NOVEL NEXT Chapter 290: Hero Complex?
I opened it to find her still in her pale green top and tactical pants, looking like she'd processed enough data to fill a library.
"The data checks out," she said without preamble, entering the room. "Every account, every transaction, every crime. It's all real."
"I know."
She moved into the room with the fluid grace of someone trained to assess threats in microseconds. Even in civilian clothes, she radiated lethal competence. But there was calculation in her dark eyes now — the look of someone trying to solve an equation with missing variables.
"The eighteen billion is really there," she continued.
"Ready to transfer the moment you agree to my terms."
"Terms beyond Charlotte's ownership?"
This was the crucial moment. I walked to the window, keeping my real thoughts hidden.
"Your government has been chasing Vincent Castellano for six years," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "Forty million in resources spent. Three agents lost. Tonight, I'm offering you everything — Vincent, Dmitri, their networks, and eighteen billion in recovered assets."
She studied me carefully. "Why, not just Charlotte, right?"
"Because blood money is poison." I let the lie hang, polished and heavy. "But justice? Justice is currency."
Let her think I was motivated by righteousness. The truth — that I was trading unusable criminal funds for a future corporate empire worth hundreds of billions — stayed locked in my mind.
"The vultures destroyed dozens of companies," I continued, pulling up data on my phone. "Five of them were taken through explicitly criminal means."
ARIA's display showed the information, but I was careful to present only what Ava needed to see: Meridian Logistics Corporation — Shipping company, forced sale after sabotage. Apex Manufacturing Solutions — Electronics fabrication, destroyed by planted evidence. Cloudstone Infrastructure — Data center company, collapsed after false reports. Genway Research Labs — Pharmaceutical research, FDA trials corrupted. Hartfield Investment Group — Financial services, destroyed by orchestrated run.
"These companies will become government property when you seize them," I said simply.
"Correct. They'll likely be auctioned to recover funds."
"I want to buy them. Two billion dollars for all five."
She actually blinked — the first real surprise I'd seen from her. "That's... nearly double their current value."
"These companies employed thousands of people. Communities were destroyed. They deserve proper rebuilding, not to be carved up for parts."
What I didn't tell her was everything. That Meridian's shipping would give Charlotte global logistics control. That Apex's manufacturing meant vertical integration. That Cloudstone's infrastructure would host revolutionary AI after I restructure it. That Genway's research would accelerate bio-tech and medical breakthroughs. That Hartfield would manage capital flows for an empire from my Liberation Holdings.
These weren't just companies — they were carefully selected pillars that would amplify Quantum Tech's value by orders of magnitude. But to Ava, I was just a generous fool overpaying for damaged goods out of misplaced charity.
"Two billion is extremely generous," she said carefully. "Why would you pay so much above market value?"
"Because sometimes doing the right thing costs more than doing the smart thing."
Let her think I was driven by altruism. Let the government believe they were dealing with someone whose conscience outweighed his calculation. They'd never suspect that two billion was a bargain for companies that would generate that much profit within eighteen months when properly integrated.
"I'll need to discuss this with my superiors," Ava said.
"Of course. There's one more element — the twenty percent of Quantum Tech shares the vultures bought. When they're voided, they go to Charlotte Thompson. Complete ownership, right?"
"The shares were purchased with criminal proceeds. The government could claim them."
"Could. But won't. Not when someone just handed you eighteen billion and is offering to overpay for damaged companies to help rebuild communities."
The implicit message was clear — I was being generous, but generosity had limits. Push too hard and that eighteen billion might become complicated.
She pulled out her encrypted phone. "I need to make a call."
The conversation was brief. I could hear confusion on the other end — why would anyone pay two billion for companies worth half that? The conclusion they'd reach was obvious: either I was naive about valuations or genuinely charitable. Either worked.
"My superiors agree," she said, ending the call. "Charlotte Thompson receives full ownership of Quantum Tech. And you can purchase the five companies for two billion upon completion of arrests."
"The buyer?"
"A private investment group. Details will be provided after the arrests."
I wasn't giving her Liberation Holdings' name. Let them wonder who was behind this generous offer. By the time they thought to investigate deeply, the corporate structures would be labyrinthine enough to discourage pursuit.
"In writing. Now."
She pulled out a tablet, creating the official documents. Department of Justice letterhead, digital signatures from people whose power was absolute even if their names never made newspapers.
"ARIA?" I said aloud.
"Documents authenticated and blockchain recorded. The agreements are legally binding."
"Now," I said, sitting back, "the eighteen billion is yours."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. ARIA, initiate transfer."
The seven billion I'd already secured in cryptocurrency through Liberation Holdings was invisible to them. They were getting exactly what they'd tracked — eighteen point five billion. Not a penny more, not a penny less.
"Transfer complete," ARIA announced. "Eighteen point five billion dollars now in Federal Asset Forfeiture accounts."
Ava checked her phone, confirming the transfer with her superiors.
For the first time since she'd entered, she looked genuinely impressed.
"You really did it. Gave away eighteen billion dollars."
"To stop three criminals and help rebuild what they destroyed. Money's just paper and numbers. Justice is real."
Inside, I was calculating the true mathematics. Eighteen billion in unusable criminal funds for complete control of Quantum Tech. Two billion for five companies that would be worth twenty billion. Seven billion in hidden crypto to fund the empire's growth. The government got their victory while I got the foundation for something that would dwarf their imagination.
"Two days," Ava said, standing but not moving toward the door. "Vincent and Dmitri will be arrested at 9 PM."
"Charlotte should holding a press conference at the same time."
"Convenient."
"I prefer to think of it as poetic justice. She announces her company's rebirth while her tormentors fall."
She studied me, those dark eyes trying to pierce through the heroic facade. "Whatever you really are, whoever you represent — you've done something extraordinary."
"Just trying to balance the scales a little."
She moved closer, not toward the exit but toward the window, looking out at the city. "These five companies — you really think they can be rebuilt?"
"With the right management and resources, anything can be rebuilt. Sometimes stronger than before."
What I didn't say was that Liberation Holdings would provide that management. That Charlotte's genius combined with these strategic assets would create a corporate ecosystem worth hundreds of billions. That in five years, the government would look back and wonder how they'd let such valuable assets slip through their fingers for mere billions.
But tonight, they were happy with their eighteen billion prize. Tonight, they thought they'd won.
And that was exactly what I needed them to think.