Part 37
The peace of the Highlands was beautiful, but as rulers of a global empire, the rest of the world was never truly far away from our minds or our responsibilities.
On our fifth evening at the castle, a high-priority, encrypted video transmission came through from our prime intelligence operative stationed in Geneva, Switzerland.
Alexander and I sat before the secure terminal in the castle’s private library, the fire crackling softly in the background as the operative's face appeared on screen.
"Sir, Madam, we have intercepted a series of highly classified communications originating from a coalition of minor European banks," the operative reported grimly.
"It appears that the sudden collapse of the Ironwood Syndicate has panicked several mid-tier financial institutions in Zurich and Luxembourg."
"They are attempting to form a secret regulatory alliance to lobby the European Central Bank to place anti-monopoly restrictions on the Bennett-Vanguard group."
I narrowed my eyes, a cold, dangerous anger flickering to life within my chest at the sheer audacity of these minor predators trying to undermine our hard-won victory.
Alexander didn't even blink; his expression remained perfectly calm, a mask of chilling, aristocratic indifference that was far more terrifying than any outward display of rage.
"They think they can use bureaucratic red tape to cage a wolf that has just devoured a lion," Alexander remarked, his voice smooth, calculated, and deadlier than ice.
"Who is leading this pathetic little coalition of terrified bankers, Marcus? Give me the specific names of the masterminds behind this movement."
The operative quickly brought up a list of three prominent Swiss billionaires on the screen, men who had long operated in the shadows of the continental banking system.
"They believe they are safe because they are operating under the strict privacy laws of Switzerland," Marcus explained. "They are planning a formal summit next week."
I let out a soft, mocking laugh, leaning forward toward the terminal as a brilliant, ruthless counter-strategy began to form with absolute clarity in my mind.
"Privacy is a luxury that only exists if we allow it," I stated coldly, turning my gaze toward Alexander, who was already looking at me with an approving smile.
"We don't need to fight them in a regulatory court, Alexander. We simply purchase the primary national debt of their respective banks by tomorrow morning."
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"We squeeze their liquidity until they are forced to beg us for a bailout, effectively crushing their little coalition before they can even host their summit."
Alexander’s eyes flashed with a predatory, triumphant satisfaction as he reached over, taking my hand and kissing the back of it with absolute, adoring pride.
