Chapter 72: The New Gold Rush
The air in Philip's study grew heavier as he sifted through more layers of financial data, emails, and corporate projections. The deeper he went into the paper trail surrounding NeroTech Biogenic, the more he realized this wasn't just a profitable investment—it was a ticking core of geopolitical interest.
Three years ago, NeroTech had been just another biomedical startup—bright ideas, a few talented researchers, and no real edge. Philip's company had bought in early, believing in their vision, and Maya had ensured they were properly funded.
But then, everything changed.
The founder and lead scientist, a quiet man named Dr. Remi Adebowale, had awakened with a rare transmutation ability—mana-conductive biological enhancement His transmutation ability had reshaped the company's vision overnight. He became capable of mana-conductive biological enhancement—the ability to biologically integrate mana into living cells, an advancement that could revolutionize medicine and MANA theory alike.. And someone had noticed.
Philip's eyes narrowed as he followed the paper trail deeper. The name came up more than once—NAM.
The name appeared again and again in financial overlays, encrypted correspondence, and patent registries. NAM—the alien civilization that arrived on Earth during the awakening surge, seeking the Emperor's candidate. When they didn't find him, they found something else: potential.
Earth was teeming with ancient bloodlines, dormant legacies, and mystical variants long erased from other worlds. NAM saw a soldier farm—a planet ripe for cultivation and conquest by alliance.
And they had begun planting their seeds.
When NAM took someone as a disciple, fate bent. Their resources, training, and technology rewrote destiny. And Dr. Remi had been chosen.
The results spoke for themselves.
NeroTech's laboratories were now producing mana-absorption pills, vitality serums, advanced healing compounds, and tech-mana hybrids that even monasteries and elite sects had begun purchasing. For the first time, mana products were going mainstream, no longer monopolized by the Supreme Families or the other entrenched organizations
With every successful product, another stone was chiseled out of the old world's foundation.
And with legitimacy… came greed.
And everything that came after—mana absorption pills, enhanced vitality serums, advanced recovery potions—were now being manufactured at a quality and consistency even monasteries couldn't ignore. The best was the innovative use of technology with mana which helped in auto diagnostic and quick treatment
No more monopolies by the supreme families and
Mana products were going mainstream.
But with legitimacy came greed.
That was where the Triad came in.
Philip leaned back, watching archived messages from Chidozie to external parties. One thread was particularly active—backdoor discussions with proxy companies that had tried to buy out the 30% stake his company held in NeroTech.
But Maya had unknowingly blocked his move—protecting Philip's stake without realizing the full scope of what was happening.
The Triad—Tayo, Tope, and Tolu—had been the real powers behind the buyout attempt. With their grip on Lagos's technology pipeline, they had made a fortune acting as middlemen for mana-tech distribution—relics, arcane tools, enchantment kits, even smuggled cultivation scrolls.
Now, with NeroTech's rise, their influence was being undercut.
This wasn't just business anymore.
This was a power shift.
And they couldn't challenge NAM or its disciple directly—that would be suicide. So they did the next best thing: attempt to strip control from Philip's company.
Take the 30%. Cut out Omnitech. Dominate the market.
But they hadn't accounted for one thing.
Philip was back.
And he wasn't the same man who vanished three years ago.
Now, he understood why Chidozie was shaking. Why he'd tried to play nice. Why he ran the moment Philip released his Sage aura.
This wasn't over.