2026-02-13 07:00:00Chapter 524: The After-Hours Pact
The sun had long since dipped below the skyline, leaving the EMC executive floor in a state of eerie, artificial twilight. Most of the staff had cleared out, fleeing the tension that had gripped the building since the heist. Only the hum of the HVAC system and the occasional rhythmic pulse of security lights remained.In the corner of the darkened boardroom, Thomas Sterling sat at the head of the long obsidian table. He didn't turn on the overhead lig
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Chapter 542: The Glass Fortress
Chapter 542: The Glass FortressThe air in the small meeting room was cold and still. Thomas Sterling sat at the center of the long table. He was the head of the board, and he tried to look like it. He wore an expensive suit and sat very straight. To his left was his lawyer, Marcus Thorne. Marcus was one of the highest-paid lawyers in the city. Across from them sat Agent Johnson of the ESU.Johnson did not look like a typical federal investigator. He didn't have a notepad or a messy tie. He sat behind a thin, black computer. Two other agents stood by the door. They didn't move. They made the room feel like a very fancy prison cell."Mr. Sterling," Johnson began. His voice was flat and dry. "Let’s start with something simple. Tell me about your work relationship with Williams Jesse, the technical manager."Sterling touched his gold cufflinks. "It is strictly professional. Williams is a smart man. He runs the computer systems that keep this company moving. I only talk
Chapter 541: The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 541: The Calm Before the StormThe rain began to drum against the windows of James’s high-rise apartment at 8:00 PM, blurring the neon lights of Emerald Falls into a smear of watercolor. Inside, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the sterile, high-tension halls of EMC. The lighting was low, the air smelled of sandalwood, and for the first time in days, James Wane felt his shoulders drop an inch.Ellen sat on the velvet sofa, her legs tucked under her, watching James pour two glasses of dark red wine. She looked at him—really looked at him—noticing the way he scanned the room habitually before sitting down."How much longer, James?" she asked softly, her voice cutting through the soft jazz playing in the background. "How much longer do you have to be 'James Clarkson'? I see you slipping away into this character more every day. Sometimes I look at you and I wonder if the man I love is still in there, or if the accountant has taken over."James handed her a
Chapter 540: The Pivot of Power
Chapter 540: The Pivot of PowerThe sunset over the harbor was a bruised purple, casting long, jagged shadows across the rooftop lounge where Liam Carter stood. He didn't turn when he heard the hesitant click of Alisha’s heels on the hardwood. The air was cool, carrying the scent of salt and the distant, muffled roar of the city’s evening rush.Alisha stopped several feet behind him, her arms wrapped around herself as if she were freezing despite the mild temperature. "You called for me? The office is a madhouse, Liam. The ESU has taken over the fourth floor. They’re locking down hard drives and questioning everyone. I barely made it out without being followed."Liam turned slowly, his expression unreadable, though his eyes held a predatory glint. "The ESU involvement has changed the geometry of the board, Alisha. This isn't just a corporate scandal anymore. It’s a federal crime scene. Sterling and Williams have built a fortress, but they’ve left a trail of blood in the
Chapter 539: The Architecture of Fear
Chapter 539: The Architecture of FearThe mahogany doors of Thomas Sterling’s private study felt like the entrance to a bunker. Outside, the world knew him as the untouchable titan of the Emerald Multisource Corporation Board; inside, he was a man hearing the distant, rhythmic thud of a battering ram. The notice from the Emerald Fall Security Unit (ESU) sat on his desk, the bold lettering of Agent Johnson’s signature looking like a death warrant.Interview scheduled: Thursday, 10:00 AM.Sterling’s hands, usually steady enough to sign billion-dollar mergers without a quiver, were cold. He picked up his secure landline and dialed his personal attorney, a man who had spent thirty years burying the bodies of the elite."Full cooperation, Thomas," the lawyer’s voice crackled, devoid of comfort. "Dress well, speak slowly, and volunteer absolutely nothing. If Johnson asks if the sky is blue, you tell him you’ll have to consult the meteorological reports. Do not give them a
Chapter 538: The Forensic Noose
Chapter 538: The Forensic NooseThe lobby of the Emerald Multisource Corporation felt different on Wednesday morning. The usual hum of corporate ambition had been replaced by a heavy, stifling silence. Employees moved with their heads down, eyes darting toward the elevators where two men in black tactical suits stood guard. Agent Johnson of the Emerald Fall Security Unit (ESU) didn't care about morale; he cared about the digital crumbs left behind by an eight-billion-dollar ghost.Johnson sat in the main executive conference room, his briefcase open to reveal a high-speed encrypted terminal. Across from him sat Eric Wood, looking as though he had aged a decade in a week, and James Clarkson, who remained as cool and polished as a marble statue."Let’s skip the pleasantries," Johnson said, his voice as sharp as a razor. He didn't look up from his screen. "The ESU has finished its preliminary sweep of the external breach points. The 'zero-day exploit' everyone is talking ab
Chapter 537: The Smokescreen
Chapter 537: The SmokescreenThe silence in Liam’s penthouse was absolute, broken only by the hum of the climate control. Kai stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the sprawling grid of Emerald Falls. Liam sat nearby, nursing a glass of scotch, his eyes fixed on the city he intended to own.Kai’s phone vibrated against his palm. He checked the screen—a scrambled string of digits originating from Red Waters, a coastal city known for its brutal gangs and even more brutal secrets.He swiped the screen and held the phone to his ear. "Talk to me, Scarface.""You’re asking about the mess at the textile mill?" Scarface’s voice was a low, gravelly rasp, distorted by long-distance encryption. "I heard the chatter on the wire. Someone’s been using my name, Kai. Someone’s been wearing our colors and shooting up the East District with submachine guns."Kai leaned his shoulder against the window frame. "Witnesses saw the jackets. They saw the tattoos. Detecti
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