[SIDE MISSION COMPLETION RATING: S]
[REWARDS: 20% of Golden Crust shares, a mansion in Silverbloom Estate, +100 reputation point.]
Note: Share documents and house deeds have been placed in the System Storage Pocket.
"Tessa, honey, are you alright?" Thorne asked, pulling her into a fierce hug the moment she stepped through the door.
Tessa hugged him back, then noticed the stern, worried expressions on Rowan and Cyris's faces. She laughed softly. "I'm fine, really. Lyria would do the same for me any day, so please stop looking at me like I've just come back from a battlefield."
Before they could respond, her Clawcom began to chime. Seeing her mother's name on the screen, Tessa excused herself to take the call, leaving Lyria alone to face the "interrogation" from her family.
"How could you not tell us that Tessa was lying?" Finn began, his voice a mix of frustration and relief. "You let her go to jail while you stayed quiet."
"I... I just don't know what to say to you," he continued, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry," Lyria said softly, looking at her feet. "I didn't want to worry everyone, especially if I couldn't resolve it quickly. I had to make sure my plan worked first."
Serena stepped forward, placing a hand on Lyria's shoulder. "Next time, just take us along with you. We're a family, Lyria. You don't have to carry the world on your shoulders." She let out a long, heavy sigh of relief before heading toward her room.
Once the house settled down, Lyria retreated to her own bedroom. Knowing Tessa would be on the phone for a while, she reached into her System Storage and pulled out the physical documents: the deed to a mansion in the prestigious Silverbloom Estate and the 20% share certificates for The Golden Crust.
Elsewhere, in a high-rise office overlooking the city, the true owner of The Golden Crust sat with her assistant. A file sat on the mahogany table between them.
The name on the cover was embossed in bold letters: Lyria Snowpelt.
"Everything we've gathered on her suggests she's perfectly normal," the assistant reported, tapping the file. "She's a local entrepreneur. There's nothing unusual in her history, except for the recent conflict she had with the manager of one of our suburban branches."
The owner narrowed her eyes, looking at the photo of the young Nekolet. "Normal people don't suddenly acquire twenty percent of a multi-million-Elyria company overnight. Find out who is backing her."
The CEO of The Golden Crust, a beastwoman known for her iron-clad composure, stood up and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.The sudden shift in power dynamics made her skin prickle.Despite the "normal" report, her instincts screamed otherwise.
"Twenty percent," the CEO murmured, more to herself than her assistant. "That's enough to tip the scales on any board decision. We can't leave this to chance."
"she is now a major stakeholder," the CEO said, her voice dropping to a cool, business-like tone. "Contact her. We have the annual year-end shareholders' meeting by the end of the year. send a formal invitation and see if she intends to attend. I want to see the face of the girl who bought her way into my boardroom."
"noted" the assistant noted "and concerning the branch in the suburbs?"
She paused pointing a manicured finger at her assistant. "And send a direct order to the new manager taking over the branch. Tell them that Lyria Snowpelt is to be treated with absolute courtesy. No petty provocations, no 'accidental' logistics delays for now. I don't want her having any unnecessary ammunition against us until I figure out exactly who she is or who is pulling her strings."
The assistant noted this then bowed before talking her leave.
While Lyria was in her room checking the shares document she received a call from an unknown number. "Hello? This is Lyria Snowpelt."
"Good evening, Ms. Snowpelt," a crisp, professional voice replied. "I am calling from the executive office of Golden Crust. We have been notified of your significant acquisition of company shares. As a major shareholder, your presence is highly anticipated in our annual shareholders' meeting scheduled for the end of the year. We are calling to inform you and confirm your attendance."
Lyria being someone who has once been at the top in the business world was calm and she replied smoothly while tracing her finger on the shares document.
"Yes. Thank you for the notification."
after which the call was concluded. Holding her Clawcom, Lyria's lips curved into a faint, wicked smirk.
Golden Crust… I'm not done with you. Elsewhere the assistant returned back to the Ceo's office "ma'am she was surprisingly calm and her attendance is confirmed"
The CEO let out a slow, calculated hum. "Good. If she were just a puppet for a silent investor, she would have sent a lawyer to represent her interests. By choosing to come herself, she's making her intentions known. She wants a seat at the table, and she isn't afraid of the scrutiny." she then grinned "looks like I will have a new toy to play with."
The assistant shuddered at her remark and immediately asked to be excused.
The following days were a whirlwind for Lyria. Thanks to online exposure, Moonpetal Coffee & Confections exploded in popularity, with customer traffic far exceeding expectations.
"At this rate," Tessa said, staring at the revenue reports, exhaustion seeping into her voice, "we should open another branch."
"Tell me about it," Lyria replied dryly.
"Before that, we'll need people to train for expansion. What should the requirements be?"
Tessa looked at her best friend and her boss who seemed noticeably calmer after everything that had happened.
"Loyalty comes first," Lyria said without hesitation. "After that, diligence. And when recruiting… be careful. Spies will definitely try to slip in."
After the conversation ended, Lyria paused.
She had almost forgotten about the System mission she hadn't checked yet.
DING!
[NEW MISSION:MAGNATE MANIFESTATION]