Chapter 15: Disturbance
Present at the scene today were two minor shareholders of the Orange Group. At Luca’s reminder, they immediately reacted, all casting hesitant glances toward Dragan.
It was well known that when Dragan was ousted from the company, he had not gained a single share. He had no influence over shareholder decisions and wasn’t even qualified to attend shareholder meetings. So why was he now speaking with such certainty?
Dragan’s smile froze at these words. He instinctively licked the corner of his mouth, his mind growing even more confused.
“Kid, you’d better know your place...”
His voice trailed off abruptly as his wavering gaze suddenly fixed on something, and he fell silent.
As if regaining some clarity, he only panted slightly, struggling with all his might to pry Samira’s hand off his collar.
“You wild dog! Let go of me! This isn’t your business!”
But his frail body, ravaged by drugs, was no match for Samira’s strength.
Seeing that he had no intention of continuing the confrontation, Luca also abandoned the idea of further entanglement.
‘This drug-addled fool probably doesn’t even know what he wants to say,’ he thought.
Waving his hand to signal Samira to release him, Luca spoke coldly to Dragan.
“Get lost. You’re not welcome here.”
Hearing this, Dragan had wanted to move closer again, but seeing Samira clenching her fists, he immediately shrank back.
Ignoring the strange looks from others, he cursed under his breath and left on his own.
However, his departure left behind a mess that Luca had to clean up.
The mournful atmosphere of the funeral had completely dissipated.
Several guests closely connected to Orange Industries immediately approached with questions.
“Luca, is Ms. Orange really not going to wake up?”
“About what that man said just now...”
Clearly, as the true helm of Orange Industries, Gina Orange held great significance in their eyes.
If Gina encountered problems, these partners might have to reconsider their cooperation.
Seeing so many people gathering, Luca first signaled to Samira that he was fine.
Then he stepped forward a couple of paces, pressed his palm, and spoke with steady resolve to everyone.
“Apologies for the farce you witnessed today. As for my mother, Ms. Gina, she is currently receiving effective treatment and could awaken at any moment.”
“If there are any changes, the company will issue an official announcement. Please remain patient.”
Having said this, Luca paid no further attention to the guests’ strange expressions and led Samira to a corner.
Many people, seeing the calmness of this fourteen-year-old boy, refrained from pressing further.
After all, as Luca said, rather than bickering here, it was better to wait for Orange Industries’ official statement or to investigate privately.
Even if they pressed on, the boy would not reveal much more.
Once aside, Luca whispered to Samira as he watched Dragan’s unsteady retreating figure.
“Aunt Samira, please follow him. When you find a place where no one else is around...”
“Are you going to kill him?” Samira’s sudden interjection caught Luca off guard.
‘I didn’t expect Samira to be this violent...’
That was ‘my’ own uncle, after all.
‘But... maybe it wouldn’t be impossible?’
After a moment’s hesitation, Luca decided to proceed according to his plan.
“Find a chance to catch him and find out why he showed up today. If necessary, break his limbs and bring him back before deciding what to do.”
If it weren’t for the large number of people at the funeral and the fact that most attendees were wealthy or influential, Luca wouldn’t have let Dragan leave at all.
Having Samira follow was to understand why this drugged fool dared to provoke them.
However, this caused Samira to hesitate.
“Master Luca, you’re here alone...”
Luca shook his head slightly in response.
“It’s fine. There are so many people around—I won’t leave recklessly.”
“Besides...”
He patted his waist and continued,
“I’m not without means to protect myself.”
“Go quickly. If he gets too far away, he’ll be harder to track.”
Hearing this, Samira nodded firmly and quickly followed Dragan’s departing footsteps.
Although some guests noticed Samira’s movements, no one spoke up.
Watching the two leave, Luca fell into deep thought.
He truly cared about his family company.
His own special skill seemed to be item synthesis.
With the company’s funding and resources, gathering core components and materials for synthesis would be far more efficient.
Moreover, this was a weapons company.
The scientific talent, laboratories, and industrial equipment they had—if he could take control, reverse-engineer items, produce them in batches, and expand the company wouldn’t be impossible.
Previously, Luca had preserved two sticky missiles from the “Pencil Missile” with this plan in mind.
But now, Luca was only fourteen.
Orange Industries had always been managed by his mother Gina, while his father Herman handled research.
At such a young age, Luca had little chance to engage with company affairs.
With his father dead, mother unconscious, and two other minor shareholders killed in the New York battle, the company had been stagnant for the past week.
The whole city was in turmoil; it was already fortunate Orange Industries managed to stay stable.
No one had yet proposed convening a shareholder meeting or changing management.
This also involved Luca’s inheritance and changes in company shares.
Normally, the inheritance process could take up to a year, involving wills, asset liquidation, tax audits, and court rulings.
His father’s portion of the estate would be transferred to Gina.
Though Gina remained comatose, as long as doctors did not declare her brain dead or permanently unconscious, she retained inheritance rights.
If she were declared brain dead, according to wills they had prepared, Luca would inherit both estates.
However, in that case, the fourteen-year-old Luca would have to consider his own guardianship.
This might involve inheritance supervision, trust funds, and proxy shareholding complications.
‘That cheap, stupid uncle—surely he doesn’t want to fight for my guardianship, does he?’