The Tycoon's Odyssey

Malcolm leaned back in his chair, his fingers pressed against his temples. The dim room was lit only by the faint glow of a single desk lamp.

In the last few days, he felt as though he had aged a decade. His once sharp mind now felt clouded, and the weight of recent events bore down on him like a mountain.

The attacks had not only shaken the USL's infrastructure but had also thrown the global economy into chaos. Stock markets across the world crashed, wiping out trillions of dollars in market value.

The USL alone had seen a staggering $7 trillion in losses, comparable to the 2008 financial crisis, but unfolding at an even more alarming pace. Major industries like technology, transportation, and finance were haemorrhaging money. Entire sectors had ground to a halt, with adjusted inflation losses nearing $10 trillion globally.

The economy was in freefall. Signs of recession loomed ominously as businesses shuttered, unemployment skyrocketed, and supply chains broke down.

Banks faced runs by panicked withdrawals, and the housing market faced its sharpest decline in decades. Nations scrambled to stabilize their currencies, but the damage was already done.

For Malcolm, however, the most unsettling part wasn't the financial toll—it was the sheer audacity of the attacks. First, the ICBMs, a symbol of their military supremacy, had been rendered useless, disintegrating mid-air without a trace. Now, this latest assault had paralyzed not just the USL, but the entire world.

"It feels like we're at his mercy," Malcolm muttered, staring at his reflection in the window. His face looked gaunt, and for the first time, he regretted ever accepting the presidency. What was the point of power when it couldn't protect the very people who had entrusted him with their lives?

He sighed deeply and turned to his staff, who sat quietly in the corner of the room. "Do we have any updates? Any progress?"

One of them hesitated before speaking. "Sir, we've been exploring a way to establish a temporary communication link despite the attack. It's risky, but we believe we can create a secure, short-range signal using an isolated frequency. It won't be much, but it might be enough for a call."

Malcolm straightened in his chair. "Do it. Set it up immediately."

The staff nodded and hurried out of the room. Malcolm rubbed his tired eyes and prepared himself.

He knew exactly who he needed to call.

_____

The screen flickered to life, and Walter's face appeared, calm and composed as always. He was seated in a dimly lit room, his sharp features accentuated by the shadows.

"I was wondering why you hadn't called me until now," Walter said with a faint smile, his tone cold and distant.

Malcolm's frustration boiled over. "What do you mean by that? Don't act nonchalant. You have a hand in all this destruction! You can't just pretend you're uninvolved now."

Walter leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Malcolm. "I know. That's why I intend to end it."

Malcolm frowned, leaning closer to the screen. "End it? But how? He has barricaded himself in that fortress, surrounded by technology we can't even begin to penetrate. It's like he's untouchable."

Walter's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Leave that to me. I have a plan."

Malcolm shook his head in disbelief. "You speak as if you've already figured everything out. But we can't even enter his territory, let alone manage to confront him. How do you propose to pull him out?"

Walter's smile widened. "By pulling that mouse out of his hole. You see, Malcolm, Evan's strength lies in his fortress, in his control over technology. But every fortress has a weak point. And every man, no matter how powerful, has something he values."

Malcolm narrowed his eyes. "And what does Evan value? What could possibly lure him out?"

Walter leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with determination. "You'll find out soon enough. Just trust me on this. Prepare your forces, but let me take the lead."

Malcolm hesitated. He didn't fully trust Walter, but at this point, he had no other choice. His voice softened, laced with desperation. "Fine. But if you fail, this country might not survive another attack like this."

Walter nodded, his expression unchanging. "Failure is not an option. I'll be in touch."

The screen went dark, leaving Malcolm alone with his thoughts once again. He stared at the blank monitor, his mind racing. For the first time in his career, he felt truly powerless. But deep down, a flicker of hope flickered.

Malcolm then turned to his cabinet.

"Let's do one thing. Try to establish contact with others and mark down Evan's public image."

"Do everything in our power to label him as the most heinous bastard on this planet. A threat to the existence of the world"

_____

Chaos reigned in the streets of every major city. People gathered in crowds, shouting, arguing, and demanding answers.

In New Yok, a woman clutched her young son, her voice trembling as she screamed at a nearby official.

"What are you doing about this? My husband's in another state, and I can't even call him!"

In Daxian, a shopkeeper argued with a customer who couldn't pay due to the crash. "I can't just give you this for free!"

"Then what am I supposed to do?" the man shouted back. "I can't access my bank, my phone doesn't work, and now I can't even buy food?"

In Okyo, trucks mounted with screens rolled through the streets, blasting propaganda.

"This is all Evan's doing!" the announcer declared. "He has attacked the very fabric of our society!"

People in the crowd murmured in anger and fear.

"Why would he do this?" one man asked, his face pale.

"He's a billionaire. They don't care about people like us," a woman replied bitterly.

"But why target civilians?" another voice chimed in.

"It doesn't matter why!" someone else shouted. "He's gone too far!"

Flyers with Evan's face began appearing on walls and lampposts, branding him a tyrant and a threat to humanity. Conversations turned heated as people debated whether he was a villain or a misunderstood genius.

In a high-level meeting, a man stood atop a crate, addressing a gathered crowd. "This isn't just an attack on technology. This is an attack on our way of life! If we don't stop him now, who knows what he'll do next?"

The world was on edge, teetering on the brink of despair. But amid the chaos, one thing was clear: Evan's actions had reshaped the world forever. And the question on everyone's lips was the same.

What would he do next?

His terror had already started spreading but a greater part of people began to doubt the government and wondered if it was the government's doing.

Soon, conspiracy theories started shooting off here and there, feeding the global unrest.