Chapter 31:Executives Arrive!

Chapter 31: Chapter 31:Executives Arrive!

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the conference room became noticeably heavier.

Several executives exchanged glances. Some looked surprised, while others appeared uneasy.

But the change in their expressions didn’t last long.

Department Head Colin Whitmore let out a cold laugh.

"Do you actually believe those rumors?"

He leaned back in his chair, his expression full of disdain.

"A student who has only just awakened his class supposedly killed a Level 100 powerhouse?"

His gaze shifted toward Security Head Marcus Reed.

"You’re responsible for security. You should understand better than anyone what it takes to become a Level 100 professional."

Marcus frowned but didn’t immediately respond.

Another executive spoke up.

"Still, something happened at Westmere No. 1 Academy two days ago. The Lion Syndicate attacked, and all three of its Level 100 leaders died."

Colin narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, they died. Nobody disputes that."

He tapped his fingers against the table.

"But who can prove Nathaniel killed them entirely through his own strength?"

The room quieted.

"Think about it. Who are Nathan Beaumont and Eleanor Beaumont? They were two of Westmere’s Three Pillars. Do you really believe they wouldn’t have left their son some means of protecting himself?"

Colin continued confidently.

"In my opinion, Nathaniel’s victory was probably the result of a safeguard his parents prepared in advance. Perhaps a one-time forbidden artifact, a sealed scroll, or a special killing technique that activates under specific conditions."

He shrugged.

"Whatever it was, such a resource would be consumed after use. It wouldn’t prove that Nathaniel himself possesses the power to kill Level 100 professionals whenever he wants."

Several executives nodded thoughtfully.

Colin had given them an explanation they desperately wanted to believe.

After all, if Nathaniel truly possessed the strength described in the rumors, their plans would become considerably more complicated.

Colin noticed their reactions and continued.

"Over the past two days, I’ve had people monitor activity around Cedar Heights Estate and the Westmere Professional Center."

He spread his hands.

"Has anyone from the Five Top Academies approached Nathaniel? No."

"Has a representative from one of the leading professional institutions come to verify his achievements? Not a single one."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"What does that tell us?"

He didn’t wait for anyone to answer.

"It tells us that the rumors circulating outside have probably been exaggerated. The Five Top Academies have access to information we don’t. If Nathaniel were truly as extraordinary as people claim, surely someone would have made a move by now."

The uneasiness in the room began to fade.

It sounded reasonable.

The Five Top Academies had spent generations identifying talented professionals. Their admissions departments had access to extensive records, experienced evaluators, and resources far beyond those of ordinary commercial organizations.

Surely, they wouldn’t all overlook someone truly exceptional.

Security Head Marcus Reed, however, remained unconvinced.

"But what if the reports are accurate?"

Colin turned toward him.

"What if they are?"

Marcus hesitated before continuing.

"What if Nathaniel really does possess extraordinary strength? What happens when he discovers that we’ve been trying to take control of his inheritance?"

The room fell silent.

That was the question none of them wanted to confront.

They could dismiss rumors. They could question the reliability of reports. They could even persuade themselves that Nathaniel was merely an inexperienced student.

But they couldn’t erase the possibility that he might eventually learn everything they were planning.

Director Victoria Shaw, the consortium’s chief financial officer, finally spoke.

"Which is precisely why we shouldn’t confront him openly."

Her tone was cool and measured.

"We’re going to meet with Nathaniel and explain the situation facing the Beaumont Trading Consortium."

She folded her hands on the table.

"We’ll tell him that our competitors are preparing to exploit the founders’ disappearance. We’ll explain that we need to surrender a portion of our interests to secure outside protection."

Several executives nodded.

Victoria continued.

"At the same time, we’ll propose establishing a temporary management committee to oversee the consortium’s operations."

She looked around the room.

"Officially, Nathaniel will remain the legal heir and chairman. The committee will simply handle daily operations until the situation stabilizes."

In other words, Nathaniel would retain the title while the executives controlled the organization.

Someone at the far end of the table raised a question.

"And if he refuses?"

Victoria’s expression cooled.

"Then we’ll use the consortium’s own rules."

She spoke without hesitation.

"Nathaniel has no experience managing an organization of this scale. We can convene an emergency meeting of the senior executives and shareholders, citing the need to protect the consortium’s assets. We can temporarily restrict certain decision-making powers until a stable management arrangement is established."

