He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

The snow in Vienna is falling even harder.

The family dinner, filled with the stench of blood and the smell of gunpowder, didn't last long after Baron Franz was dragged away like a dead dog. Because that very night, less than two hours after Su Xiaoruan had taken over the golden scepter symbolizing power as a "queen," the long-burning lamp—the Karl Rothschild lamp—finally burned out its last drop of oil.

He left with a smile.

On her deathbed, Su Xiaoruan stayed by his bedside, holding his withered hand, and under the gaze of his cloudy eyes, she finally called out "Dad," a word that was twenty years overdue.

At that moment, the old man, who had controlled the financial lifeline of Europe for half a century and was known as the "Emperor of the Sixth Empire," slid a murky tear from the corner of his eye, and then peacefully closed his eyes.

The next morning, the Rothschild family's death knell tolled.

Ninety-nine chimes echoed through the Vienna Woods, reverberating throughout the Western world.

……

Three days later, St. Stephen's Cathedral.

This 12th-century Gothic cathedral has witnessed the coronation and fall of countless emperors, and today, it is hosting a funeral that will be recorded in history.

The entire city center of Vienna was completely locked down. The streets were packed with people who came to see him off and media from all over the world. The sky was overcast, and heavy snow was falling, enveloping the ancient city in a solemn silvery white.

The square in front of the church was filled with rows of black bulletproof cars.

Every person who gets off that car is a big shot who can shake the world economy.

Members of European royal families, Wall Street tycoons, oil moguls, and even cardinals from the Vatican... dressed in solemn black coats with white flowers pinned to their chests, they entered the church with grave expressions.

However, among these distinguished guests, the most eye-catching was the Eastern figure standing at the very front of the coffin.

Jiang Che.

He wore a well-tailored black double-breasted coat with the collar turned up, and black leather gloves tightly gripped a black umbrella, shielding Su Xiaoruan beside him from the swirling snow. His expression was calm and stern, and his deep eyes, hidden in the shadow of the umbrella, revealed no emotion, yet exuded an abyss-like pressure.

Su Xiaoruan was dressed in black mourning clothes, with a black veiled hat covering half her face. She held Karl's portrait in her hands, her eyes red and swollen, but her back was ramrod straight. The changes of the past few days had made this once carefree girl grow up overnight.

Shen Qingge and Alice stood behind the two, both dressed in black, with solemn expressions.

"Who's that? The Asian man standing next to Miss Su?"

"I heard it's her brother, a mysterious financial tycoon from China."

"The man who sent Baron Franz to the dungeon? Good heavens, he looks too young."

The guests whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with curiosity and apprehension.

The funeral process was elaborate and solemn.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performed Mozart's Requiem, its mournful melody echoing beneath the dome. A cardinal read a eulogy, and the scent of incense filled the air.

However, just as the ceremony was reaching its final stage, and preparations were underway to send the coffin to the family cemetery...

The church doors were suddenly pushed open.

A gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes blew in, causing the candlelight in the church to flicker.

Twelve elderly men, dressed in old-fashioned tailcoats, carrying silver-tipped canes, and whose combined age exceeded one thousand, slowly entered, surrounded by their entourage.

Their arrival plunged the once solemn and dignified church into an eerie silence.

Even the bishop who was reciting the eulogy stopped and bowed slightly to the twelve old men.

Because they are the Twelve Golden Tables.

This is an alliance even more secretive and ancient than the Rothschild family. It consists of twelve of Europe's top old money families (including branches of the Habsburg, Medici, and Morgan families). They operate discreetly, but behind the scenes, they control Europe's energy, military, pharmaceutical, and banking systems through complex cross-shareholdings and trust funds.

In a sense, they are the "Gods" of Europe.

Leading the group was an elderly man with a silver-white goatee and sharp, hawk-like eyes—Duke Wilhelm von Habsburg.

He ignored everyone's gaze, walked straight to the coffin, and without bowing, simply tapped the ground lightly with his cane.

"Carl is a decent man."

The Duke's voice, hoarse and arrogant, echoed in the empty church:

"But his funeral seemed to be somewhat irregular."

"Improper?"

Jiang Che slowly turned around, folded the black umbrella, and handed it to Han Xiao behind him. He looked at this group of uninvited guests, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

"Is the Duke teaching us how to do things?"

"Young man, watch your attitude."

Duke William glanced at Jiang Che with disdain, his gaze finally settling on Su Xiaoruan, who was holding the portrait of the deceased:

"According to the Sacred Covenant signed between the Golden Table Alliance and the Rothschild family a century ago, when the direct bloodline of the family is cut off, or the heir is not capable enough to control the vast family assets, the alliance has the right to take over the family's core industries in order to prevent financial turmoil."

