The Tycoon's Odyssey

Evan patiently listened to his father's advice and finally leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "I'm ready for that. They've built their empire on fear and oppression, and they think everyone will bow to their will. But I'm not like them. I didn't inherit ancestral wealth or rely on some alliances. I've built my empire from the ground up, one they can't tear apart so easily."

Roy looked at his son, a flicker of worry in his eyes. "But you underestimate how deeply entrenched they are. They'll take every step, use every resource to discredit you, to isolate you and then they will strike when you least expect it. In the end, you might find yourself standing all alone."

"Let them come," Evan replied, his voice low but unwavering. "If they want a fight, I'll give them one they'll never forget. I didn't build all of this just to be brought down by relics of the past. This isn't about survival; it's about evolution. They can cling to their outdated ways, but I'm looking more ahead."

The room fell silent, the weight of Evan's words hanging in the air. Roy's concern was palpable, but he knew there was no point in arguing further. He could see the fire in his son's eyes, his son was set on his path with unrelenting determination, and no kind of force could extinguish it.

With a resigned sigh, Roy nodded. "If that's your decision, Evan, then I stand by you. But be careful. They're desperate, and desperation breeds recklessness. They'll hit you where it hurts the most."

Evan's gaze softened slightly, a rare moment of vulnerability passing over his face. "I know, Dad. And I appreciate your support—more than you know."

Roy reached out, placing a hand on Evan's shoulder. "Then I'll stand with you, we will face this together, no matter what it takes."

A faint smile touched Evan's lips, and for a moment, the intensity softened. But as his gaze hardened once again, the fire in his eyes reignited. "Then let's get to work. They wanted a war, and I'll make sure they regret it."

_____

Inside the grand conference room, heavy silence hung in the air as key ministers and powerful figures exchanged tense glances.

At the head of the table, Prime Minister Rajesh Patel sat with his fingers steepled, his face a mask of deep thought. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice measured but carrying a clear edge of frustration.

"Evan remains firm on his decision," he stated flatly, his gaze sweeping across the room. "He refused to release his technology to us, no matter our demands."

A murmur rippled through the assembly. Advisors shifted uneasily in their seats, while heads of major families sat back, steeling themselves for the battle that lay ahead.

Rajesh continued, "So, the question is: what should be our next move?"

The question hung heavy in the air. One by one, suggestions began to flow, each laced with escalating levels of animosity.

"We could start by undermining his projects," one minister proposed. "Spread the word through the media. Let the public doubt his intentions and question his credibility. If we paint his technology as a threat, people will back away from him."

Another nodded, adding, "And there's the legal route. We can push for regulations that would force him to disclose his processes. Increased oversight could help us slow him down and complicate things until he has no choice but to share."

The suggestions continued, each one growing bolder.

"We should look into cutting off his contracts," an advisor interjected, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table. "If his suppliers and partners get wind of the government's disapproval, they'll pull out. He'd be isolated financially and his operations would come to a halt."

A senior official leaned forward, his face stern. "And if he doesn't yield even then? We should consider freezing his assets and halting his company's licenses. Without legal footing, he can't operate."

A voice broke through the crowd, calm and measured. It was Amit Sharma, one of the senior ministers, known for his calculated approach. He looked around as if weighing each person's reaction before speaking.

"Everyone," he began slowly, "we don't need to throw all our weight at him immediately. Evan's too strong to fall under direct pressure, at least for now."

The room quieted, all eyes on him, as they listened to his plan intently.

"Consider this," Amit continued, leaning back in his chair, his tone calculated. "The major families—the Rajputs, the Kotaks, Amdanis the Oberois—already see Evan as a threat. They're more than willing to act against him, to remove him from the picture entirely. All we need to do is set the stage, stir the waters, so to speak."

A ripple of murmured agreement moved through the room. The ministers exchanged approving glances, nodding at the strategic simplicity of Amit's proposal.

"So how do we 'stir the waters,' Amit?" Rajesh asked, a hint of interest evident in his eyes.

Amit's expression hardened, his voice steady and deliberate. "We will begin with his reputation. Ruin it. Leak unfavorable reports and orchestrate biased media coverage until the public's perception of him deteriorates. Portray him as a rogue businessman."

He paused, letting the idea sink in before he continued.

"Next, we target his companies," he said with a calculated edge. "Increase taxes on his businesses. Make it expensive for him to continue his operations. Impose heavy restrictions and apply complex tariffs on every product associated with his firms."

The room seemed to come alive with an undercurrent of energy. Heads were nodding all around in agreement as officials and family representatives grasped the idea.

"And we don't stop just there," Amit added, his voice growing sharper. "We should disrupt his supply chains. Block shipments, and delay imports. Make his materials hard to obtain, his deadlines impossible to meet and then make him look like a terrorist and then as a danger to the nation who needs to be cleansed."

A low murmur of approval echoed across the room. Rajesh leaned back, considering Amit's words carefully.

"So, we make it clear that he's the problem," Rajesh concluded, nodding slowly. "The people will turn on him. His business will crumble under the weight of economic pressures and chaos."

Another advisor, sensing an opportunity, chimed in, "And with all eyes on him, Evan will have no choice but to either fall in line or face total collapse. And the decision will be his."

The ministers exchanged looks of silent agreement. It was a plan that suited their interests well—a strategy of subtle destruction, one that would cripple Evan's power and influence without openly declaring a war.

Rajesh Patel cleared his throat, surveying every person in the room. "Very well," he said firmly. "We proceed with this approach. Begin immediately."

The room buzzed with quiet anticipation as the officials prepared to move forward, confident that once all these things were set in motion, Evan's time could near an end.

[I apologize for messing up. Please go to chapter 307 before reading 308.]