That night, the Rock family residence was still brightly lit.
Marvin sat in the study with his father, reviewing the reports that continued to pour in.
His phone rang again.
An international number.
Marvin answered the call.
“Marvin Rock speaking.”
A man’s voice came from the other end.
“We’re from Ferum Group, Northice. After reviewing all the data and the results of the independent tests, we’ve decided to work with you.”
Marvin remained calm.
“Please, go on.”
“We’re ready to sign a long-term purchase contract for MR-25.”
The man paused for a moment.
“The value will be fifty billion dollars for the first five years.”
Werner, sitting not far away, immediately held his breath.
Though he’d already heard several similar reports throughout the day, an amount that large was still staggering.
Marvin ended the call after they finished discussing the details.
He set his phone on the table.
“That makes eight,” he said.
Werner nodded slowly.
Over the past two days, energy companies from around the world had been contacting them nonstop.
Some became investors.
Others became buyers.
The amount of money flowing in had already reached a figure most people could hardly imagine.
All because of one thing.
MR-25.
MR-25 was no ordinary product.
Behind that simple name was the result of years of painstaking research.
It had all begun when Marvin discovered a new element on his family’s land.
He later named the element Glorisium.
After countless rounds of research and testing, Marvin succeeded in developing a new-generation energy material that was far more efficient than many conventional energy sources.
Its production costs were lower.
Its safety rating was higher.
Most importantly, its potential was great enough to completely transform the energy industry.
That was why so many companies were scrambling to be the first to gain access to the technology.
They knew one thing.
Whoever controlled MR-25 first would gain a massive advantage in the global energy race.
Werner leaned back in his chair.
He looked much healthier than he had over the past few months.
“I never imagined this before,” he said softly.
“What do you mean?”
“That things could change so quickly in such a short time.”
Marvin smiled faintly.
“This is only the beginning.”
Werner chuckled.
“You’re still saying that after seeing these numbers?”
“Because it really is only the beginning.”
Marvin’s expression turned serious.
“Dad, I’ve made a decision.”
Werner immediately gave him his full attention.
“What decision?”
“We’re going to end all dependence on the companies owned by Harvard Corp.”
The room suddenly fell silent.
Werner stared at his son for several moments.
Then he slowly smiled.
“To be honest, I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that.”
For years, Rock Electra had always been in a difficult position.
Many policies had hurt their company.
Various strange regulations appeared for no clear reason.
And strangely enough, nearly all of them always benefited the same party.
Harvard Corp.
That giant corporation wielded enormous influence in Chemisland.
They controlled a wide range of energy sectors.
Oil.
Gas.
Coal.
Electricity.
And many other fields.
Quite a few companies had been forced to play along with them just to survive.
Rock Electra was one of them.
But things were different now.
Marvin had returned.
And MR-25 had changed everything.
“I want things to change,” Marvin said.
“Not just for the Rock family.”
“But also for all the people they’ve been oppressing.”
Werner looked at his son with pride.
Even as a child, Marvin had always thought differently.
He’d never been satisfied with merely being part of the system.
He’d always wanted to improve it.
“Then do it.”
Werner nodded firmly.
“I support you.”
Chemisland was known as one of the wealthiest countries in the energy sector.
It possessed vast quantities of various natural resources.
That was why so many major companies had been founded and grown in the country.
Yet behind that prosperity, business competition was fiercely cutthroat.
A single mistake could bring a company crashing down.
And the slightest advantage could turn someone into the next ruler.
Marvin understood that better than most.
He’d grown up in the business world.
He’d witnessed firsthand how power worked.
How money influenced decisions.
And how large corporations often treated smaller competitors.
That was why he didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of the previous generation.
“We can’t just be spectators,” he said.
“We have to become the main players.”
Werner laughed with satisfaction.
“You really are just like your great-grandfather.”
Marvin raised an eyebrow.
“Rocky Rock?”
“Yes.”
Werner’s face filled with nostalgia.
“He always thought big.”
“And he was never afraid to stand up to anyone.”
Marvin smiled.
“Hopefully, I can live up to him.”
“No.”
Werner shook his head.
“You don’t have to live up to anyone.”
“You just have to be Marvin Rock.”
Those simple words left Marvin silent for a moment.
Then he stood.
With deep respect, he looked at his father.
“I promise I’ll take the Rock family farther than ever before.”
Werner nodded.
“I believe in you.”
The next morning.
The clock showed six o’clock.
Marvin opened his eyes.
For the first time in a long while, he woke up without the sound of an iron cell door.
Without a prison guard’s shouts.
Without the stifling air.
He sat on the edge of the bed for a while.
Enjoying the peace that had once been taken from him.
Then he walked toward the window.
He slowly opened the curtains.
The morning sunlight immediately filled the room.
Marvin looked outside.
The sky was clear.
It was a good day.
A very good day.
Because today wasn’t an ordinary day.
Today was the day everything would be decided.
The day his wager with Raymond would begin to be put to the test.
The day the Winston family would see that he never made baseless claims.
And the day Marvin Rock’s first step toward his rise would truly begin.
Elsewhere, some people were still sleeping peacefully.
They didn’t know yet.
That a massive storm was moving toward them.
And when that storm arrived...
Not everyone would be able to survive.