The Last Billionaire Candidate

Davidson's Company Is a Little Shaky

The sky over Jakarta was shrouded in thick gray clouds. The sun seemed unwilling to reveal itself, allowing the sprawling metropolis to drown beneath a dim, lifeless light.

On the thirty-fifth floor, the atmosphere inside the main boardroom was unbearably tense.

No one dared set down a coffee cup. Even the hum of the air conditioner sounded unnaturally loud. Twelve senior executives and Robert's most trusted confidants sat around a massive oval conference table stretching nearly fifteen meters long.

Not a single one of them dared raise their head.

At the end of the room, a giant monitor displayed numbers that changed every second.

Every graph glowed red.

With each passing moment, Davidson Group's stock price continued to plunge. For a corporation worth tens of billions of dollars, every one-percent decline meant millions of dollars vanishing within minutes.

At the head of the table...

Robert Davidson stood with his back to everyone. Both hands rested against the floor-to-ceiling glass window as his uneasy reflection stared back at him.

For the first time in years, the man who had always radiated unwavering confidence felt genuine fear.

If this company collapsed, all of his illegal operations would inevitably be exposed to the public. He had to save his flagship corporation—not merely for its wealth, but to preserve the reputation Robert Davidson had spent decades building.

His narcotics business was already beginning to crumble. An international maritime task force had intercepted one of his cargo ships carrying narcotics worth tens of millions of dollars. At the same time, threatening messages from an underground syndicate demanded an enormous ransom for several of his human trafficking "assets" captured during a covert operation.

Robert now stood on the brink of total ruin.

Yet before everyone in that room, he continued wearing the mask of an unshakable leader.

If Vero agreed to invest in Davidson Group, Robert would finally have enough time to overcome this crisis while preparing to confront a criminal organization far more powerful than his own.

Dark circles were clearly visible beneath his eyes.

His tie, normally perfectly tightened, now hung slightly loose.

Ever since meeting the billionaire from Vanguard Zenith Tower the previous night, he had not slept for a single moment.

Finally...

His deep voice shattered the suffocating silence.

"Report."

Just one word.

Yet the entire room instantly became even more tense.

The Chief Financial Officer slowly rose from his chair.

His fingers gripped the tablet so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Mr. Robert..."

The middle-aged man swallowed before continuing.

"...Zenith Bank has officially terminated every corporate credit facility extended to Davidson Group."

Robert did not move.

"The Government Audit Office has also ordered every member of the Board of Directors to appear for an official investigation this weekend."

Silence once again engulfed the room.

Robert remained facing the window.

His shoulders rose slightly as he let out a slow breath, struggling to suppress the rage building inside him.

"And..."

His voice became much quieter.

"Enough..."

Bang!

Robert slammed both palms onto the conference table, causing several coffee cups to rattle violently.

The deafening impact echoed throughout the room. The memory of Vero looking down on him continued to haunt his mind, fueling his frustration. The turmoil within him finally reached its breaking point after hearing the company's latest condition.

"Damn it!"

"I can't let that man see me as weak!" he growled.

"Robert... We can always find another investor. I'm sure you'll find a way to save the company," Alice said reassuringly.

Robert let out a long sigh.

"Build stronger relationships with other businessmen. I'll work out a strategy with the company's treasurer," Alice suggested as she stepped closer to him.

"What about Vero's report? He reported us to the authorities. I don't even know who's backing him that he's become this powerful."

"We just need to find a scapegoat. That's not a major problem, darling. Calm down."

Robert took another heavy breath.

"Why are you doubting yourself? You're far greater than he is. That man is probably nothing more than a pawn being used by the elite. Don't think of yourself as weak, my dear."

"But—"

"Vero's report is only a minor issue. I can handle it myself," Alice continued, trying to comfort him.

Alice instructed everyone to leave.

One by one, the executives quietly exited the boardroom.

Seeing Robert in such a troubled state, Alice tried to comfort him with a touch of seduction. "Come on, Robert... forget about that man you look exhausted. Put this aside for a moment... we need to have some fun," she murmured, draping herself over his shoulders. Although Robert wasn't initially in the mood, Alice’s wink and teasing smile made his resolve waver.

"Alright. We need to go have some wine..." she laughed playfully as Robert pulled her close by the waist. That night, they spent time alone in a VIP five star hotel suite, accompanied by champagne and expensive, limited edition wines. Alice had styled herself as a woman wholly devoted to Robert, clad in a sheer gold satin gown, ready at any moment to surrender to his desires.

She served as the safe repository for his illicit assets, which were securely held in her accounts. A strategy of hers one that particularly appealed to her parents was her knack for captivating wealthy men. That night, the sounds of their intimate union rang out melodiously against the backdrop of a luxurious, floral patterned iron bed..

Every moment was filled with a pleasure that allowed Robert to momentarily forget the burdens weighing on his mind.

---

At Mr. V's headquarters...

On the top floor of Vanguard Zenith Tower...

Vero stood motionless before a gigantic glass wall.

Both hands rested inside his pockets.

His gaze overlooked Jakarta, where rain continued to pour across the city.

Behind him, dozens of holographic displays monitored every movement inside Davidson Group in real time.

Not a single financial transaction escaped his surveillance.

Not a single phone call bypassed the system.

Not a single moment of panic went unrecorded.

It was as though the entire world had become a chessboard resting in the palm of his hand.

And only Vero could see the complete game.

A faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.

"Just one night..."

"...and their empire has already begun to crack."

Behind him, the System's mechanical voice echoed once again.

[DING!]

[Main Mission Progress: 17%]

[Evaluation: The target is beginning to lose psychological stability.]

[Recommendation: Do not destroy them too quickly.]

[Fear, when carefully nurtured, gives birth to far deeper regret.]

Vero slowly closed his eyes.

"...You're right."

"A game that ends too quickly..."

"...will never be satisfying."

Ding...

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded inside his head.

His eyes snapped open as he noticed a newly arrived email.

It was a brief message from his old friend, Leon.

Instead of asking how Vero had been, Leon was applying for a job at one of Vero's companies.

"Leon..." Vero murmured softly.

An older brother figure who had grown up with him in the orphanage.

The last news Vero had heard was that Leon had been imprisoned for dealing in illegal automotive goods.

For all these years, Vero had never even found the time to look for him.

He had been too busy spending the last five years working relentlessly for Alice.