Chapter 252 - 251: The Strategist Enters the Fray, Raising a Banner to Best the Heavens

Leo Grant patted her head and said softly, "The strategist enters the game themselves, ready to outplay fate itself."

"Tsk, you’ve got to hand it to the intellectuals! I’m at a disadvantage for being so uncultured. The only praise I can think of is ’I’m awesome!’"

Yvonne Lowell patted his arm chummily. ’This guy really gets it.’

The corner of Leo Grant’s mouth twitched. "You’re not so bad yourself. You used the simplest words to offer the most profound praise. You’re awesome."

"So when something happened to your grandparents, you used this network too?" Charles Lowell raised an eyebrow.

Yvonne Lowell nodded, not denying it.

’He asked about a network, not specifically about going through Pluto. So, technically, I didn’t lie.’

"Stay safe. Always put yourself first."

Charles Lowell had already recovered from his astonishment. His daughter had even become a special forces soldier, so what was so strange about her having business partnerships?

As for what these partnerships entailed, it was probably nothing more than transporting people or delivering goods.

His own field had nothing to do with this industry, but he watched the news and TV dramas, alright?

He should be proud of her for it, not try to stop her under the guise of worrying or "for her own good."

Even if Yvonne Lowell had been raised by him since she was a child, he still wouldn’t have the right to do that.

Much less now, when she had been back with him for less than a year. He had no standing to do so whatsoever.

"Relax. I wouldn’t be working with them if I couldn’t ensure it won’t be traced back to me." Yvonne Lowell took a sip of tea. "The tea’s gotten weak, President Lowell. How about a fresh pot?"

"Get outta here. You’re lucky I’m letting you drink any at all. Don’t go wasting my tea leaves," Charles Lowell said, waving his hand in mock disgust.

Yvonne Lowell was speechless. ’Wow. We haven’t even left the room yet. Shouldn’t this technically still be *my* tea?’

After a long silence, Caleb Lowell suddenly asked, "Has Genevieve decided on a college major yet?"

Charles Lowell’s eyes narrowed. "Why? You have some thoughts on the matter?"

’It can’t be what I’m thinking, can it? That’s just inhumane!’

"Brother, you’re not thinking of having Genevieve major in business, are you?" The corner of Yvonne Lowell’s mouth twitched.

’Did my revealing just a little bit of my hand already turn my brother into Boss Skinner? If so, my bad.’

"Yes. If he’s willing, I’d like to bring him into the company to gain some experience, even if it’s not to take over completely."

Caleb Lowell made no effort to hide his ambition, stating frankly,

"It’s true that as a prestigious family, the Lowell Family’s century of history can ensure that we won’t have to worry about our livelihood for generations. But I don’t want to just be complacent. I want to see how far I can really go."

He knew Leo Grant had The Shadow Pavilion. In fact, he had previously rejected an invitation to partner up, because he knew where his own comfort zone and advantages lay.

If he hadn’t come to Pluto today, he probably wouldn’t be having these thoughts.

After all, for more than twenty years, his life had followed a set path: inherit the family business and be the pillar of support for his younger siblings.

It was no Pluto, but the Lowell Family lacked for nothing when it came to money, power, and influence.

Across all of Aurelia, the only family that could be considered on par with the Lowell Family was the Grant Family.

But on the international stage, among countless conglomerates, multinational corporations, and other families with deep-seated legacies, the Lowell Family’s advantage seemed slim.

Furthermore, the Lowell Group’s business portfolio didn’t cover every industry. Even with a few potential overseas partners, the limitations were too significant.

Yvonne Lowell shot Charles Lowell a look: ’Aren’t you going to rein in your son?’

Charles Lowell ignored her, taking a calm sip of tea: ’Rein him in? He’s stubborn as an ox. There’s not a thing I can do.’

’Well, mystery solved. He definitely gets it from his father. In that case, don’t blame me for what comes next.’

Yvonne Lowell stroked her chin. "Perhaps you could get some practice with the Lowell Group first, Brother?"

Charles Lowell thought, ’Huh?! You’re selling out your own teammate?! How is this any different from tossing a live grenade at my feet?’

"Practice? What do you mean? Explain," Caleb Lowell said, straightening up and sitting attentively.

Charles Lowell screamed internally, ’Explain what? Don’t you dare! Don’t say it! You can’t!’

"The Lowell Group cooperates with plenty of foreign enterprises, but it only has two overseas branches. Why insist on going off to start your own independent venture instead of establishing more Lowell Group branches abroad? Why not focus on turning the Lowell Group into a multinational corporation first?"

’Sigh, Professor Lowell’s private tutoring session is now in session. Again.’

’Why do other people get to drive Lamborghinis and Ferraris, while I’m forced to toil away like a workhorse every day?’

’I only had to struggle on my own because I had no choice, but this guy actually wants to go start his own venture?!’

’No wonder they say that if a rich heir wants to be set for life, the one thing they should never do is start their own business.’

"But... is the Lowell Group’s standing appropriate for that?"

Caleb Lowell felt like his usually sharp mind had stopped working since he’d stepped into Pluto. ’Could it be that this place’s feng shui clashes with my destiny or something?’

Yvonne wanted to flip a table. ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ┻━┻

"I said a multinational corporation, not a conglomerate! Besides, if you went out and built a conglomerate from scratch, would its standing be any more ’appropriate’?!"

Yvonne Lowell rolled her eyes in exasperation. After a pause, she continued,

"But, Brother, if you want to become a multinational corporation, the Lowell Group has to step out of its comfort zone. It can’t just stick to its current business sectors."

Although Caleb Lowell had expanded into several new fields and achieved moderate success in all of them since taking over, it was still far from enough to compete on the world stage, even if it was considered top-tier within Aurelia.

"I actually have a few ideas, but I’m hesitant about which one to pursue," Caleb Lowell said, his tone conflicted.

He was now clearly treating Yvonne Lowell as both a mentor and a friend, conversing with and consulting her.

"Then do them all. How else will you know which one makes the most money?" Yvonne Lowell said earnestly, with a grand wave of her hand.

"You need to remember that you are the eldest son of the Lowell Family and its next Family Head. Your starting point is already much higher than most people’s, and your budget for trial and error is far greater. There’s nothing to hesitate about."

Her words might sound harsh, but they were an indisputable fact. The world is inherently unfair.

As one of heaven’s favored who had stood at the top of the pyramid since birth, he could get anything he wanted just by saying the word.

While others might have to gamble their entire fortunes or even go deep into debt just to try and fail,

for someone like him, it was perhaps the equivalent of a day or two’s worth of pocket money.

Charles Lowell interlaced his fingers in front of him, his powerful presence filling the room as he spoke in a deep voice,

"Nola is right. The reason people chase money and power their entire lives is that those things can help us obtain what we deem to be even more important.

The century-old foundation that generations of the Lowell Family have fought to build exists for one reason: to give the next generation enough backing so they never have to feel constrained when they want to pursue something.

So, if you want to do it, then go do it. You have the entire Lowell Family to back you up. And if worse comes to worst, you still have your sister overseas, don’t you?"

’As long as they don’t ask me to come back to work, anything goes.’

Yvonne Lowell was speechless. ’Wow. So now I’m the final safety net, am I?’