Chapter 51: Paperwork

Inside the executive boardroom of the Apex Tower...

Apex Media’s seemingly miraculous securing of two hundred million dollars in commercial soundstage leases was merely the first influx of corporate funds. It was just the opening act.

Within a single morning, a historically dead asset had been fully monetized, pumping a staggering amount of liquid revenue directly into Apex’s previously strained coffers.

Before Jude Lawson’s hostile takeover, the board of directors had written off the Nanshan Media Park as a catastrophic failure, a bleeding wound that threatened to sink the studio’s quarterly earnings.

Now, with the lots sold out and the deposits collecting interest in escrow, the studio had reversed its financial trajectory...

Back in the Apex executive tower, the senior analysts were still debating how their new CEO had managed to orchestrate such a miracle.

"He said he used our holdings to force the governor’s hand," Harper recalled, pacing the boardroom. "But how? Did he deploy a fleet of high-powered lobbyists to the state capital? Did he submit a hundred-page economic assessment report that the legislature simply couldn’t ignore?"

The analysts nodded in agreement.

To their minds, drafting a brilliant economic survey was the only logical way a private citizen could sway a sitting governor.

They would have been shocked to learn that Jude Lawson hadn’t written a single page of paperwork.

Two weeks prior, while Harper had assumed Jude was touring the abandoned backlots, Jude had actually been responding to a classified system order.

[System Task: Acquire Total Monopoly of Nanshan District Infrastructure.]

[Task Level: Critical Asset Expansion.]

[Task Progress: 0/100.]

Jude had recognized the immense potential of the industrial sector long before the tax credit was even a rumor.

Because the government had previously halted development, the surrounding real estate was universally considered toxic, driving property values down to literal pennies on the dollar!

Rather than begging politicians with economic reports, Jude simply made a handful of phone calls from the back of his Maybach.

He purchased every single prime acre of industrial land surrounding the media park!

Once he held the monopoly, Jude weaponized his other corporate assets...

He ordered the executives of Zenith Motors and his various shell conglomerates to publicly announce intentions to build multi-billion-dollar manufacturing hubs.

However, he threatened to move those manufacturing hubs to a tax-friendly state unless the local governor immediately reinstated the Nanshan commercial incentives.

Faced with the prospect of losing billions in private infrastructure and thousands of potential jobs, the state governor had no choice.

Trapped by Jude’s capital gravity, the city convened a closed-door session and restarted the Nanshan development plan overnight.

While the Apex employees assumed Jude was a master lobbyist, his true identity as a multi-industry titan remained safely obscured in the shadows.

Of course, not everyone in the city was willing to accept Jude’s growing omnipotence...

High above the financial district in a guarded penthouse, Maxwell Pierce was pacing his Persian rug.

"It’s impossible!" Maxwell shouted, throwing his tumbler against the wall. "Jude Lawson did not coerce the state legislature!"

The remaining board members of Pierce Studios watched their former Chairman unravel in denial.

"There is only one explanation," Maxwell reasoned. "Lawson was just incredibly lucky! The governor’s office was obviously planning to reboot the Nanshan development plan anyway, and Lawson just happened to stumble into the zoning meeting!"

Maxwell pointed a shaking finger at his executives. "It was dumb luck!"

Regardless of Maxwell’s copium, the undeniable fact remained: Apex Media was now flush with cash, and Jude Lawson’s industry prestige was skyrocketing to untouchable heights.

Following his annihilation of Preston Vanguard in the e-sports arena, Jude’s Maybach pulled up to the curb outside Le Bernardin.

The world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurant had been entirely closed to the public.

Director Vance, Victoria Vance, Harper, Maya, and the newly enriched professional athletes of the Apex gaming division were already mingling.

Even the four defected players from Team Vanguard were sitting at the tables.

"Mr. Lawson has arrived!" Director Vance announced, stepping forward to pull out the head chair for the billionaire.

Was this the same reserved board director who had once viewed Jude’s takeover attempt with such suspicion and skepticism?

It was as if Director Vance was a different person...

Jude had fully anticipated this total shift in loyalty.

Now that he was generating hundreds of millions in profit and personally elevating their careers, their attitude had naturally transformed into worship.

"Thank you, Director Vance," Jude said, a smile touching his lips as he took his seat at the head of the banquet.

Maya, the loyal General Manager, leaned over Harper’s shoulder at the table. "Harper, the accounting division just ran the preliminary numbers on today’s total revenue. Do you have any idea how much capital Mr. Lawson routed into our holding accounts today?"

Harper paused, a piece of caviar resting on her fork.

She knew the commercial leases were immense, but Jude’s gaming wager added a new layer of complexity.

"Between the non-refundable Nanshan deposits and the offshore exhibition wager... it has to be close to three hundred million," Harper guessed, her heart beating slightly faster.

"Three hundred million?" Maya beamed, her eyes wide.

Harper set her fork down on the plate, her breath catching in her throat.

"Mr. Lawson, please, allow me. I requested the chef prepare this white truffle risotto just for your side of the table. I wasn’t sure of your culinary preferences, but you must let me know what you desire, and I will ensure it is catered to the boardroom tomorrow."

Marcus Cole, the Vice President of Asset Management, was smiling so warmly his face looked as if it might crack.

He was leaning over the table, spooning the risotto onto Jude’s plate.

Jude allowed a smile to touch his lips. "I don’t really have any fancy favorites when it comes to food, Marcus. Though, before I acquired my current portfolio, I enjoyed the simple street-level espresso from a café near my old university. Unfortunately, working in the upper echelons of this city means I rarely have the time to track it down."

Marcus Cole’s eyes lit up as if he had just been handed the nuclear launch button.

"Consider it done, Mr. Lawson! I will dispatch an assistant to locate that exact café tomorrow morning. We’ll have their premium roast imported to the executive lounge. Let’s see if our baristas can match your university memories!"