Chapter 77 Titan of Wealth, The Five Great Families
<Chapter> Chapter 77 Titan of Wealth, The Five Great Families</Chapter>
Margaret nodded, her thoughts precisely reflected in Xena's actions.
With the correct leverage, the entire situation could be reversed. If Paige had been flaunting her power due to her affiliation with the Carnegies, it was only fair that the Carnegies were made aware of her reckless behavior. A soft chuckle escaped Margaret's lips. Who could dare to say that the granddaughter she had personally chosen was inadequate? Wasn't Xena's cleverness evident?
As Margaret lay in her bed, she pondered over the fact that even though the marriage talks between Xena and Louis had fallen through, the familial ties through marriage still remained intact. Regardless of the tension that might have arisen with Paige, no one could deny the fact that she and Xena were sisters, born of the same mother.Margaret, being the matriarch of the Sackler family, had been deeply hurt by Paige's actions. Paige had even surrounded the entire Sackler estate with her people, showing no regard for the Sacklers' reputation. Such a golden opportunity could not be wasted; it had to be utilized with finesse. Xena had always proven herself capable of handling such situations. After a thorough examination by the family doctor, who confirmed that the injury was not severe enough to warrant a hospital visit, he followed Xena's instructions and made the wound appear more serious than it was. Once everything was in place, Xena inspected the work herself. Only after she was satisfied did she dismiss the doctor. "Grandma, I've finished our preparations on this end. Now, it's all about how the Carnegies will play their part," Xena stated.Margaret gave a faint nod. "Go ahead, my dear. I do feel a bit dizzy from all that's happened today—quite unexpected. I need to rest for a while. Leave the rest in your capable hands."Margaret had every confidence that Xena would handle the situation with finesse—she was sure to meet the expectations. Inside the Carnegie family mansion, Raymond had ushered Charles into a secret chamber, all in the quest to uncover crucial clues more swiftly.As the minutes ticked by, Charles grew increasingly impatient."Raymond, we can't keep on like this." Charles sighed. "These items have been sitting here for who knows how many years without a hint of where that critical funding is tucked away. What makes you think we'll stumble upon it now?"Raymond, on the other hand, remained patient. Having overseen the latest initiatives at the Corporation for a long stretch, he felt secure leaving ongoing affairs in his subordinates' hands.Now, with his wife Paige showing signs of wanting to leave, Raymond couldn't sit idly by. He needed to find a way to keep her close."Enough chatter, get proactive," Raymond remarked coolly, side-eyeing Charles.Charles, not daring to object further, continued with the task. He knew all too well Raymond could have been a man of great patience.Together, they rummaged through documents and archives, every bit of recorded history. Charles's curiosity about this secret fund was piqued.The silence in the underground vault was unnerving. Risking Raymond's mood, Charles ventured to ask, "Raymond, what's the story behind this secret fund, anyway?"Today's abrupt change in Paige's behavior had left Raymond feeling unsettled and insecure. His original intent had been to conceal his identity to test Paige's true nature. Yet, as the ruse unfolded, Raymond ended up outsmarted—a quintessential case of a plan backfiring spectacularly.Begrudgingly, Raymond paused before indulging Charles's question. "This secret funding goes back many years to when a world-renowned conglomerate was founded—about eighty years ago by the top five families, forming Company X."Charles latched onto the key detail. "The five families—are they the ones currently at the top?"A shadow of grimness crossed Raymond's face. "In this world, the true elite don't have rankings. To the public eye, they're invisible. They're so discreet they wouldn't dare to appear on any list. The true beholders of wealth are beyond the reach of those named on any roster."Having stuck by Raymond's side for quite a while, Charles had learned a lot, though he knew there were lessons Raymond could grasp that were beyond him.
For instance, these facts that Raymond rattled off were ingrained in him since he was a kid.And without Raymond saying a word, Charles would be none the wiser.Raymond spoke in an even tone, "Originally, the five major families each had their businesses. But, over eighty years ago, a massive war broke out.Wars not only change the world, they also shift the wealth of the world, particularly the wealth of the elite families.In light of this, the five families allied. They all shared a common goal—to protect their wealth and status and even exploit the chaos of war to greatly increase their fortunes.Charles' mouth fell open slightly, thinking back to over eighty years ago...Even though Raymond didn't specify the war or its historical context, Charles wasn't a fool. He was well-versed in history and immediately understood."These five families that weilded the greatest wealth and resources in the world at the time, formed a corporation that naturally pooled the finest assets and most money from each family. From profiting off the war to diving into all industries, throughout the long years of conflict, they not only preserved their wealth but actually multiplied it.As a result, even after the end of the war, the Corporation stayed intact. In the ensuing decades, even as the families' heirs changed, the company continued to grow rapidly.Unfortunately, fourteen years ago, the financial crisis hit, and the Corporation took a heavy blow. Yet, even this setback was relatively minor for the Corporation.However, the significant financial loss did instill a sense of crisis in some.After years of persistence, the relationships within the families fractured first. Dissenting opinions emerged on the Corporation's management.Some even believed that if a war of the scale from eighty years ago were to break out again, the Corporation could recover its economic losses.Or even without war, facing an unprecedented human survival crisis could help recoup the financial damages."Charles listened in astonishment to Raymond's words, visibly shaken."This..." he started.Raymond glanced at Charles and smiled faintly. "Capital is merciless, which you should know from your studies."Charles pressed, "But no such thing happened afterward, so what became of it?""Capital is merciless, but not all people are," Raymond replied. "Before the Corporation strayed too far, someone secretly absconded with all the money, hiding it somewhere no one would find."Charles had heard rumors of this secret fund.But if was only now that he truly grasped the entire story.However, one thing baffled him. "Then, why would Madam be searching for this hidden fortune? Does she have ties to the families? That doesn't seem right."Raymond slapped a dossier down on Charlie's head and said, "What are you thinking, that she's with the good guys or the bad guys? Use your brain, man. She's my wife, Carnegie. She's on my side!"
Charlie was speechless, just staring... But one couldn't be too sure!
After all, Charlie hadn't quite figured out which side Raymond was really on!
