The Tycoon's Odyssey

A convoy moved through the streets of Utkal.

It was a long procession of high-end cars, drawing the attention of onlookers.

In the middle of it all, Aria sat in the back, her presence exuding authority.

In recent months, she had transformed from an unknown figure to someone who was both feared and revered, the epitome of a blood-hardened businesswoman.

Whispers of her prowess echoed through every alley, painting her as a force to be reckoned with one half of the legendary duo known as the "Demoness of Utkal."

The operations of Next Gen Innovations had been meticulously purged of threats. No trace of spies remained; and those who had infiltrated the office had surrendered, stripped of their reputations and had been destroyed to the point where no one was willing to hire them.

The thugs that other companies once relied on for all dirty work had now pledged loyalty to her, ensuring that any semblance of opposition was swiftly crushed.

It was common knowledge now—the entire underground network was under the Next Gen Corps' control.

Surprisingly, the illegal activities had declined, bringing down Utkal's crime rate by more than 70%, leaving everyone startled.

Also, Maria, known for her ferocity, had shut down all Sunbucks locations in a display of ruthless strength. Meanwhile, Aria was making strides, each one further solidifying her hold on Utkal.

Now everything was within their grasp.

With a flick of her wrist, Aria signaled Ria to establish a connection with Aurora. She needed to know the next steps from Evan, especially now that they didn't have any new projects given that Omega Gaming Corps had taken on a great part of their workload.

"Connect me to Aurora," Aria instructed, her voice steady yet commanding.

Moments later, the digital interface hummed to life, projecting Aurora in perfect holographic detail.

[Miss Aria, how can I assist you?] Aurora's spoke, her voice crisp and professional.

"I need to know Evan's plans. What's next for us?" Aria asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Aurora.

Aurora hesitated, a flicker of concern crossing her features. [He has no plans to return just yet. He is undergoing a transformation.]

Aria raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Is that the transformation I'm thinking about?"

[Yes, it is,] Aurora confirmed, her expression unreadable.

"I see." Aria leaned back, absorbing this information. "By the way, Macrosoft's CEO reached out. He expressed gratitude and offered us support to take down Pears as a gesture."

Aurora's eyes brightened with recognition. [I will relay that to Sir. Having allies is essential in our line of work.]

"Good," Aria replied, her confidence unwavering. "With his backing, we can consolidate our power even further."

As the convoy sped through the city, a surge of ambition filled Aria. Utkal was transforming under her watch, and with Evan's strategies developing in the background, she knew they were on the brink of something monumental.

She glanced out at the bustling streets, feeling the weight of her influence settle comfortably on her shoulders.

She had never imagined that she would rise from a teacher to this position. However, she didn't have any hand in all this; rather all she had done was simply ridden the waves.

However, at least she was proud that she had taught Evan something during his struggling days.

Thinking about Evan's poor appearance from back then, Aria couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia.

Those were some happy memories.

"Keep me updated on Evan's progress, Aurora. I want to be the first to know when he's ready to make his next move," Aria instructed.

[Of course,] Aurora replied, her digital form flickering slightly as she accessed the necessary information. [I will ensure you're updated with all developments.] Read the latest stories on M-VL-em|p,yr

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As the sun dipped low in the sky, Pratap Rajput, the patriarch, sat at the head of a long wooden table in the grand meeting hall of the Rajput estate.

His brows were deeply furrowed, and a palpable tension gripped the air. Seated with him at the table were his two sons, Arjun and Rohit, along with his grandsons, Jagesh and Vishal, all as the contenders for the family's leadership.

Unlike other families, where inheritance followed the lineage, the Rajput tradition prioritized intellect and capability above all, ensuring only the sharpest minds led the clan.

"Vishal, explain the situation," Pratap commanded his voice a mixture of authority and concern.

Vishal drew a deep breath, recalling the urgency of the day. "We've identified a massive scheme involving foreign institutions. They have hoarded shares and have positioned themselves to manipulate the market, potentially at our expense."

Pratap's scowl deepened, as he looked intently at his sons. "How did these foreign institutions get wind of our strategies? Damn! How in the world did they know?"

His anger surged through the room like a wildfire.

For a moment, he considered the possibility of rival family heads being involved in this, but he shook his head and dismissed the thought.

None among the prominent clans would jeopardize their entire wealth for such a gamble. "None of them would put everything on the line in the share market. A crash would cost everyone dearly."

"Do you think Silverman or Whiterock would have a hand in this?" Rohit asked, his voice steady.

Vishal shook his head. "It's difficult for us to ascertain any direct connections. Their networks are too well hidden."

At that moment, Arjun leaned forward, his expression grave. "If another family is involved, we can't track them. Our only option might be to seek help from outside."

"No, we can't…" Rohit interjected, his tone urgent. "They've grown too powerful. The price they would demand would be too high in return for helping us."

"Ban it," Pratap suddenly declared, his voice cutting through the discussion.

A bewildered gasp rippled around the table. Jagesh, surprised, asked, "What did you say, Grandpa?"

"I said ban those accounts," Pratap repeated, his voice firm. "Jagesh, compile a list of the suspicious accounts and hand it over to Vishal and Rohit."

"You two will initiate the ban as soon as they start short-selling. We might not secure all the shares we aimed for, but a profit is still a profit. Ruining their plans might yield us more benefit than we expect."

"But, Grandpa, this could bring us trouble! This is too much abuse of authority," Vishal protested, clearly shocked at the idea of abusing authority even more than he already was.

Pratap leaned back, his expression resolute. "So what if I abuse it? What can they do? Call that puppet Rajesh and give him an introduction. I'm sure he would do the same. At worst, the brokers will halt the entire stock market."

"With media scrutiny on our side, since when have they tried to go against us? Those who dared to challenge the Rajputs have never lived to tell the tale," he added, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

Seeing the unease on the two kids' faces, Rohit sighed and spoke, "You two shouldn't overthink about this. Being born in this position is our privilege and it's never wrong to use it."

"Hmmn! Good!" Pratap nodded approvingly and eyed Jagesh and Vishal.

Jagesh was Rohit's son while Vishal was Arjun's. There were others, but these were most suitable for their clan's leadership in Pratap's eyes.

"If you want to become the head of our family, you need to learn to step on others to assert yourself."

The room fell silent as Pratap's words hung heavily in the air.