The banquet hall shimred with opulence.
A vast, resplendent space, its grand chandeliers cast a dazzling glow over the luxurious décor. Ornate carvings adorned the walls, and every gilded embellishnt spoke of wealth and power. The air was thick with prestige.
But at this mont, sothing unprecedented was unfolding, sothing that sent a chill through the heart of the banquet's host.
The mont the head of the Dodge family decisively agreed to align with Bardi, the ripple effect was imdiate. Several other aristocrats, bound by tradition and legacy, found themselves unable to maintain their neutral stance. One by one, they stepped forward, their faces betraying a mix of urgency and reluctant realization.
It was only now that Bardi fully grasped the extent of Lex's preparations.
The younger Luthor had anticipated everything, ensuring there was no scenario in which this banquet could end in failure. All Bardi had to do was make an appearance, whether to enjoy fine wine, observe the unraveling of the aristocracy, or, if he felt so inclined, amuse himself with the company of a woman or two.
Lex had orchestrated everything.
And Bardi, watching it all unfold, couldn't help but smirk.
"A must-see performance even for a child."
The mory of Lex's smug grin flashed in his mind, that self-assured tilt of his chin as he climbed into the car earlier.
Like a child eager to show off his report card to a parent.
Bardi's smirk deepened. He was satisfied.
Lex wasn't physically present, but his handiwork was flawless.
The younger Luthor had thodically maneuvered key aristocrats, breaking the inertia of the old guard and pushing them toward Bardi's camp. The structure of power was shifting, and by the ti the dust settled, the so-called Family of tropolis would be forever changed.
Not just another faction—no, this was sothing else entirely.
This was dominance.
There would be no councils. No negotiations. No discussions.
The only voice that would matter… was his.
Across the room, another figure hesitated before stepping forward.
The head of the Landall family, a man in his early fifties with a sturdy fra and a pair of round glasses that lent him an air of quiet sophistication.
He had been watching from the sidelines, waiting, assessing. But as the dominoes fell one by one, he could no longer remain still.
His voice was steady, but there was a note of urgency.
"Mr. Bardi… only 20% remains now. The elders in my family—" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Is there any way to… adjust this?"
Despite his composed deanor, his intentions were clear. He wasn't asking about money.
It was about ti.
Longevity.
For these old-money aristocrats, wealth was an afterthought. The real priority was securing a foothold in Bardi's grand design. His Universe Biotechnology initiative was the key. They wanted in, imdiately.
The sooner, the better.
And so, as Landall spoke, the eyes of several other family heads locked onto Bardi.
They weren't just hoping for a deal. They were waiting for his verdict.
Because the decision was entirely in his hands.
There was no bargaining. No leverage to be found.
Bardi didn't need them.
If they hesitated, if they resisted, he could just as easily turn to others. tropolis was vast, and the Family—while powerful—was not the only source of wealth and influence in the world.
That brutal reality forced their hand.
Even as they grimaced at the terms, even as they struggled to stomach the idea of conceding so much, there was no alternative.
The Colvins and Dodges had already lost over half their interests in this partnership, and yet they had still chosen to stay.
If they had no choice but to bleed… then so be it.
This was the cost of the future.
Watching from the sidelines, the other guests were left bewildered.
What kind of deal was this?
These were n who could shake the foundation of tropolis with a single decision. And yet, in front of Bardi, they were reserved, deferential even desperate.
It was almost surreal.
The old-money elite, the aristocrats who had ruled the city for centuries, were now vying for Bardi's favor as if their very survival depended on it.
And in a way… it did.
Then, without hesitation, the Dodge patriarch took another step forward.
"From this mont forward," he announced, voice firm and unwavering, "the Dodge family withdraws from the Family alliance."
A tremor ran through the room.
The words echoed like a seismic shockwave.
Soone… had voluntarily left the Family.
People ca and went from the alliance, sure. But that was usually due to financial ruin or external pressure. No one simply walked away.
To willingly withdraw ant abandoning centuries of legacy, severing ties to one of the most exclusive circles of power in tropolis.
It was unheard of.
And yet, here and now, it was happening.
The banquet erupted into chaos.
Discussions broke out in frantic whispers.
"What the hell does he have on them?"
"How did he pull the Dodge family out of the Family?"
"This is madness, absolute madness!"
Even Morgan Edge, for all his careful composure, was visibly shaken.
A noble had willingly walked away from the Family, sothing never done in over two centuries.
His expression darkened.
But the storm wasn't over.
Because monts later, another voice cut through the noise.
"The Colvin family withdraws from the Family alliance."
The old Colvin patriarch, usually composed and reserved, had made his decision.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
Then another voice.
"The Landall family withdraws from the Family alliance."
And another.
"The Lawrence family withdraws from the Family alliance."
One after another, the announcents ca, each one shaking the foundation of the Family to its core.
These weren't just minor players.
These were pillars of the aristocracy, key families that had shaped tropolis's upper echelons for generations.
And now… they were walking away.
Splitting off.
Standing with Bardi.
The cracks in the Family had shattered into a full-blown rupture.
Even the Landall patriarch, ever the refined intellectual, had taken action. He wasn't just leaving, he had pulled another prominent mber of the Family along with him, further tipping the balance.
Not to be outdone, the Lawrence family did the sa, bringing two others into Bardi's fold.
By the ti the final echoes of their declarations faded, the reality was undeniable.
The Family was broken.
Out of the seventeen noble houses that once stood united, seven had defected, sworn allegiance to Bardi.
And in the span of a single evening, the most powerful aristocratic force in tropolis had been torn apart.
The guests stood frozen, unable to process the speed at which everything had unraveled.
This wasn't just an earthquake.
No, this was sothing worse.
It was as if Bardi had rely stomped his foot… and the entire foundation of the Family had cracked apart.
It took a long mont before anyone could even react. Then, realization set in, followed by sheer disbelief.
All of this, every shift in power, every defection, every unraveling piece of aristocratic tradition had revolved around a single man.
One man, standing calmly at the center of it all.
Clad in a crisp white suit, broad-shouldered and composed. Not a single flicker of emotion crossing his face.
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