Chapter 213: Ants

Arthur stood before the towering glass window of his private chamber, gazing down at the sprawling Osborn Mega Commercial Plaza below, its lights twinkling like stars in a vast galaxy.

Derrick’s warning lingered in his mind like smoke from an extinguished fire, but what truly unsettled him wasn’t just the threat of nationalization; it was that name Evolon had whispered earlier: The Trident Circle.

When Evolon first mentioned it months ago, he dismissed it as merely “a coalition of interest-aligned second-rate noble houses and mid-tier corporations.”

Back then, he’d scoffed at such trivialities, too consumed with regulatory loopholes and funding injections to pay them any mind.

He remembered saying: “Just another group of small flies buzzing around real power. I have no time forthat.”

But now… now Evolon’s tone had shifted.

—

Sitting in his study room, Arthur summoned Evolon with a wave of his hand; its familiar crystalline face shimmered into view like an apparition from another world.

“Evolon,” he said grimly, urgency creeping into his voice. “Refresh my memory about The Trident Circle, give me all the details.”

The air crackled with tension as Evolon’s tone deepened, becoming weighty and serious.

“Sir, The Trident Circle is not merely a swarm of flies; it’s a leviathan cloakedbeneath their guise.”

“Clarify,” Arthur demanded sharply as he leaned forward.

“The Circle is a clandestine pact forged nearly two decades ago among 33 mid-tier elite families in Neo-Luminara, 17 regional magnates across the Aurelian Federation, and several rogue tech conglomerates,” Evolon explained methodically.

“Its purpose? Mutual elevation through silent coordination, in essence… strength found in invisibility.”

“It’s a shadow consortium established 19.4 years ago following the Orion Infrastructure Collapse,” Evolon continuedIts founding members include those mid-tier elite families from Neo-Luminara and regional stakeholders from both Central and Eastern blocs alongside disillusioned tech networks tired of high-tier monopolies.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face. “Wait a minute, are you really saying they’re not just a bunch of anxious silver spooners terrified of fading into irrelevance?”

He narrowed his eyes, pressing further. “But they aren’t exactly high-tier families, are they?”

“Individually? No,” came the measured response. “But collectively, they wield control over 14.4% of Neo-Luminara’s economic engine, spanning construction, logistics, and real estate.

And here’s the kicker: they hold 31 seats in the Federation’s 300-memberParliament.

That’s enough power to sway public opinion, ignite committee investigations, or block crucial permits.

Think of them as barnacles on a ship, seemingly insignificant until your hull starts dragging.”

Arthur exhaled slowly as the pieces began to fit together like a well-crafted puzzle. “So why haven’t I felt their bite until now?”

Evolon paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. “Because they waited for you to build the pie… before deciding to carve it.”

Rising from his seat, Arthur pacedacross the dark marble floor, each step echoing with realization.

He had underestimated the Circle, not out of arrogance but because they had skillfully crafted an illusion that made them seem too fragmented to pose any real threat.

That was their brilliance: unity among those who go unnoticed.

“Clever bastards,” he muttered under his breath. “Letting the spotlight blind the kings while the rats breed under the floorboards.

——–

The city slipped into a tranquil hush after midnight, its heartbeat softened beneath the glow of muted neon lights from the plaza below.

In his study room Arthur stood by the window, his gaze tracing the blinking towers and sky-trains that wove through the night like veins of shimmering light.

Behind him, Evolon’s interface flickered dimly, caught in a moment between data streams, the Trident Circle’s intricate web laid bare, names of parliamentarians flagged for scrutiny, scandal dossiers primed for release.

Arthur remained silent for a heartbeat longer before finally breaking the stillness with a low, contemplative voice. “Evolon, does the Whitmore Family know about this?”

A pause hung in the air,a breath held too long, , before Evolon responded in an almost reverent tone: “Yes, sir. The Whitmores are fully aware of the Trident Circle’s activities and alliances across Neo-Luminara and the Federation. They have observed its growth for over a decade.”

The weight of silence pressed down on them.

Arthur felt tension coil within him as he asked incredulously, “Then why… why are they doing nothing about it?”

Evolon’s interface pulsed softly as it replied: “Because sir against the Whitmores, the Trident Circle is nearly invisible.”

Those words landed with an avalanche’s force.

Arthur turned sharply to face Evolon, gripping the windowsill tightly. “Explain,” he demanded.

With a shift of visuals on display, a vast network graph materialized, households intertwined with investitures and political affiliations branching out until they converged on one name: Whitmore.

“The Whitmore Family,” Evolon began steadily, “is at the pinnacle of power within the Aurelian Federation.

They oversee ten superfamilies; their members occupy key positions in the Presidency, Supreme Court, and Central Bank.

Historically speaking, they were among the founding fathers of this Federation and behind closed doors, through public fronts and private councils, they orchestrate national policy. This you already know.”

Arthur nodded slowly as he absorbed this revelation.

“And they watch the Trident Circle like it’s just ants?” he mused softly.

“Correct,” Evolon confirmed. “To them? Yes.”

A hint of envy crept into Arthur’s voice as he reflected aloud: “They don’t care… They don’t feel threatened.”

Evolon’s tone shifted to offer deeper insight: “To the Whitmores, the Trident Circle consists of careerists and mid-tier landholders, financially robust by everyday standards but socially insignificant in their grand hierarchy. The Circle is seen merely as a minor nuisance, easily overlooked if necessary.”

Arthur exhaled deeply; frustration flared across his features. “When will we Osborns have that?”

His voice cracked slightly, a rare glimpse into vulnerability. “That kind of… godlike immunity?”

He stepped away from the window, frustration flickering across his face.

“You know,” he began, his voice tinged with disbelief, “we’ve literally built a city within a city. We control trillions in revenue and are one of the few names with true global reach, like our own galaxy! Yet, somehow, they treat us like just another star lost in the crowd.”

A long silence hung in the air as he processed his thoughts.

Moments later, Arthur shook his head, a bitter look etched across his features. It was clear that this situation weighed heavily on him.

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