"We can secure contracts with those small contractors who invested in hiring staff and materials. We would repurchase them at a forced discount, allowing them to recover something, and then rehire them for our project. We would gain control, labor, and human capital, all at a bargain price. We could reap massive benefits from all this."

Jason took a seat in the nearest leather chair and took a deep breath, evaluating the risks and benefits.

"We won't need to go bargain shopping so low," Jason murmured with a satisfied smirk that didn't match his usual professionalism. "The Dukes now work for us."

The statement hit Lena Rossi with the force of lightning. She gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief as she looked at him. She had just investigated the power of the local gangs the day before and knew how impenetrable they were.

"What...what did you just say, Jason?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "The Dukes are the most notorious and violent gang in the area. How many days did it take you to bring them under control?"

Jason chuckled, leaning back with a rare flash of pride. "Actually, it was Ethan who handled them. Easily. It took him all of fifteen minutes. He just needed to send a message." He shook his head slightly. "There's no problem in submitting all the local gangs; we have the means to do it. It will just take a little time to integrate them completely into our structure."

Lena leaned back in her chair, a slow, wide smile spreading across her face. "This is good, Jason. Very good. That was my primary concern." She tapped the map. "I honestly thought Ethan meant we should work with the police, dismantle them slowly. Not... subjugate them."

Jason laughed, a deep, knowing sound. "The ambitions of our boss are not something you can easily imagine, Ms. Rossi. Believe me."

Lena sighed, picking up her pen. "I believe you. Following him is my greatest blessing, but it can also feel like a curse, dealing with the fallout of his quick decisions."

With the local protection secured, Lena swiftly returned to the master plan.

"My plan is to seize the remaining 15% immediately," Lena stated firmly, looking at Cassandra. "It will be too obvious, so I expect Olympus Development to notice. That's why we need to move as fast as possible."

Cassandra, now fully engaged and somewhat awestruck by the scale of the operation, leaned forward. "And once we secure that critical 15%? What's the next phase? Do we force a sale?"

"That's where it gets complicated," Lena replied. "We have two strategic directions: We can negotiate with Olympus to do the project together and split the profits, or we can try to submit them and seize their 85%."

Jason looked skeptical. "Submitting ODG? They're a global giant. They've been bleeding millions every month due to the political delay, but they seem completely immune to the pressure. That suggests they're nothing more than a front. There's likely an even stronger, deeper power behind them keeping them afloat, making them indifferent to waiting us out. That would be a major problem; they would never accept negotiating a partnership with us."

"Exactly my thoughts, Jason," Lena concedes. "I spoke to Ethan about this too. He told me to 'leave it to him' and that he was 'sure to solve it.' So, I'm not worried about the 85% for now. Let's focus on the boss's immediate orders."

Lena activated a display showing three corporate logos. "The first thing Ethan wants is the creation of three new companies."

"First: a construction firm. If we win the project—and we will—the idea is to take charge directly. We won't hire another major corporation to do the work for us; we'll control the quality and the flow of capital."

"Second: a technology company. That's why I secured this part of the building we are currently in. The other objective is to take full control of this tower and make it the headquarters for one of Ethan's enterprises."

"And the third enterprise: a financial brokerage firm. I didn't know the boss was a master of the stock market, but I trust him, and I know he will accomplish everything he sets out to do."

Jason listened, a wave of emotion washing over him. The thought of getting revenge on Vincent was starting to feel relegated to a secondary task. But was it? Jason looked at the dizzying plans—construction, technology, finance, all rapidly expanding in the shadow of the MIT campus.

Jason mentally apologized: "Forgive me, Boss. I thought you were hiding. But you're not passing unnoticed. You're simply accelerating the growth of these nascent sharks until they're ready to enter and devour the market." The sheer scale of Ethan's plan brought the mission for Vincent back into focus. He realized: this corporate empire was being built for the war to come.

"So, it is decided," Jason stated, rising from his chair with a renewed sense of purpose. The gravity of the work pulled him away from the corporate comfort of the penthouse. "We need to move immediately. You two can continue here, defining the corporate details and laying the legal groundwork."

He picked up his tactical vest and weapons case. "I will take the boys to visit The Dukes right now to review the situation in the city firsthand. We will begin merging the major local gangs, and if necessary, we'll sweep them clean."

The casual brutality of his words—talking about organized crime lords as if they were trash to be discarded—caused both Cassandra and Lena Rossi to hesitate. They knew the work had to be done, but hearing it articulated so plainly was jarring.

"Jason," Cassandra began, her voice tinged with unease.

Jason turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "Don't worry, Ms. Cassandra. This is the necessary foundation. Your part is clean; leave the dirt to us." He gave her a protective, professional look. "I'm taking the SUVs and the security team. If you need to leave, call me, and I will come back for you. You are now an important part of all this, and I can't face Ethan if anything happens to you."

Lena Rossi stepped forward, offering a rare assurance. "He's right, Cassandra, but don't worry. If anything unexpected happens, I can safely escort you out of this building myself. I'm prepared."

Jason nodded at Lena. "Good. Keep the headquarters secure."

With that, Jason left the penthouse, heading down to the garages to collect the armored vehicles and begin the process of consolidating control over the criminal underworld.

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