Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 232

CHAPTER 167 PART 1

The conference room erupted into chaos the moment Maurice Yarrow spoke.

“You object?” Stanislaus Potter’s voice rose to a shout. “Your organization lost billions in ransom payments! Your expansion into Grayson City was blocked! Black Wind Bar-your most profitable entertainment venue-was shut down permanently! And you object to unified action against the man responsible?”

Maurice remained seated, his expression calm despite the hostile stares boring into him from around the table. “I object to rushing into a war without understanding what we’re fighting.”

“What we’re fighting is obvious!” Cesar Pendleton slammed his hand on the table. “Marcus Steel is a terrorist who’s attacking established power structures! He needs to be eliminated!”

“Eliminated by whom?” Maurice asked quietly. “You, Cesar? You’ve tried already. How did that work out for you?”

Cesar’s face flushed crimson. “That was different! I was unprepared! Caught off guard! If I’d known what he was capable of-”

“You would have what?” Bridger Davis interrupted, speaking for the first time in several minutes. “Brought more men? Better weapons? Cesar, you had security, you had advantages, and you still ended up stripped naked in a public park. What makes you think a second attempt would go differently?”

“Because this time he won’t be fighting me alone!” Cesar shot back. “This time it’s all of us together! The combined resources of every family in this room!”

“Exactly,” Maurice said. “Which proves my point. If Marcus Steel was just some reckless young man with more courage than sense, we wouldn’t need combined resources. We wouldn’t need an alliance. The Lancaster Family alone should be able to crush him. But here we are–the most powerful families in Five-River Province-forming a coalition against a single twenty-seven-year-old. Doesn’t that strike you as suspicious?”

Silence followed his words. Several magnates shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to acknowledge the logic but unable to deny it.

Richard Lancaster leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Maurice. “What are you really saying, Maurice? That we should just accept what Marcus Steel did to my grandson? Let him walk free after crippling the Lancaster heir?”

“I’m saying,” Maurice chose his words carefully, “that Three Blade Group needs more information before committing to total war. We’ve lost money, yes. But money can be recovered. What concerns me more is the pattern of everyone who’s actively opposed Marcus Steel ending up destroyed.”

“Coward,” Stanislaus muttered, just loud enough to be heard.

Maurice’s eyes flashed, but he maintained his composure. “Call me what you want. I prefer ‘cautious’ to ‘ destroyed.””

Stanislaus sensed an opening and shifted tactics. His earlier anger transformed into calculated persuasion. ” Maurice, let me offer you something concrete. If you commit Three Blade Group to this alliance, I’ll personally support your expansion into Grayson City once Marcus Steel is eliminated.”

Maurice’s expression flickered with interest despite himself. “Support how?”

“Full backing,” Stanislaus elaborated. “Potter Family resources, political connections, financial backing. Grayson City’s port economy is worth billions annually. With my help, you could establish Three Blade Group as the dominant force in that market. No competition. No interference.”

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The temptation was visible on Maurice’s face. Grayson City represented enormous profit potential-easily a twenty percent increase in Three Blade Group’s annual revenue. And with Potter Family support eliminating Aaron Jackson and other local competitors, the city would essentially be handed to them on a silver platter.

“And Black Wind Bar?” Maurice asked, his strategic mind already calculating the possibilities. “That venue alone generated fifty million annually.”

“Rebuilt and reopened under your control,” Stanislaus promised. “Everything Marcus Steel took from you- returned and enhanced.”

Maurice opened his mouth to respond, but a sharp kick connected with his shin under the table. He glanced sideways at Bridger Davis, who maintained a perfectly neutral expression while delivering a second, harder kick.

“I…” Maurice hesitated, the momentum of his acceptance interrupted. “I need to consult with my partners before making such a significant commitment.”

Stanislaus looked ready to press harder, but Richard Lancaster intervened. “Take your time. We have twenty-four hours before moving against Miguel Abbott regardless. But understand, Maurice-neutrality is a luxury that expires. Eventually, you’ll have to choose a side.”

“Understood,” Maurice said. “If you’ll excuse us, Three Blade Group needs to discuss this privately.”

He stood, gesturing for Bridger Davis and their third partner-Vincent Cross, who’d been silent throughout the entire meeting-to follow. The three men walked out of the conference room under the weight of two dozen stares, some hostile, some calculating.

The moment the door closed behind them, they moved down the corridor to an empty office space. Maurice locked the door and turned on Bridger immediately.

“What the hell was that kick for? Stanislaus was offering us Grayson City on a platter!”

“He was offering you bait,” Bridger replied calmly. “And you were about to bite.”

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