Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

"They get to keep their little luxury empire," Parker said, voice carrying dark amusement. "At least until after we crash their granddaughter's wedding. I want them to think they still have power when we show up. Makes the psychological impact so much sweeter."

The room fell quiet except for the continued typing and the soft hum of money being moved around like digital water.

"But let's be crystal fucking clear about something," Parker said, his voice dropping to that tone that made smart people pay attention. "This is a hostile takeover. Period. I don't give a shit about their feelings, their family legacies, or their precious little power structures."

He stood up, pacing to the windows that overlooked his empire. "They should be thanking whatever gods they pray to that I'm even bothering to let them continue existing in their new roles. They get to work for me, follow my rules, and be grateful for the privilege."

Zhang Ruoyun, still maintaining her perfect composure from her position near the wall, spoke up in that deceptively calm voice. "The transition will be more efficient if they believe they're being absorbed rather than destroyed."

"Exactly," Parker nodded. "But the Ashfords?" His smile turned absolutely predatory. "Gods help them, because I'm not going to."

Seoryeon finally looked up from her laptop. "The Ashford media empire has been spreading misinformation about supernatural events for decades. Their narrative control has been... problematic."

"Which is why they're going to learn what happens when you try to control stories about people who can rewrite reality," Parker said. "The Kingswells will dismantle their entire information infrastructure and rebuild it properly. No more lies, no more manipulation—just truth, filtered through beings who actually understand the cosmic landscape."

Callista's grin widened. "I can have their entire entertainment division producing accurate supernatural content within a month. Imagine—movies and shows that actually prepare humanity for what's coming instead of filling their heads with bullshit." she was already fitting into the role.

Quite impressive.

"Perfect," Parker said. "Helena, how long until all the paperwork is finalized? "The legal frameworks are already in place," Helena replied efficiently. "We just need your word to flip the switch and make it all public."

Parker looked around the room—at his people casually restructuring global power while the news played footage of Manhattan being rebuilt and Korean anchors tried to explain the Dark Winter. His corporate representatives were already adapting to working with supernatural entities like it was just another Tuesday merger.

This was what power looked like. Not gods throwing tantrums in golden halls, but competent people systematically dismantling and rebuilding the world's infrastructure while drinking coffee and optimizing spreadsheets.

"Not yet," Parker decided. "Tomorrow, we're going to a wedding. Let the Five Families have one last night thinking they run the world."

His smile carried the promise of kingdoms falling and empires rising.

"By the time we're done, they'll understand that there's only one power that matters on this planet."

And that power was sitting in a palace, surrounded by people who could reshape reality, making plans over laptops and lattes.

"Alright," he said, clapping his hands together. "Let's go crash a wedding."

The comfortable atmosphere in the room shifted the moment Atalanta stepped forward. She'd been quiet since Parker's return, but now her expression carried the weight of bad news that couldn't wait.

"Parker," she said, her voice cutting through the casual corporate planning like a blade. "We have a problem."

Everyone looked up from their screens and conversations. Nyxavere, who'd been sprawled across a sofa scrolling through TikTok comments about her latest livestream, suddenly went still.

"What kind of problem?" Parker asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected it was the kind that involved people being stupid enough to try fighting him.

Atalanta's jaw tightened. "The champions are mobilizing. They're planning an attack."

The room went dead silent except for the soft hum of electronics and distant news broadcasts.

"How many?" Zhang Ruoyun asked, her composed mask not slipping but her voice carrying a dangerous undertone.

"Most of them," Atalanta replied grimly. "Perseus is leading the charge, along with Icarus, Gilgamesh, Sun Wukong, Achilles, Jason—basically everyone who bought into Hermes's bullshit about you being some kind of tyrant."

Parker's expression didn't change, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. "And the ones with actual brains?"

"Cassandra tried to warn them," Atalanta said with bitter satisfaction. "Showed them footage from your livestream, explained what really happened in Manhattan. But they're too proud to listen. Hector, Cleopatra, and Isis refused to participate, but the rest?" She shrugged. "They're convinced they're on some righteous crusade."

"Fucking idiots," Annabelle muttered from her corner. "Do they have any idea what they're walking into?"

"That's the beautiful part," Atalanta said, and for the first time since Parker's warning in Manhattan, she smiled. "They don't. They still think you're just some enhanced mortal with delusions of grandeur."

Nyxavere looked up from her phone, confusion flickering across her omniscient features. "Wait, I'm not seeing any of this. How are they planning something I can't detect?"

