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They Called the Wounded Crown Eagle Worthless, Until the Orphan Who Carried It Home Learned His Mother Had Hidden Him to Keep Him Alive / Chapter 12 / 20

Chapter 12 - The Summons to the City

The crisp mountain air of Crownridge was broken a week later by the deafening roar of a twin-engine corporate helicopter descending into the newly cleared village commons. The side doors slid open, revealing men in sharp, charcoal-gray suits bearing the insignia of the Blackthorn Trust—a stark contrast to the rough wool and leather of the locals.

Rowan stood on the porch of the community hall, his hand resting calmly on the head of the Crown Eagle, which watched the intrusion with sharp, golden intensity. Martha Bell stood close by, her expression tight with worry.

A senior executive stepped out of the aircraft, holding a heavy silver-embossed portfolio. He walked briskly toward Rowan, stopping a few paces away before giving a shallow, forced bow.

"Rowan Mercer," the executive announced, his voice carrying an icy corporate polish. "I am Julian Cross, special envoy for the Blackthorn Trust board in Manhattan. You have been formally summoned to New York to address the restructuring of the global assets."

Rowan looked down at the man, unimpressed. "I have no interest in Manhattan boardrooms. The lands belong to the valley now, and the trust has been dissolved according to estate law."

Julian smiled thinly, pulling a document from the folder. "The mountain lands, yes. But the global subsidiaries—the shipping lanes, the international banks, the real estate portfolios across three continents—cannot be dissolved by local decree. Furthermore, Ms. Victoria Vance has filed an injunction challenging your legitimacy, claiming the adoption decree found in the archive was forged."

The eagle let out a sharp, warning hiss, its feathers ruffling as it spread its wings slightly. Rowan raised a hand to calm the bird, his gaze locking onto the envoy's eyes.

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"Tell Ms. Vance that if she wants to challenge my mother's bloodline, she can come back to the snow and look this eagle in the eye," Rowan replied evenly. "I won't play corporate games in her boardroom."

Julian’s smile vanished, replaced by a dark smirk. "She anticipated that response, Mr. Mercer. If you do not board this helicopter within the hour, the Trust will immediately freeze all medical, educational, and infrastructural funding currently supporting Crownridge Valley, plunging thousands of your people back into winter poverty."

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Chapter 13 - The Decision of the Sovereign
Chapter 14 - Arrival in Manhattan
Chapter 15 - The Digital Siege
Chapter 16 - The Whistleblower’s Revelation
Chapter 17 - Wings Over Manhattan
Chapter 18 - The Final Reckoning

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