I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 149: You Could Have Asked Nicely

The faint drizzle fell gently on Matthew's shoulders, soaking slowly into the fabric of his suit jacket. Standing quietly outside his mother's modest home, he kept his eyes fixed calmly on the empty street ahead. The quietness was deliberate—almost staged—an unnatural stillness that made his pulse quicken just slightly, despite the calmness he projected.

Behind him, his mother's warm laughter still echoed softly from the brightly lit windows, oblivious to the tension brewing outside. Matthew exhaled slowly, allowing the steady rhythm of rain to ease his nerves.

This wasn't just another visit—it was the culmination of a carefully orchestrated plan, months in the making. He had known every step Russia and China took, every move they made to steal his technology, to infiltrate his network, and even their desperate attempts to spy on him personally. They had danced exactly to his tune.

And tonight, he was ready for their final act.

Inside his ear, the tiny comms unit crackled softly. Marcus, his security chief, spoke quietly from the SUV parked nearby.

"They're approaching, sir. Two vehicles—one black van, one dark SUV."

Matthew subtly nodded, understanding the situation perfectly. "Copy. Do not interfere. Observe only."

There was hesitation from Marcus. "Understood, sir…but are you sure you don't want intervention?"

Matthew smiled faintly to himself. Marcus had been loyal for years and still questioned the sanity of his boss willingly walking into harm's way.

"I'm sure. Just stick to the plan. I need them to believe they've succeeded."

Marcus sighed through the comms, reluctantly complying. "Affirmative. Standing down."

Matthew took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. In his jacket pocket, his fingers traced the small tracking device embedded discreetly in the lining—a safety net, but also a beacon to his hidden counter-intelligence team.

Moments later, headlights flickered through the steady rain. Two vehicles glided silently down the street, tires whispering softly against wet pavement. They stopped a few meters away from Matthew, engines idling ominously.

The side door of the black van slid open abruptly, spilling out four operatives dressed in tactical gear, faces concealed by black balaclavas. They moved swiftly, weapons raised, scanning surroundings carefully as they closed in on Matthew's position.

Matthew raised his hands calmly, signaling immediate surrender. He kept his breathing steady, eyes alert yet unafraid.

"Hands up—stay where you are!" barked one of the operatives sharply, his accent distinctly Russian.

Matthew obeyed silently, watching them approach. From the corner of his vision, he saw Marcus and his security team quietly remaining inside their vehicle, tensely observing without intervening.

Two operatives stepped forward, quickly securing Matthew's wrists with zip ties, their grip firm yet professional.

"You're coming with us, Borja," said the lead operative, his voice calm but commanding.

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Matthew stared directly into the operative's cold eyes, his voice steady. "No need for threats. I'll cooperate fully. Just leave my family unharmed."

The operative seemed surprised at Matthew's composure, hesitating momentarily before nodding briefly. "We're professionals. Your family stays safe—as long as you don't make trouble."

Matthew nodded slowly, giving a subtle glance back toward Marcus and his team—a quiet reassurance that everything was still under control.

As the operatives hurriedly escorted him into the back of the van, Matthew glanced around calmly, taking note of every detail—the operatives' tactical gear, their body language, even the equipment inside the van. Each observation became a valuable piece of intel, mentally filed away.

The doors slammed shut, and the vehicle jolted forward abruptly, accelerating rapidly into the darkened streets of Manila.

Inside the van, two operatives closely watched Matthew, guns steady, eyes fixed on him with unwavering vigilance. Matthew remained composed, meeting their scrutiny without flinching.

"You don't seem worried," remarked one of the operatives—a man whose voice held an unmistakable Chinese accent. He seemed puzzled by Matthew's calm demeanor.

Matthew gave a slight shrug, a small, confident smile forming on his lips. "Worrying doesn't change outcomes."

The operative exchanged uneasy glances with his Russian counterpart, clearly unnerved by Matthew's confidence.

They drove in silence for several tense minutes, eventually pulling into a secluded private airfield on the outskirts of Manila. A waiting private jet sat quietly on the runway, engines already humming softly.

As the van doors opened again, Matthew was quickly escorted to the plane, feeling rain pelting his face and shoulders as they hurried him onboard. Inside, the luxury jet was stripped of comfort, replaced by equipment, tactical gear, and computer monitors buzzing with encrypted data streams.

Matthew took a seat as instructed, still outwardly calm. Across from him sat a woman with sharp features and penetrating eyes. He immediately recognized her from intelligence briefings—Major Natalia Sokolov.

She studied him intently for several moments before speaking. "You're remarkably calm, Mr. Borja."

Matthew returned her gaze steadily. "I knew you'd come eventually."

Natalia raised an eyebrow, curious and cautious. "You expected this?"

Matthew gave a slight nod. "I've been tracking your intrusion attempts into Sentinel's systems for months—both yours and Beijing's. You've stolen exactly what I intended for you to steal: misinformation, fake schematics, useless designs."

Her eyes widened slightly, realization dawning upon her. "You've been manipulating us?"

"Precisely," Matthew said softly. "I knew eventually you'd target me personally. Tonight was your first real move. I allowed it, as it serves my purposes too."

Natalia leaned back, masking her surprise. "You underestimate our resolve."

Matthew shook his head slightly. "No, Major. You underestimated mine. The very moment you took me, my team began dismantling your entire network in the Philippines. Your operatives, your safe houses—all being neutralized as we speak."

Her jaw tightened, fists clenching slightly at the revelation. "You're bluffing."

Matthew tilted his head slightly, voice quiet but firm. "Am I? Check your comms. See if your assets are still online."

Natalia reached quickly for her radio, barking sharply for status updates. The response was static-filled chaos—distress calls, shouts of panic, and confirmation of raids.

She turned back to Matthew sharply, anger and disbelief warring on her face. "How?"

Matthew's voice hardened. "You invaded my territory, my network, and threatened my family. I never leave such acts unanswered."

Natalia glared back, attempting to regain control. "This isn't over. We still have you."

Matthew smiled faintly, confidence radiating from his calm demeanor. "For now. But I suggest you reconsider your strategy. As we speak, this plane is being tracked by a multinational task force. You have limited time before the noose tightens."

Natalia's calm faltered momentarily. She glanced urgently at her operatives, who exchanged nervous glances, beginning to understand their precarious situation.

Matthew continued calmly, knowing he now held the advantage.

"So what are you going to do?"

"Well you guys could have asked nicely if you want my tech," Matthew said. "I am a businessman so let's talk business. I'm sure that you have prepared a place for us to discuss it?"