The CEO of Orixa-Tech, a woman named Funke, was just as tough."We’ve seen what happens when big firms move into Lagos," Funke said. "You’ll take our tech and move the headquarters to Europe. We want to stay here and build our local economy."Chris shook his head. "I want the tech, Funke, but I don't want to move you. I want you to be my regional hub.""That’s what they all say," Funke argued. "But then the contracts change. I cannot agree to a majority stake sale if it means my people lose their jobs."Again, they hit a wall. Adrian started typing on his laptop and then showed Chris the screen. He had drafted a "Local Autonomy Agreement" that guaranteed the headquarters would stay in Lagos for at least a decade and promised a massive budget for local hiring.Chris smiled and pitched the new deal to Funke. "I’ll sign a ten-year residency agreement. Orixa-Tech stays in Lagos. We will double your hiring budget specifically for local talent. I’m not here to erase you; I’m here to fuel yo

The afternoon sun beat down on the private deck, baking the concrete around the infinity pool. Chris Greene lay back on a canvas lounger, his sunglasses pushed up into his hair. He held a cold glass of mojito, the condensation dripping down his fingers and onto his linen shorts. A few feet away, Adrian sat on a matching chair, his posture still slightly stiff from his recent injuries. His left arm was cradled in a dark medical sling, but the grey, exhausted look was finally leaving his skin.Chris took a slow sip through his straw, swallowed, and pointed the green glass toward Adrian. "See? I told you the sun would make you feel better. Your color is returning back to normal."Adrian let out a low laugh and shook his head. He looked down at his drink, then back at Chris. It was fascinating to watch the shift in his friend. With every major victory they secured against the legacy dynasties, a layer of heavy pressure seemed to lift from Chris's shoulders. Around the boardrooms and durin

The black, armored SUV pulled to a stop near the main entrance of the Holloway Ridge mining facility. Chris stepped out into the heavy afternoon heat, his eyes scanning the perimeter. The area was quiet, almost too quiet, surrounded by chain-link fences and dense trees. Behind him, three heavily armed men from his personal security detail moved out in a tight formation, their hands resting near their weapons.Chris raised his left wrist, tapping the interface on his watch. "BODAS, do a quick sweep of the place. I want to know exactly what we are walking into before we move a step further.""Initiating security sweep, Mr. Greene," the AI’s calm, synthesized voice responded through his earpiece. "Accessing local satellite camera feeds now."On the small, high-resolution screen of his watch, a live aerial view of the entire Holloway Ridge facility flickered into focus. The digital camera feed tracked the main office, the heavy machinery parked near the primary dig site, and the transport

Adrian’s jaw clenched so hard a small muscle violently twitched beneath his ear. He took half a step forward, but Chris kept his arm extended, a silent barrier.Chris remained completely unbothered, his expression neutral. "I'm just looking at the inventory. I didn't realize looking was a crime in a storehouse.""Looking isn't a crime, but wasting my time is," the man snapped, his tone sharpening as he tapped the face of his gold watch. "Serious buyers from the First City are trying to move millions of dollars of product today. You’re just taking up oxygen and standing in front of stock you couldn't afford if you pooled your life savings together with your buddies outside.""The stock here isn't going anywhere," Chris replied smoothly, his voice cool and steady. "And money isn't an issue. I’m just picky about what I spend it on”The man burst into a loud, mocking chuckle, turning back to look at the display trays. "Picky? That's the oldest excuse in the book for a man with empty pock

With the contract signed and resting on the counter, the game was officially on. Raymond Vance wore a proud smirk, completely confident that he had just secured fifty pieces of the most valuable technology in the world for absolutely nothing. He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Chris to make his move."Go ahead, tech boy," Raymond said, gesturing toward the premium display tray with a flick of his wrist. "Pick your stone. Let’s see what kind of garbage your amateur eyes select."Gavin and Pierce stood right behind Raymond, snickering loudly. "Don't take too long, Chris," Gavin mocked. "Some of us have real business meetings to attend. We don't want to spend all day watching a novice try to guess which rock is shiny."Chris ignored their insults completely. He walked slow, pacing around the long steel table. He did not need to activate his ROM eyes again because he had already memorized the exact position of the stone he wanted. He walked past the front rows where the massi