Everyone was already seated.
Everyone except Luis.
He remained standing at the head of the table, his posture upright and confident.
For a moment, no one spoke.
"Good evening," he said calmly. "And thank you for accepting the invitation."
Some gave subtle nods, others simply watched.
Nothing more was necessary.
Across the table, Deodoro da Fonseca observed Luis with interest. Like the others, he had not expected Augusto's son to be the one leading the conversation.
It was not common to see someone so young assume—and sustain—that position, especially given the seriousness of what was being discussed.
Luis continued:
"I'll be direct."
His gaze passed over everyone.
"We are here because of my family."
A brief pause.
"And because of what you intend to do with it."
His eyes settled on Álvaro Bittencourt.
The silence deepened.
There was no longer room for formalities.
Luis made no attempt to soften his words.
"You are moving against us."
"And I am here to propose something different."
"An agreement."
No one expected that.
Not in that way.
Not so soon.
Conversations like that usually took time.
But Luis ignored all of it.
Álvaro placed his hands on the table.
"Since you've decided to skip steps…"
His voice was firm.
"Then I won't pretend either."
He glanced around briefly.
Then back at Luis.
"Your family is a problem."
"A source of instability."
"And, as a deputy of the Republic, it is my duty to act."
An uncomfortable silence followed.
Augusto let out a short, humorless laugh—but said nothing.
Luis did not react.
He simply watched.
Then answered:
"Save that speech for someone who cares about it. We all know your intentions."
His tone remained calm.
Almost indifferent.
"None of us here needs a political speech."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You want to rise—and we are the steps."
Silence.
This time, heavier.
Motivations were now exposed.
Luis continued:
"And I don't have a problem with that."
That caught everyone's attention.
Custódio, Saldanha, and Deodoro watched the exchange closely.
Even Artur—who had been dragged into this almost unintentionally and was present mostly out of formality—couldn't stop trying to decipher the young man standing at the head of the table.
Luis made a small gesture.
Adriano approached, carrying a folder, which Luis opened calmly.
"The problem is not the goal."
"It's the method."
He placed a few documents on the table.
"I prefer… to offer something better."
His gaze returned to Álvaro.
"Something that works for everyone. My family and you do not need to be enemies. There are better ways to achieve the same objective."
Álvaro did not respond.
But his expression had changed—more attentive now.
At first, he had assumed Luis would use the others in the room to pressure him.
He wasn't wrong.
Luis had indeed brought them to apply pressure.
But not in the way he expected.
Luis continued:
"In here…"
He lightly tapped the folder.
"There are three projects. Still in early stages—but entirely feasible."
A pause.
"They are long-term and highly complex. Without my involvement, the government would struggle to complete them."
His tone remained steady.
"After all, I need a measure of security. Otherwise, I could simply hand them over—and be betrayed. And then I would have no one to answer to."
The silence in the room was absolute.
Luis continued:
"If the government provides political backing—"
"We will finance two of the projects."
"We will develop them."
"And, in the end, deliver them."
His gaze swept across the table.
"And the credit…"
Returned to Álvaro.
"Can be yours."
Now, finally, there was a reaction.
Not in words.
But in the atmosphere.
Álvaro remained silent, his brow slightly furrowed.
He was weighing the pros and cons.
It was clear the situation had already escalated beyond control.
So it was better to hear what the boy had to offer.
It was Custódio José de Melo who spoke first, breaking the tension:
"Originally, I didn't understand what we were doing here. Eduardo was very vague in his letter… but now I'm beginning to see."
His eyes were on Luis.
"If we are here…"
"Then at least one of these projects involves the Navy."
Luis nodded.
"More than one."
Deodoro da Fonseca frowned slightly.
That had been his question as well.
What were two naval admirals doing in that room?
What could Augusto's family offer that would justify their presence?
It seemed the answer lay within those projects.
Luis continued:
"But it's not just about that."
"Each project was designed to meet different interests—and converge into a single larger plan."
Deodoro rested his arm on the table.
"Then don't waste our time."
His gaze was direct.
"Show us."
"I'm curious to see what this plan is—and why we can't execute it without you."
He spoke with a slight tilt of his head.
Luis did not smile.
Because he knew—
the real game had just begun.