The Tycoon's Odyssey

A heavy silence lingered after Walter observed the subtle defiance in everyone's motives. No one wanted to take the first step, but it was clear they were all waiting for someone else to act so they could swoop in and claim their share.

"Since you're all so concerned, then perhaps you don't need to make any global moves," Walter said, breaking the silence.

"Huh? What?" Confused expressions spread across the leaders' faces. They exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what Walter meant.

Walter scoffed, his expression cold. "I'll handle this myself."

Before anyone could respond, he abruptly cut the call, leaving the other leaders startled and scrambling to make sense of his words.

Sitting back in his chair, Walter rubbed his chin thoughtfully. His brows furrowed, and a calculating gleam lit up his eyes. He appeared deep in thought, and the room grew tense.

Seeing his serious demeanor, his secretary hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "Sir, is something wrong? Did something happen?"

Walter looked up at her, his sharp gaze softening just slightly. "Nothing troubling, really," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "But it seems these so-called leaders have gotten a bit too comfortable. Do they think being the head of their countries gives them the right to defy me?"

The secretary nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Sir, most of these leaders have no real understanding of the Federation's power. They only became aware of it after their elections. They don't truly grasp what you're capable of."

Walter's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Is that so? Do they really think I need their cooperation to act?" He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.

"Call the families," he ordered, his tone sharp. "Tell them to start implementing heavy tariffs and applying economic pressure on Indra. Make them feel the weight of our influence."

The secretary nodded quickly, scribbling notes.

"And one more thing," Walter added, his voice colder now. "Instruct them to replace these leaders with someone more... cooperative. Someone who knows how to bow when required."

He paused for a moment, his expression darkening. "But don't make them disappear entirely. Let them live and watch their own downfall. That will be enough punishment."

The secretary shivered slightly at his words but nodded obediently. "Understood, Sir. I'll make the arrangements immediately."

Walter leaned back in his chair, the sinister smile lingering on his face. "Good. Let's remind them who truly holds the power here."

...

As days passed, global tariffs against Indra began to rise stealthily, one nation after another imposing increased duties. There was no official declaration, but the strategy was clear: cripple Indra's ability to import. Leaders across the world waited with bated breath, expecting the pressure to culminate in a massive crisis.

Indra had always relied heavily on importing key items to sustain its industries and lifestyle. The list was extensive:

Technology and Components: High-end machinery, semiconductors, and advanced industrial tools.

Raw Materials: Steel, aluminum, and rare earth minerals critical for manufacturing.

Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Key compounds needed for medicine production.

Food and Exotic Edibles: Fruits, gourmet items, and specialty goods that couldn't be cultivated domestically. Read latest stories on empire

The leaders were confident that the steady squeeze on these imports would cripple Indra's economy. But to their astonishment, the expected collapse never came.

...

Behind the scenes, Evan had anticipated the move and acted swiftly. Where gaps emerged, his factories and enterprises stepped in. Every industry that could be replaced domestically was quickly brought under his influence.

Technology and Machinery factories under Evan's control ramped up production of everything from basic components to advanced equipment. By utilizing electronic waste, they extracted every last usable material, turning discarded goods into valuable resources. The recycling plants ran around the clock, minimizing dependence on external supplies.

In case of raw materials,strategic stockpiling before the tariff hikes ensured production lines didn't halt. Additionally, Evan's influence over local mining industries increased, maximizing output to fill gaps.

However, one glaring problem persisted: food and exotic edibles. Unlike technology or machinery, food couldn't be manufactured or substituted quickly. Specialty items and gourmet goods and fruits were in short supply, and this was one area where Evan's expertise fell short.

Recognizing the potential risk, Evan directed Rajesh Patel to allocate substantial funds to purchase as much as possible before the supply chains tightened further.

"Stockpile everything we can," Evan had ordered. "We need to ensure stability before the noose tightens completely."

During this effort to stabilize the nation, Evan stumbled upon a hidden but pressing issue.

While examining the pharmaceutical sector, he discovered a disturbing trend that was expired medicines were being imported, relabeled, and sold in local markets.

What was worse, these counterfeit drugs were often distributed in rural areas, where regulatory oversight was weaker. Patients were unknowingly consuming expired or diluted medicine, leading to a surge in health complications.

Evan's investigation revealed just how broken the healthcare system was. Hospitals lacked proper infrastructure, rural clinics were understaffed, and many relied on substandard or counterfeit drugs. The discovery enraged him.

"This is negligence on a criminal level," Evan muttered to himself, his eyes cold with determination. "They're playing with people's lives. If no one else will fix this, I will."

His first step was to shut down the corrupted channels. Evan's AI network quickly identified the suppliers and distributors involved in the scam, and they were systematically eliminated from the supply chain.

Then, he began setting up a plan to overhaul the healthcare system entirely. With Rajesh's support, funds were redirected toward the local Pharmaceutical Production.Building factories to produce genuine medicines domestically.

Healthcare Infrastructure: Establishing well-equipped hospitals and clinics, especially in rural areas.

Regulatory Oversight of deploying AI systems to monitor the supply chain and ensure quality control.

Despite the global attempts to isolate Indra, Evan's relentless efforts not only kept the nation afloat but also turned it into a model of resilience. Yet, he knew this was just the beginning. The global chaos was far from over, and his work had only scratched the surface of what was to come.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om