Rain drizzled against the reinforced glass of Apex Holdings' Eastern Operations Wing, a muted rhythm that echoed through the sprawling corridors. The city outside was a blur of neon and grey, drenched in cold illumination. Lin Feng stood at the heart of the war room, holographic interfaces spinning projections of troop movements, data flow, and economic trajectories. But his attention wasn't on the displays—it was on the silent tension gathering behind his inner circle's eyes.
The fractures within Apex hadn't vanished. If anything, they'd crystallized, sharp as glass, visible only when the light hit just right.
Jiang Mei's appointment to the independent oversight committee had stirred a quiet storm. Many respected Lin's decision. Some questioned it. But most observed, waiting to see whether it was a tactical maneuver or a surrender of control.
Today, those doubts would come to a head.
