Urban System in America-Chapter 65 - 64: Real Face Of World

He took another slow sip of scotch. The amber liquid catching the light as it swirled in his glass.

Logan was shocked...he hadn’t thought it was this big of a deal.

But then, a hateful image flickered into his mind—that bastard’s smug, smirking face.

Clenching his fist, he spoke, anger burning in his eyes. "But what about that bastard? Are we going to let him go just like this?"

"What do you think?" Leonard asked, eyes sharpening.

"I want to deal with him myself," Logan snarled. "Get some men. Just enough to scare him. Maybe break something—"

"Fool!"

The word cracked through the air like a whip.

Leonard’s expression darkened. "Can’t you see what’s happening? Someone is clearly targeting us? Someone powerful. And we don’t even know who they are or what their motive is—and at this crucial time, here you are, ready to act like a thug in a street fight?"

He paused, letting the silence press down like a weight.

"And we still don’t know if that boy has a role in all of this."

"If you go after that boy and it turns out he is connected to whoever pulled this off..." Leonard met his eyes. "You’ll not only doom this family—you’ll be the reason our name disappears.... forever."

Logan froze. The rage that had surged in his chest wavered. His fists remained clenched, but his lips trembled slightly.

He bit down, hard, then finally gave a quiet nod. "...I understand."

But deep inside, the hatred still burned. Rex.

Even if he wasn’t the mastermind, he had humiliated him.

There would be a reckoning.

Just not yet.

Seeing this, Leonard just shook his head in frustration.. "I don’t know how I gave birth to someone this stupid," he muttered.

Logan remained silent, but his clenched fists and trembling shoulders said everything. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Leonard sighed, shaking his head slightly.

"You know, your uncle’s still in the hospital," said grimly. "He hasn’t woken up yet. And even if he does, he’s finished. The police are stationed outside his door."

Logan’s mouth fell open.

Leonard continued, his voice heavy. "The university is personally handling the case. They’ve taken it seriously. Too seriously. Even your uncle’s backer can’t do anything now."

"He’ll have to spend time in jail. Even if I mobilize all our resources and connections, the best I can do is shorten his sentence. That’s it."

Sighing, he went on.

"Our family might be powerful in the real estate world, but we haven’t reached the level where we can ignore law and society’s restraints."

He gulped the remaining scotch in his glass and exhaled.

Turning toward Logan, he spoke again.

"Tell me, Do you really think this world is peaceful, Logan?" Leonard asked, voice dropping to a whisper.

Before Logan could respond, Leonard continued.

"No. It’s not. This world is much darker and more dangerous than it seems. What you see is only an illusion—a carefully orchestrated illusion.

There are battles waged in the shadows, far from the public eye. Digital warfare. Espionage. Power plays that can topple countries.

The calm streets, the polite news anchors, the graduation speeches, the smiling handshakes—that’s all just the surface."

He took a step forward, eyes narrowing.

"If you remain ordinary—just another rich boy living off inheritance—none of this will ever touch you.

You’ll party, marry, retire, and die without ever realizing how close you lived to the fire.

But..."

Leonard’s gaze locked onto his.

"If you want to take your place among the elites—if you want to sit at the table where real decisions are made—then you’ll have to deal with all the filth this world hides.

You won’t have a choice. No one does."

He gestured vaguely around the room.

"They force you," he said coldly. "The moment you show potential, they come for you.

And then there are only two options: strike a deal with an existing force and become their lackey—or go bankrupt overnight. And Vanish.

Because the power they wield isn’t something ordinary people can even imagine."

Leonard turned and stared out the window.

"Even we," he said, "with all our reach, all our networks, all our history—we’ve barely scratched the surface.

Do you think we’d have this pitiful amount of wealth if the playing field were fair? No."

He turned back again.

"The reason we’re here at all is because of the sacrifices your grandfather made. The deals he struck. The things he gave up."

He said while turning to look out of the window, his voice low and solemn.

" You really think honor built this empire? No. It was blood. Compromise. Strategy. That’s the real cost of power."

Leonard turned again, face more serious.

"They don’t care if you have millions—or even hundreds of millions. At best, they’ll glance at you once, curious, then move on.

But..." His voice dropped. "...once you cross the magic threshold...once your net worth hits a billion...that’s when everything changes.

That’s the watershed.

That’s when they take notice.

That’s when you truly step into the eyes of the world."

Logan’s breath caught in his throat. He was listening intently now, heart pounding with the weight of every word.

"And once you’re in their sights," Leonard said, "you have two choices: align yourself with existing powers and become their pawn—or risk everything to carve your own path."

There was a long pause.

Logan looked down, lost in thought.

He had never realized how much was hidden beneath the surface of the name Whitmore.

He’d always known his family was powerful—but this? This was something else.

Leonard watched him for a moment, then spoke again, his voice gentler.

"The reason I’m telling you all this, Logan... is because it’s time to stop behaving like a fool.

No more reckless shows of ego. No more pointless university scandals.

It’s time to start learning about how this world work, and learn family business.

You’re going to inherit this family one day, and I don’t want our generations of legacy ruined in your hands."

Logan’s eyes widened. "You mean I’ll be—"

Leonard saw the glimmer in his eyes and sighed, shaking his head.

"Don’t be so quick to celebrate. Power isn’t all glitter.... With power comes responsibility. Burdens. Secrets.

Anyway, you’ll find out soon enough."

He stood again and adjusted his cufflinks, signaling the end of the conversation.

"For now," he said, "just keep your head down. Coast through university.

And more importantly—make connections. Network with the heirs of other families.

That school isn’t prestigious because of its faculty.... it’s because of who sends their children there."

He met Logan’s eyes.

"Many of the rich and powerful send their sons and daughters there quietly.All due to Tradition, Legacy or maybe Old alliances.

Do you really think people like us need degrees? That’s for the common class.

If we want real knowledge, we buy it—experts, mentors, private institution, real world experience, you name it."

He stepped toward the door, his voice taking on a final, conclusive tone.

"Don’t think those professors buried in books their whole lives know anything about running a company.

Most of them wouldn’t survive a day in the real world.

Yes, there are exceptions—real thinkers. But they’ve long since aligned themselves with true power.

They aren’t teaching some undergrads."

Leonard opened the door and glanced back.

"We’ll talk again soon," he said. "For now, don’t make me regret trusting you."

Logan nodded slowly, still trying to process everything he’d heard.

The door behind him closed with a thud.

(End of Chapter)