Connor’s gaze paused on the floating maritime dashboard as two alerts turned red at the same time. The glow reflected in his eyes, sharp and unmoving. “Maritime sector instability detected,” the system voice reported softly. Connor did not react immediately. He only leaned slightly forward. “Two at once,” he muttered. “Interesting.” He tapped the first report and spoke calmly. “Open Pacific MariExport channel.” The screen shifted instantly. A middle-aged man in a formal suit appeared. His face looked tired but controlled. “Good afternoon, Master,” the man said quickly. “I am Richard Greg.” Connor’s voice was steady. “Report the situation.” Richard exhaled. “Master, we have been forced to temporarily stop aqua exportation to three countries. The dollar exchange rate has become unstable again. Shipping costs doubled within days. If we continue, we will operate at a loss.” Connor listened without interruption. His fingers rested lightly on the desk. Richard continued, “We tried

The gavel finally struck. A sharp thud echoed across the Federal High Court, silencing every whisper inside the massive courtroom. Judge Harland adjusted the files before him and spoke calmly. “The court will now proceed with opening statements regarding the allegations of sabotage and corporate espionage involving Titan Origin, a subsidiary of Wood Group, against Khyber Technologies.” The atmosphere immediately tightened. Steel Khyber sat confidently beside his legal team. Five senior attorneys surrounded him, all dressed in dark suits with silver pins attached to their collars. Their expressions carried the calm arrogance of people who believed victory was already close. Connor sat opposite them, equally composed. His own legal team remained professional and unreadable. At the center sat Head Attorney Marvin Sterling, one of Numerica’s most feared corporate litigators. Steel Khyber’s lead lawyer rose first. “Your Honor,” the man began smoothly, “this case concerns a deliberat

Minutes after the private jet landed at Caesaria International Airport, Connor was already inside Glenwood Villa. The massive estate stood peacefully under the evening lights while the guards maintained silent patrols around the property. Inside the luxurious sitting room, Connor sat alone on the cushion with a glass of untouched water beside him. The enormous digital screen across the room displayed financial news, corporate headlines, and live discussions about the courtroom battle between Titan Origin and Khyber Technologies. “The market remains unstable after today’s court hearing.” “Khyber Technologies appears highly confident.” “Investors are waiting for next month’s continuation.” Connor watched quietly without changing expression. The soft glow from the screen reflected inside his calm eyes while his fingers rested lightly against the armrest. Steel Khyber’s words replayed inside his mind again. Courtroom wars are not for children. Connor’s gaze darkened slightly.

Connor’s shoes scraped harshly against the wet stone floor as the masked men dragged him deeper into the underground tunnel. His breathing remained controlled despite the pain burning through his shoulders and knees. The sound of rushing water echoed endlessly around them while cold air brushed against his torn suit. Minutes later, the tunnel widened into a hidden underground chamber. A single blinking bulb hung from the ceiling, swinging slightly as if the cave itself was breathing. Rust covered the walls. Old chains dangled from metal hooks. The place smelled of damp iron, dirt, and something rotten Connor couldn’t identify. “Sit him down,” one of the masked men barked. They shoved Connor toward a rusted iron chair bolted to the floor. His legs nearly gave out, but he steadied himself and sat without resistance. The masked men immediately grabbed heavy chains. CLANG! Cold metal wrapped around his wrists first. Then his chest. Then both ankles. The chains cir

Connor’s head hung for a moment as his vision blurred, but the sound of chains dragging against iron pulled him back into the cold reality of the underground chamber. Blood still dripped from the corner of his mouth, yet his voice came out steady, cutting through the noise like a blade. Connor said calmly, “What type of question is this? Don’t tell me you don’t know what really killed the late Master Wood. I understand your games. I’m not a kid or naive to be played or deceived. Enough of the game.” The moment those words landed, Conrad’s face twisted with rage. Without warning, he leaned in and violently struck Connor across the face. SLAP!The impact made Connor’s head snap to the side as blood splattered from his mouth onto the floor. “How dare you talk to me like that in my domain!” Conrad roared. Before Connor could recover, Conrad grabbed a whip hanging beside him and lashed it across Connor’s chest. The sound echoed sharply in the chamber. WHIP!Gavin stepped forward imm