Villain of Fate: The Tyrant System-Chapter 42: The Trap Is Cast

The Trap Is Cast

A faint sneer curved across Bianca De Dominicis’s lips.

The expression was subtle—so slight that anyone who didn’t know her well might have mistaken it for indifference. But there was nothing casual about it. The plan had already formed in her mind, every piece aligned with deliberate precision. Clean. Calculated. Ruthless.

She looked down at the man kneeling before her. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Danny’s back was stiff, but his shoulders trembled despite his effort to appear composed. A thin sheen of sweat clung to his temples. He had delivered Ryan’s proposal exactly as instructed, yet the moment the words left his mouth, he knew something about it reeked of a trap. And she knew it too. Of course she did.

Bianca leaned back slightly in her chair, fingers resting lightly against the polished surface of the desk. Her movements were unhurried, controlled—like someone who had already seen ten steps ahead.

"Vice President Danny," she said calmly, "I can give you a chance. Go and tell Ryan that I agree to this cooperation. The finance department will transfer the money within twenty-four hours."

"Huh?"

The word slipped out before he could stop it.

Danny blinked in disbelief, staring up at her as if she had just spoken in another language.

President Bianca already knew it was a trap. Everyone with half a brain could see it. Ryan’s sudden enthusiasm, the forced urgency, the conveniently "profitable" terms—it was too perfect.

And she still wanted to walk straight into it?

For a brief second, Danny wondered if he had misheard. Maybe she meant they would investigate first. Maybe she meant they would stall. Maybe—

"President Bianca... forgive me, but..." He swallowed, forcing himself to continue. "You said you agree? Immediately?"

Her crimson eyes lifted slightly.

They were calm. Not confused. Not impulsive. Calm.

"Just do as I say," she continued, her voice steady and unshaken. "Tell him to urge Shin Cooperation to transfer the money into the project account as soon as possible."

Danny’s throat tightened. "But President... if this is truly a setup, once the funds move—"

Her gaze sharpened.

He stopped mid-sentence.

There was no anger in her expression, only a quiet warning. She did not need to raise her voice. Authority radiated from her without effort.

"You think I don’t understand what this is?" she asked softly.

Danny hesitated. "I... wouldn’t dare assume that."

Bianca’s fingers tapped once against the desk—just once. A measured sound.

"They want us to step forward first," she said. "They want proof of commitment. They want leverage."

She paused, letting the silence stretch just enough for him to feel the weight of her confidence.

"So we’ll give it to them."

Danny stared at her, confusion battling with unease. "And if they pull the rug out from under us?"

A faint smile returned to her lips—this time colder.

"Then they’ll learn why I don’t make reckless moves."

The room fell quiet again.

She did not elaborate further. She didn’t need to. Whatever calculations were running behind those crimson eyes were far beyond his reach.

Danny lowered his head slightly. The hesitation in his chest remained, but so did something else—trust. He had worked under her long enough to know that when Bianca appeared to walk into danger, it usually meant she had already prepared the exit.

He took a slow breath and straightened his back.

"Understood. I’ll inform Ryan immediately. And I’ll personally follow up with Shin Cooperation to ensure the transfer timeline is clear."

"Good." Her tone softened by a fraction. "Make sure he believes we’re eager."

"Eager?" Danny echoed, almost nervously.

"Yes." She folded her hands neatly. "Let him think we’re desperate to secure the partnership."

Now he understood.

If Ryan believed they were cautious, he would tighten his net. But if he believed they were hungry... overconfidence would do the rest.

A chill ran down Danny’s spine.

Bianca’s gaze drifted toward the city skyline beyond the window. Glass towers gleamed under the afternoon light, cold and indifferent.

"Twenty-four hours," she said quietly. "That’s all they’ll get."

Danny rose carefully from his kneeling position. His earlier confusion had settled into something steadier—resolve.

"Okay... thank you, President Bianca, for giving me this chance. I will do my best."

Danny nodded repeatedly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. The weight crushing his chest eased slightly. Surviving today felt like a miracle.

He backed out of the office almost gratefully.

—

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.

Ryan De Dominicis stepped out at the exact same moment, holding a file folder in his hand.

He wore an expensive suit, but arrogance clung to him more visibly than fabric.

"Vice President Danny, how did it go?"

Ryan strode forward and casually draped an arm over Danny’s shoulder, voice brimming with excitement.

Danny lowered his voice.

"President Bianca has agreed. She’s signing the contract. She asked me to notify the finance department to transfer the funds."

Ryan’s eyes lit up.

Finally.

His cousin had relented.

Once this plan succeeded, the position of general manager would fall into his hands like ripe fruit.

As for Bianca?

A woman should obediently marry and step aside.

Compete with him for power?

Ridiculous.

"Oh, by the way," Danny added quickly, "President Bianca also asked me to remind you to contact Shin Cooperation and have them transfer their funds into the project account as soon as possible."

"Of course." Ryan smiled broadly. "Thank you for your hard work, Vice President Danny. The remaining eighty million will be transferred to you later."

He patted Danny’s shoulder heavily.

A promise.

And a warning.

Danny forced a smile.

Ryan turned and headed straight back to his office.

The moment the door closed behind him, his expression changed.

He dialed a number.

—

At that moment, Evan—known to his followers as the Obsidian King—was patrolling a high-end residential complex in Valemont, dressed in a security uniform.

The walkie-talkie at his waist crackled faintly.

The disguise did not bother him.

A king could wear any mask.

When Ryan’s call came through, Evan stepped aside beneath a tree and answered.

"Got it," he said after listening. "Just wait to take over the De Dominicis Group."

He hung up, a cold smile forming on his lips.

"Idiot."

He snorted softly.

Ryan thought he was manipulating Bianca.

In truth—

He was merely a pawn.

Evan dialled another number.

This time, it connected to the Obsidian Wing organization.

A deep male voice answered.

"Obsidian King, what are your orders?"

"Transfer thirty billion to Shin Cooperation."

There was a brief pause.

"From your personal account, or—?"

"Of course from the organization’s account," Evan interrupted impatiently. "It will be transferred back in a while. Isn’t it just thirty billion?"

His tone carried faint disdain.

His personal funds were locked into a foundation overseas, generating enormous daily returns.

Why use his own money when public funds could be leveraged?

To catch a big fish—

Thirty billion was merely bait.

Once he conquered Bianca De Dominicis—

The De Dominicis household’s hundreds of billions would belong to him.

Compared to that—

Thirty billion was nothing.

"Understood," the man on the other end replied, sounding faintly helpless.

The call ended.

Evan looked up at the sky.

His eyes gleamed with cold ambition.

Soon.

Very soon.

Valemont would kneel.