Tia, his secretary, nodded quickly and seriously. "Understood, Sir."
She immediately stepped out, leaving Ragil to sit back down, leaning against his chair with his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
He sighed quietly, not expecting to be betrayed. His mind flashed back to Alaric's words last night—words he had dismissed as mere speculation, but now they had become undeniable reality.
Around 1:03 PM, all the evidence was handed over to the authorities to handle the case.
"Sir, everything is complete." Tia stood at the doorway holding a thick folder and a flash drive in her left hand. "I've organized everything and copied the data into digital form as well."
Ragil nodded slowly. "Put them on the desk."
After Tia placed the items down, she remained standing, waiting.
"Sir… what should we do next?"
Ragil looked at her with a hardened, determined gaze.
"We report it. I'll contact the authorities. This manipulation doesn't just tarnish the company's reputation—it's crossed into legal territory."
He stood up, grabbed his phone from the table, and pressed a contact named INDUSTRY LEGAL COMMISSIONER.
"Tia, get Nyla on the line. Tell her to schedule a meeting for me. I'm going to Aestron's office today, in person."
Tia hesitated for a moment. "Going there directly, Sir?"
Ragil nodded. "I can't let this slide. They've gone too far."
At 3:02 PM, a black car stopped right in front of the tall glass building labeled PT Aestron Logistics. Ragil stepped out wearing a dark suit that made him look sharp. A bodyguard in black suit accompanied him.
Upon entering the lobby, a receptionist greeted him with a forced smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Ragil! I didn't expect you to visit today."
"No need for small talk," Ragil cut in, his voice firm.
His footsteps echoed sharply, like the strike of a judge's gavel. At the front of the lobby, a formally dressed man appeared hastily—Harry Satria, the CEO of Aestron. He approached with a forced smile.
"Mr. Ragil… I'm surprised by your visit. How can I help you?"
Ragil closed the distance until they were only a meter apart.
"I know everything, Mr. Harry. Duplicate invoices. Phantom funds. Forged documents. Do you think you could fool us with cheap accounting tricks?"
Harry chuckled nervously, trying to ease the tension. "Sir, I think this is just a misunderstanding—"
"A misunderstanding?" Ragil's tone sharpened. "We've reported it all. Your company's finances will be thoroughly investigated. And I've informed all your partners the same."
Harry turned pale. His hands started moving nervously inside his pockets.
Suddenly, from the right side of the hallway, an Aestron staff member rushed over, panicked.
"Mr. Harry!" he said. "I just got news from our partners—Kresna Line, Bumi Export, even Trans Maritim. They're all pulling their funds and canceling cooperation today. They don't want to be involved in... this scandal!"
Harry froze. His world crumbled with just one sentence.
Ragil spun around, unwilling to waste another second there.
"If you think you can play with fire, be prepared to burn."
He walked out without looking back. The bodyguard opened the car door, and he got in immediately.
Inside the car, he remained silent for a moment, then took out his phone and called Nyla.
"Nyla, arrange an internal press conference. I want all divisions to know that we will not tolerate any form of criminal activity."
..
The TV was on at moderate volume. The warm yellowish light from the living room lamps created a cozy atmosphere. On the small table in the center, there was a glass jar filled with cookies and a bowl of salted peanuts.
Alaric sat cross-legged on the carpet, leaning against the sofa, holding a packet of snacks. He flipped through channels before settling on a national news broadcast.
"The arrest was made around 3:45 PM today, right at the headquarters of PT Aestron Logistics. Authorities seized several documents and digital devices suspected to be linked to investor fund manipulation and forged financial reports."
The screen changed to show Harry Satria, former CEO of Aestron, being escorted by police with handcuffs and wearing a mask. Camera flashes exploded around him, reporters shouting questions about his motives and comments, but Harry remained silent, head bowed.
Alaric munched his snack slowly. His mouth murmured softly.
"I expected this," he said quietly, almost like a passing breeze.
From the sofa, Niel Greg, dressed casually with a glass of tea in hand, glanced at his son. Meanwhile, his wife, Karen Leona, flipped through a magazine in her lap, not fully focused but glancing briefly at the TV.
