"Just go right ahead. Worst case? I'll just start over. Money comes and goes. As long as I'm alive, I'll never run out of chances to make more," Damian added. Then, his tone shifted, sharp and cold. His eyes cut across them, precise and unyielding, like a blade. "But what about you? Are you really confident that the female named Dahlia Lane will play the obedient little puppet you've imagined? Don't be surprised if you end up inviting trouble in and shooting yourselves in the foot. That would be a real joke." His words struck a nerve. "Damian, do you really think your threats still hold weight?" Another executive, who had clearly disliked him for a long time, slammed his palm onto the table. "You're overestimating yourself." His fury twisted into a smug, cruel smile. "Let me give you a little inside information. Even without you, Dahlia still has a suitable mate to choose from. We have another young fox male. He's more than willing to replace you and take over NexusPrime Tech. When that happens, the company will remain firmly under our control, and you're out for good." Damian shrugged indifferently. "Then do it now. I'm honestly tired of catering to you people." Without another glance, he rose and walked out. Pathetic. They think they can threaten me? His assistant, who had been waiting outside, immediately hurried over when he saw Damian step out of the conference room. He leaned close, speaking in a low voice. "Mr. Voss, I just got a message. Marshal Calum is willing to help—but he wants forty percent of NexusPrime Tech's annual profits. In return, he promises complete freedom." Damian froze and looked at him. "Calum Jenkins?" The assistant nodded. "Yes. I checked. He's not hiding who he is. He's from the Aurelia clan and serves His Highness. This has to be his idea."His eyes lit up with excitement. "Mr. Voss, His Highness and Marshal Calum are Emma Tibarn's mates. Could this be her plan? Maybe she knew how desperate your situation was and asked them to intervene." Damian shook his head. "No. If it had been her idea, His Highness wouldn't have claimed forty percent of NexusPrime Tech's profits." A small, amused smile crossed his face. "But cutting Calum and Lucien a deal is still better than handing it over to those idiots." He didn't hesitate. Accepting help from Lucien was at least a step closer to her. Smiling faintly, Damian returned to his office, pulled out Calum's lightcore number, and initiated a video call. At that hour, Calum was already asleep. The incoming call jolted him awake. He frowned at the unfamiliar number. After a moment's hesitation, he answered. The moment the lightcore connected…Calum saw Damian's projection and felt a flicker of confusion. What could he possibly want? I don't even know him. Why call me in the middle of the night? Calum's face betrayed nothing, though his mind raced. Damian spoke first. "Marshal Calum, it's an honor to meet you." Looking at the cold, imposing man on the lightcore's display, Damian didn't waste time. "I assume His Highness has already mentioned this to you. My people received his proposal." Calum's dark eyes narrowed slightly. He neither confirmed nor denied—he simply waited. What did Lucien get me into now? Why is this man calling me directly? Damian leaned forward, measuring each word as he spoke. "Based on your proposal, I'm willing to add another twenty percent. Sixty percent of NexusPrime Tech's annual profits will go to you, Marshal Calum."NexusPrime Tech was the Empire's entire financial engine. He had actually extended an offer to Calum before, but he had never agreed to anything. What did Lucien promise him to loosen his purse strings this way? Calum raised an eyebrow. A faint smile curved his lips. "Since you're being so generous, I suppose I have no reason to refuse. Tell me—what do you want in return for raising your offer?" With a smile, Damian replied, "What I need is nothing difficult for you. I just want you to keep your promise and help me wipe out every claw the Empire's executives and the Fox Clan Elders have in my affairs—fast and completely. I want them to lose both the nerve and the power to ever interfere with me again. In return, you take your profits, but you make no demands of me. I want absolute freedom for myself and NexusPrime Tech." For years, Damian had been manipulated by the Empire and the Elders. He had many plans, yet he had never summoned the courage to follow through on any of them.It had crippled NexusPrime Tech's growth. On the battlefield, Calum was unmatched. In business, though, he wasn't cut out for it. He might not care about NexusPrime Tech itself—but Damian's money? That definitely caught his interest.