Building The Strongest Family

Arthur's lips curled into a sly smile. "Good." As he spoke, the hologram shimmered and transformed into a breathtaking coastal nation, its capital a sprawling metropolis adorned with gleaming glass towers.

"LuthenVale," Vaul announced, his tone laced with gravity, "one of the most formidable naval powers on the continent. On the surface, they're our 'allies.'

But beneath that facade? They've been harboring Aurelian Federation intelligence operatives for months."

The image zoomed in on an opulent diplomatic gala, where a silver-haired woman in an elegant gown exchanged pleasantries with LuthenVale's prime minister.

"Meet Director Emily White," Vaul continued. "Head of Aurelian Foreign Intelligence. She's been whispering sweet nothings into Prime Minister Halrik's ear, convincing him that Varenya's resurgence poses a significant threat."

At the mention of the Aurelian Federation, Arthur's expression darkened momentarily before he forced a smile and shook his head dismissively.

Ethan leaned forward eagerly. "Halrik's a pragmatist.

He wouldn't turn against us unless he thought he could come out on top."

"Exactly," Vaul agreed, nodding gravely. "That's why they've been ramping up their naval forces, six new destroyers in just the past year! All equipped with quantum sonar capable of detecting our submersibles."

Gunnar grunted thoughtfully. "They're gearing up for a blockade."

Vex's cybernetic eye flickered as he processed the information. "Their Achilles' heel is their infrastructure; ninety percent of their power grid relies on three coastal fusion plants."

"Which is precisely why," Vaul interjected while tapping another command, "we've embedded Aegis operatives within their civil engineering corps. If they decide to make a move against us? Their lights go out first."

Arthur steepled his fingers together contemplatively. "And what about Halrik?"

Vaul smirked knowingly. "He has a mistress,and a gambling debt to boot. Ethan's people are already tightening the noose around him."

Ethan chuckled softly, "Politics is so much simpler when everyone has something to hide."

Arthur glanced at both Vaul and Gunnar and said firmly, "If possible, expedite taking Halrik under our control; but if he refuses or starts causing trouble,eliminate him immediately along with those Aurelian Federation operatives! I don't like taking anything chances!"

"Understood, sir!" Gunnar and Vaul replied in unison.

"Good!" Arthur nodded approvingly before turning back to Vaul. "Continue!"

With that prompt, Vaul waved his cybernetic arm across the holographic screens once more.

The display shifted to reveal rugged mountains where armored convoys snaked through perilous passes.

"The Iron Pact," Vaul began, his voice steady and commanding.

"It's the largest mercenary coalition on Noctis. Officially neutral, but let's be real, unofficially? They've been hired by Luthenvale and Sylaria as 'security consultants' in three border states."

As he spoke, a hologram flickered to life, zooming in on a grizzled warlord with a striking crimson cybernetic eye.

"Meet Jorin the Red," Vaul continued, his tone laced with caution.

"He's their current warlord and he's been stockpiling our weapons,purchased through shell companies, and training his men in urban pacification tactics."

Dravik's expression darkened. "So we armed them?"

Arthur interjected smoothly, "We profit from them."

He paused for effect, then added confidently, "And we control them."**

Vaul nodded in agreement."Every weapon we sold them has a killswitch. Every round of ammunition is equipped with a biometric trigger. The moment they turn against us? Their guns become nothing more than paperweights."

Gunnar crossed his arms skeptically. "And what about Jorin?"

Vaul's response was chilling:"He has a replacement waiting in the wings. His second-in-command is far more… cooperative."

Dravik took a deep breath and turned to Arthur, speaking slowly as if weighing each word carefully. "You are really careful!"

Arthur met Dravik's gaze with an intense look of understanding and replied firmly,"I don't like taking chances; after all, I only have one life!"

The hologram shifted again, morphing into a detailed map of the heartland,gleaming cities sprawled across the landscape alongside vast military complexes and an intricate network of defense platforms.

Vaul's disdain was palpable as he gestured toward the map. "And then there's them," he sneered. "Neo-Arcavia!"

The war room was thick with tension as General Vaul's cybernetic fingers glided over the holographic interface, casting a glow on the faces of those gathered.

Suddenly, the detailed map of Noctis faded away, revealing an awe-inspiring aerial view of Neo-Arcavia's capital,a vibrant metropolis adorned with shimmering glass spires.

Monorails twisted between buildings like silver veins, giving life to this urban wonder.

"Welcome to Neo-Arcavia," Vaul's gravelly voice sliced through the silence. "On paper? It's a pacifist utopia with zero territorial ambitions."

He clenched his mechanical hand into a fist, eyes narrowing. "But in reality? It poses the greatest threat to Varenya's future."

