[The Abyssal Academy - The Principal's Office]
With the incoming revenue streams secured and the SIP capital pooled, Victor Thorne was ready to execute his first major acquisition.
Sitting behind his mahogany desk, Victor placed a glowing, blue communication crystal on the wood. He tapped it with his fountain pen.
The crystal hummed, projecting a life-sized holographic image of a towering, elegant Elven woman. She wore robes of woven starlight and a crown of glowing sapphire. This was Archmage Aeloria, the supreme ruler of the Elven Mage Tower to the North.
"Principal Thorne," Aeloria's voice was melodic, yet dripping with centuries of absolute arrogance. "You have requested an audience. Speak quickly. The High Elves do not waste time with mortal dark mages."
"Archmage Aeloria," Victor didn't stand. He didn't bow. He casually checked his gold pocket watch. "I am contacting you regarding your tower's financial solvency."
Aeloria laughed, a delicate, condescending sound. "Our solvency? Our tower is protected by an Aegis Barrier powered by an ancient ley-line. We hold a monopoly on high-tier mana crystals. We are untouchable by your wretched villains."
"You have a monopoly on crystals, yes," Victor agreed smoothly. "But according to my audit, your research and development costs have spiraled out of control. Two hundred years ago, you took out a massive loan from the Iron Bank to fund your astral observatory. A loan you have repeatedly defaulted on."
Aeloria's smile vanished. Her sapphire eyes narrowed. "That is internal Elven business. The Iron Bank knows better than to march on our Aegis Barrier."
"The Iron Bank didn't march on you," Victor opened the heavy, black Tycoon's Ledger. Blinding golden light spilled across the desk. "Because as of this morning, they sold your debt to me. The Pantheon Group used our pooled Mutual Fund capital to purchase your fifty Million Gold deficit at a discount."
Victor slashed his pen across the glowing page.
"I am your new creditor, Aeloria. And I am calling in the debt. Payable immediately."
The Archmage sneered, her hands glowing with terrifying, destructive arcane energy. "You arrogant human! You think a piece of paper matters to me? Send your armies! My Aegis Barrier will vaporize your students before they even reach the foothills! We will never pay you!"
"I anticipated you would be uncooperative," Victor said coldly. "Which is why I am not sending an army. I am executing a foreclosure."
"You cannot foreclose on a magical fortress!" Aeloria shouted.
"I can," Victor tapped the Ledger. "Because by defaulting on the debt I now own, the deed to the Elven Mage Tower legally transfers to the Pantheon Group. It is my property now."
Aeloria prepared to cast a spell to shatter the communication crystal, but suddenly, the holographic image flickered.
Behind the Archmage, the ambient blue glow of the Elven Tower began to rapidly shut down. The massive, impenetrable Aegis Barrier that had protected the elves for a millennia flickered and died.
"What are you doing?!" Aeloria shrieked, looking around in absolute panic as the magical alarms in her tower began to blare. "My wards! The ley-line is disconnecting!"
"As the legal owner of the property," Victor adjusted his midnight-blue cuffs, his Tycoon's Aura suffocating the hologram. "I am simply turning off the utilities. Eviction is effective immediately."
Victor turned to the heavy oak doors of his office.
"Seraphina," Victor commanded.
The Dark Elf opened the doors. Standing behind her in the corridor were two thousand heavily armed villains, all wearing matching corporate moving-company hats and holding empty canvas sacks. They were practically vibrating with capitalist greed.
"Deploy the shareholders," Victor ordered. "Go repossess our mana crystals."