CHAPTER 266: DYNASTY ORDERS [ 2 ]

Arthur stood quietly by the obsidian crest embedded in the conference floor, his thoughts drifting far away.

Behind him, Evolon’s figure pulsed gently before flickering out completely.

"Alright everyone, I trust you’ve all received your tasks," Arthur said, his voice steady but laced with authority.

"I expect nothing less than excellence from each of you; this family’s reputation is on the line."

"Don’t worry, my dear Arthur," Margaret chimed in with a sweet smile that concealed a fierce glint in her eyes, reminiscent of a lioness ready to pounce.

"If anyone dares to slack off, just wait and see how I’ll handle them,I’m in charge of all their companies after all."

"I have complete faith in you, Aunt," Arthur replied, returning her smile with a deep nod of appreciation.

"Alright everyone, meeting adjourned," he announced as he glanced around the room.

"I’ll take my leave first; I have matters to attend to," he added softly before turning and exiting the conference room.

---

As Arthur walked through the vast living hall of the Main Palace towards its grand entrance doors, the echo of his footsteps filled the air.

Outside, a golden sky bathed Dominion Sanctum in surreal warmth during late afternoon.

The buildings shimmered under the sun’s rays, casting soft reflections across pristine white stone walkways.

Every inch of the palace grounds was meticulously crafted,like it had been designed by gods obsessed with perfection.

At the base of the steps awaited a sleek matte-black luxury sedan without any logo,a vehicle that exuded power and sophistication. The driver opened the door silently.

Without hesitation, Arthur slid into the car with an expression as calm as still water.

The car glided down a private road winding through Dominion Sanctum,sovereign land meticulously designed for efficiency and beauty.

AI-guided drones zipped overhead delivering parcels while intelligent streetlights adjusted their brightness based on approaching vehicles.

Automated gardeners tended vast parks without making a sound.

The roads beneath him felt like woven silk as they passed majestic crescent mansions perched on elevated plateaus alongside micro-hospitals and hyperloop entrances nestled within low marble stations,all contributing to an image of seamless luxury where servants moved like clockwork.

In just ten minutes, they arrived at an imposing hangar bay embedded into a hillside,its fortress-like structure both formidable and beautiful in symmetry.

As its massive doors peeled open silently, dozens of helicopters came into view,each one sleeker than its predecessor.

The air was thick with scents of lubricated steel and jet fuel.

But it was the helicopter at center stage that caught Arthur’s attention: large yet graceful like a copper falcon or sky-cruiser.

Coated in dark gunmetal gray and illuminated by indigo lights beneath its wings, twin rotors hummed gently as the pilot stood ready to salute him with crisp precision.

Arthur nodded once before stepping aboard.

---

The interior was nothing short of a dream,silent perfection wrapped in luxury.

Black velvet sofas, adorned with golden threading, lined the walls, creating an aura of elegance.

Underfoot lay a deep red carpet, imported all the way from the Virellian Highlands, inviting every step with its plush embrace.

At the center, a polished obsidian table gleamed under soft lighting, holding a crystal wine decanter and two matching glasses that sparkled like stars.

Side compartments housed rare vintages and fine cigars alongside physical books bound in rich leather,each one a treasure waiting to be explored.

Antique paintings graced the walls, whispering tales of history, while a subtle Osborn crest was woven into the ceiling itself,a mark of legacy.

Two stewardesses approached with practiced grace, dressed in sleek navy uniforms trimmed with silver.

"Welcome aboard, Sir Arthur," they said in unison, bowing slightly as one poured red wine into the crystal glass and the other handed him a small transparent data-slate.

"Thank you," Arthur murmured, savoring each sip of wine as he took in his surroundings.

The rotors began to accelerate; the landing wheels lifted off the ground,the aircraft was ready for takeoff.

As they broke through Dominion Sanctum’s upper atmosphere, Arthur shifted toward the glass window.

What lay below was breathtaking,a view that made his heart swell with pride.

There it was: the Main Island of Dominion Sanctum,the central jewel among a hundred islands sparkling like diamonds on blue velvet.

The island’s vast expanse mirrored the Osborn crest itself,designed by Evolon and perfected by engineers and geospatial architects alike.

