Chapter 6 - DOMINO EFFECTThe sight of the old shipping tycoon breaking rank was the catalyst for a full-scale psychological collapse among the trapped elite. Fear is a contagious disease, and in the suffocating atmosphere of the sealed ballroom, it spread like wildfire.
"I'll sign!" shouted a pharmaceutical CEO, lunging forward and practically shoving past the legal counsel. "Take my patent portfolio! Take my offshore accounts! Just turn off those damn lasers!"
"Mine too! Take my real estate holdings in the financial district!" screamed a real estate magnate, sprinting toward the podium like a drowning man grabbing a floating log.
Within minutes, the elegant charity gala had transformed into a chaotic stampede of desperate billionaires tripping over themselves to surrender their ill-gotten fortunes. The gold-plated fountain pen scratched furiously across paper after paper as multi-billion-dollar empires crumbled under the weight of their own corruption, transferred piece by piece into the encrypted digital vaults of the newly resurrected Vance Foundation.
Nicolás stood paralyzed near the reinforced steel door, watching his family's century-old dominance dissolve before his eyes. The powerful network of politicians, judges, and corporate titans who had once bowed to his every whim were now selling him out for a fraction of a chance at survival.
"Traitors!" Nicolás screamed, his voice cracking with hysterical rage as he lunged toward the pharmaceutical CEO who had just signed away his shares. "My father made you all! Without us, you’re nothing!"
Before Nicolás could lay a hand on him, a heavy metallic thud echoed from above.
WHIRR-CLACK.
A localized kinetic restraining cable shot down from the ceiling ceiling grid like a striking viper, wrapping tightly around Nicolás’s torso and pinning his arms firmly to his sides. He hit the marble floor hard, grounting as the high-tensile carbon fiber tether locked him in place, rendering him completely immobile.
Valeria walked slowly over to where Nicolás lay thrashing on the floor like a hooked fish. She stood over him, looking down with an expression of supreme, icy detachment.
"Look at them, Nicolás," Valeria whispered, gesturing with her chin toward the crowd of trembling elites who were now desperately trying to distance themselves from him. "Your entire kingdom was built on sand. The moment the tide came in, your loyal subjects couldn't wait to drown you to save themselves."
Nicolás glared up at her, blood vessels bursting in his eyes from pure, unadulterated hatred. "You think you've won? My father's private security force is stationed outside this perimeter right now! As soon as they realize what's happening, they'll blast these doors open and execute every single person in this room—starting with you!"
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Valeria let out a soft, melodic laugh. She crouched down, bringing her face inches from his.
"Your father's security force?" Valeria tilted her head, a cruel smile touching the corners of her lips. "Nicolás... did you really think we only locked you in?"
