Nathan placed the metal case on the long conference table and opened it without hesitation.Inside, stacks of cash were arranged neatly, bound in identical straps. The fluorescent lights reflected faintly off the edges of the bills, giving the room a cold, sterile glow.“One million dollars,” Nathan said evenly. “In cash.”Lazio barely glanced at it.“That proves nothing,” he replied with a scoff. “Anyone can bring counterfeit money.”A few executives nodded, their expressions filled with thinly veiled disdain.“Check it,” Nathan said calmly.Lazio gestured impatiently. Two executives stepped forward, one using a portable scanner while another examined the paper texture and serial numbers with trained precision. The room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the faint electronic beeps and the rustling sound of currency being flipped.No alarms sounded.One of the executives cleared his throat. “It’s real.”A subtle shift rippled through the room.Amy released a breath she hadn’t

Nathan stepped into the room with Shen beside him, expecting at least a hint of significance—desks, terminals, archives, something that suggested importance. Instead, the space felt abandoned. Smooth gray walls stretched without decoration. The ceiling lights hummed softly, illuminating nothing but emptiness.At first glance, it looked deliberately hollow, as if the absence itself were part of the design.“This is it?” Shen asked quietly.Nathan frowned. “It doesn’t feel empty.”Before Shen could ask what he meant, footsteps echoed across the polished floor.A woman emerged from the far end of the chamber. She moved with measured confidence, her posture straight, her expression sharp. Her semi-formal attire blended authority with elegance—tailored slacks, a fitted blazer, hair neatly styled, every detail controlled.Her gaze locked onto Nathan immediately, curiosity and irritation mingling in her eyes.“You’re not supposed to be here,” she said.Shen stiffened. Nathan remained calm.“

Darren stepped into the lobby like a man walking into the mouth of a beast—and daring it to bite.Smoke still clung to the air from the security drones his men had torn apart. Metal scraps littered the marble floor, and the smell of burnt wiring mixed with gun oil. His boots echoed in the emptiness, loud enough to irritate him. The room felt wrong—too clean, too silent, like it was holding its breath.He had been told Nathan was inside.Intel didn’t miss. Not when he paid for it with blood and favors.Darren lifted his chin and scanned the space again. A wide hall with bare walls, no furniture, no artwork, no reception desk. Just a sterile chamber designed to reveal nothing.“Spread out,” he barked. “Corners. Ceiling. Floor. I want every inch checked.”His men moved fast, rifles raised, fingers resting dangerously close to triggers. They fanned out in pairs, sweeping with trained aggression.“Rules are simple,” Darren added, voice sharp as broken glass. “If you see Nathan Cole, shoot

Nathan’s thumb hovered above the glowing icon labeled Building Control.The device in his hand felt heavier than before, as though the entire structure of Starlet rested inside that slim frame. The warning timer continued its merciless countdown, red numbers pulsing like an exposed artery.02:47He tapped the screen.Instantly, the interface shifted. Layers of architectural schematics unfolded, revealing the building from foundation to rooftop. A warning banner surged across the display, sharp and unmistakable.ACTIVE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DETECTED.Before Nathan could issue a command, the system reacted on its own.Deep within the hidden chambers of Starlet, metallic locks disengaged with a resonant clang. A concealed panel slid open, releasing a humanoid security unit built from matte-black alloy. Its eyes flashed amber as internal diagnostics completed in milliseconds.The robot launched forward.Its movement was nothing like the slow patrol units Darren’s men had destroyed earlier. Thi

Since Nathan had succeeded in steering Veylor Group toward acquiring Astro Group for a full restructuring, anticipation had followed him like a quiet shadow. He had fulfilled his side of the unspoken bargain, stabilizing a collapsing insurance company that many believed was beyond saving. In return, he expected something far more valuable than capital or influence—answers.Yet Kade Veylor remained unmoved.The patriarch made his stance clear. Any information related to Alistair would remain sealed until Astro Group’s financial condition and public credibility were fully restored under Veylor Group’s governance. For Kade, secrets were not bargaining chips; they were legacies that demanded proof of worth.Nathan accepted that condition, even if patience weighed heavier with each passing day.Under his direction, Astro Group underwent rapid transformation. Amy Hart, whom Nathan trusted without hesitation, led the restructuring from within. Inefficient departments were dissolved. Financia