From Rags to God of War

A More Sinister Plan

Gilbert slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone. His face was beet red, veins bulging on his neck. "No! This is unacceptable! You can't just freeze my funds like that! Who do you think you are, Nicholas?! This is fraud!"

Nicholas remained calm, his gaze not shifting an inch from Gilbert. "I'm only freezing funds suspected of being fraudulent, Gilbert. Funds we traced from illicit activities. Feel free to prove to the bank that those funds are clean yourself. Standard procedure. Now, does anyone want to prove those funds are legitimate? I'd be happy if someone could."

Simon Thompson, who had been observing silently until now, finally spoke up. "Nicholas, this has gone too far. You need to end this. We can go to the bank, explain everything that happened." His tone tried to remain calm, but there was clear fear in his eyes.

Adam Weber pointed at Nicholas with a trembling hand. "You can't do this to my family! You're destroying the Weber Group!"

Isabella stepped forward, standing beside Nicholas, looking at each face in the room. "Destroying Weber Group? Or rather, cleaning Weber Group from the embezzlement you've committed?" Isabella's voice hardened. "This means, in this company, there's been massive embezzlement, isn't that right? Not just suspicion, but already proven by the Argus Project team!"

Silence fell over the room again. Adam, Elsa, and Gilbert were quiet, unable to refute Isabella's well-aimed accusations. Simon Thompson merely sighed, leaning back in his chair.

Elsa, after a long silence, tried to find an excuse. "Those funds... were actually for company purposes, Bella! There were some secret projects that couldn't be reported yet! That's why they weren't in the financial reports! Gilbert and I were just... delaying the entry!"

Isabella laughed, a cynical and cold laugh. "Delaying the entry until the funds vanished without a trace? Such a classic excuse, Elsa." She turned to Nicholas. "Does that sound reasonable to you, Nick?"

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, his expression sarcastic. "Perfectly reasonable. Especially for us at Project Argus, who are accustomed to such scenarios."

Isabella turned back to Adam and Elsa. "Do you think I'm stupid? I know company financial procedures very well. And do you think Project Argus is an amateur organization that you can fool with fairy tales like that?"

Isabella now stood in front of the table, taking control of the meeting. Her gaze was firm, her aura dominant. "From now on," Isabella said, her voice echoing through the room, "I will lead the Diamond Group project. And I will also take over the internal audit of the company. I will ensure every penny that enters and leaves Weber Group is properly recorded. If anyone dares to mess around, I will not hesitate to fire them. I don't care if you're part of the Weber family or not."

Gilbert tried to protest, "But—"

"No 'buts'!" Isabella cut him off sharply. "You have no right to object, after all the evidence of fraud Nicholas has found. Now you are part of the problem, not the solution."

Adam Weber's face was ashen. Elsa could only look down. Gilbert clutched his non-functioning phone. Simon Thompson, though not frozen himself, understood that power had shifted hands. They all remained silent, no longer able to argue with any of Isabella's words. The room was now completely under the control of Isabella Weber, fully supported by Nicholas Krause.

Gilbert stormed out of the meeting room, stomping his feet. His face was flushed crimson, seething with shame and uncontrollable fury. He slammed his office door shut, then repeatedly punched his desk. Curses spewed from his mouth.

Moments later, his office door burst open again. Simon Thompson entered, his face equally grim. Without a word, Simon delivered a stinging slap across Gilbert's cheek.

*SMACK!*

The sound of the slap echoed through the room. Gilbert reeled back, turning his head, his eyes burning with a mix of shock and swirling rage.

"Dad!" Gilbert roared, clutching his reddened cheek.

"Shut up, you fool!" Simon hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Look what you've done! Not only did you disgrace yourself, but you dragged the family name through the mud and cost us even more!"

"Cost us what, Dad?! I won't accept those frozen funds just like that! That's my money!" Gilbert shot back, defiant.

"Your money?" Simon let out a bitter laugh. "Corrupt money that Project Argus already detected! You think that was an empty threat? Nicholas Krause isn't just anyone, Gilbert! We can't underestimate him!" Simon sighed. "Now the Weber Group is completely controlled by Isabella. And she won't hesitate to fire us!"

Gilbert slammed the table once more. "I'll handle this, Dad! I won't let Isabella and that bum win!"

"How?" Simon looked at him skeptically. "Are you going to challenge them to a fight? Or are you going to argue again with those worthless photo 'proofs'?"

Gilbert pulled out his phone, his gaze cold. "There's another way. Nicholas Krause is too dangerous. If he's gone, Isabella's problem is easily solved."

Simon frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'll hire someone," Gilbert said softly, his voice laced with malicious intent. "Someone who can get rid of Nicholas. A killer ninja."

Simon fell silent. There was a flicker of worry in his eyes, but also a glimmer of hope. "Are you sure this will work? Don't let it backfire on us."

Gilbert began calling someone on his phone. He spoke in a low tone, using codes Simon didn't understand. After negotiating for a few minutes, Gilbert ended the call.

"It's settled, Dad," Gilbert said, a thin smirk appearing on his face. "He's ready to work. He's a killer ninja, Dad. He won't fail."

Simon was still hesitant, but he nodded slowly. "This time, don't mess it up. Make sure this leaves no trace. If Nicholas dies, Isabella will falter. Without him, Isabella will have no power whatsoever." Simon hoped this was the only way out. Gilbert's foolishness had pushed them to the brink. Now, they were staking everything.