300-301

Chapter 300: Back Then, It Seemed So Ordinary

Afternoon, after 4 PM.

The sunlight was no longer scorching but still bright and cheerful.

On the beach by the sea, a little boy, about two or three years old, was squatting in the sand, focused on building a castle.

Dressed in colorful swimwear, his chubby little hands worked hard to shape the sand into the form of a castle.

A few fluffy white clouds floated in the deep blue sky. The sea breeze gently swept through the air, carrying a salty tang.

Not far away, bodyguards and a nanny quietly kept watch.

Their eyes were attentive, observing the child's every move.

The golden sand on the beach shimmered in the sunlight, while waves lapped at the shore, splashing crystal-clear droplets.

In the distance, the sea and sky melded into one. A few sailboats glided slowly across the water.

The little boy occasionally looked up at the distant scenery before returning his attention to his "masterpiece," bursting into cheerful laughter now and then.

This was Tiburon, California, a picturesque seaside town nestled along the shores of San Francisco Bay.

Haley Blackburn, reclining on a beach chair with her pregnant belly, occasionally glanced at her son in the distance but spent most of her time and attention on the man beside her.

This was the vacation time of Haley Blackburn, one of the prosecutors of Silicon Valley.

"Is Schneider Wilson really done for?" Haley withdrew her gaze from the child.

After a moment of thought, she softly asked, "Will it affect us?"

As a member of the Blackburn family working far from Boston, all the way in California, Haley was based near San Francisco—a region that could be considered Wilson's territory.

Over the past two years, Haley had benefited significantly from the Wilson family's support.

Her career had gone remarkably smoothly. She had become a highly regarded celebrity prosecutor in the San Francisco Bay Area, well-known even beyond the region.

Due to her appeal in Silicon Valley, her influence there surpassed even that of some county supervisors and mayors.

Additionally, thanks to someone subtly managing public opinion, her pregnancies three and five years after her husband’s passing—achieved through advanced reproductive technology involving frozen embryos—had drawn no criticism.

Instead, it was seen as a perfect match for California's high-tech image, with people admiring her independence and resilience.

She became a feminist icon in the eyes of California’s progressive circles, inspiring women across the state and even the nation.

Some young, single women without children even began mimicking Haley's lifestyle.

But who could have guessed what lay beneath the dazzling façade of celebrity? Beneath the surface of Haley Harrison (deliberately not using "Blackburn" to avoid linking her to Milo) was a different person entirely.

This was the essence of American politics. Whether you're a small-town sheriff or a presidential candidate, what matters isn't solving problems or fulfilling campaign promises.

What truly matters is showing voters the version of you they want to see.

If they like what they see, they’ll cast their votes.

"I’m not sure. But Boston’s Tea Party has already happened, and the shot at Lexington has been fired."

Milo shook his head.

"At this point, it doesn’t matter whether the mother country lowers taxes. What matters is that British ships and reinforcements are already on their way. There’s no going back."

Haley fell silent, understanding Milo’s metaphor: someone had already fired the first shot against Wilson and the California consortium.

At this point, it no longer mattered whether Schneider’s health improved or not. What mattered was that the battle had begun.

Would the Wilsons and the California consortium be able to hold their ground?

"Will Edward come to you?" she asked.

"Who else would they go to? Morgan? Rockefeller? Surrender to them?"

Milo chuckled, stood up, and walked to his sister-in-law. Leaning down, he kissed her.

The kiss lingered for several seconds before he straightened up and sighed with satisfaction. "Darling, you still taste the best. I’m going to play with little Paladin for a while."

Haley playfully rolled her eyes at him but didn’t follow.

Her belly was too large—she was just over a month away from giving birth. Her movements were inconvenient, so she stayed where she was.

Instead, she used her beautiful eyes to watch the man and child playing in the distance, feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment and warmth.

She thought back to the loneliness she endured in the months following Paladin's death.

Now, as she reflected on her current life, the guilt that once haunted her gradually faded away.

She let herself relax completely on the beach chair, gazing at the clear, azure sky.

In her heart, she thought, Paladin, you would want this for me, wouldn’t you?  

The sea breeze carried the perfect temperature, lulling Haley, now in her late pregnancy, into drowsiness.

