"So you're certain, sir?" Daniel asked after a brief silence.

"Completely," Liam replied, his tone smooth and unhurried. "We'll accept the White House invitation. I'll attend the meeting tomorrow."

Daniel inclined his head slightly, noting the decision in his tablet.

"And the other invitations?"

"Also accepted," Liam said.

Daniel looked up. "Strategically, it's a bold move, sir. The optics—"

"—will keep them guessing," Liam cut in gently. "The Americans will stay alert, paranoid I might shift allegiance. The others will watch closely, desperate to court me."

He leaned back in his chair, fingertips pressed together. "Schedule my White House meeting for tomorrow. I'll give them their polite conversation, smile for their cameras, and tell them nothing useful. Then, two or three days later, arrange the flight to Dubai."

"Yes, sir," Daniel said. He hesitated a moment, then added, "If I may be blunt, this approach will put every government on alert. You'll be treated like a sovereign power, not a private citizen."

Liam's smile deepened. "That's exactly what I want."

He stood, walking to the window. Below, the estate gardens shimmered with morning dew.

"You see, Daniel," Liam said, hands clasped behind his back, "most billionaires live in fear of government—of regulation, taxation, exposure. They rely on the system that feeds them. I am not one of them. The U.S. can't strong-arm me. They can't subpoena what they can't find. If they ever try to tighten the leash, I'll simply remind them what happens if I pull my money out."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You mean—"

"—a withdrawal threat," Liam said simply. "They don't know the true scale of my holdings, but they can guess. They've already assumed my U.S. investments are in the tens of billions. If I even hint at liquidating, their markets will tremble. Congress will panic. Treasury will beg for restraint. It'll never come to that, of course," he added with a small smile.

But yes, withdrawing his investment was impossible because he can't sell his shares but the US government doesn't know that and they never will.

Daniel gave a soft chuckle. "Understood, sir. A scare tactic with real consequences — if they believe it."

"Oh, they will," Liam said, his voice calm but edged with certainty.

Liam was more than certain that the US government would fall for it. He also plans to use the same tactics when Nova Technologies' ownership eventually surfaces. By then, it will already be revealed that he has hundreds of billions of dollars invested in major companies in the country. Do they dare to risk an economic meltdown?

He was also aware that then, Europe will play the same game. They'll demand oversight, threaten investigations, and talk about sanctions. And that's when the bearer bonds come into play.

The Rothschild will serve as his silent shield. They would be his channel to Europe. When the EU tries to push too hard, he would make sure they have a choice—either pay dearly to keep close or shut their mouths and enjoy the profits. And he knew they would choose the latter.

Liam knew that once he has both the U.S. and Europe balanced, no one can touch him. The US government will see him as a strategic asset. The Europeans will see him as too expensive to lose. Holding both sides of the West in his hands will be extremely advantageous to him.

"I'll make the necessary preparations immediately, sir. The jet will be ready for Washington tomorrow morning," Daniel said, gave a small nod.

"Good," Liam said.

Daniel picked his tablet and stood up from his seat. "I'll take my leave now and begin arrangements."

Liam nodded. "Thank you, Daniel."

As the man exited the study, Liam exhaled softly and allowed his composure to relax. But his mind was already drifting toward something far more intriguing — the life stirring in the crimson shell of the Three-Legged Golden Crow's egg.

Liam rose from his seat and headed upstairs. When he entered his room, the air seemed to still around him, almost anticipating what would come next. Without hesitation, he vanished.

***

Inside the Dimensional Space, the vast metallic plains of the mega-construction stretched before him. The great manufacturing complex had nearly reached completion.

But Liam paid it little attention today. His focus was drawn elsewhere. Through his bond with the creature, he had felt a pulsing, warm signal through his consciousness, like a heartbeat echoing from afar. The egg was stirring.

He flew swiftly across the Dimensional horizon, the wind rippling through his hair as he crossed the plains toward the quiet glade where he had left the egg resting.

When he arrived, the air shimmered faintly with heat. The ground around the nest was scorched in a perfect circle, the soil dark and cracked. The crimson egg sat in the center, trembling slightly. The faint golden lines pulsed along its surface, glowing brighter with each rhythmic movement.

Liam landed softly a few feet away. He folded his arms and watched, with a small smile on his face.

"So," he murmured, "you've finally decided to wake up."

The egg shook harder now, the cracks spidering across the shell like living fire. Each fissure glowed molten gold, releasing thin wisps of smoke that curled upward in the warm air.

Then, with a sharp crack, a fragment broke free. A tiny head emerged—sleek, feathered in red so bright it seemed to glow, its eyes like miniature suns.

Liam's smile deepened. "Beautiful."

The young Golden Crow blinked once, then twice, as if adjusting to the light. Its gaze fell on him immediately. Then, with an eager chirp, the creature let out a sound like a soft flame bursting to life.

The temperature around them surged. Flames rippled faintly across the ground as the bird struggled, tearing free from the shell in a small explosion of light and heat.

When the brilliance faded, Liam found himself staring at the newborn Three-Legged Golden Crow.

It stood shakily at first, wings half-unfurled. Its feathers glowed in radiant crimson hues, each one tipped with molten gold. A faint aura of fire danced around its body, but it wasn't destructive. Rather, it was warm, vibrant and alive. Its three legs gleamed with faint runic patterns, that looked ancient.

The creature was roughly the size of a human newborn — small enough to cradle, yet regal in presence. It tilted its head curiously at him, eyes gleaming like twin suns reflected on a calm ocean.

Liam crouched down slowly and extended his hand. The bird hesitated for only a heartbeat before hopping forward with surprising grace. It buried itself against his chest, its body radiating gentle warmth.

Liam let out a soft chuckle, carefully wrapping his arms around it. "So it's you, little one."

He could feel its heartbeat syncing faintly with his own. Through the bond, he sensed intelligence—raw, bright, curious. And surprisingly… feminine.

"A girl, huh?" he murmured. "That explains the attitude."

He smiled to himself and examined her closely. The feathers shimmered when they caught light, glowing faintly even in shadow. Tiny embers danced off her wings whenever she moved, fading before they touched the ground.

Her aura was magnificent. It was fierce but not wild. Even freshly hatched, she exuded the kind of presence that lesser beasts would worship instinctively.

He thought for a moment, then said softly, "You need a name."

The Golden Crow tilted her head, as if listening.

"Let's see…" Liam mused. "You're fire, divine, and beautiful. How about… Yanxia?"

The moment he spoke the name, the air shimmered. Flames rippled briefly across her feathers, glowing brighter and brighter until they flared in radiant approval.

Liam laughed softly, feeling the surge of warmth through their bond. "So you like it, huh? Yanxia it is."

The temperature spiked for an instant — not painfully, but enough to make him feel as if the sun itself had smiled at him. Then, just as quickly, it subsided.

Liam rubbed her head gently, the soft feathers surprisingly cool to the touch beneath the living flame. "Welcome to the family, Yanxia."

The bird chirped again, pressing closer into his arms, and he felt a sense of joy bloom within him.

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