She paused.

"If necessary, all the department heads can suspend nonessential operations until an agreement is reached."

Her eyes hardened.

"Let’s see how an eighteen-year-old student intends to run a major trading consortium without the cooperation of the people who manage it."

Colin immediately laughed.

"Director Shaw is absolutely right."

He leaned forward, his tone almost benevolent.

"We aren’t trying to harm Nathaniel. We’re trying to preserve the business his parents spent their lives building."

He shook his head as though the entire situation saddened him.

"Someone has to protect the Beaumont family’s legacy."

The words sounded noble.

But many people in the room understood the truth.

They weren’t simply worried about protecting the consortium.

They wanted control.

With Nathan Beaumont and Eleanor Beaumont gone, an enormous commercial empire had suddenly become vulnerable. Its shares, distribution channels, contracts, and accumulated wealth represented an opportunity that some executives had been waiting years to seize.

If Nathaniel could be reduced to a figurehead, they could divide the real authority among themselves while presenting a respectable public face.

And if the consortium survived, they would benefit.

If it failed, they would try to protect their own interests first.

Either way, they had no intention of surrendering power willingly.

The discussion continued for some time.

Eventually, the core executives reached an agreement.

Colin Whitmore, Victoria Shaw, Marcus Reed, and several veteran shareholders would visit Cedar Heights Estate early the following morning.

They would speak with Nathaniel directly.

If he accepted their proposal, the transition would be smooth.

If he refused, they would proceed with their plan to restrict his authority.

When the meeting finally ended, the executives stood and left one after another.

Colin remained near the doorway for a moment.

He turned back toward the empty chairman’s seat.

A faint, meaningful smile curled across his lips.

"Chairman Nathan. Chairwoman Eleanor."

His voice was almost a whisper.

"The empire you built is too vast."

He straightened his jacket.

"Your son won’t be able to hold on to it."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Neither of the founders was there to hear him.

But he had made a dangerous mistake.

He had assumed that Nathaniel’s youth meant weakness.

And he had mistaken silence for helplessness.

...

The Next Morning, Cedar Heights Estate

Nathaniel came downstairs at his usual time.

For the past two days, his routine had been almost identical.

He left the estate before the city had fully awakened and returned late at night, having spent most of the day clearing dungeons.

Dungeon grinding.

Leveling up.

Preparing for the first class advancement.

That was practically all he had done.

His progress had been extraordinary.

From Level 13 to Level 58 in roughly a day and a half.

A leveling speed that would have made even the most talented professionals in Westmere question everything they knew about progression.

But such relentless effort came with a cost.

Nathaniel’s physical condition remained excellent, and his mind was still sharp. Nevertheless, Uncle George had noticed the subtle changes.

The young master was becoming increasingly quiet.

His attention was almost always fixed on his next objective.

Even when he returned home, it sometimes seemed as though part of his mind remained inside the dungeons.

Nathaniel wasn’t falling apart.

But he was carrying a burden that no eighteen-year-old should have had to bear alone.

Uncle George had watched him grow up. He knew Nathaniel well enough to recognize when something was troubling him, even when the young man refused to discuss it.

That was why there was an additional guest at the breakfast table that morning.

Daniel Mercer.

Nathaniel’s childhood friend was sitting opposite him, holding a slice of toast and trying to look casual.

The moment Nathaniel entered the dining room, Daniel raised his head.

"Morning, Nathan."

Nathaniel glanced at him.

"Morning."

He then looked toward Uncle George, who was standing nearby with a slightly unnatural expression.

It took Nathaniel only a moment to understand what had happened.

He sat down, picked up his glass of milk, and took a sip.

"Did Uncle George ask you to come?"

Daniel nearly choked on his toast.

He gave an awkward laugh.

"How did you figure that out so quickly?"

Nathaniel said nothing.

Uncle George cleared his throat.

"Young master, you’ve been leaving early and returning late for the past two days. I must admit that I’m worried about you."

He hesitated before continuing.

"Daniel grew up with you. There may be things he can discuss with you more easily than I can."

Daniel immediately nodded.

"Exactly. That’s exactly what happened."

He placed his toast on the plate and looked at Nathaniel more seriously.

"Nathan, I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure lately. And I know what happened to your parents..."

His voice softened.

"It’s been difficult."

