Chapter 408 The Real Show is Just Beginning
Ever since Kevin had become a puppet under William's influence, he had been living a life of leisure. Now surrounded by members of the Ocean Guild, and with the grandmaster Kaiser constantly by his side, he found himself with little independent activity.
One sunny day, as Kevin lounged by the pool at his villa, a servant hurried over with a message.
"Sir, the Chairman requests your presence. He says there's an urgent matter to discuss with you," the servant delivered with a solemn tone.
"Why would the old man suddenly seek advice from someone like me?" Kevin replied, his voice dripping with self-derision.
In his opinion, the Chairman had always favored his elder brother, grooming him to be the successor of the conglomerate. It was out of the ordinary for Ismael to seek him out for counsel.
"I'm not sure, but he seemed quite anxious," the servant responded with a serious demeanor.
"Oh, really?" Kevin sat up suddenly, suspicion flickering across his round face. "Could it be that William has made his move?"
Considering the urgency, Kevin promptly changed into formal attire and drove to the old man's lavish mansion.
Meanwhile, Ismael sat frowning on the leopard-print sofa, replaying the unbelievable scene in his mind.
"Dad, what's the deal with the Flood Boxing Guild? Why did they refuse to see us, even with all the lavish gifts, and instead invite my no-good younger brother?" Colin was furious. He had always outshone his brother and couldn't believe that the useless one might now surpass him in standing.
"Let's wait until your brother gets here," Ismael replied, his mind whirring with possibilities yet unable to fathom how his prodigal youngest had forged a connection with Master Neil of the Flood Boxing Guild.
While they were discussing this affair, a hurried Kevin arrived before Ismael.
"Dad, what's so urgent that you called me here?" Kevin asked breathlessly.
During the journey, he had received instructions from William. The Guild would fully back him in the Miller family power struggle. So, when summoned by the patriarch, Kevin was mentally prepared.
"What's your relationship with Neil from the Flood Boxing Guild?" The old man's questions, as anticipated, revolved around the Guild.
"He's a friend I met over drink. We are quite tight. We've shared more than a few wild nights out together," Kevin recounted the cover story he prepared for his father.
"So, you met Neil at a club?" Ismael's piercing gaze seemed to penetrate his soul.
"Yes, that's exactly it," Kevin replied, maintaining composure despite the nerves.
"Little brother, I didn't know you were such a capable guy, getting in with Neil," Colin commented, his cold eyes hiding a flicker of anxiety.
With his useless younger brother forming an alliance with Neil, this could quickly elevate his standing in the family, adding a layer of unpredictability to Colin's path to inheriting the family business.
"It's just a shared interest, really! Why bring this up all of a sudden?" Kevin feigned ignorance.
"Nothing much. You’ll accompany me later to the Flood Boxing Guild headquarters in Canada to discuss a potential alliance," Ismael decided, revealing his preconceived plan.
"Sure, no problem!" Kevin consented, a surge of excitement swelling within him.
"By the way, you'll temporarily take the position of deputy general manager in the corporation. It'll give you some authority when handling business matters," Ismael concluded, choosing to promote his wayward second son.
Kevin was pleased, not expecting such a rapid promotion. In light of this, his respect for William grew ever stronger.
Colin stood opposite, seemingly resigned to his father's fate. He was unable to form a rebuttal, yet a brief, icy flash darted through his gaze.
Tensions simmered beneath the surface between the two brothers, just as William had intended.
Having left the headquarters of the Flood Boxing Guild, William was back at the serenity of his villa in Harmony Estates. Delilah had been clinging to him daily, to his great irritation, so he made an excuse and escaped her clutches.
"Nothing beats the comfort of home." Stretching out on the couch, William's thoughts were interrupted by a text from Kevin, announcing his smooth ascension to the position of Vice President of the conglomerate and the new alliance formed with the Flood Boxing Guild.
"Not bad, not bad at all. The real show is about to begin," William murmured, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips before calling for his assistant, Vivian.
She strode in, a vision in a red bodycon dress that hugged her curves seductively, revealing a hint of cleavage.
"William, I heard Das Guild got absorbed by Flood Boxing Guild. Is it true?" Vivian casually plopped down on the couch across from him, crossing her legs. Her breath carried a faint scent of orchid.
"Yeah, it's true. Das Guild is no more. Flood Boxing Guild has taken its place. Also, I had Flood Boxing publicly back Kevin. He's now the Vice President of the Miller family business," William responded nonchalantly, as if discussing trivial matters.
Vivian, taken aback by the news, admired William's prowess. Within a mere few days, a century-old faction like Das Guild had vanished, a thrilling yet terrifying thought. She had planned to woo Das Guild through BN Group, yet William had extinguished them and allied with the more powerful Flood Boxing Guild, a strategy beyond her expectations, but evidently more effective.
"William, what's your next move?" Vivian inquired, mulling over their strategy against the Miller family, with the first step achieved and the second soon to follow.
"Tell me your plan, let's see if we're on the same page," said William, his lips curling into a slight smirk, intrigued.
"I do have a rough idea," Vivian admitted, continuing after a pause. "I think the next move should be to have BN Group's Logan take action. Get him to team up with other powers to launch an assault on the Miller family, causing them nothing but trouble and headaches," she suggested.
"Keep talking." William nodded in agreement, clearly intrigued.
"With internal and external pressures mounting, Colin, the CEO, is bound to struggle. Shareholders will undoubtedly start murmuring. If at that moment his younger brother Kevin steps up, claiming he can defuse BN Group's siege perfectly, then Kevin's stature will surely eclipse his older brother," she continued strategically.
Vivian paused, her tone marked by a surge of excitement. "Once Kevin gains enough respect, we can stage a little drama to support him, and when the time is right, we can oust big brother Colin from the top spot."
"Not bad, not bad at all. Your plan aligns with what I've been thinking to the dot. However, for this second phase, BN Group alone won't be enough against the Millers. We need to bring more families into the fold to really put the squeeze on the Miller family's board," William mused with a sly smile.
"The real show has just begun!"