Building A Business Empire From Scratch In Another World

In a dimly lit chamber, where shadows dance under the flickering glow of enchanted blue-flame braziers.

The air is thick with the rich scent of aged wine and polished oak, mingling with an unsettling metallic tang,perhaps from concealed daggers lurking in the corners.

Gathered around a sleek, circular obsidian table are five figures, low-ranking nobles from minor houses, each exuding an air of smug arrogance that only those who think themselves untouchable can muster.

Their embroidered sigils mark them as vultures circling their prey: the crumbling Morningstar Empire.

At the head of this gathering lounges Lord Cedric Drakemere, his oil-slick black hair framing a serpent-like smile that could charm or chill.

His fingers tap rhythmically on the table, a sound echoing like a death knell in this den of intrigue.

"So," he drawls with feigned nonchalance, "it seems we've been played for fools."

Lady Isolde Montclair, all razor-sharp wit and silver-streaked hair, slams a rolled parchment onto the table with enough force to silence even the most arrogant among them.

"Our spies confirmed it," she declares sharply. "While we've been blocking Felix Morningstar's expansion in Astheria, he's opened over 300 restaurants across Avalonia!"

A stunned silence blankets the room.

Lord Alaric Duskbane, a bloated figure bedecked in gaudy jeweled rings, turns purple with disbelief. "Three hundred?! How?!"

"By diverting us," sneers Baroness Veyra Sablethorn, her grip tightening around her wineglass as if it were a lifeline. "We wasted gold buying up properties he never wanted! That upstart bastard led us by the nose!"

Cedric's smile remains unbroken, a mask hiding deeper intentions. "Oh, he's clever. I'll give him that."

"This is absurd!" Alaric sputters, sweat glistening on his brow like jewels on his fingers.

"A nobody from the slums outmaneuvering noble blood? We should burn every last one of his filthy establishments to ashes!"

Isolde scoffs derisively. "And risk incurring the Crown's wrath? Even you aren't that foolish, Alaric."

"Then what do you propose?" Veyra snaps back sharply. "Let him keep mocking us?"

Cedric leans forward slightly; his voice is smooth yet edged like a velvet-coated blade. "We don't need fire; we need finesse."

"Cut off his suppliers," he continues smoothly. "Pressure farmers, butchers, anyone caught selling to Morningstar loses noble patronage."

Isolde smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Just a few 'accidents' in his restaurants, food poisoning, rat infestations. The commoners will turn on him faster than you can say 'nobility.'"

Lord Ormund Hale, the quietest yet most dangerous of the group, leaned forward.

"And let's not forget about bribing the magistrates," he added coolly. "We can have his permits 'reevaluated' and delay him until he bleeds gold."

Cedric's eyes sparkled with ambition. "And if all else fails… we simply remind Felix Morningstar why nobles rule and peasants kneel."

A chill slithered down their spines at the implication.

Even these cunning vipers sensed the unspoken threat, someone far more powerful was lurking behind Cedric's words.

As the nobles continued their scheming, a figure lingered in the darkest corner of the room, hooded, motionless, and completely unnotice.

It wasn't until the meeting adjourned that this shadow stirred, whispering to Cedric: "Your master is… impatient."

For just half a heartbeat, Cedric's confident smirk faltered. "Tell him Felix will be broken before the next moon."

With that declaration hanging in the air, the shadow vanished into thin air, leaving behind an eerie scent of frost mixed with something ancient, something far older than nobility itself.

------------

Morningstar Estate- Felix Office.

The office was enveloped in an eerie silence, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of an enchanted clock that Felix had acquired some time ago. Moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting elongated shadows over the sleek obsidian desk where he sat, fingers steepled and eyes half-closed in deep contemplation.

Before him lay a single sheet of parchment, its contents radiating urgency like a beacon in the night.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a dramatic flourish.

"Big bro! You better have a damn good reason for summoning us at this hour!" Nixie burst into the room, her pink hair tousled from sleep and still clad in silk pajamas adorned with little gold coin patterns. She rubbed her eyes groggily and grumbled, "Do you know what time it is? Even the owls are asleep!"

Trailing behind her was Clair, who entered with her usual quiet grace. However, the faint crease between her brows revealed her concern. "Family Head. This must be urgent."

Felix didn't look up; instead, he slid the parchment toward them with deliberate calmness.

"Zephyr's report," he stated flatly. "The nobles have discovered our expansion."

Nixie's drowsiness evaporated instantly as she snatched up the parchment, her eyes racing across its inked lines. Clair leaned over her shoulder to read along, her expression darkening.

"They're planning to cut our supply chains," Nixie muttered incredulously. "Those greedy bastards."

Clair's voice turned icy as she added, "And reputation attacks—they'll plant evidence of rotten food and vermin in our restaurants to turn public opinion against us."

Finally lifting his gaze, Felix allowed a slow smile to spread across his face—a smile sharp enough to cut glass.

"Good."

Nixie's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Good?! They're about to strangle our business!"

Felix leaned back in his chair, his golden cane glinting ominously in the moonlight. "No," he replied smoothly. "They're walking into a trap."

Rising from his seat like a predator sizing up its prey, Felix began to circle his desk with purpose.

"A few months ago," he continued confidently, "when we first clashed with these nobles, I anticipated this very move and made three strategic plays."

He paused dramatically before revealing his plan: "Every supplier they think they're cutting off? They belong to us." His smile twisted into something more sinister as he elaborated: "I had Zephyr quietly purchase majority stakes in Astheria's largest farms, fisheries, and vineyards under shell companies—now their threats jeopardize their own investments."

Nixie's eyes lit up with understanding. "So when they pressure suppliers…they're just sabotaging themselves?"

Clair eyes immediately cleared up as she immediately understood Felix plan, a smile formed on the corner of her mouth.