Building A Business Empire From Scratch In Another World-Chapter 202: Ripples In The Capital

The next morning after the battle, Astheria did not awaken to tranquility. Instead, it stirred beneath the pale glow of dawn, its streets alive with discussions tension.

The remnants of last night's chaos marred the district,walls crumbled, smoke hung thick in the air, and five buildings lay reduced to mere rubble, their skeletal remains jutting skyward.

Soldiers had already cordoned off the area with iron pikes and bright red banners, creating a stark barrier between chaos and order.

Crowds of commoners huddled together,four here, ten there,straining on their toes to catch a glimpse beyond the guards.

Their voices swirled through the streets like restless winds.

"Did you hear it last night? It shook my windows!"

"They say it was Mana Cultivators that were fighting …"

"Yeah..i think...it was mercenaries or Assassins! I saw them leap rooftops with incredible speed."

"Whole families displaced. Five houses gone! Gods preserve us,what kind of monsters fight like that in our capital?"

Their words were laced with fear, but excitement crackled beneath the surface.

Rumors spread faster than wildfire.

Meanwhile, the higher up in the society's echelons, nobles were already mobilizing. Carriages adorned with proud sigils rolled through Astheria's affluent districts while messengers darted between manor gates like frantic shadows.

By mid-morning, rumours of the "Midnight Battle at Morningstar Headquarters" had infiltrated silk-draped drawing rooms and council halls.

Many people were curious with many questions.

Who were these black-cloaked intruders? What did they want? And more importantly, what kind of enemy dared provoke the rising Morningstar so brazenly?

---

Morningstar Estate – Private Conference Room.

Inside the sprawling Morningstar Estate, order reigned supreme. The chaos outside felt worlds away as servants moved briskly along polished marble corridors in crisp white and gold uniforms.

Sunlight poured through high arched windows, illuminating grand halls where gilded columns stood as symbols of wealth and stability.

--------

Inside a huge a private conference room,an important meeting was being held.

Felix sat at the head of the obsidian table, looking as immaculate as ever in his crisp white suit.

His calm eyes scanned the room, taking in each member as they settled into their seats.

Zephyr stood nearby, his hood drawn back, an unreadable expression on his face.

Jarvis leaned casually against the far wall, arms folded, his expression as calm as ever.

Nixie plopped herself into a chair, her pink hair bouncing with enthusiasm as she arranged papers and quills before her.

Trinity crossed her arms tightly, impatience radiating from her posture, the white was still tied around her eyes.

While Brixton slouched forward with a deep frown etched across his massive frame.

Gwendolyn sat quietly at the edge of the table, her deadpan composure betraying nothing as she folded her hands neatly.

The flickering torches hummed softly around them, casting sharp shadows that danced across their faces.

Zephyr broke the silence first, his voice echoed in the room. "The attackers belong to an organization known as the Black Thorn."

Confusion rippled through the group like a sudden chill.

Trinity raised an eyebrow and shot back bluntly, "Black Thorn? Never heard of them. Who are they?"

Zephyr inclined his head slightly. "Not much is known about them. They operate from the shadows,highly disciplined and highly trained. What I do know is this: they are no ordinary mercenaries; their coordination suggests noble backing."

Brixton's fist clenched against the table with a thud that echoed through the chamber. "So you're saying one of Astheria's houses is pulling their strings?"

Zephyr nodded firmly. "That would be my assessment."

Nixie leaned forward eagerly, eyes wide with realization. "What if they're after our blueprints? Everyone's been clamoring for shares in our bicycles,we turned them all down! The bicycle market is booming; every street in Astheria has them now! What if some greedy noble thought 'Hey why don't we steal it instead '?"

Gwendolyn looked at everyone, her voice flat yet piercing, "She may be right. These noble houses are monsters in human skin; greed runs thicker than blood for them. The bicycles alone could tempt any house into risking open conflict."

Jarvis finally broke his silence with calm authority. "Blueprints, workers, influence,it matters little if we don't protect ourselves first. Their attack proves one thing: they are willing to strike directly,this means safeguarding more than just the headquarters."

He paused for a moment before adding,"What i suggests is that the blacksmiths and runesmiths must be protected and their families too, anyone tied to all the industries because if they can't steal the work outright, they will coerce those who create it."

The gravity of Jarvis's words hung heavily over them, as all of them fell silent.

"Then we must upgrade our defenses," Zephyr declared, his eyes narrowing with determination. "We need round-the-clock watch at headquarters and discreet patrols stationed near every workshop and factory. Let them try again; next time, they'll be walking into a trap."

A hush fell over the table as each member absorbed the reality: the Black Thorn had marked them as targets.

The Black Thorn were no longer operating quietly in the shadows,the Morningstar

Family is

under siege, whether they chose to acknowledge it or not.

Finally breaking the silence, Felix spoke up, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"We will implement your suggestions," he stated firmly, scanning the faces around him. "Zephyr, deploy your men at headquarters, every entry point, every rooftop, every hidden path must be guarded. Nothing can slip through."

Zephyr nodded respectfully. "Consider it done."

"Jarvis," Felix continued with resolve, "keep a close watch on our craftsmen,runesmiths, blacksmiths, alchemists,their safety is crucial. And remember their families; if the Black Thorn can't strike us directly, they'll target their families as leverage."

Jarvis's lips curled into a faint smile as he responded with confidence. "They'll be safe under my watch. Anyone who dares to threaten them will regret it."

Felix turned his attention back to the group. "Everyone here needs to stay vigilant. If they're bold enough to attack our headquarters, they won't hesitate to hunt us down individually".

He paused for a moment before adding gravely," We're in the light while they lurk in shadows,that's our disadvantage right now. Until we grasp their full intentions, vigilance will be our greatest protection."

The room fell silent once more after his words settled in.

Nixie glanced at her notes and chewed thoughtfully on her quill before muttering wryly, "So basically… no one sleeps easy anymore?"

"Exactly," Felix affirmed as he rose from his seat.

With heads bowed slightly in acknowledgment of his orders, the council members dispersed back into their duties.

-------

Later that day, after meeting and everyone returned to their tasks, Felix found himself alone on top of a building close to the battle that happened last night.

Before him lay a sprawling district,a sea of rooftops weighed down by smoke and ruin.

From this vantage point, he could see wisps of haze rising from areas scarred by battle; even from afar, evidence of destruction was stark,collapsed homes and shattered streets marred by dark scorch marks left behind by Mana.

Felix stood on the rooftop, his white sleeve glimmering in the sunlight.

To anyone passing by, he might have seemed calm and collected, but a closer look at his eyes revealed a different story.

They were sharp and calculating, scanning the smoldering remnants of the city below, not with pity, but with intense contemplation.

The recent battle had been more than just chaos; it was a stark warning.

The Black Thorn had emerged from the shadows from nowhere.

His lips moved silently, barely audible over the gentle morning breeze.

"So it begins…"