Niel narrowed his eyes, looking again at Harry's face on screen.
"So it's true," he muttered more softly, almost as if speaking to himself.
Niel looked once more at Alaric, observing his calm demeanor. His son sat on the carpet wearing shorts and a loose hoodie, like any other young man.
But from that calmness, Niel sensed something deeper. Strategy. Planning. And a maturity that was not reckless.
In his mind, one sentence formed:
"This kid plays the game too cleanly. He didn't even have to get his hands dirty to put his enemy behind bars."
The presenter's voice continued, outlining potential sentences, ongoing investigations, and other parties still under scrutiny.
Alaric didn't move. No laughter. No satisfied smile. But in his eyes, there was a quiet relief.
[One enemy down. But the game is far from over]
The system's voice, the constant disruptor of his peace, replaced calm with alertness again.
He reached for another cookie and sank deeper into the sofa. His mother caught a glimpse and asked, "Hey, do you know that guy?"
Alaric turned slightly and replied, "Not personally, Mom. But I've heard the name before."
She nodded without suspicion. Meanwhile, his father—Niel, remained silent. He knew Alaric's connection was more than just "heard of," but chose not to ask.
Because he was beginning to realize that the son he thought was too quiet and gentle had grown into someone not to be underestimated. Silently, Niel gripped his glass tighter, unsure whether to feel proud... or wary.
And behind the TV screen that broadcasted the end of one chapter, Alaric knew it wasn't over. There was still much to protect. Including the family business, and the reputation he was beginning to carry beyond borders.
..
The next day, in a semi-open office, Alaric sat holding a tablet, monitoring daily production progress.
Several young employees walked by with smiles and enthusiasm. They had no idea a VIP guest would soon arrive.
The sound of confident footsteps came from the main door. A middle-aged man in a neat casual suit and polished leather shoes stepped inside.
"Mr. Ragil!" an employee exclaimed, half surprised, half impressed.
Alaric stood from his seat upon hearing the name.
"Good afternoon, Sir," Alaric greeted politely.
Ragil smiled broadly. "Good afternoon, Alaric."
They shook hands firmly. There was sincerity in the grip. Respect, not for status, but for strong moral values.
"I finally made time to drop by," Ragil said as he walked in.
His eyes scanned the room with undisguised admiration.
"Thank you, Alaric. If you hadn't alerted me back then… my company might have lost hundreds of billions."
Alaric smiled calmly. "It's an honor, Sir. Thank you for stepping into my small office. I'm glad to help."
Ragil chuckled softly. "Small? You built this from nothing, and now everyone in the creative sector knows your brand."
Alaric lowered his head politely. "I just noticed some irregularities at the time. So I thought, instead of confronting you without proof, it would be better for your internal team to verify and take action."
Ragil nodded, his face showing genuine appreciation.
While they were talking, the sound of a car stopping outside was heard. Soon after, Niel Greg entered with a friendly smile, both hands in his pockets.
"Just passing by. I was at an industrial project nearby. Turns out your office is here too, Ric."
Alaric nodded quietly. "Yeah, Dad."
Niel turned and was a bit surprised to see who was standing with his son. "Oh, Mr. Ragil. Looks like we meet again."
Ragil greeted him warmly with a handshake. "A fortunate meeting."
Niel smiled faintly, then looked at his son. This time, his tone was not one of reproach or suspicion, but of recognition and understanding.
"Ric... I want to apologize," he finally said.
Alaric looked at him, silent for a moment.
Niel continued. "When you decided to end the partnership abruptly, I thought you were acting rashly. But it turns out... I was the one losing out. And I didn't even realize Harry was the CEO of Aestron."
His tone grew heavier. "Our company never dealt directly with Aestron. But I worked with Harry personally because he offered special logistics connections."
"And back then... I had no idea who he really was. His company kept things very secretive. Information never surfaced."
Alaric just nodded slightly. No arrogance, no smugness. Just calm listening. Inside, he finally felt relief.
Ragil glanced at Niel and patted his shoulder.
"Your father is a good man, Ric," he said.
"Good people... often find it hard to act without proof. But you, you acted fast. Business can be ruthless, and you saved not only one but several companies."