Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"You bastard!!!" Aerwin roared as Trent answered the call.

"What have you—"

"I have served my justice." Trent interrupted, scoffing.

"How do you like the gifts I've prepared."

"You..." Aerwin growled,

"I'm going to crush you and all your allies."

"You don't see it, do you?" Trent chuckled,

"You don't see the downfall you have drawn to yourself."

"The accusations won't stick." Aerwin laughed in a dry tone,

"I will take care of—"

"Marie's done." Thaddeus' voice cut through.

"Grand," Aerwin paused,

"Who is that?"

"Doesn't matter now, Aerwin." Trent chuckled,

"You should check on your dear billionaire backer."

"What do—"

Morlov's scream interrupted Aerwin.

"What's—"

"You crazy fuck!!!" Morlov snatched the phone from Aerwin, pushing him aside.

"It was you, wasn't it?" He snarled,

"Everything... You've taken—"

"That's not the fun part." Trent chuckled,

"You should check the news."

"Do you know the friends I—"

"All your friends..." Trent scoffed,

"They should be facing the consequences of their actions."

"I am going to kill you!!!" Aerwin's voice cut through.

"He fails to understand the situation..." Trent clicked his tongue.

"Y–You're going too far..." Morlov muttered,

"Really?" Trent scoffed,

"I don't think I am."

"This wasn't supposed to go—"

"You crossed the line, old fart..." Trent said, laughing softly

"You've brought harm to yourself and your allies."

He stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Meanwhile... my friends are going to release their statements of supports for me."

"Who—"

"I have great friends." He mused,

"And we plan to give the public a truth that had been hidden.

"Y–You..." Morlov stuttered,

"I wasn't going to hurt Marie!!!" He yelled.

"We can't change what's happened." Trent laughed,

"It's going to be a long night."

He stared at the screen as he ended the call and huffed.

"The Ducal houses have posted their statements." Thaddeus chuckled,

He stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Charles has posted a video too."

The Grand Chamberlain?

Trent exhaled, scanning the room.

Anneliese had arranged separate rooms for him and Theo.

"What about the history?"

"Posted." Thaddeus mused,

"The whole world is focused on it— the true history and your involvement in succession."

"...It's—"

"This is the best outcome." Thaddeus interrupted him before he could talk.

"For the world."

"Will they accept me as—"

"They already have." Thaddeus scoffed,

"The citizens of Kraven will accept you."

"Is that what they're saying?" Trent scoffed, walking towards the window.

"They are saying a whole lot." Thaddeus chuckled,

"The world loves stories, Trent."

"It's run by plots." Trent chuckled, staring at the sky through the window.

"And I wasn't really a good Emperor." Thaddeus chuckled,

"The past five Emperors have only focused on the wrong things."

He exhaled,

"I spent my life on revenge. You should live your's to the fullest."

"I will." Trent raised his hands, reaching for the sky.

"Tomorrow will give the answer."

_____

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Anneliese looked at him as he walked towards her.

"It's not a complete show without the host." Trent chuckled, shaking his head.

"The Citizens are gathered around Wallen Palace— over a hundred thousand of them." The lady standing besides Anneliese said.

"Millions are staging protests and are heading towards the capital." She looked at Trent and bowed

"They are calling for their true Emperor."

"That's cringe..." Theo chuckled, nudging Trent.

"You should go show them."

Trent smiled looking at him and exhaled.

"The military have everyone on Aerwin's side arrested." Anneliese turned to walk away.

"There's been some unusual casualties on some Kravenberchs— Aerwin's mother was found dead with a bottle of poison."

Must be Thaddeus.

"The car is ready." She turned to him.

"We will follow you in a convoy. There's security to make sure you are safe."

"I might give some weird orders." He chuckled.

"I hope you all can overlook them."

"You are about to be Emperor." Anneliese scoffed,

"The light of Sirius is absolute."

"The Sun of day and brightest light of the night sky." Trent muttered, walking behind her.

What a twist of fate.

_____

"Stop." Trent ordered the driver as they got to where the people gathered.

"It's two miles from here to the palace, Sir." The Driver turned to him, bringing the car to a halt.

"Gramps..." Trent ignore him and pulled his phone out.

"Tell them that I'm going to walk from here."

"Alright... Marie and the others just arrived at Wallen Palace." Thaddeus replied.

"Are you sure about this?" Theo looked at Trent.

He showed his phone's screen,

"There's thousands of people and a lot of reporters."

Trent looked out the window— news and security helicopters.

"Let's do this."

"Alright." Theo sighed, stepping out of the car.

