Stone Family Mansion - After the Press Conference Derek watched the press conference on his laptop, his face ashen. Adrian had just destroyed them publicly. Completely. With documentation. Evidence. Cold, clinical precision. There was no defense. No counterargument. The corruption was real. The evidence undeniable. Derek's hands trembled as he scrolled through news coverage. Every outlet was running the story. "Stone Industries Dismantled for Corruption." "Shadow Holdings Exposes Systematic Exploitation." "Derek Stone's Empire Collapses." His phone rang. An unknown number. He answered desperately. "Hello?" "Mr. Stone." A woman's voice. Professional. Cold. "I'm calling from the District Attorney's office. We're opening a criminal investigation into Stone Industries' operations. We'll need you to come in for questioning." Derek's world spun. "Criminal investigation?" "Based on evidence provided by Shadow Holdings. Bribery. Fraud. Safety violations resulting in death.

The Morning After - Derek's Press Conference The news played on every screen in Shadow Holdings' break room. Employees gathered silently, watching Derek Stone stand at a podium, cameras flashing. Derek looked like he'd aged ten years overnight. His voice shook as he began. "My name is Derek Stone. I'm here to confess to crimes I committed over the past six years." The reporters erupted with questions. Derek raised his hand for silence. "Five years ago, I framed my foster brother, Adrian Kane, for embezzlement. I created false documents. I planted evidence. I lied to investigators, to my family, to everyone." His voice cracked. "Adrian was innocent. I sent him to prison for a crime he didn't commit because I was jealous. Because I wanted him gone." The cameras flashed relentlessly. "That's not all. Over the years, Stone Industries engaged in systematic corruption. Bribery of officials. Safety violations that resulted in worker deaths. Exploitation of tenants in our properties. M

Medical Conference - Main Hall Adrian stood at the bottom of the aisle, every eye in the auditorium focused on him. Two thousand of the world's best doctors. All watching. All skeptical. Dr. Morrison gestured for him to approach the stage. "Please, come up. Share your theory." Adrian walked to the stage, his movements calm despite the pressure. This was different from boardrooms or auctions. This was pure expertise. No money, no power—just knowledge. "Your name?" Dr. Morrison asked. "Adrian Kane." A ripple went through the audience. Some recognized the name from recent news about Shadow Holdings and Stone Industries. Others frowned, confused about why a businessman was at a medical conference. Dr. Foster leaned forward from his seat in the front row. "Mr. Kane, are you a licensed physician?" "No," Adrian said simply. "Then what qualifies you to diagnose a case that's stumped specialists from the world's top medical institutions?" "I studied under a master of tradit

The Evening of the Treatment - Jennifer Walsh's Hospital RoomDr. Morrison sat beside Jennifer Walsh's bed, reviewing monitoring data for the seventh time in three hours. Every metric showed improvement. Not gradual improvement—dramatic, undeniable improvement."Your lung capacity is up another fifteen percent since this afternoon," he said, almost to himself. "Your neurological responses are normalizing. Your organ function readings look better than they have in six months."Jennifer smiled weakly. "I told you it worked.""It shouldn't have worked. Not this fast. Not this completely." Morrison looked at her seriously. "Ms. Walsh, what you experienced today contradicts everything I understand about medicine. Energy meridians aren't supposed to exist. The Celestial Needle technique is supposed to be mythology. And yet...""And yet I'm getting better.""Undeniably." Morrison stood and paced. "I need to contact Mr. Kane. Schedule follow-up treatments. Document this properly. Run comparat

Warehouse District - 7:15 PMAdrian and Elena arrived at the old harbor warehouse. The same location where Adrian had first met the seven elders. But tonight, it was different.Security was everywhere. Shadow Holdings operatives in civilian clothes, positioned at every approach. Underground sentries—territory leaders' own guards—creating an outer perimeter. Two hundred armed people surrounding one building.Wu Feng met them at the entrance. "Young Master. Mrs. Kane." He bowed. "Everyone is inside. Waiting.""Tensions?" Adrian asked."High. These leaders don't trust each other. Many have been rivals for years. Some have killed each other's people." Wu Feng's expression was grim. "Bringing them together was a risk. Keeping them peaceful is going to be harder.""That's why I'm here." Adrian walked toward the entrance. "To give them a reason to cooperate that's stronger than their rivalries."Inside, the warehouse had been transformed. A large round table dominated the center—deliberately