The Sovereign Auditor: World Liquidation.

Chapter 5: The Return of the "Ghost"

The revolving glass doors of Nova-Tech didn't make a sound as I pushed through.

The lobby was bustling. It was 8:58 AM. Corporate elites strutted in with $10 coffees and fake smiles. 

I didn't have a coffee. I didn't have a smile. I had the same suit from last night—torn, stained with dried mud, and stiff with my own crusty blood.

I looked like a ghost that had crawled out of a shallow grave. The receptionist looked up. Her jaw dropped. "Han Sen? Is that... is that blood?"

I didn't answer. I kept walking. My shoes made a wet, heavy thud on the polished marble.

"Hey! You! Stop right there!" A shrill, nasal voice pierced the air. Manager Wei.

He was standing near the elevators, looking like the mid-level tyrant he was. He saw me. His face turned a violent purple.

"Han Sen?" Wei barked, storming toward me. "What the hell is this? You look like a goddamn vagrant!"

I stopped five feet from him. I didn't say a word. I just watched him.

"I asked you a question, you piece of trash!" Wei screamed. I could smell his breath—stale coffee and arrogance. "You were supposed to be here at 6:00 AM to finish the Zhao audit.

You’re late, you’re dressed like a murder victim, and you’re tracking mud onto the Italian tile! Do you have any idea how much this floor costs?"

"I don't care about the floor, Wei," I said. My voice was low. Hollow.

"What did you say to me?" Wei’s eyes nearly bulged. He looked at the crowd of employees. 

"Did this janitor-tier bottom-feeder just talk back? You’re fired! Don't even bother clearing your desk. Security will escort you out after I’m done with you!"

He took a step closer, chest puffed out. "You’re a disgrace to Nova-Tech. You’re unprofessional. You’re a loser. Just like that dying sister of yours."

My vision flickered. The System interface bled into my sight, glowing red.

[Target Identified: Manager Wei.]

[Scanning Ledger... Audit Complete.]

[Moral Debt: 12 Years of Embezzlement. 480 Counts of Harassment.]

[Financial Debt Owed to User: $55,420.00 (Unpaid Overtime).]

Wei raised his hand. He was going to slap me. He wanted to humiliate me in front of everyone. "I’m going to teach you some manners, you little—"

His hand swung.

Snap.

I didn't flinch. My hand shot out, catching his wrist mid-air. My grip was like a steel trap.

Wei froze. He tried to pull back, but I didn't budge. "Let go! You’re assaulting a manager! Security!"

"Quiet, Wei," I whispered.

I leaned in, face inches from his. I could see the sweat beads on his lip. "I looked at the books last night. Not the ones you fake for the Zhaos. The real ones."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Wei stammered. The arrogance leaked out, replaced by sharp fear.

"You owe me, Wei," I said. My voice was a rasping blade. "Twelve years of taking my time. Twelve years of taking my money. Fifty-five thousand, four hundred and twenty dollars. That’s the debt."

"You're crazy! Let go!" Wei screamed. He tried to swing his briefcase at me. I tightened my grip. I could feel the small bones in his wrist shifting. Grinding.

"I’m not here to talk, Wei," I said. "I’m here to collect." I twisted. The sound was sharp and unmistakable. Like a dry branch snapping.

Wei’s scream was a high-pitched wail. He hit the floor, clutching his shattered wrist. His briefcase skittered across the marble, papers flying.

"My arm! He broke my arm!" Wei shrieked, rolling on the floor.

The lobby went silent. Every executive and employee froze. They stared at the "trash" of Nova-Tech standing over a senior manager.

"What the hell is going on here?" The voice came from the security station. Captain Conall. 

Six-foot-four of retired SWAT muscle. He and four other guards sprinted toward us, batons drawn.

"He attacked me!" Wei pointed a trembling, deformed finger. "He’s a madman! Kill him! Look at his clothes—he’s a terrorist!"

Conall skidded to a halt. He looked at Wei, then at me. His hand went to his holster. "On the ground, kid. Now. Hands behind your head or I’ll put you down."

The other guards circled me. The air in the lobby turned heavy. Suffocating. I didn't get on the ground. I reached into the inner pocket of my ruined jacket.

"Gun!" One guard yelled. "Hold!" Conall barked. I pulled out a card.

It wasn't plastic. It was a heavy, matte-black slab of carbon-weaved titanium. The edges were beveled with 24-karat gold. In the center, a stylized lion’s head was etched in violet.

I held it toward Conall. "Scan it," I said. 

Conall stared at the card. He took a hesitant step forward and took the card with two fingers. "What is this? A joke?" Conall muttered.

He pulled a tablet from his belt—a security scanner linked to the banking grid. He tapped the card against the sensor.

The tablet let out a low, melodic chime. The screen went black. Then, a massive, gold-embossed seal appeared.

[ACCESS GRANTED: LEVEL 10 SOVEREIGN CLEARANCE.]

[USER: HAN SEN.]

[CREDIT LIMIT: UNLIMITED.]

[NOTICE: ALL PRIVATE SECURITY MUST ASSIST THE HOLDER. FAILURE RESULTS IN ASSET LIQUIDATION.]

Conall’s face went from professional sternness to a sickly white. His hands began to tremble. The tablet almost slipped.

He looked at the card. He looked at my blood-stained clothes. Then he looked at my eyes.

"Captain?" A guard asked, baton still raised. "Do we take him?" Conall didn't answer. He stood perfectly straight, heels clicking together.

"Captain Conall!" Wei screamed from the floor. "What are you doing? Arrest him! Look at my arm!"

Conall ignored him. He took a deep breath and bowed. It was a deep, ninety-degree bow of absolute submission.

"Master Han," Conall said, his voice shaking. "I didn't recognize you. Please. Forgive our ignorance."

The lobby went dead silent. The guards dropped their batons.

Wei’s jaw hung open, his scream dying. He looked at Conall, then at me, eyes filled with paralyzing terror.

I took the card back. "I'm going to the penthouse," I said. My voice carried to every corner. "And Captain?"

"Yes, Master Han?" Conall rasped. "Make sure Manager Wei stays right there," I said, stepping toward the private elevator. "I’m not finished auditing his debt yet."

The elevator doors opened automatically. I stepped inside and turned. The last thing I saw was the entire lobby staff staring at me as if I were a god.

The floor indicator began to climb. Fast.

[Quest Update: Manager Wei's Debt - 15% Collected.]

[Next Target: Young Master Zhao.]