My Ultimate OP System: Summoning All Dragons, Gods, Heroes & Villains-Chapter 40: You’re Fired!

Ethan made his way back to class, and right as he entered through the door, the arcane symbols glowing in his irises faded away.

He had just used the Eyes of the Sage to memorize Isabella’s contact information perfectly.

He walked toward his seat, and just as he sat down, a staff member from security walked into the classroom. The man approached Anna, the class rep, and handed her a folded note.

Anna stood up, unfolded the paper, and read it aloud. "Stark, you have a ride waiting for you outside."

"Right on time," Ethan muttered to himself.

He turned toward Percival, who had a puzzled expression on his face.

"You’re really just gonna leave me here to suffer through the rest of the day alone?" Percival said.

Ethan scoffed as he stood up again. He reached out and fist-bumped Percival. "See you around, man."

Percival shook his head but grinned. "Yeah."

Ethan smirked and walked out of the classroom.

He eventually made his way outside and got into the vintage vehicle. The moment the door closed, the car turned and drove off almost immediately.

——

{Stark Industries}

Within a large board meeting room, Victor Keating who was sitting at the head of the long table, tapped his fingers repeatedly on it. His other hand held a pocket stopwatch, which he kept glancing at with increasing irritation.

He let out another groan, leaning back in his chair. Victor hated waiting for someone who was running late.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Eduardo had just walked into the premises of Stark Industries while Valerie remained in the car parked outside, as instructed.

At Ethan’s request, they began their tour right at the main working area.

The moment they stepped through the massive doors, the sheer scale of the place hit Ethan.

The production floor was enormous with an extremely high ceiling, and everywhere Ethan looked, there was movement, Machinery and People.

Massive brass and steel engines with actively steering gears dominated the floor. There was steam evaporating from pressure valves, and the clanging of metal on metal echoed throughout the space.

There were workers in vests and rolled-up sleeves operated the machinery, with most of their faces smudged with soot and sweat.

On one side of the floor, teams were constructing components for airship engines. Large turbine blades were being assembled on heavy tables, while nearby, metal panels for airship hulls were being fitted together meticulously.

It was beautiful in an industrial way. The constant hum of engines and the shouts of foremen directing workers.

As Ethan and Eduardo walked through, some of the workers glanced up.

A few of them recognized Eduardo immediately. They stopped temporarily to either raise their hands or bow slightly.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Eduardo," one of the older workers said respectfully.

Eduardo nodded in acknowledgment. "Afternoon."

But when their eyes shifted to Ethan, they had no recognition of who he was, and so did not address or regard him.

Ethan let out a sigh at some point, and even though his expression looked neutral, there was some level of discontent in his eyes.

"No one recognizes me," Ethan muttered as they continued walking.

Eduardo glanced at him, with sympathy on his face. "It’s understandable, Master Ethan. I don’t think you were up to five when your father brought you here."

There was a pause before Eduardo added, "Would you like me to announce your presence to them all?"

Ethan shook his head. "No. That would make me come off as a brat who wants petty acknowledgment."

He looked around the floor again, taking it all in.

"They’ll come to know and respect me eventually."

Eduardo nodded, and just before they could continue further, a man in his late thirties, dressed in a working man’s apron stained with grease and soot, approached Eduardo.

"Mr. Eduardo," the man began. "I didn’t know you’d stepped in today. But it’s a good thing you came cause’s there something I need to report."

Eduardo nodded. "Henrik. What’s the matter?"

Henrik glanced around briefly, then continued, "It’s about our pay. It’s been almost three months since any of us have been paid."

Ethan’s eyes widened.

Eduardo looked genuinely surprised as well. "I’m only just hearing about this now."

Ethan stepped forward slightly. "Are there reasons you’ve been given to this?"

Henrik shook his head. "Each time we ask, we’re told the company isn’t making sales. But we’re currently on the construction of the ninth QJ30 airship. How does that make sense?"

Ethan and Eduardo glanced at each other in shock. Eduardo then spoke. "I go through the account sheets regularly. There are records of sales and payments to employees. This doesn’t add up."

Henrik’s gaze widened, prompting him to quickly turn toward a middle-aged man working nearby and called out, "Oswin! Come here for a moment."

The man, Oswin, walked over, wiping his hands on a rag. He looked both tired and worried.

Henrik gestured toward him. "Tell them. When was the last time you got paid?"

Oswin sighed heavily. "It’s been a long time now. Months. I’ve got nothing to go home with to provide for my daughters."

His voice cracked a bit. "The only reason I’ve kept working is because I know the late Mr. Nathan was a just man and cause of that, I keep hoping things would change soon."

Ethan clicked his tongue. "Tch."

He then turned to Oswin with a serious expression on his face. "I will see to this immediately. You and everyone else should expect your arrear pay within the next day, and with bonuses."

Both Henrik and Oswin’s faces lit up with relief and gratitude.

"Thank you, sir," Henrik said, bowing his head. "Thank you so much."

Oswin’s eyes looked like they became teary as he spoke. "Bless you, sir. Truly."

Ethan shook his head. "No need to thank me. This should never have happened in the first place." He paused, then added, "Thank you both for continuously choosing to work here."

Henrik then asked respectfully, "Forgive me, sir, but who are you? I’ve never seen you before."

Eduardo quickly replied in Ethan’s stead. "This is Master Ethan Stark. Son of Master Nathan."

Both Henrik and Oswin’s eyes widened in surprise. They immediately bowed more deeply.

"Mister Stark," Henrik said. "We had no idea."

Ethan raised a hand. "You both need not worry. This will all be fixed."

With that, Ethan and Eduardo turned and left toward the main office wing.

——

They approached the office area, crossing through the path where the secretary’s desk was placed at.

And there she was.

Augustina, the secretary, whose legs propped up on the desk, with a lit cigar dangling from her lips.

She was leaning back in her chair, scrolling through her Arcphone and laughing at something on the screen.

The moment she saw them approaching, her eyes went wide.

"Oh shit," she muttered, scrambling to sit up properly, but in her panic, she leaned too far forward.

The chair tipped, and she went tumbling over backward with a loud crash.

Eduardo shook his head in disappointment, and Ethan didn’t even spare her a glance. He just kept walking past her toward the CEO’s office.

Behind them, Augustina was frantically trying to fix herself. She’d managed to put out the cigar by smashing it into the ashtray, but now she was fumbling to straighten her coat and smooth down her hair.

Her face was flushed, and she looked absolutely scared.

They reached the CEO’s office and pushed the door open, but it was empty.

Ethan and Eduardo both turned back toward Augustina, who was now standing at her desk, still looking distraught with a shabby hair.

Eduardo then asked. "Where is Mr. Keating?"

Augustina pointed shakily toward the boardroom door down the hall.

Eduardo nodded and began walking in that direction.

But Ethan walked closer to her desk instead. He stopped right in front of her and looked her directly in the eyes.

"My name is Ethan Alexander Stark, and you’re fired."

Augustina’s worst fear had just come to pass . Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Eduardo allowed himself a small smile as he and Ethan proceeded toward the boardroom.

Behind them, Augustina sank back into her chair, devastated. She stared at nothing for a moment, then suddenly swept her arm across the desk in frustration, scattering papers everywhere.

"No, no, no, no..." she muttered to herself.