Chapter 299: Akari Sato

Maison Premier was one of the most prominent and wealthy families in Capital City. After decades of establishing itself in the city, it had accumulated an extensive network of connections across business, politics, and other influential circles.

That was precisely why Luca hadn’t attempted to deal with the family alone.

After gathering a substantial amount of evidence against Maison Premier, he handed everything directly to Harvey Adams. Only a powerhouse like the Adams Family, with its connections to government agencies, had the influence necessary to ensure that Maison Premier received the punishment it deserved.

The news that Maison Premier had been forced to suspend operations and that its key members had been taken into custody for investigation spread like wildfire.

Within hours, the story dominated the headlines of major media outlets.

In fact, the public reaction was even greater than the attention surrounding Astral Technology Park’s disastrous press conference.

Most of the available footage, however, had been recorded by Maison Premier employees. The videos were shaky and blurry, making it difficult to establish exactly what had happened.

Before the authorities could release an official statement, speculation had already taken over the internet.

Many people simply refused to believe the reports.

Maison Premier had been firmly established in Capital City for decades. How could a family with such deep roots suddenly collapse overnight?

Then there was the footage of Vincent being escorted away by law enforcement officers.

In one particularly blurry clip, a shoeprint-like mark could be seen on the back of his white shirt.

That detail only made the footage more suspicious.

After all, who in Capital City would dare kick Vincent Denim like that?

And not just anyone, but a man who had spent years throwing his weight around the city’s upper circles?

Naturally, many people began questioning whether the footage had been edited or manipulated. Some even dismissed the entire story as an elaborate fabrication.

...

"Luca, do you think the people from Maison Premier will actually end up in prison?"

Trish glanced at Rachel, who was sitting comfortably beside Luca, leaning against his shoulder as she asked.

Luca shook his head slightly.

"Honestly, I don’t know."

The situation was still too uncertain to make any predictions. Until the authorities released an official statement, nobody could say for certain what would happen to Maison Premier.

Despite the considerable amount of evidence the Adams family had gathered, there were still influential figures willing to step in and protect the family.

It was only now that Luca was beginning to understand just how deeply established families could entrench themselves in a city.

Maison Premier had spent decades cultivating relationships across Capital City. Its influence reached into nearly every corner of the city, and bringing it down would inevitably affect far more people than just the family members themselves.

If the investigation proceeded, countless individuals could find themselves caught up in the scandal. Some of them might even occupy positions of considerable authority.

Luca suspected that was precisely why the authorities were being so cautious. No matter how convincing the evidence was, investigating a family with Maison Premier’s connections was never going to be a simple matter.

...

The following day.

The investigation into Maison Premier remained shrouded in uncertainty, with no definitive announcement from the authorities. However, another piece of news soon captured everyone’s attention.

Nexora Technologies was holding its long-awaited press conference. The event marked the official establishment of the Nexora Technologies Startup Park in Capital City.

The Windsor and Halloway families were among the first to announce their participation, but they weren’t alone. Several other technology companies in Capital City quickly followed suit, expressing their intention to establish operations within the park.

Even companies from New Orleans saw the opportunity and announced plans to open branches there.

The scale of the event was unprecedented, surpassing even the ceremony Vincent had organized when Astral Technology Park was established.

There was little mystery behind the sudden enthusiasm. Everyone knew that Nexora Technologies had attracted such overwhelming support because of one man: Luca Hale.

And then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.

With the cameras rolling and the event being streamed live across the internet, Daniel Fletcher stepped forward to unveil Nexora’s completed photolithography machine.

The atmosphere inside the venue immediately changed.

The audience erupted into excitement, while the online broadcast was flooded with comments.

The announcement had already attracted enormous attention, but seeing the machine presented before them took the excitement to another level.

Online, the reactions came pouring in.

@concernednetizen435: "Honestly, I was still skeptical until Dr. Fletcher made the announcement. But seeing the machine for myself? Nexora Technologies is incredible!"

@aliciarosemary: "That official media endorsement was well deserved. Nexora really has achieved something extraordinary."

@macmorris: "Now that I think about it, Vincent’s grand speech about Astral Technology Park is almost laughable."

@dictatormbappe221: "Speaking of which, where’s Luca? Why hasn’t he shown up?"

@saucysusan: "Exactly! I’m interested in the photolithography machine, but I’d much rather see that handsome president!"

@TripleT: "Someone please tell me where Mr. Hale is!"

...

What they didn’t know was that Luca, the very person everyone wanted to see, wasn’t anywhere near the press conference. Instead, he was enjoying a quiet meal in a private room at an upscale Japanese restaurant.

...

"Hale-san, what do you think of the surroundings?"

Akari gestured toward the courtyard, drawing Luca’s attention to the carefully arranged scenery at its centre.

A narrow stream meandered beneath an elegant wooden bridge, surrounded by carefully positioned rocks, lush greenery, and ornamental plants. The entire courtyard had been designed to resemble a traditional Japanese garden, creating a peaceful atmosphere that felt worlds away from the bustle outside.

Luca picked up his teacup and took a leisurely sip before looking around.

"Not bad. A little bridge over running water. It’s quite a pleasant place."

"Hahaha! If you like it, Hale-san, I’ll gladly give you the entire property."

Akari laughed, clearly pleased with his response. She then turned her attention to the woman kneeling beside Luca, a playful smile spreading across her face.

"Of course, you can have all the beautiful women here, too. Myself included, if you’d like."