Half-asleep, she suddenly heard the clear, young voice of a woman. "Haley, Kamala Devi has called again. She insists on meeting with you."

Hearing something work-related, Haley immediately opened her eyes and looked to her left. Standing there was Peggy Audrey Adams, poised and elegant.

Compared to three years ago, when Haley brought her to California to meet Milo, Peggy had matured significantly.

Back then, Peggy had been a wide-eyed, somewhat naïve Harvard student from a wealthy family.

Now, she had graduated early and had been working by Haley's side for a year.

In the meantime, some changes had also occurred in Peggy’s family.

Her grandfather, who was once a pillar of importance in the Boston Consortium, had passed away.

Although the Adams family would not fall apart or disintegrate because of it, they immediately declined from being the leading family of the Boston Consortium to merely one of its core families.

Their status had dropped significantly.

Peggy Adams keenly felt this change.

The most obvious sign was that her former close friends were no longer as eager to flatter her unconditionally as they used to.

In other aspects, things remained mostly fine, but for the young Peggy Adams, the fact that her former "little sisters" no longer fawned over her was rather upsetting.

"She still wants to work as my deputy?" Haley asked.

Peggy Adams nodded. "Yes."

Speaking of Kamala Devi, how should I put it? She's one of those women who climbed the ladder purely through men.

Her lover, Brown, is currently the mayor of San Francisco, having left the California district attorney's office.

Kamala Devi, however, remains in that system. She originally held a position on a committee under the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

After her lover's political ascension, Kamala Devi also saw adjustments to her role.

Last year, she joined Brown's administration in San Francisco.

But how should I say this? When it comes to personal competence... if there were rankings for satisfying men in bed, she’d probably rank near the top.

However, in terms of actual work ability, she's quite average.

At the end of last year, while handling a protest in San Francisco, Kamala Devi represented the city government.

The protest involved construction workers demanding a 15% increase in hourly wages.

Ordinarily, such matters are negotiable. Even if employers couldn’t agree to a 15% raise, percentages like 10%, 8%, or even 5% could still be discussed.

But when Kamala Devi faced the workers' representatives—while the media were present—she said:

"If you can’t support your families earning $30 an hour, why not work two more hours a day? That way, you’d make an extra $60 daily, which you could use to buy gifts for your kids and wives."

Her comment enraged the construction workers.

What could have been easily resolved escalated into a major conflict.

In the end, her lover had to fire her, sidelining her for several months.

However, perhaps Kamala Devi truly excels at pleasing men—or maybe she has some other talents—because after a few months of being sidelined, she was reinstated into San Francisco's judicial system.

Now, Kamala Devi, her lover, and the people supporting her seem eager to have her work under Haley, a rising star among Bay Area prosecutors.

Perhaps they hope Haley’s glowing reputation can overshadow Kamala Devi’s foolishness.

Haley pondered.

Although she despised people like Kamala Devi, who lacked ability and relied solely on men to advance, she couldn’t deny that this woman of mixed-race descent wasn’t entirely useless.

Kamala Devi’s heritage was extremely diverse—Jamaican, Black, South Asian, and even some European lineage.

In the realm of identity politics, her credentials were essentially maxed out.

Frankly, Haley believed that if Kamala Devi had even a bit more capability, she could have achieved far more.

But Kamala Devi didn’t—or perhaps she’d focused her limited skill points on pleasing men instead.

"I don’t have time to see her now," Haley said, but she didn’t outright refuse. "If she’s really interested, have her come to my office tomorrow."

Foolish as she was, Kamala Devi wasn’t entirely without value.

Haley was aware that some people were already critical of her team being composed entirely of white individuals, many of whom hailed from the East Coast.

It was indeed hard to justify a California Bay Area prosecutor’s office staffed almost entirely by people from New England.

Haley had already planned to bring in some Black staff members, and Kamala Devi’s mixed-race background and minority status could dilute the overwhelmingly white image of Haley’s team.

Additionally, while Kamala Devi herself was incompetent, the people backing her were quite powerful.

Even Blackburn occasionally needed their assistance in California.

Letting Kamala Devi join to share in her spotlight could be considered a transaction of sorts.

Peggy Adams nodded, pulling out a small notebook to jot things down.

"Anything else?" Haley asked.