Parker's eyes sharpened slightly, but he kept his voice casual. The unspoken rule hung in the air—everyone in the room who knew about the champions also knew never to mention that name around Nyxavere. It was one of those things that didn't need explanation; you just didn't do it.

"Probably divine interference," Parker said smoothly. "The gods have ways of blocking even omniscience when they want to hide their stupidity."

Around the room, subtle glances were exchanged. Zhang Ruoyun's expression remained perfectly neutral, but her fingers tapped once against her thigh—a tiny acknowledgment of the careful dance they were all performing. Maya shifted slightly in her seat, while Atalanta's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"But I should still be able to—" Nyxavere started, then frowned, her omniscient awareness clearly hitting some kind of wall.

"It's probably Ice magic," Maya whispered quickly, shooting a glance at Parker. "You know how that... particular type of divine energy can create blind spots in perception."

"Poor kid has no idea her own aunt is unconsciously cockblocking her omniscience," Parker thought with dark amusement. "And the ironic part? Neither does she. Chione's sitting there thinking she's just some winter goddess with ice powers, completely unaware that her true ability is making herself invisible to cosmic sight. Probably developed it as a defense mechanism and never realized what she was actually doing."

The forbidden name sat heavy in the room's silence, unspoken but understood by everyone except the one person it most affected.

Parker caught the careful way she avoided saying the name, and nodded approvingly. "Right. Ice magic has always been tricky that way. Creates these frozen zones in fate and foresight."

Fucking fascinating, really. Here's Nyxavere, who can see across infinite timelines and dimensions, and she's got a natural blind spot shaped exactly like her aunt. And the aunt doesn't even know she's doing it. Makes you wonder what other powers people have that they're completely fucking clueless about.

Nyxavere's frown deepened, but she didn't press the issue. "Weird. I hate not being able to see everything."

"You'll adapt," Parker said, then turned back to Atalanta. "Timeline?"

"Soon," she replied. "They're gathering weapons, calling in favors, probably planning some grand coordinated assault. Perseus thinks he's assembling the greatest hero army in history."

Maya looked up from where she'd been quietly listening. "Should we be worried?"

Parker's laugh was genuinely amused. "Worried? About a bunch of mythological has-beens who think they can take on someone who can actually casually dismiss them?" He shook his head. "The only thing I'm worried about is how to deal with the mess when they're done being stupid."

"They're bringing divine weapons," Atalanta warned. "Blessed armor, artifacts from the gods themselves."

"Oh no," Parker said with mock concern, "blessed weapons. However will I cope." His tone turned serious. "Atalanta, I appreciate the heads up, but these people just interrupted my wedding-crashing plans with their wannabe hero nonsense."

Elena's composed expression carried a hint of something that might have been anticipation. "Shall I prepare defensive measures?"

"Defensive?" Parker raised an eyebrow. "We're not defending anything. When they show up, we're going to demonstrate why fucking with the Prince of Existence is a bad career move."

Seoryeon didn't look up from her laptop. "Should I adjust our timeline for the Five Families acquisition?"

"Nah," Parker waved dismissively. "A bunch of angry champions getting their asses kicked sounds like perfect entertainment for a wedding reception—if they show up on time. Might as well give Tessa something memorable for her special day."

Atalanta blinked. "You're... not concerned at all?"

Parker's smile was sharp as broken glass. "Atalanta, these people saw what I did to Ma'at and Hercules and thought, 'yeah, we can take him.' At this point, it's not a threat—it's pest control."

Nyxavere giggled, her confusion about the blind spots apparently forgotten. "This is going to be so good for content. My viewers are going to lose their minds."

"Just remember," Parker said, his voice carrying that casual authority that made reality pay attention, "when they show up with their shiny weapons and righteous speeches, they chose this. I gave them every opportunity to be reasonable."

Zhang Ruoyun's wings flickered slightly, visible for just a moment before settling back into invisibility. "Balance will be maintained."

"Damn right it will," Parker agreed. "Helena, make sure our wedding attires are ready. I want to look good when I'm educating some champions about the new cosmic order."

Helena nodded efficiently. "Of course, Your Highness."

As the conversation moved on to logistics and planning, Atalanta found herself genuinely smiling for the first time in weeks. She'd made the right choice abandoning Olympus for this chaotic, powerful family.

After all, why follow gods who played games when you could serve someone who simply won them?