Chapter 5: Time will tell

"I bid 200 million," declared Astarion's 11th aunt, Karen, her voice breaking the silence. She leaned forward, her eyes alight with determination.

"I bid 500 million, beat that, Karen!" his 12th uncle shouted, standing to emphasize his bid, a challenging glint in his eye.

The room erupted into a frenzy of bidding, with even Harion, who harbored deep resentment for Astarion, throwing his hat into the ring. The allure of the chairman position, regardless of the cost, proved irresistible.

Minutes ticked by, the tension in the room palpable, before Harion, with a steely gaze and a firm voice, declared, "4 billion."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Four billion Cresto was an astronomical amount, sufficient to purchase dozens, if not hundreds, of cities.

No one in the family, except for Erion, had access to such personal wealth, raising questions about how Harion managed to gather such a fortune.

Seeing no further bids, Harion, with a smirk creeping onto his face, confidently proclaimed, "Since no one is bidding anymore, it looks like I've won."

The other family members struggled to mask their frustration and disappointment. They had lost not just an opportunity but perhaps their only chance at becoming the chairman of the Erion Group, and that too, twice in a single day.

"So, I am the chairman now, right?" Harion asked, a hint of triumph in his voice.

"Not yet," Astarion replied, his voice calm and collected.

"What do you mean, you bastard?" Harion's voice rose, a mix of confusion and anger bubbling within. The thought that Astarion might have been jesting was unbearable.

"Give me my money first. Then, you can do whatever you want with the Erion Group. Transfer it to my bank account right now," Astarion demanded, his gaze fixed on Harion, leaving no room for negotiation.

Despite his boiling anger, Harion had no choice but to comply. Even though four billion Cresto was a staggering amount, representing all of his savings, the prospect of becoming the chairman—and the power and financial opportunities that came with it—was too tantalizing.

He rationalized that by embezzling just 100 million Cresto annually from the group, he could recoup his investment in forty years.

[Ding, Master, you have received 4 billion in your bank account], Sol communicated to Astarion telepathically.

Upon receiving confirmation, a sly smile played on Astarion's lips.

"Okay, now it's time to start bidding for my shares," he announced, his voice carrying a chilling undertone. The room tensed again, the earlier shiver down their spines intensifying at the coldness in his smile.

After several more minutes had passed, Astarion had successfully sold all of his shares, amassing around 2 billion Cresto from the sale. This influx of wealth brought his total bank account balance to approximately 6.5 billion Cresto, with 500 million being his original savings and the remaining 6 billion acquired today.

Although Astarion managed to secure 2 billion from selling his shares, it was a collective effort from his uncles and aunts who pooled their resources to purchase them.

Although they might have enough money to buy whole shares alone but Given the current peak of chaos within the family, they were hesitant to risk their savings they had

"This should be enough to acquire those items," Astarion mused internally as he checked his bank account on his smartphone.

He casually swiped through his banking app, transferring the ownership of his shares and the chairman's seat online—a modern convenience in an era where paper documents had become obsolete.

"Since we've concluded our dealings, I'll be taking my leave now," Astarion announced, his voice resonating with a firm resolve as he rose from his seat at the grand table.

However, as he made his way towards the exit, Harion intercepted him, his presence casting a shadow that momentarily halted Astarion's stride.

"What is it?" Astarion inquired, his tone icy, laced with a palpable killing intent that momentarily filled the room with tension.

"Nothing much. Just wanted to let you know that you're an idiot for selling everything," Harion retorted dismissively before stepping aside, allowing Astarion to proceed.

In fact, the consensus among everyone in the room was that Astarion was foolish for divesting himself of the chairman's seat and all his shares, especially since they had fetched such a high price.

They believed that even though the money spent on these assets was significant, it could eventually be recouped over a few decades.

"Time will tell who the real idiot is," Astarion muttered under his breath, a hint of disdain in his voice as he entered the elevator.

As the elevator doors closed behind him, sealing him off from the rest of his family, Astarion's expression was one of unwavering confidence.

He pressed the button for the ground floor, his thoughts already racing ahead to the plans he had in motion. The soft hum of the elevator descending was the only sound accompanying him.

"Good afternoon, Young Master Astarion," the receptionist greeted Astarion once again. However, he ignored her as before.

"Freaking first-class people," the receptionist muttered under her breath, her annoyance barely concealed.