The Grand Meridian Palace stood as a dazzling proof of old-money wealth, it sat high above the coastline where the borders of Arcadia City and Onyx Harbor bled into one another. Inside the main ballroom, the architecture was a breathtaking display of tall white marble pillars, soaring frescoed ceilings, and cascading crystal chandeliers that threw fractured, diamond-like light across the polished floor. The air was thick with the scent of expensive flowers, heavy perfumes, and vintage champagne. Onyx Harbor’s absolute elite, tech CEOs, shipping magnates, real estate moguls, and old-money aristocrats draped in silk and tailored tuxedos—filled the space, their jewelry glittering under the brilliant lights.Yet, despite the superficial grandeur, tension hung over the crowd. The sudden, violent take over of the Zenith Group’s corporate network over the past twenty-four hours had left a power vacuum in the state. Groups of billionaires and high-society directors stood clustered, their voi