[Chapter 534: People Fear Power, Not Virtue]
On July 5th, Linton's music video shoot was interrupted for two days. He took his bodyguards and assistants on a private jet to the Anderson Farm.
Little Lina had been growing up in the gardens here, a place filled with vibrant energy. Though she was still almost a month shy of her first birthday, she was already talking and walking. When she spotted Linton from a distance, she swiftly broke away from Madonna, wobbling as she toddled toward him. Clearly, she called out, "Daddy," as she ran.
Linton's heart melted instantly. He hurried over, scooped her up, and planted several kisses on her soft, rosy cheeks. Lina giggled incessantly, then wrapped her little arms around his neck and said in a sweet, childish voice, "Daddy, why haven't you come to see me for so long? Mommy and the three aunts miss you so much."
"I miss you all too. That's why I came. Were you a good girl when I wasn't around?"
"I was very good! Mommy and the three aunts praised me every day."
After this simple exchange, Linton hugged Lina along with Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Sophie Marceau, and Cristiana one by one.
Monica, Sophie, and Cristiana were all nearing the end of their pregnancies, due in late August. Having spent some time in the gardens, they found the environment far better than Los Angeles for their babies' growth. Seeing Lina thriving here confirmed their decision: they would stay and carry their pregnancies to term at the estate.
Linton fully respected their wishes and had, early on, converted the third floor of the three-story reception building into a hospital. Top-of-the-line medical equipment was steadily arriving, including the latest delivery room technology. The medical staff who had assisted Madonna's delivery in the Los Angeles estate had already been brought to the gardens.
...
Soon after, a few major figures arrived: White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, California Governor Pete Wilson, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, Montana Governor Marc Racicot, General Electric CEO Jack Welch, Cisco CEO John Chambers, Boeing Chairman Jeffrey, Pepsi CEO Randall, New York Governor Howard, Panasonic's Masaharu Matsushita, and others.
Unlike previous meetings where Linton maintained the upper hand but exchanged ideas as equals with these leaders, this time he could feel their reverence and respect. Being insiders, they'd learned the news quickly. Within just a day and a half, everything they needed to know had reached them.
The truth they knew and the actual truth were vastly different, but merely knowing that Linton was backed by a terrifying, unstoppable force was enough.
It proved the old saying true: people fear power, not virtue. Only by showing both strength and benevolence -- mercy wielded with power -- can one truly command respect, benefits or kindness alone weren't enough. A hunger for excess only breeds greed and evil.
Demonstrating a force that inspired genuine fear earned respect and obedience. Only then would partners follow the rules without ulterior motives.
The effect was clear. Whether political giants like Leon Panetta, Pete Wilson, Richard Riordan or tycoons like Welch, Chambers, and Randall, after this meeting, all treated Linton with profound respect.
Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan even privately apologized to Linton for the police department's previous inaction, admitting that Crowell was no longer fit to lead the LAPD and promising to replace him promptly.
...
Richard had been enraged when he first heard of five brutal massacres in the Los Angeles district, wreaking havoc on the city's reputation and seriously hurting its investment and tourism potential.
But learning the full details left him sweating with fear, worried not just about Linton's personal safety but about the store's security -- since Linton's boutique, opened in May, had driven huge spending and employment, attracting the world's wealthy to Los Angeles and boosting the tourism sector.
If Linton's security was threatened or the Vitality and Beauty Pills were stolen, and Linton displeased, he might relocate the store elsewhere. That would cause unthinkable financial damage.
More than that, Richard feared losing Linton's goodwill personally. The city government had enjoyed excellent cooperation with Linton, and Richard himself benefited greatly.
If this security lapse alienated Linton and ended their partnership next year, his loss would be enormous. And since Linton now wielded this unfathomable, unstoppable power to devastate enemies effortlessly, Richard couldn't afford to cross him. He had to smooth things over.
Since Crowell had botched his job and angered Linton, replacing him was the only viable option. No matter whether Crowell would be quietly reassigned for retirement, fired outright, or prosecuted, Richard promised to respect Linton's judgment.
...
Particularly striking was Masaharu Matsushita, who treated Linton with greater humility.
Having just arrived in Los Angeles yesterday, he quickly learned about the grisly murders -- over a thousand people decapitated, five locations drenched in blood. Terrifying.
Unlike others, he couldn't help but recall a similarly shocking slaughter in Tokyo last year -- when the Bronfman family's leader and 70 armed guards were mysteriously wiped out overnight during negotiations over acquiring Universal Group. Though Tokyo PD kept the scene secret, his access during talks with Edgar Bronfman allowed him to see related photos.
He was certain these two massacres, though months apart and in different countries, were linked, the work of the same person or organization.
Upon hearing that the five affected factions had been planning to steal the Vitality and Beauty Pills, he concluded these murders were directly sparked by Linton.
His terror left him drenched in sweat, nearly shaking uncontrollably but relieved to have survived.
No one would suspect that the usually smiling, affable Linton was a deadly and ruthless killer.
During the Universal acquisition talks in Tokyo, he had given Linton plenty of trouble, but thankfully hadn't provoked this tiger, or his entire family might have suffered Bronfman's fate.
So he warned himself vehemently to keep this theory to himself -- reveal nothing. In the future, he would avoid dealings with Linton, always adopting the utmost respect and humility.
That said, he encouraged Sukato Matsushita to cultivate closer ties with Linton.
...
At lunch, Linton hosted the group and, all conversations revolved around him. The attendees no longer displayed their previous casual ease.
Once deals were finalized, most departed by plane. Only Leon Panetta stayed behind for a private meeting with Linton, conveying the Washington Four's support and dissatisfaction with the FBI. He also shared the President's handling plan for the bureau.
After the local FBI and LAPD wrapped up investigations into the five massacres, officials would hold Peter and associates accountable.
How that accountability would play out -- be it a quiet reassignment, full-scale disciplinary action, or prosecution -- depended entirely on Linton.
The new leadership would prioritize Linton's personal safety, the boutique's security, and protecting the Vitality and Beauty Pills above everything else.
Any power threatening Linton, his store, or the pills would face the FBI's harshest crackdown.
Unbeknownst to Leon Panetta, Linton had already been thoroughly briefed by Bill Cinton and had given his input on the FBI's treatment plan.
Even Hillary had called, claiming she wanted to bring Linton some comfort in person.
Linton, however, understood perfectly that this 'comfort' was just an excuse to seek his intimate solace.
Considering he hadn't indulged her for two months, her impatience was understandable. Calculating his schedule, he agreed to let her come to Los Angeles next week.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/HjHHhUXPn7.