"Yes, there is."

"Go ahead."

"Alright. Regarding ITK's lawsuit against Microsoft's MSN…"

Peggy Adams spent over half an hour reporting work matters, but before she could finish, two boys—a large one and a small one—came back laughing from the beach.

The little boy was riding on the big boy’s shoulders, shouting joyfully, "Charge, Daddy, charge!"

"Haha, hold on tight, then!"

The older boy and the younger boy came over, laughing together. The younger boy grabbed a baby bottle, while the older boy took a water bottle. In perfect sync, they both began drinking water with loud gulps.

As they drank, they caught sight of each other and burst into laughter again.

Watching the bond between father and sons, Hailey's eyes filled with tenderness, almost overflowing with emotion.

Meanwhile, Peggy Adams took the opportunity to openly observe the man who had almost become her fiancé.

It happened three years ago.

Back then, he had inexplicably decided he wanted to become a director and make movies himself. When this news spread across Boston's socialite and second-generation elite circles, the general consensus was unanimous:

"No matter how much you try to polish garbage, it will always be garbage."

It was a Western proverb akin to the Chinese sayings "You can’t turn mud into a wall" or "A hopeless case."

But few in Boston really cared; they just treated it as a joke. They believed that after the fall of the dazzling Paladin, the Blackburn family had no worthy successors and was bound to fade into obscurity.

During this period, when the upper class of Boston exuded such sentiments, Peggy Adams' cousin Hailey—whose mother was a close sister of Peggy's mother—decided to intervene.

Representing the Blackburn family, Hailey personally visited the Adams family and managed to persuade old Mr. Adams, Peggy's grandfather, to allow Peggy to travel to California to meet Milo. If things went well, they would form a union through marriage.

When this news broke, Peggy Adams instantly became the latest laughingstock of their social circle.

Her friends teased her, saying she might end up marrying garbage.

Naturally, Peggy Adams was utterly opposed to the idea. However, she didn’t dare to defy her grandfather's wishes. Reluctantly, she accompanied Hailey on a trip to California.

At the time, Milo was filming his first movie and was caught up in the public storm of America’s religious debates, partly due to the influence of New York's archbishop.

When they met, Peggy Adams couldn't deny feeling a slight attraction to his good looks. But his tarnished reputation and the Blackburn family's precarious situation left her entirely uninterested.

Perhaps sensing her reluctance and the Adams family's passive stance, Milo and the Blackburn family let the matter drop. The "matchmaking" attempt ended without resolution.

After returning home, neither Hailey nor the Blackburn family brought up the subject again.

At the time, Peggy Adams felt relieved. She even hosted a few small parties with her friends to celebrate the escape.

But who could have foreseen how unpredictable life could be?

In just three years, the man everyone once dismissed as "garbage" had become a new leader acknowledged by Boston's elite.

Meanwhile, the once-dominant Adams family had seen its influence wane following the passing of old Arthur.

For at least the past two years, Peggy Adams had become the subject of mockery once more. This time, however, it was different. Now, people ridiculed her and the Adams family for their lack of vision.

Because of this, Peggy now avoided returning to Boston unless absolutely necessary.

Watching Milo embrace the young boy after finishing his water and kiss Hailey openly without hesitation, Peggy couldn't help but wonder: If she had agreed back then and married him right away, wouldn’t their child now be as old as little Paladin?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 301: Lee Bu-jeong Predicament

The Wilson family had already been thrown into chaos, and the crisis caused by Schneider King Wilson’s sudden illness had yet to subside.

Now, the family and the major companies under their financial empire were under siege by numerous powerful enemies.

Every member of the Wilson family carried a heavy heart, and not a single one of them could muster a smile.

The thing they did most was make endless phone calls, trying to assess the state of each company while scrambling to raise funds.

Meanwhile, the think tank at the family office was responsible for analyzing the current turbulent situation and formulating reasonable response strategies.

After visiting the unconscious Schneider once again, Edward accompanied Milo to the balcony overlooking the distant garden.

“No bad news is good news. Edward, Schneider will get better,” Milo comforted his older cousin.

Edward nodded and said, “But now that Grandfather has suddenly fallen ill, the Wilson family is facing serious trouble.”

“Milo, do you think Grandfather will be disappointed when he wakes up?”

