After everyone took their seats, the atmosphere gradually settled.
Conversation began—but it was clear who controlled the table.
Jason Carter, the Mayor, and the President of Riverside University were the ones truly speaking. Their discussion flowed naturally, as if this were a routine working meeting rather than a private meal.
The others?
They either chimed in with cautious flattery or remained silent, only speaking when the mayor called on them by name.
The scene resembled elementary students being called on by a strict homeroom teacher—nervous, careful, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Daniel, James, Evan, and the Will family's entourage didn't dare interrupt at all.
A few people quietly excused themselves to the restroom when no one was looking…
…and never came back.
As Jason and the mayor spoke, the tone of their conversation grew deeper—and more astonishing.
This was no longer a businessman talking to a city official.
It sounded like two city leaders discussing policy.
They talked about urban positioning, economic structure, and future growth engines.
At the core of it all—
Tourism.
The mayor explained candidly that the city's manufacturing, tech, agriculture, and fisheries sectors were all average. None could serve as dominant economic pillars.
But the city possessed one irreplaceable advantage:
Natural resources.
Tourism, if developed properly, could become the backbone industry—stimulating retail, hospitality, transportation, and services.
Jason nodded as he listened, then casually added ideas of his own.
Within minutes, the conversation evolved into concrete planning.
The two quickly outlined a joint project:
A cultural tourism corporation to integrate and develop all tourism resources across the region.
It would go beyond the already-planned Ecological Corridor and Stargazer Bay developments.
Smaller assets would be incorporated too:
Islands. Resorts. Coral reef zones. Public beaches.
Jason emphasized one point:
"Don't underestimate small attractions. Developed properly, they become landmark destinations."
He gave examples—once-remote islands transformed into booming tourist hotspots through smart branding and infrastructure.
Local culture. Natural scenery. Hospitality businesses.
Restaurants, guesthouses—each created jobs and economic circulation.
"When multiple attractions form a unified tourism identity," Jason said, "their combined appeal multiplies exponentially."
He stressed preservation over reconstruction.
"Don't overdevelop. Keep the original character. Amplify each site's unique selling point—then weave them into one cultural narrative."
The table listened in silence.
This wasn't theory.
This was strategic urban planning.
And Jason didn't stop at talk.
Almost casually, he made the decision:
"We'll establish Cultural Tourism Group. Initial investment—five billion."
Several businessmen nearby visibly stiffened.
Five billion—decided over lunch.
The mayor didn't hesitate either.
Support policies were outlined immediately:
Citywide sanitation and environmental upgrades Streamlined land-use and approval processes Long-term tourism land leases Fast-track permits for development zones Financial incentives and infrastructure support
It was coordination at the highest level—capital and policy moving in lockstep.
Around the table, wealthy entrepreneurs felt their pupils contract.
They had arrived expecting to witness a negotiation about the Will family.
Instead—
They were watching a multi-billion regional development project being born in real time.
And the most terrifying part?
It was decided casually—
Between bites of food, between sips of tea, on a wooden table in a countryside restaurant.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the business elites around the table quickly came back to their senses.
One after another, they spoke up—expressing strong support and willingness to cooperate.
On the surface, it was political awareness. With the mayor present and such a major project announced, failing to voice support would be social suicide.
But beneath that?
It was opportunity.
A massive one.
Hotels, restaurants, yacht clubs, resorts, transportation companies—everyone present had some form of tourism-related asset. If they could integrate into the Cultural Tourism network, future profits were practically guaranteed.
Applause. Praise. Eager pledges of cooperation.
In the corner, the Will family sat frozen.
Daniel, James, and Evan felt their scalps go numb.
Were they wealthy?
Of course.
With total family assets exceeding ten billion dollars, they were considered top-tier by any normal standard.
But sitting here, the gap between them and Jason Carter felt no smaller than the gap between an office worker earning $3,000 a month and the Will family themselves.
A five-billion-dollar project—decided in casual conversation.
They had never even imagined such a thing.
Let alone five billion—even allocating five hundred million would require multiple family meetings, feasibility studies, and weeks of debate.
Yet Jason had just… said it.
Evan's mind raced.
He began subconsciously tallying Jason's assets in this city alone:
And above all—
The entire Bay commercial project.
Plus the newly announced project— Cultural Tourism.
It was no exaggeration to say that anywhere you went in the city, you'd run into Jason's assets.
Trying to avoid his influence would be like trying to avoid the sky.
Now he even sat as an equal with the mayor—and his influence was clearly still expanding.
The city's economic orbit was beginning to revolve around him.
Follow him—prosper. Oppose him—perish.
Calling him the city's economic overlord wasn't exaggeration.
And this didn't even include his holdings in other major cities… nor the ten billion sitting in bank deposits.
The Will family shuddered just thinking about it.
Their current crisis was already severe—
But they knew this wasn't the worst Jason could do.
This felt like… probing pressure.
If he escalated further—
They would be finished.
Evan's face turned ashen.
He had always valued pride above all else.
Now he was filled with regret.
If he could go back, he would never have provoked Jason.
If kneeling now could save the family, he would do it without hesitation.
What was face worth compared to survival?
Without his identity as a rich second-generation heir, what was left of him?
Nothing.
Time crawled painfully until the gathering finally ended.
After the mayor and the university president departed, the others gradually dispersed. The Will family's invited connections also slipped away quickly.
There was no point staying.
The moment those two officials had appeared, every connection they brought had become meaningless.
Soon, only a few people remained.
Daniel and James led Evan forward.
Without hesitation, they made him bow deeply to Jason.
Then Daniel spoke, voice heavy but respectful.
"Mr Carter… this is our Will family's failure in discipline."
"Your acquisition of Moon Island—paying above market—was originally an opportunity for us."
"This foolish child not only showed no gratitude… he repaid kindness with hostility."
"It is only natural that you retaliated. I do not dare object."
He paused, then lowered his posture further.
"But I beg you—show mercy. Spare our Will family."
"We are willing to compensate you at any cost."
Daniel continued:
"If there's anything in our Will family you desire, we will transfer it directly."
"After all, if you destroy us through capital and then acquire the remains, you'll still need to rebuild operations from scratch."
"If we transfer assets directly, brand value and customer channels can connect seamlessly."
He took a breath.
"Our five most profitable flagship luxury malls…"
"You may choose any of them."
"We will sell them to you at a 30% discount based on the current lowest market valuation."
"We only ask that you stop here—and allow the Will family to survive."
For a patriarch of Daniel Will's stature to speak this way—
It was the ultimate humiliation.
Several businessmen who hadn't gone far overheard and felt their brows twitch violently.
They understood exactly what this meant.
Those five flagship malls represented nearly half of the Will family's total assets—and an even greater share of their profits.
Selling them at crisis valuation—then discounting another 30%—
It was practically giving away the family's lifeblood.
Yet no one thought Daniel was foolish.
On the contrary—
They admired his decisiveness.
Because everyone knew the truth:
If this continued, the Will family had zero chance.
Under Jason's capital and influence, resistance only led to bankruptcy and liquidation.
Trading half the empire for survival—
Was the only rational move left.
And strategically?
It was shrewd.
Those malls were exactly what Jason needed to expand his retail ecosystem.
Better to surrender prime assets now—
Than let the entire Will empire collapse into worthless debris later.
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