After Morse's interruption, although no one continued to suspect him, none of them were willing to quit either.
The meeting ended, and Nolan's expression darkened.
He fixed his gaze on Charles.
"Uncle Charles, could you come to my villa tonight?"
Charles looked at him deeply.
"Of course."
The two then went their separate ways.
Once Nolan left, Charles's face turned cold.
"Useless fools. They can't even handle Nolan Locke."
He suspected that Nolan Locke had already guessed it was him who made the move. After all, only he knew Nolan's exact whereabouts. It wasn't hard to piece together.
Leaving the conference room, Nolan sought out Simon Phillips, the company's president.
"Boss, what brings you here?" Simon greeted him with deep respect.
Nolan got straight to the point.
"Simon, no one knows the company's current situation better than you."
Simon let out a weary sigh.
"Right now, the company is under immense public pressure. Worse, this could easily destroy buyer confidence. Our plan to turn things around with K-01 may very well collapse because of this."
After summarizing, Simon added grimly:
"Boss, Locke Technologies is already standing on the edge of a cliff."
Nolan wasn't surprised.
"I understand the situation. The reason I came here today is because I have a new plan, and I want your opinion."
Simon was taken aback. He hadn't interacted much with Nolan in the past. To him, the young master of the Locke family was nothing more than a reclusive tech nerd. Unfortunately, unlike Tony Stark, he didn't have the brains to match.
As Stark's competitor, Nolan Locke wasn't even on Tony's radar.
But K-01's release had forced Simon to rethink that opinion.
"K-01 can't save Locke Technologies anymore," Simon said cautiously. "And with the scandal and fractured leadership, I'll be blunt this company is finished."
Nolan replied calmly, even with a touch of nonchalance.
"I agree."
Simon froze.
"Boss, I believe Locke Technologies still has a chance."
Nolan didn't argue. He let Simon finish his reasoning before answering:
"You're right. But in my eyes, Locke Technologies isn't worth saving. Its structure is already rotten, and the shareholders are all driven by selfish motives.
One K-01 can't save it. Maybe two or three products of equal caliber could but why should I do that?
Rather than wasting my effort here, I'd rather start anew."
At this, Simon finally understood. His boss intended to abandon the company that bore his own family name.
A wave of despair washed over him. If even Nolan Locke had given up, what hope did he a mere hired executive have?
Nolan watched Simon's expression shift, then continued:
"My new company needs a president. I believe you're the right man. So, are you interested in leaving Locke Technologies?"
Simon hesitated, not rejecting immediately. He could already see Nolan's intent. But…
"K-01 is registered as the company's product. Without something that surpasses it, even with a new company, we'd be powerless."
He hoped that might dissuade Nolan.
But Nolan only smiled.
"That's not your concern. I can tell you this I lack nothing. Do you really think K-01 is all I've been working on? No. That was just the foundation.
When the new product is unveiled, K-01 will be obsolete overnight. In my vision, the new Locke Industries will outpace the current Locke Technologies in every way.
And this time, we're stepping into the arms industry."
Arms.
Simon's eyes widened. That wasn't a field ordinary men could touch.
"I need something real, not illusions, boss."
That was all Nolan needed to hear. He knew he had convinced him.
He began sharing some of his concepts for advanced robotics like a flawless medical robot reminiscent of Baymax, or the Terminators he already had stored in his warehouse.
He couldn't afford to mass-produce them yet, but when the time came, he would.
The conversation lasted for two full hours.
By the time Simon left, he felt dazed. Had Nolan's father's death not forced these inventions into the light, who knew how long they would have remained hidden?
Simon wasn't a researcher, but as president of a tech company, he understood technology. And what Nolan had revealed were all grounded in real theory.
Unbelievable. That was the only word he could think of.
Still, he accepted Nolan's assignment.
Business was like war no room for naïveté.
Since Nolan had chosen the Golden Cicada Escape Plan, it meant stripping Locke Technologies of its best resources and funneling them into the new company.
They would also have to conduct some illegal maneuvers. But with Nolan and Simon steering the ship, no one would suspect a thing. After all, who would believe the company's own owner planned to jump ship?
Simon trembled with excitement.
With Simon secured, Nolan felt no further attachment to the company.
Its decline wasn't Simon's fault, and he needed someone to manage things. Over the years, Simon had done well in that role.
Now, it was time to close the chapter.
Driving back to his villa, Nolan smiled faintly.
"My dear Uncle Charles, are you really the man I think you are? What a truly heartbreaking matter."
His villa lay in the suburbs. Manhattan had its perks, but nothing compared to the comfort of suburban living lush trees outside the door, a beautiful lake nearby.
It had been his home even when his father lived in Manhattan, because that was where his private laboratory stood.
Only after his father's death, when life became unbearably busy, did Nolan move into the city.
But tonight, the villa was the perfect place.
The doorbell chimed.
Nolan, smiling, welcomed Charles inside.
"Uncle Charles, how many years have you known my father?"
For once, he wasn't in his sharp suit, but a loose, casual outfit.
"More than thirty years," Charles answered with a sigh.
"Then, Uncle Charles," Nolan's eyes turned cold, "can you tell me why you wanted to kill me?"
There was no room for nostalgia.