‘So these are the ones sitting at the top in these parts… and these ones are either dependent on them or trying to break away.’He noted how some mid-tier corporations showed repeated patterns of sudden growth followed by stagnation, often aligning with shifts in ownership stakes from the larger groups, suggesting controlled expansion rather than organic development, while smaller companies appeared frequently as acquisition targets or subcontracted entities feeding into larger industrial chains.Without needing anyone to explain it to him, the structure began to form in his mind.‘There are a few dominant groups anchoring each sector, while everyone beneath them adjusts according to their movements.’Shaking his head lightly, he muttered under his breath, “It’s the same everywhere.”Calvin walked over to another terminal, looking at financial flow indicators that showed cross-sector investments, quickly noting how capital from some top corporations was being funnelled into other top c

Calvin put his phone away as they exited the apartment building, where Ashley’s driver was waiting with the same sedan from two days ago.The ride to the artifact market was quick, and soon they were back on familiar streets, people moving around busily, stall owners and hawkers calling out for people to buy their goods.Calvin and Ashley headed straight for the area near the elemental stone gambling houses Calvin had visited on Thursday, arriving at a large building with heavy foot traffic, security at every corner, and dense elemental energy radiating from within.It was the largest building in the artifact market, and also where some elementalist guilds submitted items recovered from rifts for public auction.“I heard they’re bringing out some high-level elemental stones and cores today,” Ashley said, breaking the silence.Calvin nodded. “That’s good. I’ll need more than that D-rank elemental core from Thursday if I want to reach D-rank myself.”Ashley sighed at that and shook her h

“Damn you,” Mark shouted. “Let go of me!”Calvin naturally didn’t comply. He just stared at Mark in silence, still deciding what exactly he was going to do with him, slowly increasing the pressure in his grip while turning his hand like he was turning a doorknob, twisting Mark’s arm in the process.Mark grabbed Calvin’s arm with his other hand and tried to pull it away while shouting, but Calvin didn’t move an inch.Within a minute, the expression on Mark’s face changed from anger to fear.Finally, after a minute that felt like an hour to Mark, Calvin spoke.“Mark, was it? I don’t think you and I have ever had any conflicts before, so why don’t you just stop it with this...” he paused, glancing at Mark’s friend, then back at Mark before continuing.“Bullying?” he said, his tone slightly questioning.“Besides, did you really think I’d just sit back and do nothing when you dared to insult my parent right in front of me?”After saying that, he stood up and lifted Mark’s body slightly befo

Ashley and Calvin walked side by side through the streets, with Ashley still pulling him along by the hand, as she said, “I really did want to try one of their desserts, though. It was a special, but thanks to a certain group of people, I didn’t exactly feel like eating it anymore.”When she said that, Calvin silently slipped his arm out of her grip, slid his hand into his pocket, and replied, “The restaurant is still going to be there another time. You can just come back and have the dessert on another day.”Ashley paused when she heard his words, blinking lightly as she turned toward him.“Me? Just me? You’re not gonna come along?”At that, Calvin’s expression changed slightly, a look of confusion appearing on his face.“Why are you surprised by that? You’re the one who wants to eat the dessert. You can go whenever you want. Why do I have to come along?”His words made it clear he didn’t understand why Ashley wanted him to come with her, and seeing this, Ashley couldn’t help but sigh

Bruce glanced at Calvin, then at Morris, clearly asking if he should be here, but the sergeant just nodded silently.Not wanting to waste any more time, the detective immediately opened the folder in front of him and began speaking.“We interrogated both drivers and examined the trailer and the van, and we were able to determine the origin of both of them, as well as the destination of the trailer, among other things.”He pushed forward a picture of the van and continued, “That van had been reported stolen by the company that owned it several days prior.The one who was driving it on Thursday was a former employee who had been fired several months ago after multiple drunk-driving charges. He knew very little about what was happening behind the scenes. According to him, he’d simply received instructions in a package delivered to his house, along with money and the firearm he was found with.His instructions were to wait at that specific intersection and crash into that trailer when it p