Cryptomining Supervillain

Chapter 218: 218 THE PARTNERSHIP OF INTERESTS

218 THE PARTNERSHIP OF INTERESTS

Valtor Veyran walked into the GenSyn annex.

Though technically an offshoot of the Aukouma Auction, the building rivaled the auction house itself…an enormous reception hall, marble floors, and tasteful, understated wealth.

Even Valtor's office in Melrose had never felt this grand.

GenSyn had changed since its move to Silver City.

It was no longer just a maker of elixirs and tonics, the company now held military contracts: exclusive weapon sales to Fortress Myrone, access to rare meta-artifacts, and a growing portfolio of weapon-manufacturing plants funded with budgets that ran into billions of aurs.

An android approached with polite efficiency. "Mr. Veyran, the President will see you now. Please follow me."

The escalator carried Valtor up to Damen Dark's office.

The suite was vast and immaculate—hum of drones and androids replacing human staff—this was an environment built to show power without speaking.

Damen sat with his back to the city, hands steepled, the skyline framed behind him.

"I—" Valtor started.

Damen swivelled his chair slowly to face him.

The memory of old grudges flickered across his face…. there were times Valtor had once wished him dead.

But the present balance of power made those past slights feel distant. Valtor, once formidable, now looked small beneath Damen's calm.

"Valtor Veyran," Damen said coolly, his eyes half on his monitor. "I don't believe we have anything to talk about."

"I know our history," Valtor said, forcing composure. "But put that aside….for Eryn's sake."

Damen's hand slammed the desk. "You dare mention Eryn, after you sent her to the Nuralith?"

"That had nothing to do with me," Valtor shot back. "I've broken from the main Veyran line."

Damen's brow tightened. "Is that true? Then why did Project Hermes fight with them against the Nuralith?"

"It was rented…for that battle only. We needed funds to keep going. Once the Nuralith building fell, the contract ended. We withdrew," Valtor answered.

Damen weighed the reply.

He knew the Veyrans hadn't taken possession of Hermes… the machine remained with Valtor Veyran.

"So why are you here?" Damen asked.

Valtor stepped forward. "I heard you're having trouble sourcing parts."

Damen's expression shifted. "My… news travels fast. Yes…the Nuralith stalled one of our shipments today."

Valtor said. "I came with a proposal."

"Go on."

Valtor lowered his voice. "The main Veyrans have been choking us…. cutting funds and supplies, forcing us to relinquish Project Hermes. I need a partner to keep Hermes alive. It's the only way my branch of the family can rise again."

Damen smiledslowly and deliberately. "I never imagined the day you'd need my help, but…. I'm not in the habit of giving it away."

Valtor's shoulders slumped…then he recovered. "Then let's make business. You give me something and I give you something in return."

"Trade is good. I'm listening," Damen said.

Valtor offered the solution: "I can open back channels. Move parts through intermediaries. If the Nuralith are blocking your suppliers, we can bypass them."

"Good," Damen said, folding his hands. "I need those parts within two days."

Valtor met his gaze and nodded, relief and ambition flickering across his face. "Consider it done."

"what do you want in return?"

"We need a secret base for Project Hermes… one that would not be disturbed by the main Veyran or the Nuraliths", Valtor said.

"We have acquired a new facility in Sector 32 anonymously…the Veyran and Nuralith wouldn't find that out easily if you are careful….and it's perfect for a Mecha factory", Damen said.

"Yes, that's perfect."

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"I can't believe my father would ask for your help… given his pride," Eryn said, glancing at Damen as the train sped toward Liberty City.

"Circumstances have a way of humbling people," Damen replied evenly.

"If you ask me, he's not humbled," Liorea said, smirking. "He just realizes he's out of options."

Damen said nothing.

Liorea spoke the truth…it was something Eryn had yet to accept about her father.

"Don't worry about me," Eryn said softly. "I have no illusions left about Valtor… not after he sent me to the Veyrans to rot." She grabbed Damen's arm. "Just… treat him like any other business partner…."

"Our partnership is one of convenience," Damen interrupted. "I know Valtor's ambitions. His interests don't align with ours… but that doesn't mean we have to be enemies."

Eryn smiled faintly and relieved. "Yes. There's no need to be enemies."

The train screeched to a halt.

Damen, Eryn, and Liorea stepped out first, while Captain Green stayed behind to deal with customs on the hundred or so containers transported from Silver City—some for the city, others destined for Fortress Myrone.

Liorea's eyes lit up as they exited the station. "Huh… we just skipped paying millions of aurs in customs duties."

"We pay enough to Sienna," Damen said. "Captain Green is counting stock and paying every cent of tax due. But what's in your storage space… that's another story."

"You should pay the rightful duties to me instead," Liorea teased. "I'm the cash cow carrying your smuggled goods."

"Right, right… all my money is with you. What more do you want?" Damen smiled.

Liorea's storage space had grown immensely as she'd grown stronger.

Damen do not have secret aur banks like the other conglomerates to hide their wealth—his money and treasures were entirely under Liorea's control….. held inside her secret space.

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Once Damen arrived in Liberty City, he was greeted by General Bierra of the Revolution Army.

"General Dark, the Queen requests your attendance at the palace," she said the moment her eyes fell on him.

"General!!" Eryn whispered, her eyes wide.

"Damen is a general of Fortress Myrone now," Liorea whispered back, smirking slightly.

"News travels fast. I haven't made my promotion public yet," Damen replied calmly.

"We have our sources, General. This way, please," Bierra said, guiding them toward waiting military vehicles. The convoy sped through the city.

Damen noted the expansion and activity around him.

Liberty City had changed under Sienna's rule. Her governance, though devious, had been effective.

If not for her cunning, she might even have made a fine mentor to Damen. He had admired her views since his school days, when she was his teacher.

Soon, the convoy arrived at the palace.

Guards stood in precise, unyielding formation, meta-humans of Rank B, and even Rank A, patrolled alongside them. The old city accords restricting powerful metas had been shattered; now the strongest came here freely to serve.

Despite the crowd lining up to see Queen Erythos, Damen and his companions were given priority, escorted straight into the throne room.

Erythos sat as usual upon her imposing throne, flanked by Sienna and Argent. More unfamiliar faces crowded the room… likely new members of the Queen's staff.

"General Dark, you are late to our agreed meeting, next time we should send escorts to bring you back," Queen Erythos said to Damen, her gaze sharp and cold.

Damen inclined his head casually. "You don't want to see meErythos, you just want my blood. Isn't the previous Bloodstone enough?"

Sienna smiled faintly. "It's enough, but we still want to see you now and then. We don't want you slipping away from your responsibilities to the city."

"I won't run," Damen said. "I still need to return to Fortress Myrone, and that requires passing through your city. There's no need to worry about me running."

Eryn, puzzled, whispered, "Why are they afraid you would run?"

Damen answered softly, almost to himself, "They want to keep me here… as their king."

Eryn froze at his words, trying to digest the implication.

Suddenly, the doors to the throne room swung open, and a group of people filed in. Damen's eyes immediately locked on one figure.

"Damnit… why is Lander here?" he muttered under his breath.

Liorea shook her head, frowning. "He never mentioned this trip… not a word."

Eryn stiffened beside them, sensing the sudden shift in the room's energy.

Damen's jaw tightened…whatever Lander was doing here, it wasn't going to be simple.

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