A few days later…
Joseph returned once again to the Second World headquarters.
His mood couldn't have been better. That morning, before breakfast, he had experienced another stroke of magical brilliance. A new five-ring spell had surfaced in his mind: Super Dynamic Vision—a powerful enhancement that drastically improved his body's visual and reflexive response time.
This spell wasn't just useful—it was essential.
In this world, there was no shortage of enemies with absurd speed. In a world of mutants, advanced technology, and supernatural powers, being able to perceive attacks faster than they could land was a massive advantage. With this spell, Joseph's combat effectiveness would skyrocket.
Moreover, Super Dynamic Vision could be stacked.
He made a decision on the spot. "For the next three months, I'll cast this every day without fail. I'll raise it to at least a seventh-ring level."
With his current passive defenses—Steel Body (Seven-Ring), Mental Immunity (Seven-Ring), and Precognition (Five-Ring)—Joseph was steadily building the foundation of a Fortress Mage. A walking citadel of magic.
When he stepped into the conference room, several key members of his inner circle were already waiting.
Seated at the table were Shadowcat, Jubilation Lee, Iceman, Colossus, and Roberto. Jean Grey—now known again as Phoenix—was also present, sitting quietly at the end of the table.
But today's meeting wasn't just about mutants.
On the far side of the room sat Louis, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer of Second World Technologies, alongside a group of sharply dressed financial analysts recently hired from Wall Street.
"BOSS!"
Louis stood the moment Joseph walked in. His tone had shifted. The deference in his voice was unmistakable.
Not long ago, Louis had been the head of the prestigious X Fund, directly managing the financial assets of the Xavier Institute. He had worked closely with Professor X for many years and had always thought highly of their partnership.
Then everything changed.
Just last night, Charles Xavier personally called Louis.
He didn't scold him or terminate his employment.
Instead, he promoted him.
Effective immediately, Louis had been relieved of his role at the X Fund and reassigned—by Professor X himself—as Chief Operating Officer of Second World Technologies, the enterprise Joseph founded.
At first, Louis was stunned. He had always assumed that the X Fund was the most critical financial arm of the Xavier estate. Yet now he was being directed—no, ordered—to leave it behind and serve under a young mutant who, until recently, he knew very little about.
But then came the kicker.
The salary.
Professor X offered a figure that was not only higher than Louis's previous pay but absurdly so.
It took Louis a full minute to realize he wasn't being fired.
He was being trusted.
It became clear to him that Second World was far more important to the mutant cause than he had ever imagined. The financial restructuring was not a demotion—but an elevation.
Once he grasped this, Louis spent the entire night adjusting his mindset. By the time Joseph walked into the room this morning, Louis had already embraced his new role—and the new boss.
He knew Joseph didn't like small talk, so he got straight to the point.
"Begin the report," he instructed the Wall Street analysts.
"Mr. Joseph," the lead analyst said, practically beaming. "Following your precise instructions, we deployed $100 million in staggered investments across multiple accounts, using maximum double-leverage options to short the stock of Hammer Industries."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"The results have exceeded expectations. Ever since Justin Hammer's arrest, the stock price has gone into free fall. All active accounts have now exceeded $500 million in net value."
Joseph merely nodded, unfazed.
The collapse of Hammer Industries had been inevitable.
After the scandal at the Hammer Industries Expo—where dozens of civilians nearly died due to the malfunctioning Steel Soldiers—public opinion had turned into a tidal wave of outrage. Even though Ivan Vanko had been revealed as the true mastermind, Justin Hammer couldn't escape the fallout.
The footage of him trying to pin the blame on Wolverine, under a global spotlight no less, had destroyed what little goodwill he had left.
No shareholder, no government official, and certainly no military investor wanted to touch Hammer Industries after that.
Even worse, many of them wanted the company to fail. Behind closed doors, the wolves had gathered. The scent of blood brought out greed—and everyone wanted a piece of the carcass.
Joseph knew that his own earnings from this short-selling venture were only a fraction of what others were raking in. His initial capital was limited, after all.
Still, it had been a good hunt.
The analyst finished his summary.
"Given current projections, Hammer Industries' share of the arms market is being devoured rapidly. There's little room for a rebound. If nothing unexpected happens, bankruptcy is almost certain."
"In other words," he concluded, "there's no point in continuing the short positions."
But Joseph raised a hand.
"Hammer Industries won't go bankrupt."
Everyone in the room turned to look at him in confusion.
"What?" someone whispered.
Joseph remained calm.
"Close all open shorts," he instructed. "Use 20% of the capital to fund our next expansion phase. As for the remaining 80%—"
He paused, letting the tension build.
"—we'll use it to **buy Hammer stock at its lowest. From here on out… we go long."
Gasps erupted.
Even the financial team, trained to maintain composure, looked stunned.
Louis gaped. "You want to… buy the bottom?!"
Joseph nodded. "We're flipping our position. Buy now, while the stock's worth nothing."
Louis's mind raced. "Boss… do you have insider information? Is the military going to bail them out?"
Joseph shook his head and raised three fingers.
"In three days, Stark Industries will announce its intention to acquire Hammer Industries."
Boom.
The room fell silent.
The magnitude of that statement took a moment to settle in.
Joseph wasn't just predicting market movements.
He was creating them.
Outside leaks were impossible. The financial team was now under strict observation—cut off from the outside world. Communications, phone calls, and even personal data were being monitored by Alice, the artificial intelligence steward of Second World.
No information would leave the room.
As for Louis—he was now half-mutant by proxy. His future, his wealth, and his reputation were tied to Joseph. If he wanted to thrive, he had every reason to ride this wave to the end.
"This… this is incredible…" Louis murmured, his voice shaking with excitement. "If Stark really acquires Hammer, the stock will surge overnight!"
His mind was already calculating the numbers.
A long position now could turn 400 million into billions.
And the genius of it all?
Joseph had shorted the stock when everyone still believed in Hammer Industries. He made a fortune as it crashed. Now, while everyone fled, he'd be the one buying the ashes, just before the phoenix rose.
The stock market had always rewarded boldness.
But this wasn't just bold.
It was masterful.
Louis looked at Joseph with newfound reverence.
No… with awe.
This wasn't a man playing the market.
This was a man reshaping it.
Suddenly, Louis remembered something Joseph had said to him during their first conversation.
"The funds I control… are never just 100 million."
He hadn't understood it then.
But now, he did.
Second World wasn't just a company.
It was a front for something far greater. A new economy. A new order. A new age.
And Louis?
He had a front-row seat.
He smiled.
This is the greatest opportunity of my life.
And he had no intention of letting go.
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