Chapter 18: The Silk That Binds the World
They called it ambition.
But history would call it inevitable.
From coastal kingdoms to desert dynasties, from sky-fortresses ruled by mage-lords to icebound warrior states — the world was complicated.
But every nation shared one truth:
They needed to eat. To build. To heal. To shine.
And I controlled the companies that delivered all four.
I. The Network Strategy
I didn't send armies.
I sent contracts, caravans, credit, and culture.
The Plan:
Establish branch holdings in every major nation.
Use local figureheads backed secretly by Hollow Rise capital.
Offer exclusive trade deals tailored to each culture's needs.
Seed economic dependence while staying politically "neutral."
[System Expansion Triggered: Global Conglomerate Protocol]
Goal: Acquire or found operations in 100% of major regions
Progress: 5/9
Timeframe: 1 year or risk hostile coalition
II. Continental Rollout
✅ Elaren Empire (Main Kingdom)
Status: Dominant
Holdings: Agriculture, Banking, Magic-Trade, Luxury Goods
Special Asset: Royal Council Access
✅ Korrathi Union (Desert Principalities)
Action: Acquired spice bartering syndicate & upgraded water-refining glassworks
Bonus: Local healer guild signed exclusive potion ingredient contracts
System Tag: Essence of the Sun Route secured
✅ Frosmark Dominion (Northern Ice States)
Action: Reopened ancient froststeel mines with magical heating tech
Allied with beast-rider clans via cold-resistant merchant gear
Bonus: "Blackhollow" name spread through tribe chieftains
✅ Aeralune Sky-Cities (Mage Aristocracy)
Entry via enchanted jewelry & Valcoren watches
Gained airborne transport rights by fixing a failing levitation crystal grid
Status: Under mage guild watch
Bonus: Mage-Artisan Council now buys Blackhollow luxury stock
✅ Marrow Coast (Lawless Freeports)
Already secured via Grelvain Syndica
Status: Economic Anchor Point
🟨 Zan-Wu Clans (Far Eastern Islands)
In Progress: Negotiating naval tech exchange and sponsoring jade-craft revival
Mission: Secure 5 trade ports
Challenge: Must appease clan-elder tribunals and their prophecy readers
🟨 Drahvont Theocracy (Underground Nation of Priest-Kings)
In Progress: Discreetly funding divine relic restoration to gain access to gold-temples
Must bypass religious ban on outside "soulless trade"
🟨 Virenshale Confederacy (Jungle-Warrior States)
Target: Buy out struggling logging firm and introduce herbal alchemy-based medicine
Challenge: Must survive their "honor duel trade approval" ritual
🟨 Dregari Wastes (Outlaw Badlands)
Plan: Buy up water sources and outlaw black markets, converting warlords to silent partners
Potential: Hidden void-crystal mines — if politically neutralized
Current Reach: 5/9 Nations Integrated
Next Targets: Drahvont, Zan-Wu, Virenshale, Dregari
III. The System Reacts
[Global Integration Bonus Activated]
– Trade Income Multiplier: x2 in foreign nations
– Blackhollow Brand becomes a Global Influence Icon
– Unlocks new system tag:
"Sovereign by Coin" – Your economic control now rivals royal power
New Mission: Complete Global Domination – 9/9 Holdings
Optional: Establish "The Hollow Council" – A shadow group of rulers beholden to your empire, not their own crowns
IV. Behind the Thrones
Ray returned from the Freeports with a sealed letter.
A secret summit was being organized.
Not by kings.
Not by popes.
Not by generals.
But by the other merchant families — the last few you hadn't bought, broken, or buried.
And they were calling it:
"The Final Ledger."
They would either bow…
Or bleed.