The Silver Phoenix Head marked the location of the Main Palace, glimmering like a sun-kissed crown atop its majestic form.

Behind it stretched its powerful body,long and structured,while twelve crescent-shaped suburbs arched protectively around it like guardian claws.

Towers and mansions adorned each curve, draped in bio-engineered greenery where drones flitted between buildings like metallic hummingbirds.

Beyond this oasis of innovation lay calm blue oceans shimmering under sunlight.

Artificial breakwaters redirected currents while energy-absorbing sea farms harvested kinetic energy for Dominion’s underground reserves,a testament to human ingenuity at work.

Islands dotted across the horizon varied from tranquil natural preserves for endangered species to bustling technological hubs housing research zones and AI training facilities,all part of Arthur’s sprawling empire.

He sipped his wine slowly as he admired this magnificent scene before him,a serene look settling in his eyes.

After about thirty minutes aloft, their flight path shifted dramatically as they approached the third-largest island.

It resembled not land but rather a living machine,a steel continent brimming with activity!

Chimneys vented harmless water vapor into clear skies while hyperloop rails snaked between facilities like glowing serpents; industrial trucks moved synchronously across expansive grounds as neon signals danced atop rooftops.

At the heart of the sprawling Osborn Mega Industrial Park stand eighteen towering skyscrapers,monuments of steel and mirrored chrome that rise majestically from the ground in a meticulously planned formation.

Seventeen of these giants form a perfect outer circle, while the eighteenth soars higher and broader than all the rest, dominating the skyline like a king among pawns.

From above, this impressive layout resembles an eighteen-pointed star,a striking testament to ambition and power.

As Arthur leaned forward, his gaze swept across the industrial marvel below: logistics towers, drone assembly hangars, material refinement labs, fusion backup plants, and deep-sea pipeline centers,all nestled securely within this island fortress.

Every structure gleamed with pristine efficiency; there was no pollution here, no chaos,just an unwavering commitment to progress.

This wasn’t just a business district; it was a war engine designed not for mere survival but for conquest.

As the helicopter began its descent toward the rooftop hangar of the central tower,the headquarters of Osborn Holdings,Arthur set his glass down with purpose and straightened his cuffs.

Below him awaited a reception committee: men and women clad in sharp black suits lined up at the edge of the landing pad.

The youngest among them appeared to be in their mid-thirties, while those pushing fifty exuded an air of seasoned authority.

Each one stood tall with steel resolve; they were various Presidents overseeing different sectors under the Osborn family umbrella.

When the craft touched down and its rotors gradually quieted, Arthur stepped out into their midst.

In unison, they bowed low,a gesture both respectful and unified,as if acknowledging not just his presence but also what he represented.

"Welcome, Sir," said one individual stepping forward from the ranks.

Arthur didn’t smile; instead, he nodded,a simple gesture that resonated with gravity akin to thunder rolling through a stormy sky.

"Let’s begin."

With that command echoing in the air, he strode forward confidently, flanked by his elite staff who followed him like shadows cast by an imposing sun.

The double-layered elevator chimed softly as it opened its doors, ready to whisk them down into the very brain of Panterra’s most powerful industrial complex.

-------

Inside a sprawling conference room that dwarfed a basketball court, Arthur reclined in his high-backed obsidian leather chair, surveying the scene before him.

A magnificent crystalline table shaped like a crescent arc stretched out, its surface shimmering with the pulsating glow of the Osborn Crest beneath.

Seated around this impressive table were the Presidents of various industries,men and women clad in sharp suits, their expressions stern yet commanding, exuding the confidence of seasoned leaders.

These weren’t just members of the Osborn family; they represented the elite inner circle running core sectors of the Osborn Group, each one pivotal to its vast empire.

The walls around them glimmered with massive interactive screens displaying real-time metrics: logistics chains, healthcare statistics, global hotel ratings, stock performances, e-commerce transactions, you name it! Information flashed continuously across these screens, painting a vivid picture of an empire in constant motion.

Arthur’s gaze swept over the room as he began to speak.

"Welcome," he said warmly. "How have you all been settling in since our move to Varenya".