The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1880

If given another chance, they would have fought tooth and nail to stand tall against the foreign competitors, even if it cost them everything.

The humiliation of being looked down upon was simply unbearable. Many of their old comrades had even walked away because of it. Those foreign companies, with their early advantages and superior technology, had siphoned off too much from them.

Back then, the Cascadian workers labored the hardest yet earned the lowest wages. Just recalling those days made every executive in the room, regardless of their allegiances or alliances, feel a pang of bitterness.

The meeting hall fell into heavy silence.

Wynter spoke up again. "Foreign capital is making another move now. I trust that I won't need to remind you all about what happened recently with the battle for control over the ports. Some have been offloading their mainland assets on a large scale. Clearly, they're preparing for what's coming.

"A weak nation has no voice in diplomacy. That truth holds everywhere. Over the years, the scale of Cascadia's market has grown immensely, and the world's capital has taken notice.

"In the past, they could suppress us. Now that they feel threatened, they're looking for other ways to undermine us. For example, Havenia."

Wynter raised her hand, projecting Havenia's location onto the screen.

"As one of the world's most crucial financial hubs, Havenia stands alongside Nirevalen and Luiora as part of the 'Haviolen' trio. It boasts a highly developed financial market and, as Cascadia's largest trading port, hosts one of the busiest container ports in the world, with thriving re-export trade.

"It has always been our gateway to the world. Havenia borders the Moonveil River estuary to the east, neighbors Halsbury to the north, and faces Wanish and Pearlspire across the river to the west.

"Since ancient times, it has not just been a strategic stronghold for trade but also an inseparable part of Cascadia. Since its return in 1997, certain foreign interests have never given up their ambitions and have been scheming to use Havenia to stir trouble.

"This time, they're trying the same old tactics to force us into submission."

With that, Wynter looked around the room. "I believe every elder sitting here today would never stand by and allow Cascadia's economy to plummet like it did in the past."

"Of course not!" One of the executives, dressed in a traditional tunic suit, stood up.

He was a native of Colifernia. No matter what outsiders said, Cascadian businessmen like him had always held one belief—only with a stable nation came family.

Just as Wynter had said, no matter how fiercely they competed domestically, they all had their principles and would never back down when it came to matters of national integrity.

Once one rose to his feet, the others couldn't hold back, either, standing one after another to voice their stance.

"Count me in! None of us knew what was really happening when you disappeared. But now that we've heard the truth, it's clear that the foreigners still think they can threaten us at every turn like they used to. That ends now!"

A woman entrepreneur, Judy Odell, was no less resolute, proving her mettle. "Cascadian businessmen aren't the same as before! We stand firm now even on the global stage!"

"Damn right!"

Every pair of eyes burned with determination. These were the titans of industry, leaders from every corner of the nation. Some were well into their 70s, yet not a single one showed the slightest hesitation.

Among them were men and women, including Judy, who had faced relentless online attacks from younger generations over minor disagreements or differing ideals.

Perhaps it was a difference in experience, but many had forgotten that those who had risen to where they were in their era, those who still thought in terms of the bigger picture, were never the type to simply resign themselves to fate.

It was especially so for Judy. For a woman to reach such heights, the sacrifices she had to make far surpassed those of her male counterparts. That was an undeniable truth.

Yet, with the generational gap, her words no longer aligned with modern trends. Some even dragged her personal life into the discourse. But even so, when it came to matters of principle, if the nation needed her, she would still step forward, leading from the front.

Everyone championed "female empowerment", but they had forgotten that this, too, was female empowerment. Differences in perspective born from generational divides should never be overanalyzed.

Wynter could see it all, even the dark energy coiled around her. She couldn't let those who spoke the truth be silenced forever.

They didn't have to listen, but the least they could do was not vilify them. One should not become someone else's weapon online. Yet, that was hard to control. Human nature was unpredictable, and there were always those deliberately fanning the flames.

With foreign capital pouring in and certain media outlets steering narratives, many had lost sight of what was truly right.

But of course, there were still moments of disillusionment.

Wynter could sense it. Her perception of others' emotions had grown sharper than before, especially since returning from the underworld.

She could see the threads of cause and effect woven into this moment. That was why she didn't want entrepreneurs like Judy to be misunderstood any longer.

Rising to her feet, Wynter bowed deeply toward her with solemn respect. "On the chamber's and countless employees' behalf, thank you. Your philosophy in business once influenced me, too.

"To create manufacturing that belongs to Cascadia alone, to ensure our products thrive not just domestically but across global markets, that is how we were able to endure. That is how we walk with dignity. I've remembered your speech all this time."