For a moment, the usual joking expression disappeared from his face.

"But you can’t keep pushing yourself like this every single day."

Daniel gestured toward Nathaniel.

"You’ve been clearing dungeons from morning until night. Even if your class makes you stronger than ordinary professionals, you’re still a person. You need time to rest."

He paused.

"Why don’t you take at least half a day off today?"

Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately.

He simply looked at his friend.

Daniel shifted uncomfortably under that calm gaze, but he forced himself to continue.

"Besides, we haven’t properly celebrated our class awakenings yet."

He tried to brighten his expression.

"Let’s go out, have a decent meal, and spend some time together. No dungeons, no training, no staring at your status interface."

Then he patted his chest with exaggerated confidence.

"My treat!"

Daniel lifted his chin.

"I might not be as wealthy as you, but I can still afford to buy my best friend a meal."

Nathaniel looked at him for several seconds.

Then he glanced at Uncle George, who stood nearby with concern written plainly across his face.

Something in Nathaniel’s chest softened.

He understood what they were trying to do.

Neither Daniel nor Uncle George wanted to stop him from growing stronger. They knew how important his goals were to him.

They were simply worried that he was burying himself in work to avoid thinking about his parents.

They feared that if he continued pushing himself without rest, he would eventually make a mistake that could cost him dearly.

Nathaniel set down his glass.

"I’m fine."

Daniel opened his mouth.

"Nathan..."

"I know what you’re worried about."

Nathaniel looked at both of them.

His voice was calm, without irritation or impatience.

"I’m not ignoring what happened to my parents. And I’m not trying to escape from it by hiding in dungeons."

He paused.

"I’m doing this because I need to become stronger. That’s all."

Daniel remained quiet.

Nathaniel continued.

"I know my limits. When I need to rest, I’ll rest."

Uncle George looked as though he wanted to say something, but the words never came.

Daniel lowered his gaze toward his breakfast.

He still wasn’t entirely convinced, but he could tell that Nathaniel wasn’t going to change his mind simply because someone asked him to slow down.

Then, before either of them could continue the conversation, hurried footsteps sounded outside the dining room.

A housekeeper appeared at the entrance.

Her expression was hesitant, and she seemed unsure how to deliver the news.

"Young master. Uncle George."

Both men turned toward her.

"Several senior executives from the Beaumont Trading Consortium have arrived."

She hesitated briefly.

"They say they have important business to discuss with the young master and would like to meet him immediately."

Uncle George’s expression changed.

The concern in his eyes gave way to something colder.

He had anticipated that this day would come.

The moment the news about Nathaniel’s parents spread among the consortium’s senior management, someone would inevitably attempt to exploit the situation.

It seemed the visitors had arrived sooner than expected.

Nathaniel slowly placed his napkin beside his plate.

His expression remained calm.

"How many people?"

The housekeeper answered, "Six, young master."

Nathaniel nodded.

"Ask them to wait in the reception hall. I’ll meet them shortly."

The housekeeper bowed and left.

Daniel looked at Nathaniel, his earlier concern replaced by a trace of indignation.

"Those people really couldn’t wait, could they?"

Uncle George’s expression was solemn.

"Young master, I suspect this visit concerns the consortium’s management."

Nathaniel picked up his glass and finished the remaining milk.

"I assumed as much."

He stood.

"Uncle George, please prepare the relevant documents concerning my parents’ inheritance and the consortium’s current management structure."

"Immediately, young master."

Nathaniel turned toward Daniel.

"As for our meal, you can treat me another day."

Daniel rose as well.

"Fine. But I’m coming with you."

Nathaniel looked at him.

Daniel crossed his arms.

"They might be senior executives, but that doesn’t mean you have to face a room full of them alone."

A faint smile touched Nathaniel’s lips.

"All right."

He adjusted his clothes and headed toward the reception hall.

Six executives had come to discuss the future of his parents’ business.

They believed they were meeting an inexperienced young heir who could be pressured into surrendering control.

They had no idea what kind of person they were about to face.

Nathaniel had spent the past two days fighting his way through Hell-difficulty dungeons.

Compared with that, a meeting with six ambitious executives hardly seemed frightening.

And unlike a dungeon boss, these people were about to discover that Nathaniel could understand exactly what they were trying to do.

The meeting had not even begun.

Yet their first mistake had already been made.