Chapter 3 - The Alliance of Rats
By 4:00 AM, the panic had spread to Victor’s highest-level political allies. Inside a private VIP lounge at the city's most exclusive gentleman's club, three city councilmen and the director of the port authority were gathered, their faces pale under the dim amber lights.
Victor stood in the center of the room, his clothes rumpled, his hair disheveled, a look of unhinged desperation in his eyes. He had managed to escape my operators only because I had allowed Marcus to let him go—a tactical release designed to drive him straight to his conspirators.
"You have to call off the federal inspectors!" Victor shouted, slamming his fist onto a mahogany side table, spilling an expensive glass of scotch. "Moretti has my encryption keys. He’s leaking the ledger for the Waterfront project. If the feds trace the shell companies, we all go down!"
Councilman Sterling, a silver-haired man who had taken millions in bribes from Victor over the decade, stood up, adjusting his tailored suit with cold detachment.
"There is no 'we,' Victor," Sterling said, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "Your construction firm is currently under an emergency asset freeze. The news outlets are already running footage of your abandoned warehouse property, and rumor has it there’s a video floating around of you physically assaulting your wife to steal her foundation's assets. Do you honestly think we are going to ruin our careers to shield a domestic abuser from a federal grand jury?"
"I built your campaigns!" Victor roared, stepping forward, his hands clenching into fists. "I paid for your houses! You owe me!"
"We owed a successful businessman, Victor," the port director interjected, standing near the exit door. "We don't owe a criminal liability. As of five minutes ago, the city council has officially terminated Hale Holdings' contract for the Waterfront Plaza project due to structural negligence and ethical violations."
"You can't do that!" Victor shrieked.
The heavy double doors of the private lounge slid open.
I walked into the room, flanked by Marcus and two federal agents in dark suits. The politicians immediately fell silent, backing away from Victor as if he were radioactive.
"Good morning, gentlemen," I said, my voice calm, smooth, and entirely terrifying in its composure. "I believe you're all familiar with Aethelgard Global. I’ve just spent the last two hours purchasing the outstanding municipal debt vouchers for this entire district. In simple terms: I now own the land your club sits on, Councilman Sterling. And I own the voting rights for the next port authority election, Director."
Sterling blinked, his jaw dropping as he realized the sheer scale of the financial eclipse that had just occurred. "Mr. Moretti... we had no idea Victor was engaged in these kinds of illicit activities. We were completely misled."
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"I know you were," I said, offering a polite, razor-sharp smile. "Which is why the federal agents behind me are offering a very limited, very brief window for cooperation. You can either sign the conflict-of-interest disclosures detailing Victor's extortion schemes right now, or you can join him in the indictment."
Within thirty seconds, the politicians had abandoned Victor completely, scrambling to sign the legal papers my attorneys provided. The rats had not only left the sinking ship; they were helping me scuttle it.