"This little girl..."

Duke William pointed his cane at Su Xiaoruan:

"An illegitimate daughter who has been living abroad, without any elite education, and who doesn't even know European history, is being put in charge of trillions of dollars in assets? This is irresponsible towards the European financial system."

"so."

Duke William pulled a parchment document from his pocket and threw it at Su Xiaoruan's feet:

"This is the alliance's resolution."

"The position of family head can be given to her, letting her be a wealthy mascot. However, control of the family's core assets, such as banks, energy, and mining, must be transferred to the alliance for safekeeping."

"Sign it, and the funeral will continue."

"If you don't sign..."

Duke William sneered and looked around:

"So today's funeral marks the beginning of the Rothschild family's expulsion from European high society."

Threat.

A blatant coercion.

These greedy old crocodiles, taking advantage of the weakened state of the Rothschilds—the old lion king had just died and a new king had not yet been established—wanted to carve up this lucrative piece of the Rothschilds!

The guests present held their breath. Everyone knew how terrifying the "Twelve Golden Tables" were; if they joined forces, they could truly eliminate any family overnight.

Su Xiaoruan stared at the documents at her feet, her body trembling slightly. Not from fear, but from anger. Her father's body was barely cold, and these people were already forcing a widow and her orphan upon them right before his coffin!

"I..." Su Xiaoruan was about to start cursing.

Jiang Che reached out and stopped her.

He bent down, picked up the parchment, dusted it off, and then…

"Sizzle—"

A crisp sound.

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone, Jiang Che tore the resolution representing the highest authority in Europe into pieces.

"You!!" Duke William roared, his beard trembling with rage. "Do you know what you're doing?! This is blasphemy against God!"

"God?"

Jiang Che tossed the scraps of paper into the air, like snowflakes falling from the sky.

He walked step by step toward Duke William, his aura rising steadily, like a sword drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed:

There's a saying in my hometown.

"Death is the greatest tragedy."

"At my father-in-law's funeral, let alone you old fogies, even if God himself came, if you dared to cause trouble, I'd still make him kneel down!"

"Good! Very good!"

Duke William, enraged, laughed coldly and slammed his cane down heavily:

"Since you refuse to listen to reason and are forced to suffer the consequences, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

"Relay my orders!"

The old duke roared at his entourage:

"Effective immediately, the 'financial circuit breaker' procedure will be activated!"

"Freeze the Rothschild family's accounts at all European central banks! Cut off the supply chains of all their companies! Prohibit any banks from providing them with liquidity support!"

"I'm going to bankrupt them within three days!!"

Following his command, the representatives of the twelve families took out their mobile phones and began issuing instructions.

A financial strangulation targeting the Rothschilds erupted without any concealment right here in this solemn and majestic church.

however.

Jiang Che simply watched their performance quietly, even taking the time to straighten his gloves.

"Is the performance over?"

Five minutes later, Jiang Che looked at the group of old men who had hung up the phone and were looking smug, and asked them calmly.

"Young man, it's too late to beg for mercy now," Duke William said arrogantly. "Kneel down and kiss my boots, and perhaps I'll consider leaving some dowry for that young girl."

"Oh."

Jiang Che chuckled, took out a black satellite phone from his pocket, and pressed the speakerphone button.

"Athena".

"Boss, I'm here." Athena's calm and mechanical voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Did you hear what the Duke just said?"

"Yes, boss."

"Then let's begin." Jiang Che's voice was as cold as the snow in Vienna. "Release that report."

"Yes."

"What report?" Duke William's heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Che ignored him and instead pointed to the huge projection screen above the church (originally used to show Karl's life story).

"Smack."

The screen image changed.

A PowerPoint presentation titled "Twilight of the Gods: A Short-Selling Report Targeting the Twelve Golden Tables Alliance" was presented to everyone.

The report was signed by Sky Dome Capital.

This was followed by a series of shocking data and chains of evidence:

The Habsburg family: Its largest energy group is suspected of serious financial fraud, with a deficit of up to 50 billion euros, and has long used offshore companies to fund illegal armed groups.

Medici Bank: Its core capital adequacy ratio is severely insufficient, it is already an empty shell, and it is involved in the "dark web money laundering case" that broke out last month, with conclusive evidence.

Morgan Stanley Europe: Several of its heavily invested technology projects have already collapsed; it is merely using a Ponzi scheme to maintain the stock price.

……

Each accusation was accompanied by detailed internal emails, financial statements, and even audio recordings!

These are all deadly scoops that "Sky Capital" collected over the past month using its global intelligence network (a system plug-in).

