Chapter 32: Public Opinion Storm

The next day, early morning.

The Rosenberg Mansion, Leo's study.

These past few days, Leo had been sleeping in the Rosenberg family's study.

"Boss."

Olivia pushed the door open and entered, holding a document which she placed on the desk. "According to feedback from our intelligence network in Europe, Killer has already left Europe and is currently on his way to New York."

"But we currently have no useful intelligence about him, including photos, nationality, age... It's a complete blank. We don't even know if it's a man or a woman."

"Doesn't matter."

Leo took the document but didn't even open it, just casually tossed it on the desk and lit up another cigar.

"No need. If we don't have intelligence, then we'll force him out. As long as we put enough pressure on the Drake family, Killer won't be able to hold back and will make his move early."

"When that happens, he'll show his weakness."

A flash of admiration crossed Olivia's eyes.

Leo was always like this, turning passive situations into active ones.

"Understood! Those materials we prepared earlier..."

"Start the operation." Leo lit a cigar and took a deep drag. "Get Victoria's side to cooperate and launch the media war."

"Yes!"

That afternoon.

New York, Wall Street.

Major media outlets like the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times almost simultaneously received an anonymous email.

The email contained a large amount of confidential documents about the Drake family's "Drake Future Energy Company."

[Shocking! Drake Future Energy Company Suspected of Data Fraud!]

[Expert Warning: New Energy Technology Has Serious Safety Hazards!]

[Environmental Groups Question: Is Drake Group's "Green Energy" a Scam?]

Articles sprang up like wildfire.

What made it worse was that these reports weren't baseless.

The data, photos, and internal emails inside were all so authentic they couldn't be refuted.

Some were actual confidential documents leaked from inside the Drake family.

Others were "evidence" that Leo had people carefully forge.

Truth mixed with lies, fact blended with fabrication.

People couldn't tell which was real and which was fake at all.

Europe's largest environmental organization, "Green Earth," even directly issued a statement: We strongly demand that Drake Future Energy Company immediately make all technical data public and accept safety testing by independent third-party organizations!

At the same time.

Victoria mobilized her global intelligence network, continuously feeding "leaks" to the media through various channels.

New York Stock Exchange.

Drake Group's stock price began fluctuating violently.

In just one afternoon, it dropped eight percent.

Three days later.

The Drake Mansion, main building, conference room.

"Damn it! These damn media outlets!"

Jonathan pounded the table and roared, "What right do they have to slander us? That data is clearly fake!"

"Issue a statement immediately!" William's face was ashen. "Tell the public that these are all malicious smears from competitors!"

"Father, we've already issued three statements."

Evan pushed up his glasses, his face looking terrible. "But it's useless. Public opinion is completely out of control now. The more we deny it, the more the public thinks we're guilty."

"And..."

Evan handed William a document. "Just half an hour ago, the SEC has involved in the investigation, demanding we submit all technical data."

"The FBI's economic crimes division has also sent a subpoena, requiring us to cooperate in investigating whether we're involved in financial fraud."

William's face went ashen.

He knew that at least half of this "evidence" was real.

If they really conducted a thorough investigation...

"Who did this?" William gritted his teeth. "That damn Leo?"

"Should be him."

Evan said in a deep voice, "But I checked, and the one who leaked intelligence to the media this time is a global intelligence network."

"Who?"

"Victoria."

Hearing that name, William's expression became even worse.

Europe's arms queen, intelligence dealer.

Her intelligence network spanned the globe with terrifying influence.

"Damn it! That bastard Leo even got Victoria on his side!"

Just then.

The conference room's large screen suddenly lit up.

The secretary rushed in frantically, "Mr. Drake! This is bad!"

"A video appeared on YouTube! It's... It's Manuel!"

"What?"

William shot to his feet.

Manuel!

He hadn't expected Leo to make this move. If Manuel exposed damaging information about the Drake family, everything would be finished!

On the big screen.

Manuel sat calmly in front of the camera.

"My name is Manuel Morrison. I was once the Drake family's butler, serving the Drake family for forty years."

"Today, I'm coming forward to expose the crimes the Drake family has committed over the years."

"Three years ago, to monopolize the new energy market, the Drake family plotted against the Luke family of Chicago, drove Luke Jennings to his death, and stole his core technology."

"And now, Drake Future Energy Company is using stolen technology, falsifying data, deceiving investors, deceiving the whole world!"

"I'm willing to atone for my past sins. I'm willing to identify all participants!"

"The Drake family is pure evil!"

In just ten minutes.

The video's view count broke one million.

Half an hour later, it broke ten million.

Major media outlets frantically reposted it.

[Former Butler Reports by Name! Drake Family Suspected of Multiple Murders!]

[Shocking! Drake Future Energy Company's Technology Was Actually Stolen!]

[Dark Side of Wall Street Giant: Money, Murder, Fraud!]

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

William swept everything on the desk onto the floor, his whole body trembling with rage.

"Contact the legal team immediately! Sue those media outlets for defamation!"

"Sue Manuel for false accusations!"

"Delete that video for me!"

"Father..." Evan smiled bitterly. "It's too late. The video has been shared tens of millions of times; it can't be deleted. And now both the FBI and SEC are watching us, lawyers can't solve this problem."

"Then what do we do?" William roared.

"There's only one way."

Evan took a deep breath, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. "Kill Leo! Once Leo is dead, the Rosenberg family will be leaderless, and public opinion will naturally die down!"

"Right!"

William suddenly turned around, grabbed the red encrypted phone on the desk, and dialed.

The call connected.

"When will Killer make his move?" William's voice was sinister, carrying suppressed fury.

"Mr. Drake, calm down." A hoarse voice came from the other end.

"Calm down?" William roared into the phone. "How can I calm down? I don't care what timing your Killer is waiting for! All I know is that I'm losing tens of millions of dollars every minute!"

"William, Killer has his own way of doing things. He needs a perfect assassination opportunity..."

"I don't care about any way of doing things!"

William slammed the table hard and screamed hysterically, "I want Leo dead right now! Immediately! At once! If I don't see his head within three days, our cooperation ends here! And I'll let the whole world know that your 'Nightfall' organization is just a bunch of useless trash who take money but don't deliver!"

"If your Nightfall organization can't do it, I'll find another assassin! I'll still pay the money!"

Silence on the other end for a few seconds.

"Understood."

"Killer will complete the mission within twenty-four hours."

"Good!"

William hung up the phone hard.

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the gloomy sky outside the estate, his eyes full of madness.

"Leo... you think a media war can bring me down?"

"Naive!"

"Once you're dead, all the rumors will disappear into thin air!"