The crowd exploded into chaos as Trent stepped out of the car.

"It's Him!!!" They shouted as he walked towards them.

Trent raised his hands, stopping the soldiers as they rushed to him.

A mother rushed after her child as he rushed towards Trent with a flower.

Theo looked at Trent as he squatted and received the flower from the child.

"What's your name?" Trent asked the kid with a smile

"P–Phillip..." The child stuttered,

"Mommy said you're going to free us."

"I–I... I'm really sorry about—"

"I hope I get the strength to." Trent looked at the Mother.

"You're Ackerman." The child huffed,

"You're the strongest." He raised his hand, flexing his muscles.

Trent laughed and patted his head.

"Thank you, Phillip."

He stood up and looked at the crowd.

His heart thumped as he walked towards them.

Theo followed just besides him,

"Smile, Cap..." He whispered.

"Look at the awe in their eyes."

"Ackerman!" A child yelled from the crowd.

"Ackerman!!" Another voice followed.

They raised their voices shouting the name, paving a way for him as he walked through their midst.

He smiled and raised his hand waving at them.

"Trent!!!"

He looked up as he heard Marie's voice. Wasn't she—

His chest tightened as he saw her running towards him with Mia, Xander, Diana, Mikhail, Kimberly, Angela, Anton, Wanda and Scarlet behind her.

The crowd cleared a path for them too.

His body moved before he could think. He rushed to Marie and held her.

"You should've waited for—"

"No." She leaned her head against his chest.

"I... I couldn't wait."

His heart thumped. The crowd whistled and hailed.

"I can't believe this..." Mikhail muttered, eyes sweeping through the crowd.

"You're going to become the Emperor, aren't you?" He looked at Trent.

"I must've spent the fortune of all my lifetimes to—"

"Having me as a friend." Theo cut in, chuckling,

"I introduced him, remember?"

"You're alright..." Wanda looked at Trent.

"That's—"

"She almost flew in yesterday." Anton laughed, softly.

He turned to the crowd and smiled.

"Let's go now, lovebirds..." He looked at Trent and Marie.

Trent laughed and held his hand towards Marie's waist,

"Can I—"

"Yes." She nodded with a smile,

"You can."

She leaned against him as they walked forward with his hand wrapped around her waist.

"Ackerman!"

"Ackerman!!"

The crowd continued to sing as they followed them to the palace.

_____

"And now..." Ferinni raised the crown,

"With the power vested in me as the vessel of stars and Pope of their holy church..."

He looked at Trent for a second.

"I crown you— Trent Ackerman— brilliance of their light... Emperor of the Verchenia Empire."

The citizens and noble houses had agreed to Trent's suggestion to change the name to something that embodied what Berchen and Verathin started for.

The Verchenia Empire.

All structures were to remain the same.

Trent stood up with the crown on his head and looked at the crowd that had gathered in the temple.

It's been a week since the whole issue of succession.

Ave's reward was truly a surprise— +30 Intelligence.

"I..." He paused, looking at Marie.

"Trent Ackerman... First of my name... Swear to lead this Empire to greatness with the blood flowing through me."

Ferinni looked at him and smiled.

No long talk.

The hall exploded into applauds and shouts as Trent raised his hand.

He smiled at Marie and signalled her to come to him.

Her heart thumped as she walked to him amidst cheers from everyone.

"Your are beautiful, my Queen..." He chuckled as she reached him.

"You are just as handsome, my Lord."

They locked eyes and smiled.

"I've got a reward for you." She mused in a soft tone.

_____

Trent exhaled as he looked through the window.

It's been five years since he ascended the throne as Emperor.

A very eventful time.

The five hundred billion dollars was split into four parts—

Hundred billion to be shared amongst the ducal houses,

Two hundred was secretly funded into Verchenia's economy,

The remaining two hundred billion was shared among all Eighty countries in the world.

A peace offering of sorts.

Theo and Angela finally hit it off and got married two years ago.

Scarlet and Xander spent the next year after the coronation on a tour around the world. They're happily married with two kids.

"Papa!!!"

Two kids ran into the room.

"Slowly..." Marie followed behind,

"We don't want you falling."

Trent squatted and stretched his arms apart to receive them.

"Oh my... It's my Prince and Princess."

"I beat Levi's score in the training pod." The little girl laughed,

"I'm going to beat that score, Hayley..." The boy huffed,

"You're both doing well." Trent laughed,

"Are you ready?" Marie looked at him.

"Yes." He replied,

"Happy Birthday, Dad..." They looked at him.

He grabbed them and raised them up.

"Let's go meet the guests."