Milo remained silent.

Of course, he would!

The crisis the Wilson family was currently facing was likely something Schneider King Wilson had foreseen long ago, and he had surely done everything he could to prevent it from happening.

So, who was to blame for this situation?

Was it the family’s fault for failing to produce a qualified successor?

Or was it because he suddenly fell ill and could no longer hold things together for a few more years?

In Milo’s view, the problem stemmed from two key issues.

The first was, naturally, the training of a successor.

The stronger an empire or a power, the more critical it was to have an exceptional heir.

Why did Rockefeller and Morgan continue to grow more powerful?

Because their successors far outmatched those of other financial families in their generation.

Whether it was David or Lawrence, or the several Chris Morgans on the other side, they were all formidable figures who had survived Roosevelt’s attacks and remained standing.

In terms of succession, the Wilsons weren’t even the worst example.

The real cautionary tale was the DuPont family…

If Cleveland and Chicago’s financial groups had been successfully infiltrated and conquered by Morgan, Rockefeller, and Wilson, it was because they had too many core families internally. The fierce internal power struggles eventually led to external invasion, essentially leading to their own downfall.

But DuPont? They brought about their own destruction.

Unlike the fragmented Cleveland and Chicago groups, the DuPont family, like Rockefeller and Morgan, had only one core family—naturally, the DuPonts themselves.

And what did they do?

Perhaps they were obsessed with European aristocratic bloodlines, or maybe they had read too many stories about Egyptian pharaohs.

Over a hundred years ago, the DuPont family decided to avoid marrying outsiders, insisting on keeping their bloodline pure.

Cousins married cousins, uncles married nieces—the family tree became an inbred nightmare.

After just two or three generations, they ended up with a slew of genetic defects, deformities, and severe hereditary diseases.

And yet, they never produced the so-called super-genius that legend suggested might emerge from such breeding.

In the end, they collapsed.

It wasn’t until recent history that they finally abandoned that rule—otherwise, who knows if there would even be any normal DuPonts left today?

The Wilson family hadn’t reached that level of dysfunction, but they certainly lacked a capable heir.

Schneider had failed to train a successor who could truly take charge.

But this wasn’t entirely his fault.

To maintain control and prevent the rise of an elite class from the lower ranks that could challenge the ruling American financial dynasties, the U.S. had long promoted a system of “happy education” at the lower levels.

However, this only applied to the lower class.

Above the middle class, the competition was relentless.

Students in those circles would take study-enhancing drugs just to keep up, pushing themselves to the limit every day.

And when it came to the elite education systems of major financial families, things were even more intense.

Yet, a person’s achievements and potential are shaped by many factors—personality, work ethic, interests, innate intelligence, and more.

Education could only increase the probability of producing elites and slightly raise their upper limits.

But whether one could cultivate a truly top-tier genius? That was never a guarantee.

That’s why successors in powerful families were ranked by order of potential, constantly filtering out the most outstanding individual.

Unfortunately, in this generation, none of the Wilson heirs were truly exceptional.

So, old Wilson had to come up with alternative plans—like grooming younger, more promising candidates such as Edward and Woodrow, or, in the beginning, attempting to marry his granddaughter off to Milo…

Milo had figured that out a long time ago.

But at the time, Blackburn had caught Rockefeller’s attention.

So, he had no choice but to let go of his cousin.

Aside from that, the other major issue lay in the roots of the California financial group.

The California financial group had a strong foundation, backed by the increasingly powerful state of California, and had the potential to become the largest financial conglomerate in the U.S.

But precisely because its foundation was so strong, its various factions were also too powerful.

In the end, even the Wilson family couldn’t fully control the entire group—it was too divided, ranking even lower than the Texas financial group within the American financial hierarchy.

In terms of regional influence, they were even weaker than the Mormon Church’s control over Utah.

Schneider had managed to maintain some semblance of unity solely through his personal prestige.

As soon as he was gone, the California consortium fell apart on its own.

Unlike the Boston consortium, where internal conflicts also ran deep, they had traditions. When a true powerhouse emerged, the others would instinctively follow tradition and bow to that leader.

Looking at his cousin, who seemed hesitant to speak, Milo knew exactly what he was thinking.

