The first reports of Vanden Global’s emergence rippled across the network. Elise stood in the command center, watching the map bloom with red alerts — regions where new “sustainability” projects had appeared overnight. They mimicked the Green Accord’s interface, used similar AI structures, even mirrored Lukas’s early design language. But beneath the gloss, Sofia’s data scans revealed exploitation, data harvesting, and chemical overuse hidden under greenwashed metrics.“They’re cloning our model,” Sofia said, her voice low but simmering. “They’ve built a counterfeit Accord — cleaner branding, faster rollout, zero ethics.”Elise didn’t move. Her eyes remained fixed on the screen. “And they’re using van der Berg’s money to do it.”Lukas crossed his arms. “That means she’s got corporate backing again. If she aligns with the right investors, she could undermine our credibility globally.”Margot, pacing near the digital wall, stopped abruptly. “Our partners are already asking questions. If

Elise stood before the massive world map that now glowed with hundreds of green lights — every one of them a verified eco-project connected to their network. The sight should have been reassuring, but her expression was thoughtful, almost wary. Growth brought visibility, and visibility invited enemies.Lukas entered the control room quietly, his presence grounding as always. “Satellite data confirms it,” he said, adjusting the projection. “Three of our partner farms in Malaysia went offline overnight. Someone severed their transmission feeds.”Elise’s head turned sharply. “Cyberattack?”“More than that,” Sofia replied through the intercom. Her voice was clipped, professional, and tight with focus. “It’s a hybrid breach — part technical, part inside manipulation. The farms were bribed to disconnect, claiming ‘local sovereignty.’ But the language in their withdrawal letters is too polished. Someone wrote it for them.”Margot looked up from her workstation across the room, eyes narrowing

The wind over Rotterdam carried the scent of salt and steel, the faint hum of turbines filling the air as dawn painted the horizon in shades of gold. Inside the Green Accord headquarters, the day began before sunrise. Elise stood by the panoramic window of the conference floor, her reflection faint in the glass as she read the morning’s encrypted brief.Armand Keller’s operations expanding in Geneva. Three more “green” initiatives launched overnight. Heavy funding from anonymous donors traced to offshore accounts.The message was concise, but Elise could almost feel Keller’s arrogance in the data — precise, deliberate, and dangerous.Behind her, Lukas entered, carrying a steaming mug. “You haven’t slept,” he said, his tone soft but certain.“I’ll sleep when the world stops pretending corruption can wear the color green,” she replied without looking up.He smiled faintly, setting the mug beside her. “Then you’ll never sleep.”She finally turned, eyes tired but sharp. “Keller’s faster t

Morning light spilled through the wide glass windows of the Green Accord’s Rotterdam headquarters, illuminating a scene of restless momentum.The previous day’s summit had sent ripples across continents—news agencies broadcast Elise’s speech in every language, and governments began drafting policy proposals echoing her principles. Yet within the sleek, humming nerve center of the Accord, Elise was already moving past celebration.The world had listened. Now it would test her.“Elise,” Sofia called through the holographic comm feed, her face sharp with urgency. “We’ve got something. Vincent Arlowe’s consortium—EcoSyn Industries—they’ve filed patent claims on three strains of modified herbs. Their documentation suggests they’re positioning it as a carbon-positive alternative to natural crops.”Lukas frowned. “Carbon-positive? That’s impossible. It’s either a fabrication or a manipulation of data.”Sofia’s tone hardened. “It’s more than that. They’ve attached your name to one of the rese

Elise walked through the main atrium, her heels clicking softly on the polished floors. Banners displaying The Green Network Charter now replaced the old Accord insignia. Across a row of terminals, young coordinators from Nairobi, Kyoto, and São Paulo collaborated live on policy drafts — the first decentralized nodes of the new order she had proposed.Margot met her near the observation deck, holding a digital brief. “You’ll want to see this,” she said, eyes gleaming. “The Kyoto Hub just finalized their own local certification model. They’ve integrated indigenous herbal traditions into their sustainability framework — and they’re naming it after you.”Elise smiled faintly, shaking her head. “They shouldn’t. This isn’t mine anymore.”Margot grinned. “They know. That’s exactly why they did it. You gave them freedom, and they want to honor the reason they have it.”Lukas joined them, holding two cups of tea. “We’ve just received an invitation from the World Climate Council. They want you