The Billionaire's Multiplier System
Chapter 100 - 101 – Fractures in the Ranks

Chapter 100: Chapter 101 – Fractures in the Ranks

The morning sunlight filtered in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel suite, casting golden patterns across the marble floor. Lin Feng stood silently, a cup of untouched coffee in his hand, staring out at the city skyline. Below him, the streets of Shencheng buzzed with energy—people moved as though nothing was wrong, oblivious to the storm building beneath the surface.

His phone buzzed twice—encrypted messages from Guo Yuwei and Su Ruonan.

Guo Yuwei: Need to speak. Now. Internal movement detected.

Su Ruonan: Zixuan’s next move is financial. Rumors flying about Apex’s liquidity.

Lin Feng set the cup down, fingers tightening slightly. As expected, Zixuan hadn’t taken the Spectron exposure quietly. His retaliation wasn’t just brute force—it was strategic, coordinated, and aimed to shake Lin Feng’s foundations from within.

"Sir," came the low voice of Xu Qing at the door. "Miss Luo Bing has arrived. Also... there’s a visitor downstairs. Wei Yinan. He says it’s urgent."

Lin Feng turned slightly. "Bring Bing’er in. Have Yinan wait in the secondary lounge with tea. No rush. Make him wait at least fifteen minutes."

Xu Qing nodded and disappeared with her usual quiet efficiency.

Moments later, Luo Bing entered, crisp in a fitted cream suit, heels clicking on the tile.

"You’ve seen the reports?" she asked, skipping pleasantries.

"Yes," Lin Feng replied. "Zixuan’s aiming to bleed trust, not assets."

She tossed a printed report onto the table. "Our ’Red Line’ investment arm just had four partners pull out within an hour. That’s nearly sixty million in expected capital evaporated."

Lin Feng remained composed. "And Apex?"

"Still standing, but if the rumors continue... board members may start demanding emergency liquidity reports."

"Let them," he said calmly. "We anticipated this. What’s more important is internal cohesion. And Yuwei just flagged movement inside."

Luo Bing frowned. "Who?"

"Don’t know yet."

She exhaled sharply and paced. "Then we cut that rot out before it spreads."

Just then, his phone buzzed again—this time, an alert from the system.

> Favourability Update: Tang Ning +3% (Now: 77%) Bonus Skill Option:

Financial Instincts (Intermediate)

Photographic Memory (Basic)

Social Perception (Intermediate)

(Select One)

He tapped without hesitation—Financial Instincts. The moment he confirmed, a strange clarity surged through his brain, subtle but unmistakable. Financial ratios, market models, behavioral trends—they lit up in his mind like instinct.

He turned back to Bing’er. "Convene the female leads tonight. Private, secure location. I need all of them."

She raised a brow. "Even Mu Yulan?"

"Yes. Even her."

Luo Bing nodded reluctantly. "I’ll arrange it."

---

Downstairs, Wei Yinan sat in the lounge, tapping his fingers irritably against the armrest. When Lin Feng finally stepped in, calm and unhurried, Yinan stood immediately.

"I didn’t expect to wait," he said stiffly.

Lin Feng smiled faintly. "And yet, you did. What’s the urgency?"

Yinan dropped the facade. "Zixuan’s been in contact with my brother. They offered him a way into Eastern Commerce—only if he pulls our family out from under your umbrella."

Lin Feng’s eyes sharpened.

"It’s not official," Yinan added quickly, "but I think they’re preparing a replacement—me, or someone else."

"You don’t strike me as someone who would switch horses mid-race."

"I won’t," Yinan said, "but I need insurance. If my family tries to cut me out, I need a foothold elsewhere. Something mine."

Lin Feng nodded slowly. "You want a direct stake in Apex."

Yinan didn’t hesitate. "Five percent. Earned, not gifted."

"You’ll earn it through something bigger," Lin Feng said. "I want you to lead the ’New Frontier’ joint project with Yuwei. Real estate, renewable, infrastructure—tie them all into one play. You’ll have full executive power over planning and foreign investment channels."

Yinan’s eyes widened. "That’s—"

"Five percent," Lin Feng said. "If you deliver by Q1 next year."

Yinan extended a hand. Lin Feng took it.

---

That evening, in a private villa outside Shencheng, Lin Feng met with the core group—Luo Bing, Su Ruonan, Tang Ning, Guo Yuwei, and Mu Yulan. For the first time in weeks, they were all in one place.

Tension hung heavy in the air. Mu Yulan sat furthest from Ruonan, her legs crossed and face unreadable. Guo Yuwei looked exhausted, her phone beside her, always ready to buzz. Tang Ning, surprisingly, looked composed—eyes calm, posture steady. Ruonan sipped tea but said nothing.

Lin Feng stood at the center.

"We’re entering a phase where Zixuan will no longer aim at me directly. He’ll aim at you. At us. Our weakest link is not money, power, or influence. It’s unity."

"Which doesn’t exist," Yulan said coolly.

"No," he replied. "It doesn’t. Yet. But I want to change that."

"How?" asked Su Ruonan. "With promises?"

"No," he said. "With a real seat for each of you. The Crimson Circle was always symbolic. I’m formalizing it into Apex Council. Each of you will hold equal voting rights on internal directional strategy. Business, alliance, personnel."

The room fell silent.

Yuwei blinked. "You’re giving up central authority?"

"No. But I’m distributing strategic weight. I can’t be everywhere. And the system only works if all of you thrive. Tang Ning’s favorability just hit 77%—the highest so far."

Tang Ning looked surprised, even a little shy.

"Wait," said Mu Yulan. "You’re measuring us?"

Lin Feng didn’t flinch. "Yes. It’s part of the system. But the rewards go to all. The higher your favourability, the more I get back. Money, yes—but also skills, abilities, influence. Which I use to support all of you. This isn’t just romance. It’s strategy."

Bing’er was the first to speak. "So what’s the ask?"

"Stability. Trust. Coordination. You all want different things—industries, goals, even motivations. But Zixuan thrives on division. If we fracture now, he wins."

Ruonan looked across at Yulan. "What if some of us refuse?"

"Then you’re not enemies. But you’re not protected either. I’ll never force anyone into anything. But Apex will move forward. And so will I."

There was a long pause. Then, unexpectedly, Tang Ning stood up. "I’m in. I don’t know what all this will become, but... I believe in you."

Yuwei followed. "Same. I’m tired of playing defensive."

Luo Bing smirked. "Well, someone needs to keep these kids alive."

Even Ruonan nodded. "I won’t forget our history. But I’ll play my role."

Everyone turned to Mu Yulan. The silence thickened.

She looked at Lin Feng for a long moment. Then, almost inaudibly, said, "I’ll stay. But only because I want to see how far you think this can go."

---

Later that night, alone again in the villa’s study, Lin Feng stared at a whiteboard of connections—Zixuan, Spectron, Apex, and new rivalries emerging.

The system buzzed.

> Favourability Update: Luo Bing +2% (Now: 68%) Favourability Update: Mu Yulan +1% (Now: 60%) Bonus Skill Available: Strategic Foresight (Advanced) Claim?

He claimed it without hesitation.

Outside, the stars blinked dimly in the sky—but Lin Feng could feel it now. The game had shifted again. Not toward survival.

But toward dominance.