That was precisely why Milo had not left San Francisco yet.

Morgan, Rockefeller, and the others had set their sights on the California consortium and the Wilson family.

So, would Milo Blackburn just stand by and let it happen?

No way!

The difference was that, compared to Morgan and the others, Milo believed he could approach the situation from a better angle—

one that could even gain the Wilson family's cooperation.

If that were the case, there was no need to play the villain.

He could simply wait, act as the white knight, and let his cousin come to him for help.

Still, Edward and the Wilson family had remarkable patience.

This was already Milo's third visit to see Schneider, yet Edward still hadn't spoken up.

Fine. Let them keep holding out.

In the following days, one piece of bad news after another piled up, suffocating nearly every member of the Wilson family.

The plan to increase their stake in Lytton Industries, which had already begun, had to be put on hold.

That evening, Edward Wilson dragged his exhausted body back from Wilson Financial.

Wilson Financial was the family's core financial platform, founded by the Wilson family's ancestor.

With Schneider unable to work, Edward had temporarily taken over everything there.

But with so many pressing matters, he had no time to oversee Wells Fargo.

Wilson Financial was not in immediate crisis. The family had always been cautious in its management, leaving no gaps in its equity structure.

The only way to bring the company down was through internal mismanagement—bank runs or financial collapse leading to bankruptcy.

To prevent such a situation, Wilson Financial had urgently raised a substantial amount of capital but remained cautious, avoiding reckless action.

Instead, they continued identifying risks and bad assets, planning to liquidate some to stabilize their position.

As Edward arrived home, he ran into his younger brother, Woodrow, who had just returned from Wells Fargo.

"Woodrow, how’s the situation at Wells Fargo?"

Seeing his brother's grim expression, Edward's heart sank. Thinking about Wells Fargo’s equity situation, he took the initiative to ask.

Wells Fargo was the true foundation of the Wilson family's power and the second-largest financial core of the California consortium.

Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, it was the only bank in the U.S. with a AAA rating.

Its original founder, Henry Wilson, was only a distant relative of the Wilson family.

The bank was originally called Northwestern Bank of America in California.

Later, under Schneider's control, it merged with and acquired Wells Fargo in New York, then moved its headquarters to San Francisco—

forming the Wells Fargo of today.

"President Archil has taken my advice. The bank is liquidating some assets to free up capital. But in the stock market, someone is already acquiring company shares."

"Also, some major clients have submitted large withdrawal requests."

"This has created a tense atmosphere within the company," Woodrow Wilson said slowly.

"And on your end, Edward?"

Edward Wilson replied in a measured tone, "My side is holding up for now. Wilson Financial is not a commercial savings bank, and the family's control over it is very tight. We haven't seen major withdrawals yet."

"But since you're already seeing issues, I’ve heard that Bank of America is in even bigger trouble."

Bank of America was the top financial core of the California consortium—

even more crucial than Wells Fargo.

However, the Wilson family's stronghold was Wells Fargo. Right now, they had no capacity to worry about Bank of America.

"Our enemies are launching a full-scale attack against us," Woodrow Wilson said with a heavy expression.

"Yes," Edward nodded grimly. "At this rate, we might not be able to hold out."

"We have to prepare for the possibility of losing some of our assets."

Edward felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Frustrated, he poured himself a glass of water and downed it in one gulp, some of it trickling down his chin onto his chest, soaking his shirt.

He still wanted to hold out a little longer.

Not out of pride or a desire to compete with his cousin, Milo Blackburn.

Rather, Edward wanted to maintain some leverage—

to keep as much as possible under the family's control.

That way, when they finally called in a white knight, the Wilsons wouldn’t have to lose too much.

But looking at the current situation, things were getting increasingly dire.

The real enemy hadn’t even made their move yet, and Edward already felt suffocated by the pressure.

He had no idea how long he could last when Morgan, Rockefeller, and Mellon finally struck.

---

Meanwhile, on the other side of San Francisco—

As the Wilson brothers felt the weight of mounting pressure, barely able to breathe—

In a luxurious villa in South San Francisco, near Silicon Valley—

Kamala Devi, a high-ranking San Francisco city official who had been forced to resign a few months ago, was laughing like a complete fool.

