The following morning, Davis arrived at Blackwood Capital earlier than everyone else.
He had spent much of the night studying the company's financial records.
The more he learned, the more excited he became.
Blackwood Capital possessed several dormant investments, valuable commercial assets, and a collection of shares in companies that had grown considerably since the original purchases.
With proper management, the business could become a formidable investment empire.
Elena Brooks entered his office carrying a thick folder.
"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."
"Good morning. What have you found?"
She placed the folder on his desk.
"I've completed the preliminary review of the company's assets. There are three immediate opportunities."
She opened the folder.
"The first is a technology company called Nexora Systems. It specializes in financial software and business automation. It's currently undervalued because of a dispute between its founders."
Davis examined the figures.
"The second?"
"A luxury hotel group called Grand Meridian. It owns four properties across the country and is looking for an investor."
"And the third?"
Elena hesitated.
"A residential development project. The developer has run out of funding, and the land is located in one of the fastest-growing districts in Aurelion."
Davis leaned back.
"Nexora Systems. Its technology could be valuable to our own operations, and the company has substantial growth potential."
Davis nodded.
"Arrange a meeting with its founders. I want to understand the dispute before making an offer."
"Certainly."
After Elena left, Davis opened the system interface.
[SYSTEM MARKET SCAN AVAILABLE.]
[WOULD THE HOST LIKE TO ANALYZE NEXORA SYSTEMS?]
He selected YES.
A detailed report appeared.
[TARGET COMPANY: NEXORA SYSTEMS.]
[CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUATION: £18,000,000.]
[POTENTIAL FUTURE VALUATION: £180,000,000–£250,000,000.]
[PRIMARY RISK: INTERNAL SHAREHOLDER DISPUTE.]
[SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: ACQUISITION OF CONTROLLING INTEREST.]
Davis smiled.
"Now we're talking."
He had always enjoyed business strategy.
At Oxford, he had spent hours studying acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and investment models. He had imagined using that knowledge to build a successful company one day.
Now he had the resources to put those ideas into practice. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
But the system offered more than financial analysis.
[SYSTEM TASK AVAILABLE.]
[TASK: COMPLETE A QUALIFIED INVESTMENT IN A GROWTH COMPANY.]
[POTENTIAL REWARD: ADVANCED BUSINESS ANALYSIS.]
Davis accepted the task.
Then he picked up his phone.
"Elena, bring me the Nexora founders' contact information."
"Right away, sir."
Davis looked out over Aurelion.
His empire had begun with a million pounds and a desperate young man sitting in an alley.
But he had no intention of stopping at one building.
He wanted companies.
Hotels.
Technology.
Property.
Influence.
And, one day, the truth about his family.
The system had opened a door.
Davis intended to walk through it.