"This...this is slander! This is a fabrication!" Duke William's face turned ashen, and his hand trembled as he pointed at the screen.

"Whether it's a rumor or not, just look at the stock price."

Jiang Che pointed to the bottom right corner of the screen.

It connects to real-time data from global stock markets.

The moment this report was released.

boom--!

European stock markets crashed.

Habsburg Energy plunges 40%!

Medici Bank plunges 50%!

The entire group of listed companies controlled by the "Twelve Golden Tables" alliance collapsed like dominoes!

"No! This is impossible!!"

An elderly man, upon seeing the devastating news on his phone, clutched his heart and collapsed.

"My money! My stocks!" another old man roared frantically.

"Sky Capital...you...who exactly are you?!" Duke William stared at Jiang Che in horror. He finally realized that this young man was not a weak lamb to the slaughter at all, but a monstrous beast from the abyss that had already opened its blood-red maw!

He not only controlled Southeast Asia, but his tentacles had long since reached the heart of Europe!

Jiang Che slowly walked up to Duke William, looking down at the arrogant old man who had just been so domineering.

Who I am is not important.

Jiang Che reached out and gently straightened the old duke's crooked bow tie, his movements soft yet chilling:

"The important thing is that, starting today, the rules in Europe have changed."

"Your trust funds and cross-shareholdings are as fragile as paper in the face of absolute financial dominance."

"Didn't you just say you were going to freeze Rothschild's account?"

Jiang Che smiled and said into the phone:

"Athena, pass the message down."

"Sky Capital is launching a hostile takeover bid for all core assets under the 'Twelve Golden Tables' alliance, effective immediately."

"I want to buy all their possessions before nightfall."

"Oh, by the way, at the cheapest price."

"No!!!!" Duke William let out a piercing scream, grabbing Jiang Che's collar. "You can't do this! You'll ruin the European economy! You'll start a war!"

"war?"

Jiang Che shoved him away, causing him to fall awkwardly to the ground.

"You started this war."

"I'm just... ending it."

Jiang Che turned away, no longer looking at the group of elderly people who had already broken down. He walked to Su Xiaoruan's side and opened the black umbrella again.

"Let's go, Little Softie."

Jiang Che's voice softened again:

"Sending Dad off on his final journey."

"These flies will never bother you again."

Su Xiaoruan watched Jiang Che's retreating figure, tears still streaming down her face, but her eyes were filled with admiration and reassurance.

Clutching the portrait tightly, she walked out of the church step by step, escorted by Jiang Che and Shen Qingge, stepping over the "corpses" of the old nobles.

Outside the church, the wind and snow continued.

But everyone knew that the moment the brother and sister stepped out of that door, a new era had begun.

The old gods have fallen.

A new god is ascending the throne amidst the wind and snow.

……

That evening, at Rose Manor.

The atmosphere at the banquet following the funeral was surprisingly relaxed. All those obnoxious collateral relatives and so-called aristocratic representatives had already slunk away to put out fires.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly.

Jiang Che, Shen Qingge, Su Xiaoruan, and Alice sat around the fireplace.

Su Xiaoruan had changed out of her mourning clothes and was wearing a simple set of home clothes. She was holding a cup of hot cocoa and looked somewhat dazed.

"elder brother……"

Su Xiaoruan suddenly asked, "Am I... very rich now?"

"Hmm." Jiang Che peeled a chestnut and handed it to her. "Very rich. Enough to buy a hundred Disney parks."

"Then..." Su Xiaoruan blinked, "Does that mean I don't have to film anymore? I don't have to be suspended by wires anymore? I don't have to get yelled at by the director anymore?"

"Of course." Shen Qingge patted her head. "You are the capital itself now. From now on, you'll only be the one criticizing the director."

"Great!" Su Xiaoruan cheered, but then lowered her head, looking at the hot cocoa in her hand. "But... I still want to act."

"Why?" Alice asked, puzzled. "Everything you have now is enough for you to squander for several lifetimes."

"Because...that's my dream."

Su Xiaoruan raised her head, her eyes sparkling:

"Even though I'm rich now, I'm still Su Xiaoruan. I love the feeling of being in front of the camera and I love portraying different lives."

"and……"

She looked at Jiang Che:

"My brother once said, 'If you're going to be a kept man, you have to be strong.' I want to be like him; even if I'm rich, I'll rely on my talent to make a living!"

"puff--"

Jiang Che almost choked on the chestnut.

The "living off a woman" meme is stuck, isn't it?

"Good ambition." Jiang Che smiled and ruffled her hair. "Then let's keep filming. Even if you're the patriarch of the Rothschilds, you can be any role you want."