Dravik leaned closer, his cybernetic eye whirring as it zoomed in on the display. "They've managed to stay neutral in every conflict for decades,even during our civil war."

Arthur steepled his fingers beneath his chin thoughtfully. "Neutrality is just a facade in geopolitics,it's all about calculated patience."

With a flick of his wrist, the hologram morphed into a pulsating web of financial connections, alive with activity. Vaul tapped on a crimson node that illuminated ominously.

"The Neo-Arcavian Financial Conglomerate controls 10% of all war loans across Noctis," he revealed. "Last year alone, they funded both sides of the Kharzin conflict to the tune of 40 billion Unicreds."

Lines branched out from that node like spider webs connecting weapons manufacturers, shipping companies, and

reconstruction firms. "Every bullet fired and every hospital rebuilt? They cash in on it all."

Ethan let out an impressed whistle while twirling a dagger between his fingers. "So they're just war profiteers with good PR?"

"Worse," Vaul growled as classified documents stamped with Neo-Arcavian seals appeared on screen. "Their so-called 'humanitarian aid' ships have been smuggling arms to rebel groups in three neighboring nations.

Just last week we intercepted one carrying Mark III plasma rifles, identical to those 'stolen' from our Sylvaris shipment."

A chill swept through the room; Gunnar's scarred face darkened with realization. "They're arming our enemies."

"Not just arming them," Vaul corrected sharply. The display shifted to security footage showing soldiers in unmarked uniforms training rebels in urban combat tactics. "Their 'cultural exchange programs' are nothing more than military training camps disguised as community outreach initiatives.

We estimate they've deployed at least twelve thousand proxy fighters across six conflict zones."

The hologram zoomed in on Neo-Arcavia's border regions where massive industrial complexes buzzed with activity like bees around their hive.

"Their manufacturing capabilities are unparalleled," Vaul continued grimly. "They could supply enough arms for a mid-sized war within two weeks."

Dravik's fists clenched tightly, his frustration palpable. "Why haven't we seen their armies yet?"

Arthur replied quietly, a hint of urgency in his voice. "Because they don't need them. Why waste soldiers when you can have others fight for you?"

Vaul nodded thoughtfully, pulling up casualty reports from recent conflicts. "Every time a rebel group makes headway, Neo-Arcavian construction firms swoop in to 'rebuild',and with those contracts come decades of control over vital infrastructure."

Petrovna, Dravik's economic advisor, turned pale as the implications sank in. "So they're conquering nations through debt and reconstruction? That's insidious!"

Suddenly, a new image flickered to life on the screen,blueprints for something ominously titled

"Project White Lily." Vaul lowered his voice to a whisper, as if sharing a dark secret. "This is their masterpiece: a network of so-called 'cultural centers' being erected in every major city across the continent."

The schematics revealed underground levels that dwarfed the surface structures. "Each one is essentially a forward operating base disguised as an art gallery or university."

Ethan's dagger froze mid-spin as he processed the revelation. "They're planting flags in every capital without firing a single shot! How clever..."

The tension thickened like fog in the room as Vaul displayed intercepted communications. "Their foreign minister calls it 'the velvet annexation.' In just ten to fifteen years, they plan to control every government on Noctis through economic leverage and cultural infiltration."

Arthur finally stood tall, his shadow looming over the war table like an impending storm. "Then we'll have to accelerate their timeline."

As discussions intensified late into the night, plans were sketched out in blood-red holograms, a chilling reminder of what was at stake.

The holographic display of Neo-Arcavia's financial empire flickered, casting ghostly blue light across the war room. The air hummed with tension, thick enough to choke on.

Dravik eyes twitched as he turned to Arthur, his voice uncharacteristically strained.

"So how do we stop them?"

The question hung in the air like a blade suspended mid-fall.

Arthur didn't answer immediately. Instead, he nodded to Vaul.

The general's cybernetic arm whirred as he activated a new set of holograms, three distinct strategies, each pulsing with lethal potential.

A web of glowing financial nodes erupted across the display,banks, shell corporations, and trade routes bleeding crimson data streams.

"Neo-Arcavia's power comes from its economy," Vaul rumbled,"So we strangle it."

Step 1: The Debt Trap : "They own almost one tenth of the continent's debt? Good." Vaul's grin was all teeth," Then we buy the rest."

The display showed Osborn shell companies already positioned to purchase Kharzin and Sylvaris' outstanding loans.

"Then we call them due,all at once."

Step 2: Currency Warfare : A cascade of numbers flashed,exchange rates destabilizing in real-time.

"Flood their markets with counterfeit Unicreds,"Vaul said. "Not enough to be obvious,just enough to trigger inflation fears."