"Master Sean, there's already a strike at the factory."
A tall black man in a tailored suit bowed respectfully toward the small boy seated behind an oversized office desk. The child looked no older than ten, yet the calm pressure surrounding him made the room feel like a corporate board meeting rather than a nursery.
Sean Sebastian rubbed his temples with visible irritation. His small frame barely fit the leather chair, but the maturity in his expression made people instinctively forget his age.
"And you came to me for something this trivial?" he asked coldly. "Where's my father? What exactly is he doing?"
His voice gradually rose with annoyance, making the towering butler tense slightly. Even at nearly two metres tall, Seth still felt nervous every time the young master became angry.
"You think I'm not busy enough already?"
Seth swallowed hard, unsure how to answer. Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, a soft and graceful voice drifted in from outside the study.
"Sean, how many times have I told you not to lose your temper? Seth wouldn't come looking for you unless he had no other choice."
A beautiful woman entered carrying a plate of sliced fruit. Her elegant features and warm smile instantly softened the room.
Sean's expression eased the moment he saw her.
His mother, Alice Sebastian.
"Mom," Sean said helplessly, "the factories are already on strike."
Seth hurriedly lowered his head. "Young Master, the master has temporarily suppressed the unrest, but there's no long-term solution at the moment. That's why… he asked me to seek your advice."
Sean picked up a piece of fruit and leaned back in his chair thoughtfully.
"Come closer," he said casually. "Listen carefully."
Seth immediately bent down beside the desk like a loyal student receiving instructions from a professor.
Sean tapped the table lightly. "There's only one reason they're causing trouble."
"The wages?" Seth asked cautiously.
"The wages are too high."
The room fell silent.
Alice blinked in surprise, while Seth stared in confusion.
"Young Master," Seth said carefully, "the workers believe their wages are too low."
Sean waved dismissively. Having lived two lives, he understood human nature far too well. A labour strike like this was nothing more than a predictable social problem.
Yes, Sean was a transmigrator.
Eleven years ago, he had crossed into this world with the memories of his previous life intact. Today marked both his eleventh birthday and the eleventh anniversary of his arrival here.
In those eleven years, relying on the knowledge from his past life, Sean had built the Sebastian family into a terrifying commercial empire.
Arms manufacturing, automobiles, real estate, computers, video games, cosmetics, finance — nearly every profitable industry had the Sebastian name buried deep within it.
And in every field, they stood at the very top.
Officially, Raymond Sebastian was the head of the family.
In reality, everyone close to the household knew the truth.
The true mastermind was the boy sitting behind that desk.
Sean calmly continued, "Whether the wages are low or high doesn't matter. What matters is inequality."
Seth frowned slightly, trying to understand.
"You'll go back and announce salary increases for a small group of employees," Sean instructed. "Not too many. Just enough."
"Promote them into management positions. Give them independent offices and reward each of them with one of our company cars."
Seth's eyes widened. "Young Master… if you do that, won't the rest of the workers become even angrier? They might burn the factory down!"
Sean suddenly smiled.
It was the kind of smile that should never appear on a child's face.
"Relax," he said lightly. "Not only will they stop causing trouble, they'll start competing with each other instead."
He understood this better than anyone.
People did not fear hardship.
They feared unfairness.
As long as everyone suffered equally, they could unite. But the moment one person received special treatment, suspicion and jealousy would tear that unity apart from within.
There was no need for Sean to destroy the alliance himself.
Human nature would do it for him.
Seth didn't fully understand the logic, but he had long since learned not to question Sean's decisions. Over the years, the young master had never once made a mistake.
Not once.
From an ordinary family of three to a global financial titan capable of influencing governments, every step of the Sebastian family's rise had come from Sean's mind.
Even the politicians of Eagle Nation and the United States were eager to curry favour with the Sebastian Corporation.
And the terrifying part?
The mastermind behind all of it was still only ten years old.
"Yes, Young Master," Seth replied respectfully. "I'll report it to the master immediately."
"Wait."
Sean lowered his eyes to the documents on the desk.
"How are the negotiations with the gemstone distributors in the Monkey Country progressing?"
Seth's face immediately brightened.
"Very smoothly. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll soon secure the mining rights."
Sean nodded calmly.
"Good."
Once the gemstone industry was secured, the Sebastian family's total assets would easily surpass ten billion dollars.
At that point, Sean could finally begin preparing for the next phase of his plans.
Returning to the Dragon Country.
After living abroad for over a decade, he was thoroughly sick of Western food and Western culture.
No matter how wealthy Eagle Nation became, it still wasn't home.
And with the engine patents he currently held, obtaining Dragon Country nationality shouldn't be difficult.
While Sean reviewed the reports in silence, Alice gently walked behind him and began massaging his shoulders.
"Sean," she said softly, "today is your birthday. Can't you take at least one day off?"
"Your father will be back soon. He even bought a cake personally."
Sean paused for a moment before finally nodding.
"Alright," he agreed. "Then I'll head to the book club later."
Alice's expression immediately darkened.
"Book club?" she repeated in disbelief. "Sean, you need rest."
She crossed her arms and glared at him like any ordinary mother scolding her child.
"My God, you're only ten years old and you've already completed your doctoral courses. Go play with Lego or something!"
For all the pride she should have felt, Alice only felt helpless most of the time.
Other children spent their early years learning how to walk.
Sean had spent his learning advanced mathematics.
Other children watched cartoons.
Sean attended corporate meetings.
The most absurd part was that everyone in the Sebastian household had long grown used to it.
Family discussions involving billion-dollar investments often looked utterly ridiculous to outsiders — a tiny child sitting at the head of the table while fully grown adults nervously took notes.
Sometimes Sean even held meetings while sucking on a lollipop.
Alice sighed inwardly every time she remembered it.
She didn't want a genius son.
She wanted a normal childhood for him.
Unfortunately, fate clearly had different plans.
Just as Alice was about to continue lecturing him, the sound of the mansion doors opening echoed downstairs.
A deep male voice followed soon after.
"I'm back."