Seeing that, he murmured softly, his voice barely audible among the cheers, "They think it’s over... not by a long shot."
His eyes narrowed as he turned toward Selena. "Selena, come with me."
Selena blinked in surprise. "What are you planning now, Alex?"
Alex smirked faintly. "Just come with me. You’ll understand soon."
Alyssa sighed in relief, visibly exhausted. "You guys do whatever you want Now that alex is safe, I’m going back to Lily. She’s alone at home."
Alex nodded. "Yeah, take care of her."
As Alyssa left the throne room, Selena and Azrael followed behind Alex. His expression had shifted — calm on the surface, but sharp underneath, like a blade hidden in silk.
They walked toward Jack, who was still surrounded by nobles and officials. The moment Alex approached, the chatter died down, all attention turning toward him.
"So," Alex said casually, his tone playful, "how are you, Jack?"
Jack turned, his gruff face breaking into a grin. "Alex ! Don’t you have time to come and visit me once in a while?"
Alex shrugged. "Well, you know how busy I am."
Selena immediately retorted with a smirk, "Busy sleeping and eating, you mean."
Alex’s mouth twitched. "That’s an important task in my life too, you know. I take it very seriously."
Jack burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the room.
But before the laughter could settle, Cian stood from his seat and addressed King Edward. " Edward, I shall take my leave now. It seems everything is settled."
Just as he turned to go, Alex stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Mr. Cian," he said, his tone polite yet cold. "Where are you going? I have something important to discuss with you."
Cian frowned, clearly irritated. "What do you want now? I have already forgiven you for your heinous crimes, boy."
Alex smiled calmly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I’m aware of that. But before you leave, there’s something else. Your Majesty," he turned toward Edward, "may we use a private room for a short conversation?"
Edward studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. You may use the council chamber."
Soon, Alex, Evelyn, Cian, Liana, Selena, Jack, and Azrael followed Edward into a side room. The atmosphere shifted — from political grandeur to tense stillness.
Everyone took their seats. Cian crossed his arms impatiently. Liana, sitting beside him, tapped her fingers against the table, clearly annoyed.
"Speak quickly, boy," Cian said curtly. "Our time is valuable."
Alex leaned back, unfazed. "Don’t worry. I won’t take much of your precious time."
He folded his hands and smiled faintly. "I simply want you to compensate me for the mental trauma you’ve put me through."
Cian’s patience finally snapped. He slammed his hands on the table and stood up, his face red with anger. "I didn’t come here to listen to your nonsense!"
Liana stood as well, her expression cold. "We’re leaving."
A haunting realization dawned on Cian and Liana.
Liana turned to Cian, her voice trembling. "It was a setup... That brat played us from the start."
Cian’s eyes widened as his breath hitched. ’No... it can’t be. A child... fooled me?’
Losing his patience completely, Cian yelled furiously, "You bastard! You set me up, didn’t you?!"
He pointed a trembling finger at Alex, rage twisting his expression. "You first took five billion credits from me to complete the research for the cure, and then you and Jack Klassen sold the company to me for a hundred billion! Because you knew we wouldn’t be able to mass-produce it without Selena Vega’s help!"
His voice grew louder, desperate. "Even with the formula, the medicine our researchers made had terrible side effects! But using the same formula, Selena Vega was the only one who could make the cure perfectly!"
Liana’s fists clenched as Cian continued to shout, his voice hoarse.
"And after the company was sold, she refused to help us — saying she had already given the formula! So we couldn’t launch the antidote for Abyssal Corruption!"
He slammed the table, his veins bulging. "And now, you even took the company back from me — and left us two hundred billion in debt! Don’t you dare feed me this bullshit!"
As his screams echoed in the room, his breath turned ragged, his body trembling with fury and disbelief.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Alex just watched him with calm amusement, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at his lips.
’And here it begins,’ he thought. ’The downfall of a man who thought himself untouchable.’

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