That single bow from Wynter dissolved much of the quiet grievance Judy had carried in her heart.

In this world, the greatest fear was not being understood. We couldn't expect everyone to think from a macro perspective because the harsh reality was that most were still burdened by the pressures of daily life. That was why empathy was so rare and precious.

For Judy, having a young person who truly grasped her thoughts was solace enough, especially when Wynter hailed from the distinguished Quinnell family.

Age, in this moment, ceased to be a divide. Judy also realized that perhaps the spirit of relentless striving had fallen out of fashion in this era. But there would always be those who understood her convictions, shared her insights, and honored her highest ideals.

Wynter was such a person. Had she relied solely on ruthless tactics, she might still have secured her position as the chamber's chairman, but she could never have reignited hope in the eyes of the older generation.

There was a difference between succession and inheritance. She respected their ways and beliefs deeply, even when some seemed outdated. The essence of those principles remained unshaken. They were timeless and transcended eras.

During interviews, they might banter lightheartedly. But today, they stood united, making the same choice.

Here, the purpose of the Chamber of Commerce crystallized into something tangible. Laborers and farmers must never be overlooked, but neither should the merchants who drove the economy.

Foreign capital, in many ways, regarded the Yarwoods with wariness. Even the old cultivator schemed to siphon fragments of the family's fortune.

No other aristocratic family had endured since antiquity. The Yarwoods carried not just mercantile prowess but also the indomitable spirit forged in the fires of national defense. It was a rarity beyond replication.

A millennium of accrued military merit translated into unshakable commercial dominance. Petty schemes couldn't undermine such a family, and even misfortunes and failing ventures seemed to veer clear of their path.

This wasn't mere superstition. It was the immutable logic of the Arcane diagram. Vitality nurtured individuals, while prosperity sustained the family. That truth held eternal.

To this day, foreign powers remained on guard against the Yarwoods precisely because no one had ever plumbed the depths of their reserves.

The flight from Colifernia to Havenia took barely an hour.

The jet's spacious cabin allowed Wynter to recline and rest her eyes, though rest was the last thing on her mind. Wolf's disappearance dominated her thoughts. But beneath that, she could feel an unsettling presence lingering since Colifernia.

For reassurance, she'd tasked Kaspar with an investigation. Mt. Dragon had never failed in such matters. Yet, her true vigilance was reserved for Isidore, who still walked among the living.

Compared to his past self, he'd grown far more cunning. He could shift his consciousness into living souls, erasing all traces of his presence. Once he assumed a fresh guise, only Wolf could detect the aberration.

A realization sharpened Wynter's gaze. Was Wolf's presence near the municipal building tied to Isidore? And now, his silent vigil in Havenia... Could it be for the same reason?

"Inform the Special Unit to consult Mr. Stavius before taking any action." Wynter's ability to synthesize intelligence remained unparalleled. "Also, verify whether the regional guardian barriers still hold."

The existence of these barriers was known only to the Special Unit. Ordinary citizens couldn't comprehend them, and panic was to be avoided at all costs.

For centuries, the struggle to seize fortune had persisted. What appeared as a friendly exchange among common folk often masked deeper contests. Every nation guarded its fortune with unique methods.

As one of the four ancient civilizations, Cascadia had cultivated its own philosophy on this matter, tracing back to the Atlantean era when prosperity reigned and peace prevailed across the lands.

Legend held that one such barrier originated where the Yarwood estate now stood, earning them the name "the nation's shield".

Wynter knew the barriers had weakened as corruption festered. Some manifested as Mountain Gods, others as earth or physical chains, like those at the Dragon-Binding Bridge. Regardless of form, their purpose remained—to safeguard this land.

Yet, modernity had eroded such concerns. Abominations like the Sacrificial Human Formation inevitably corroded the barriers. Should they fail, or should the guardians falter, Cascadia's fortune could bleed away.

Wynter connected these threads precisely because the adversary was Isidore, whose ambition had always been clear. He wanted to hijack the country's fortune for his own ascension. No atrocity lay beyond his reach.

"Priority mission—survey Ostel. I need full reconnaissance of the northern mountain ranges."

Ostel wasn't particularly eye-catching in the public's eyes. Cities surrounding Kingbourne were often overlooked. But wherever the Celestial Force spread, it always followed water and mountains.

Wynter suspected that the most hidden of the Guardians was right here, in this very city. It wasn't just a wild guess, either. After all, the legendary Thurstan Glenn was once located here.