She turned to the Asian woman in front of her and said, "Hahaha, Lilith, trust me, this isn't your company’s fault. By the way, you guys make phones, right? Haha, I knew it—you make phones!"

Lilith is the American name of an Asian woman whose real name is Lee Bu-jeong, and she is from Korea.

She is the eldest daughter of Lee Gun-hee, the chairman of Samsung Group.

Due to the Global Electronic Technology Alliance advocated by Milo Blackburn, Lee Bu-jeong and her brother, Lee Jae-yong, are still staying in California and haven’t returned to Korea yet.

Lee Jae-yong is even attending advanced studies at Stanford University now.

She was left in Silicon Valley as the liaison between Samsung Group and the Global Electronic Technology Alliance.

Today, there is a Bay Area party hosted by Silicon Valley’s star prosecutor, Hailey Harrison.

Lee Jae-yong and his wife, Lee Bu-jeong, and a few other Koreans are attending the event as representatives of Samsung Group and Korean businesses.

After chatting for a while with a few friends she knew there, Kamala Devi approached them in a friendly and familiar manner.

As they talked, Kamala Devi eventually asked about their identities.

When it was Lee Bu-jeong’s turn, she introduced herself as a representative of Samsung Group.

Kamala Devi burst out laughing, just as she did when the others introduced themselves.

This left Lee Bu-jeong and the other Koreans feeling puzzled.

However, since Kamala Devi didn’t seem like a minor figure, they didn’t dare to say anything.

This made the group of Koreans feel awkward and trapped, unable to leave.

“Oh, right.” Kamala Devi laughed a few more times before finally lowering her voice, “I heard Mr. Blackburn is here tonight?”

This wasn’t exactly a secret.

Although Hailey Harrison publicly uses the surname Harrison, many people know that her name on her Social Security card is actually Hailey Harrison Blackburn.

They know she is Milo Blackburn’s sister-in-law.

Moreover, at tonight’s event hosted by Hailey, most of the attendees are Silicon Valley executives and leaders of electronic technology companies.

With Hailey’s status, she could invite these local Silicon Valley executives.

But she wouldn’t be able to—or have any reason to—invite high-level executives from Korean, Japanese, and European tech companies.

It was only possible because of the man behind her—the one leading the Global Electronic Technology Alliance.

However, the event had just started. Hailey made a brief appearance earlier, but Milo Blackburn still hadn’t shown up.

No one could answer Kamala Devi’s question, although everyone believed that Milo Blackburn would eventually appear.

Seeing that these Koreans were tight-lipped and barely responding, Kamala Devi, who had been laughing for quite a while, grew bored and found an excuse to leave and mingle with others.

Only then did Lee Bu-jeong breathe a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing she needed to use the restroom.

She whispered, “Excuse me, I need to touch up my makeup.”

She then left the main hall and headed towards the banquet hall in the mansion.

Typically, during events like this, most of the rooms and restrooms in the venue are open to guests.

Otherwise, it would be a logistical nightmare for dozens or even hundreds of people to find a restroom.

This is also why Western villas and houses generally have an abundance of bathrooms.

This wasn’t Lee Bu-jeong’s first time attending a Western-style party.

She entered the living room, found a waiter, and asked for directions to the nearest restroom.

The waiter helpfully pointed the way, and after thanking him, she walked upstairs towards the restroom.

However, tonight’s event was particularly crowded, with around two to three hundred guests.

The public restroom was full, and people were waiting in line outside, chatting.

Left with no choice, Lee Bu-jeong stepped back and knocked on the door of a nearby room along the left hallway. It was a guest room open for public use.

As long as no one was inside, guests could use it.

After knocking for a while and hearing no response, she entered the room.

She was in a bit of a hurry due to an upset stomach. She quickly closed the door and rushed to the bathroom without locking the door.

Then... someone else opened the door to the room.

Completely unaware, Lee Bu-jeong continued to relieve herself in comfort.

It wasn’t until she finished, flushed, and washed her hands that she heard voices outside as she opened the bathroom door.

“Milo, you can’t do this! Hailey will be furious if she finds out! And I’m about to get engaged!”

“I’ve tolerated you for a long time, you know? I’ve really had enough of you. And I know who your fiancé might be—Bayard, right? That just makes me want to do this even more.”

(End of Chapter)