
That issue could easily be overcome through the cooperation of executives and shareholders.
The real problem lay elsewhere.
Who would place shackles upon that monster?
Like mice debating who should bell the cat, the executives feared one thing above all else—
That tyrant called Aaron might respond with violence.
Even if they somehow succeeded in killing him...
They also feared the consequences afterward.
Subduing Aaron would inevitably inflict enormous losses upon Stingray.
And even if they somehow defeated him without suffering casualties, losing the living weapon known as Aaron Stingray would inevitably weaken Stingray against rival corporations such as Militech.
Aaron Stingray's exact specifications were classified within the Stingray Group.
However, nearly everyone present had clearance to access that information.
Knowing that Aaron possessed enough power to devastate an entire city...
Their concerns were only natural.
But Kallia had already spent a great deal of time considering that very issue.
She revealed everything she had prepared without holding anything back.
How she intended to strip Aaron of his authority.
How she planned to physically suppress him.
What political methods she would employ.
Every time a question arose, Kallia answered with flawless confidence and remarkable eloquence.
She looked like someone who had spent countless hours preparing this very presentation.
Naturally, several heated arguments broke out during the discussion.
Objections met rebuttals.
Rebuttals met counterarguments.
But in the end...
Kallia emerged victorious.
Blending threats with persuasion...
Truth with lies...
She mercilessly dismantled the arguments of Stingray's old monsters and successfully swayed their hearts.
And now—
Having claimed victory in every battle of words, Kallia quietly watched her opponents like a warrior who had survived a desperate war.
Then, after a long silence...
“Very well, Lady Kallia.”
One representative finally spoke.
“We shall support Lady Kallia.”
The moment she heard those words...
It felt as though something tightly wound deep inside her finally came undone.
'It's done.'
Without realizing it, the corners of her lips rose into a smile.
Now she had the Stingray executives, influential politicians, and even the major figures of the underworld behind her.
There was nothing left to fear.
This was, for all practical purposes, victory.
If she had followed her heart, she would have leaped for joy on the spot.
Instead, true to her mastery of maintaining a poker face, she calmly concealed her emotions.
Above all...
No matter how powerful her new allies had become, Aaron Stingray remained an overwhelming opponent.
No one knew what would happen once these plans entered their execution phase.
That uncertainty kept her grounded.
“So then, specifically... when do we...?”
“At the next shareholders' meeting.”
“I intend to announce all of your signed declarations there.”
“That will be the opening shot of the war.”
“......Understood.”
“We'll prepare ourselves.”
The attendees nodded with solemn expressions.
However...
At that moment, Kallia sensed that something was wrong.
The attendees exchanged strange glances with one another.
Then—
Most of them suddenly stood up and quietly left the conference room.
“E-Everyone?”
Kallia called after them.
Yet they acted as though they hadn't heard a single word.
Eventually...
Only four people remained in the conference room, including Kallia.
Every one of them was the president of a company.
“We have something we must tell you, Lady Kallia.”
“......What exactly are you doing?”
“There's no need to worry.”
“We've already firmly decided to support Lady Kallia as the next Chairwoman.”
“However, before that can happen, there's one thing you must do first.”
“One thing...?”
When Kallia asked, the presidents carefully reached into their pockets and presented something to her.
Wrapped in luxurious paper...
It resembled a single pill.
Or perhaps...
A seed.
“Please take this.”
“......What is it?”
“You may not have known this, Lady Kallia.”
“But before anyone can become one of our Group's highest-ranking executives, they must first make a promise with someone.”
“No...”
“Perhaps 'an oath' would be the more appropriate word.”
“What are you talking about...?”
“Lady Kallia.”
His voice became even more serious.
“Do you truly believe Chairman Drake Stingray built this empire...”
“...through his own strength alone?”