Achilles: The Warlord Emperor

8: Invincible Comeback

Before the auction bidding of the Hayden Empire, Star, and Eunice had been the talk in the city, with their affluence growing gradually.

However, things began to fall apart after they sold off their major business legacy due to huge incurred debt.

Both women stepped inside the Liverpool Stock Exchange Centre, the reception from people was cold, unlike how they used to warm up to them.

Eunice and Star suspected something more had gone wrong from how tense the atmosphere felt.

They could perceive gossip, complaints, whispers, and murmurs from the lips and gestures of those around.

Star whispered, her breath filled with concern, “Something doesn't seem right.”

With a hitch of breath, Eunice nodded, wondering what the hell was wrong.

They had gone to the Liverpool Stock Exchange to inspect their stock products— they invested millions of dollars into them with hope of yielding mind-blowing profits.

The stockbroker who had been managing their stock products stepped forward; his countenance reeked of trouble.

“I hope you've got good news?” Eunice blurted out, her breath unsteady. “We have been through a lot after selling off the Hayden Empire.”

From the stockbroker's awkward demeanor, they feared the worst was inevitable.

“Emm… Uh…” He stuttered. “Stock Values fluctuated so rapidly…”

A surge of heart palpitations overwhelmed both women, their countenances soured in unprepared pain.

Eunice’s tongue curled in frustration, “OMG! We invested hugely! This isn't happening!”

Star broke out in lamentation, her tone weary, “This isn't possible.”

“You gotta fix this now! We can't lose all our investments in the stock market.”

The stockbroker’s tongue quivering, garnering confidence to break the worst news ahead.

“I’m sorry but the situation isn't fixable… your stock investments were affected so badly and were bought out already.”

In reaction, their bodies swarmed with hot quivers. The shock of their double huge loss struck them like a thunderbolt.

“No!” Star snapped, flashing him bloodshot glares. Her forehead thrust with thick veins. “By who?!”

Their heart-wrenching screams caught the ears of other stock enthusiasts in the center, and they knew for a fact that the Hayden family was in a crippling state— a deep financial mess.

The stockbroker took three steps backward with a hitch of breath. “An unknown entity, a ghost company. They moved in overnight and began buying aggressively. No one knows who the main players are.”

Eunice’s chest almost leaped inside her throat. The mocking stares from people in the center grew wider— the gossip about them amplifying.

Being puzzled, Star desperately protested. “Pull out our remaining shares!” She demanded.

The broker hesitated before shaking his head. “Ma’am… you don’t have any left.”

She snaked her arms around her neck, her eyes brimming in shock.

“You’re bluffing,” she cried out.

Not only was the Hayden Empire sold off. Their stock products, every single investment to make the deal boom have been sunk and bought off by a ghost company.

Eunice felt like a truckload of stingers had been dumped in her heart. She couldn't feel her legs anymore.

“Who owns it now? All the stockings?”

The broker swallowed hard, then pointed at the screen: the name currently displayed under ‘Owner.’

Star and Eunice followed his finger, and the moment they saw it, their breath hitched.

Time instantly slowed in their senses, fear etched in their eyeballs

The new owner bore the name: ‘Gabrielle Foundation.’

They shot a confused gaze at each other before whispering.

“Huh? Which of the Gabrielle?”

“Ours?”

Suspense and tension thrust deep into their sensory organs. They haven't been that puzzled in their lives before.

Star whispered in a stutter, “Could he… be the one engineering our downfall? Do you think… he is the invincible force behind all this?”

Eunice chimed in, her voice quivering, “Hmm… I doubt, though. We left him financially milked, miserable, and unconscious in the street. Remember?”

***

“Boss, we have sealed the stock business as instructed. We used Gabrielle’s name as instructed.”

Margaret informed him with a delightful smile. The faithfuls had been working in the shadows with Achilles to ensure the Hayden's were stuck in pain.

“Good. I chose the name Gabrielle to amplify their fears and trigger more questions and confusion. They might grow suspicious, but obviously, they won't believe the stripped penniless God of War would quickly assume such massive wealth and power to pull that off.”

“Haha. I know how they think and will use that to my advantage to deal with them mercilessly.”

Margaret smiled sheepishly, being proud of herself for saving Achilles after the accident. His shadow revenge has been top-notch.

After saving the Prime Minister from an imminent assassination plot. Achilles' trajectory has been nothing but a suited comeback.

Being in awe, Margaret inquired, “What's next?”

“We’ll keep hitting The Hayden Family hard, but while on that, let's begin an investigation on The Cartel. Justice must be served and this has become my fight: our battle.”

“My father's death and that of the Minister of Defense wouldn't go for nothing. I'll fight tooth and nail to fish out the malicious entity plotting to turn the country into chaos.”