Building a Conglomerate in Another World-Chapter 246: The Sabotage

March 12, 1897

Undisclosed Location – The Order’s War Room

The dimly lit chamber, hidden beneath an unassuming estate on the outskirts of Amsterdam, was alive with hushed voices. Around a long mahogany table sat the most powerful men in Amerathia—political elites, industrial magnates, military officers, and media barons. These were the architects of the nation’s fate, the men who had operated from the shadows for decades.

At the head of the table sat Gideon Langston, the Grand Chancellor of the Order of the Phoenix Society. His presence alone commanded the room. The flickering gas lamps cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the cold calculation in his gaze.

He tapped his fingers on the table, a silent demand for attention. The murmurs ceased.

"The debate has concluded. The election battle has begun. Now, tell me—how do we ensure Royce wins?"

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The Strategy: Sabotage & Deception

Cornelius Voss, the shipping magnate whose fortune funded much of the Order’s covert activities, leaned forward.

"Public perception is shifting in our favor, but it is not enough. Hesh’s supporters are stubborn. He still has the trust of the working class, and we cannot allow that to hold."

"So, we take it from him," interjected Victor Kessler, the Order’s master strategist. A former intelligence officer, Kessler was an expert in political warfare.

He placed a map of Amerathia on the table, dotted with markers indicating key cities and districts.

"Our objective is threefold," Kessler continued, his voice sharp. "First, we erode faith in Hesh’s leadership. Second, we create chaos that only Royce can ’fix.’ And third, we manipulate the election process to secure our victory."

Langston steepled his fingers. "Details."

Kessler nodded, tapping his pointer finger against the map.

"Step one: Economic panic."

He gestured to Cornelius Voss, who smirked.

"We will stage a coordinated disruption of Amerathia’s supply chains. Delays at the ports, strikes at key factories, and sudden shortages of essential goods. Let the people feel uncertainty. Let them feel that their livelihoods are at risk."

Langston nodded. "And Hesh?"

"He will be forced to address the crisis. And when he does, we will ensure his actions are perceived as weak and ineffective. The press is already prepared to paint him as an ’out-of-touch leader’ incapable of restoring order," Voss explained.

Kessler continued.

"Step two: Fear and instability."

He glanced at Jonathan Hawthorne, the Order’s most influential senator.

"Riots will break out in key cities. Carefully staged, strategically placed. Workers protesting ’unfair wages.’ Citizens angry over food shortages. But here’s the twist—we will escalate it further with calculated acts of violence, and then..." Kessler smirked, "we blame Hesh’s administration for failing to maintain law and order."

Langston’s gaze darkened. "Who will incite the violence?"

"Operatives disguised as protestors," Kessler said simply. "A few well-placed incidents—perhaps a government building burned, clashes between ’protesters’ and ’police’—and the people will cry out for change."

"And Royce?" Langston asked.

"He will present himself as the solution. While Hesh scrambles to explain, Royce will step forward with a ’clear plan’ to restore order and economic prosperity. He will be the man who takes control when Hesh cannot."

Langston nodded approvingly. "And the election itself?"

Louis Whitmore, a prominent banker and Order financier, leaned in. "Even with public sentiment shifting, we must ensure the numbers work in our favor. We have allies in key election districts—clerks, ballot counters, even governors. They will make adjustments where necessary."

"Define ’adjustments,’" Langston demanded.

"In targeted areas, voter rolls will be… modified. Hesh’s strongest districts will experience ’technical errors’ in their ballot counts. Royce’s districts will have an unusually high turnout, courtesy of ’absentee ballots’ that just happen to be misplaced until after the counting begins."

Victor Kessler smirked. "And in the event of a close race, our final card is the courts."

Jonathan Hawthorne nodded. "If it comes to legal disputes, we have enough judges in our pocket to swing key decisions in Royce’s favor. We will challenge every result that does not benefit us, creating a legal battle that Hesh cannot win."

Langston sat back, absorbing the details of their plan.

"What about Hesh himself?" he asked finally.

Kessler’s expression darkened. "If Hesh starts getting desperate, we push him into making mistakes. And if that doesn’t work..." He let the words hang.

Langston’s eyes narrowed. "Elimination?"

Kessler didn’t blink. "Only as a last resort. An ’accident’ or an ’assassination attempt’ by a radical could sway the public completely in Royce’s favor. But it’s a dangerous move—we must be certain it will work before we proceed."

Langston tapped the table twice.

"Proceed with the plan. I want the economy in turmoil within the month. The riots must begin shortly after. When the people cry out for change, Royce will answer them."

A silence fell over the room.

They were about to change Amerathia forever.

March 15, 1897.

The first wave of economic disruption began. Shipments at major ports were mysteriously delayed. Factory workers suddenly went on strike in industrial cities. The stock market dipped as investors panicked over "uncertainty."

Newspapers carried bold headlines:

"Economic Crisis Looms Over Amerathia – Is the Hesh Administration Failing?"

"Food Shortages in Major Cities – Government Struggles to Respond"

Hesh’s administration scrambled to manage the crisis, but before they could act, the second phase hit.

Protests erupted. At first, they seemed genuine—workers demanding better wages, citizens frustrated with rising prices. But soon, the demonstrations turned violent. A government building in New Manchester was set ablaze. Police clashed with rioters in Amsterdam City.

Royce took to the stage.

"This is what Hesh’s leadership has brought us—instability, chaos, weakness!"

He delivered his speech as if it were spontaneous, but it had been carefully planned. He presented himself as the man who could "restore order."

"Amerathia deserves better. Elect me, and I will end this madness!"

The people listened.

March 20, 1897.

In key districts, voter registration issues surfaced. Pro-Hesh areas reported missing ballots. Royce’s districts saw record-high turnout—manufactured, of course.

Meanwhile, the press intensified its attacks on Hesh.

"Hesh’s Presidency in Crisis – Can He Still Lead?"

"Is Hesh’s Weakness to Blame for Amerathia’s Decline?"

The damage was spreading.

March 25, 1897.

Hesh was losing ground. His administration fought to restore order, but every move he made was countered by sabotage and manipulated narratives.

And then, in the dead of night, a bomb detonated at a campaign office in New Manchester.

The Order-controlled media immediately placed the blame on "radical pro-Hesh extremists."

The people were afraid. The nation was spiraling.

And Royce?

He was waiting, ready to "restore order."

In the war room, Langston watched the chaos unfold. He turned to Kessler.

"When do we move to the final phase?"

Kessler smiled.

"Soon."

The fall of Matthew Hesh had begun.