Chapter 416 Harvest
Despair, bitterness, pain... A flood of emotions washed over Isaac.
"Isaac, what's wrong?" Nathaniel asked, noticing his grim expression.
Isaac opened his mouth, then finally said, "Send word to all Harris family executives and direct members to pack up and surrender themselves at the police station."
"Surrender?" Nathaniel, Otto, and everyone else at the table stared in disbelief. "Isaac, nothing's happened to the Harris family. Why surrender? We've paid the billion-dollar fine—we're safe!"
"We've angered someone powerful," Isaac said bitterly. "This person has decreed that the Harris family will be eliminated within thirty minutes."
His voice grew quieter with each word, the pain cutting like a knife. "From what I can tell, they truly have this capability. Internally, all our business partners are canceling their cooperation—the Harris family can't possibly continue operations."
"Externally, Mr. Ward has called, instructing us to surrender ourselves. And my father is powerless to help—the Marshall family has withdrawn their support."
The entire hall fell silent, shrouded in gloom. Despair, fear, and anguish hung in the air.
---
At seven o'clock the next morning, Noah and Tomas sat in the study watching Silverlight City's morning news.
"Breaking news regarding the investigation into Silverlight City's Harris family," the anchor announced. "Beyond operating exploitative factories and mistreating workers, the Harris family is also suspected of tax evasion, smuggling, financial fraud, and other criminal activities.
"One executive, Nathaniel, is suspected of bigamy. Family patriarch Isaac is suspected of bribery..."
"Last night, Harris family leadership was detained by police and is currently under investigation."
The broadcast showed footage of the Harris Manor with police cars parked outside, and Harris family executives being escorted out.
"Additionally, numerous prominent companies, businesses, and families across Eagleland have formally announced the termination of all cooperation with the Harris family. They will actively cooperate with police investigations and provide evidence of the Harris family's criminal activities..."
The news devoted fifteen minutes of its thirty-minute broadcast to the Harris family.
"What's going on?" Tomas was stunned. "Does this mean the Harris family is finished? Last night's news only mentioned a billion-dollar fine. How could the situation change so dramatically overnight?"
"Given the reports and arrests, the Harris family is almost certainly finished," Noah remarked, looking puzzled. "But I'm also confused about why the situation changed so suddenly—how they could vanish overnight. Could someone be helping us?"
"Mr. Anderson, regardless of how it happened, the Harris family's destruction is now certain," Tomas said. "Our next step is to pick up the pieces. They've dominated Eastern Eagleland for years, controlling significant portions of finance, real estate, and manufacturing."
"Now that they've collapsed, those market segments are wide open. Many forces will scramble to claim them, but we have a head start."
Noah nodded. "I understand. I'll have Atticus and the others begin handling this immediately."
---
At four o'clock that afternoon in Oasis Villa, the furniture that Rhett had damaged had all been replaced.
Noah sat on the sofa sipping coffee, looking somewhat tired after spending the entire afternoon discussing business matters with Daryl, Aurelia, Bodhi, and others.
To his surprise, Atticus had also come from Skylake State to join the discussions and help formulate future plans.
"We've established our major directives. Now we just need to follow the plan," Noah said calmly, setting down his cup.
"Noah, rest assured, I'll secure the Silverlight City Industrial Park," Bodhi said with a smile. "Although I signed that equity transfer agreement, it was under duress. The security cameras at my nightclub recorded everything—no court would recognize it. So I'm still a shareholder in the Harris factory."
"With the Harris family's collapse, I'll become the largest shareholder, making it easy to take over the industrial park. The park generates over ten billion in profits annually—an enormous benefit!"
"Good. You'll have your work cut out for you," Noah nodded. "But after taking over, worker benefits, wages, and conditions must be improved and fully compliant with regulations."
"You can count on me."
"Mr. Anderson, with the Harris family's collapse, thirty percent of Silverlight City's real estate market has suddenly opened up. I can absorb that within two days!" Daryl patted his belly and chuckled. "Soon, I'll be a leading force in Silverlight City's property sector!"
"Excellent. It seems I didn't make a mistake taking you on," Noah smiled. "Well done!"
"I'm just riding your coattails! If you hadn't eliminated the Harris family, I'd never have had this opportunity!" Daryl laughed heartily, clearly believing Noah was responsible for the family's downfall.
"Mr. Anderson, our Evergreen Markets are already being set up in all Silverlight City neighborhoods and commercial streets," Aurelia reported enthusiastically, her eyes bright with determination.
"With the Harris family gone, we can expand throughout Eastern Eagleland with minimal resistance! Within a month, I'll ensure our branches are on every street and alley across the region."
"Keep up the good work!" Noah encouraged her. With such expansion, going public within a year was virtually guaranteed.
The Harris family's collapse had been tremendously profitable for Noah.
Just their factories and fixed assets were worth tens of billions, with real estate holdings valued in the hundreds of billions. And these were just the short-term benefits.
Although Noah wasn't short of money, this kind of profit still felt good.
"Mr. Moore, how are things on your end?" Noah turned to Atticus.
In Noah's view, the Moore family stood to gain the most from the Harris family's downfall. Still, he wondered why Atticus had come to Silverlight City without any notice.
"Naturally, we've absorbed much of the market share they left behind—about sixty percent has been claimed by the Moore family," Atticus said with a smile. "The remaining forty percent has been divided between the White family from Emerald State and various smaller families."
Though Atticus maintained just a smile, his eyes betrayed his excitement. By swallowing sixty percent of the Harris family's assets, the Moore family had accelerated its development by forty to fifty years.
Among all elite families across Eagleland, they could now rank among the top.
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