Solivair knew this all too well. After all, he had grown up in a world devoid of warmth. Even his own mother had only ever treated him as a tool, constantly scheming against him. In some ways, he and Arthur were alike. At least, they had been—until she came into his life. It wasn’t until then that Solivair had experienced what it felt like to be genuinely cared for, to be loved without ulterior motives. For the first time, he had understood that life wasn’t just about calculation and betrayal. But his luck had run out too soon. She had left him. The only thing she had given him was a daughter—his one, precious daughter. And even that had been ripped away from him. No matter how much effort he put into protecting her, he had still lost her. But now, he had a lead. Arthur had already served his purpose. The only question left was whether he had handed over the evidence to Hugo or hidden it somewhere else. Until he was absolutely certain, Arthur had to stay alive. For now. But ruining his reputation? Destroying his company, stripping him of all influence, making sure Hugo lost faith in him? That was fair game. Once Arthur lost his support, once he had no one left to back him—Solivair would crush him like an ant. Because as long as he had weaknesses, as long as he had people he cared about, Solivair would always have a way to control him.By the time evening arrived, the banquet was in full swing. Arthur had made significant progress throughout the day, successfully networking with the people he had set his sights on. He had learned invaluable lessons from the industry’s top players, gaining insight that would take others years to accumulate. These gatherings were structured affairs—morning conferences, afternoon discussions, and by evening, the most crucial part: the banquet. Dinner wasn’t just about eating. It was where real connections were forged. Deals were made over wine. Alliances were built between courses. It was the most strategic part of the entire event. And somehow—whether by coincidence or design—Arthur found himself seated at the same table as Solivair. This was not how seating usually worked. Banquets followed an unspoken hierarchy: high-ranking figures sat with their peers, and younger attendees were grouped together to foster relationships among the next generation. Tonight, however, the usual rules had been discarded. Arthur, a young entrepreneur, had been seated among some of the city’s most powerful veterans. Including Solivair. Anyone with half a brain could tell something was off. Across the room, Hugo and Ryder took notice immediately. As experienced as they were, they had attended countless events like this. They had never seen seating arranged this way. Something was wrong. Both men quickly scanned the banquet hall, searching for Arthur. And then, they saw him.Right at the center of it all—seated directly across from Solivair. Hugo’s expression darkened. Ryder’s eyes narrowed. Solivair had clearly engineered this. Arthur’s table had initially been filled with younger business figures—people on his level, people who had been interacting with him normally. But now? Ever since Solivair sat down, everything had shifted. The entire atmosphere had changed. The people at the table who had been speaking freely with Arthur earlier? Suddenly, their attitudes had cooled. Arthur had helped ensure they weren’t kicked out of the banquet. Yet now, with Solivair in their midst, their priorities had changed. Loyalty meant nothing compared to opportunity. And Solivair? Solivair was an opportunity. He was the head of the Tremo family. One of the wealthiest, most powerful figures in Evergrand City. Sitting at the same table as him was an honor. Speaking to him was a privilege. If they played their cards right, if they could get on his good side, it could mean everything for their careers. Their families. Their futures. So what if Solivair had tried to have them thrown out earlier?So what if they owed Arthur? Compared to the Tremo family’s influence, Arthur was nothing. Arthur felt the shift immediately. When he had first sat down, the conversation had been open, friendly, relaxed. Now, there was a noticeable distance. Solivair hadn’t even done anything yet. All he had done was sit down, and already, people were falling over themselves to align with him. Arthur clenched his jaw. He knew exactly what this was. And he wasn’t going to let it play out the way Solivair wanted.