The sun had barely risen over the city when the first wave of destruction hit the Shen Family.
It wasn't a physical attack—no gunfire, no assassinations. Instead, it was something far more insidious.
Financial warfare.
---
The First Strike
At precisely 8:00 AM, news headlines exploded across major media platforms:
"Shen Family's Illegal Land Deals Exposed—Government Investigation Underway!"
"Evidence of Shen Corporation's Corruption Leaked—Officials Under Scrutiny!"
"Stock Prices Plummet as Investors Abandon Shen Enterprises!"
The impact was immediate.
The Shen Family's businesses, which had stood strong for decades, began crumbling overnight. Their stocks were in freefall, their investors were fleeing, and key government figures who once supported them were now distancing themselves to avoid being caught in the scandal.
In his private office, Shen Conghai, the head of the Shen Family, slammed his fist against his desk. His face was red with fury as he glared at the endless flood of negative news reports.
"Who did this?!" he roared. "Who the hell dares attack my family like this?!"
His personal assistant hesitated before answering. "Sir, we're still investigating, but… all signs point to the Tianlong Family."
Shen Conghai's blood ran cold.
The Tianlong Family.
Su Chen.
That damn kid had taken control of his family barely weeks ago, and now he was already making moves against him?
"That arrogant brat thinks he can challenge me?!" Shen Conghai growled.
But even as he shouted, his phone rang. It was an unknown number. Hesitantly, he answered.
A familiar, calm yet chilling voice spoke.
"Shen Conghai," Su Chen's voice echoed through the line. "It's over."
Shen Conghai's hands trembled. "You… you did this?!"
Su Chen chuckled. "Did what? I didn't do anything. I just let the truth be known. You were always corrupt. Your greed made you vulnerable."
Shen Conghai gritted his teeth. "You think I'll go down so easily?! I have connections! Allies! I can—"
"Your connections?" Su Chen interrupted. "You mean the same officials who are now throwing you under the bus to save themselves? Or the business partners who just pulled their investments?"
Shen Conghai's face turned pale.
He opened his email. Sure enough, dozens of cancellation notices flooded his inbox. Deals worth billions—gone.
Su Chen continued, his voice like a predator playing with its prey.
"You made the mistake of thinking politics would protect you. But politicians only care about themselves. Now that you're a liability, they've abandoned you."
Shen Conghai was shaking now. "You… you bastard!"
Su Chen's voice remained casual. "Oh, and one more thing. Expect a visit from the authorities soon. You have a long list of crimes to explain."
Click.
The call ended.
And at that moment, Shen Conghai realized his fate was sealed.
---
The Arrest
Just one hour later, black government vehicles surrounded the Shen Family estate.
Dozens of officers stormed in, armed with arrest warrants and subpoenas. The Shen Family's once-loyal guards stepped aside, unwilling to interfere.
Shen Conghai barely had time to burn documents before the police burst into his office.
"You are under arrest for corruption, tax evasion, and illegal business practices!" one officer announced.
Shen Conghai roared in defiance, but it was useless. His empire had fallen.
As he was dragged out of his mansion in handcuffs, the media captured every humiliating moment.
The once-feared Shen Conghai, the man who thought he was untouchable, was now nothing more than a disgraced criminal.
And at the top of a nearby skyscraper, Su Chen watched the entire scene unfold on a live broadcast.
Ye Meng stood beside him, sipping a glass of wine. "That was faster than expected."
Su Chen smirked. "A paper tiger crumbles the moment it's touched."
Ye Meng laughed. "So, one enemy down. What's next?"
Su Chen's gaze turned toward the Yan Consortium.
"They're next."
---
The Yan Consortium Takes the Bait
Unlike the Shen Family, the Yan Consortium was smarter.
They didn't use brute-force politics. Instead, they controlled finance, trade, and investments.
And right now, they were waiting—watching the downfall of the Shen Family to determine whether Su Chen was a real threat.
Inside a high-rise corporate building, Yan Kang, chairman of the Yan Consortium, sat with his executives. He stroked his beard, deep in thought.
"So, Su Chen crushed the Shen Family overnight," he mused. "Interesting."
One of his directors spoke up. "Chairman Yan, should we intervene? If Su Chen continues his rise, he could become a threat to our business empire."
Yan Kang tapped his fingers on the table. "No. We won't fight him directly."
A slow smile spread across his lips.
"Instead… we'll set a trap."
---
Su Chen's Next Step
Back in the Tianlong estate, Wang Jun entered Su Chen's office with a confidential report.
"It's happening exactly as you predicted," Wang Jun said. "The Yan Consortium is making secret moves. They've begun buying up stocks of our companies in small amounts, trying to gain influence without alerting us."
Su Chen smirked. "Perfect."
Ye Meng raised an eyebrow. "You wanted them to do this?"
"Of course," Su Chen replied. "They think they're trapping me, but in reality, they're walking into my trap."
Ye Meng leaned forward. "What's the plan?"
Su Chen's eyes gleamed coldly. "Let them buy. Let them think they're gaining control. And then…"
A slow, merciless smile appeared on his face.
"We'll flip the entire market against them."
---
Chapter Summary & Key Takeaways
Shen Conghai and the Shen Family are completely destroyed.
Su Chen uses financial and political tactics to ruin their influence.
The Yan Consortium begins moving against Su Chen, believing they can control him.
Su Chen has already anticipated their move and set a counter-trap.