The air of authority surrounding Arthur, the sharp wisdom in his eyes when he fell into thought—he was no different from a seasoned business tycoon. After a brief hesitation, Stanley decided to ask what was truly on his mind. “You really trust me to manage the company? You’re not afraid I might have my own agenda?” He didn’t want to beat around the bush—doing so would be disrespectful to Arthur. Arthur appreciated his straightforwardness. It was much easier to deal with people like him. Arthur looked directly at him and said, “I trust your character.” “But we’ve only known each other for less than an hour,” Stanley said in shock. An hour ago, he had been preparing to sign the transfer contract with someone else. He never could have imagined that in just sixty minutes, his entire situation would be turned upside down. Arthur smiled, unconcerned. “Mr. Young, I trust my own judgment.” Stanley stared at Arthur in astonishment. He trusts his judgment? But he’s just a high school student! That kind of unwavering confidence was not something a normal teenager possessed. Arthur stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the cityscape. Though this company was located in a more remote area, the view from here overlooked all of South City. The sunlight outside was dazzling, casting a golden glow over Arthur’s figure, making him seem almost untouchable. “Acquiring this company is just the beginning. Before long, I will see it rapidly expand. And soon, I will acquire more companies.” Arthur’s gaze was deep as he looked out over the city—the city where he had lived for over twenty years, the city he both loved and hated. He wasn’t sure if he was speaking to Stanley or to himself when he said, “South City is just the beginning.” Stanley was shaken as he looked at the young man standing before him. Arthur stood by the window, his back straight, his presence unwavering. Even though Stanley couldn’t see his expression, he didn’t need to. His posture alone exuded an undeniable dominance—steady, powerful, completely in control. In that moment, Arthur didn’t seem like a high schooler at all. He looked like a leader surveying his empire, someone who could change the world with a single decision. A teenager, not even an adult yet, had just declared that he would take a small, failing company and turn it into something massive. He had just said he would acquire other companies. He had just said that South City was only the beginning. If anyone else had spoken such words, Stanley would have scoffed and dismissed them as delusional. But coming from Arthur, they didn’t seem absurd at all. It was as if this was simply how things were meant to be. Stanley suddenly stood up and walked behind Arthur. Then, without hesitation, he bowed deeply. “I, Stanley Young, swear my absolute loyalty to you.” His voice was steady, his tone resolute, carrying the full weight of his decision. In modern times, the idea of pledging loyalty to another person was nearly unheard of. Yet at this moment, Stanley meant every word. Even though Arthur was just a teenager. Even though they had known each other for less than an hour. Arthur slowly turned around, his smile widening. “Mr. Young, you won’t regret today’s decision.” After leaving the office, Arthur glanced down at his school uniform. He should buy some new clothes. He didn’t want to keep wearing the faded, hand-washed ones he had been using for years. And constantly walking around in a school uniform wasn’t ideal either. The shopping district wasn’t too far away. Arthur scanned a rental bike and pedaled leisurely toward the main street.With a major task finally settled, the tension he had been carrying for days began to ease. Only now did he notice how beautiful this area really was. The path was lined with lush green trees, casting long, cooling shadows in the golden afternoon light. The air was fresh and crisp. Arthur took a deep breath, feeling a rare sense of relaxation. It had been a few days since Julie last contacted him. He had no idea what was going on with the Gray family. They probably hated him more than ever now. Which worked out perfectly—it would make it easier for him to cut ties. With Stanley handling the company, Arthur had no worries there. He was still a student. He had classes to attend, and there were many things he wouldn’t be able to handle himself. He needed a reliable assistant—someone to manage things on the surface while he pulled the strings from behind. His age was also a disadvantage. There would be unnecessary obstacles, just like what had happened at the company earlier—so much time wasted just trying to be taken seriously. Tomorrow, he would have to take a day off from school to complete the company transfer paperwork. Once the process was finished, the company would officially belong to him. And then, it would be time to put his plans into motion. In his past life, he had seen how this company had risen to the top under different leadership. Many of their strategies were worth adopting. But this time, Arthur had his own ideas.