chapter
Chapter 27: The Unmasking
Damian reached the base of the stage, his hands shaking with unadulterated rage.
"This is slander!" Damian spat, pointing a trembling finger at Leo. "You are manipulating footage! The Calderon Foundation is attempting a hostile takeover through corporate sabotage!"
Leo calmly stepped down from the podium, closing the distance until he stood just a few feet away from the furious CEO. The cameras of the international press corps flashed violently, capturing every micro-expression.
"It is not sabotage to expose a rot, Damian," Leo said, pulling a thick, encrypted drive from his pocket. "And it is not a takeover."
Leo looked out at the consortium of bankers who had been preparing to bail Aetherius out.
"Thirty minutes ago, the Calderon Foundation submitted a comprehensive, undeniable dossier of Aetherius Global’s human rights violations to the International Criminal Court," Leo announced, his voice echoing perfectly through the massive hall. "Any financial institution that authorizes a loan to Aetherius today will be formally listed as an accessory to crimes against humanity."
A collective gasp swept through the room. The lead investors, men who cared only for their own reputations and profit margins, instantly stood up and began walking out of the hall.
Damian looked around in absolute, paralyzing panic as his financial lifeline evaporated in real-time. The invincible armor he had worn his entire life dissolved into dust.
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"You have destroyed my company," Damian hissed, his voice dropping to a desperate, hollow whisper.
"No," Leo corrected him, his gaze unwavering and entirely devoid of pity. "I have simply removed your shield. The truth destroyed your company."
