HydraCorp's skyscraper still gleamed over Makati, but inside its walls the empire was crumbling.
The day after the raids, international news outlets picked up the story. "Corporate Sabotage Scandal in Manila" ran on foreign tickers. Investors abroad began to divest quietly, afraid of contagion. By mid-morning, HydraCorp's stock had fallen 12%.
Board members gathered in a locked room, their faces pale under harsh fluorescent lights. Ramon Villanueva sat at the head, jaw clenched, but the aura of control he once carried was gone.
One director slammed a file onto the table. "Our bank partners are suspending credit lines. Three procurement contracts are frozen. And now half the country believes this upstart—what's his name?—Dela Cruz is a hero. We're bleeding!"
Ramon's voice was low, clipped. "This is temporary. We can buy our way out."
But another director, older and wearier, shook her head. "Not this time. The prosecutors have teeth, and the people are watching. If we don't cut away the rot, we all go down together."
Her words carried weight. By that evening, HydraCorp's board announced a "compliance overhaul" and quietly voted to suspend Ramon pending investigation. It was a maneuver to save the company's name, but to the public it looked like confirmation of guilt.
News anchors showed images of Ramon escorted out of headquarters, his once-imposing figure now surrounded by flashing cameras. Analysts speculated whether he would be indicted personally.
Across the city, AquaPure's warehouse erupted in cheers when the news broke. Rosa clapped her hands until they stung. Jericho shouted until his voice cracked. Maria stood in the corner, arms crossed, eyes shining with vindication.
Rafael only nodded, his expression steady. He knew better than to believe in final victories. But this was enough—for now.
That night, the government procurement office issued a statement: all HydraCorp contracts were suspended pending review. NGOs hailed it as a "watershed moment for transparency." Crowds gathered outside AquaPure's warehouse, holding homemade signs: "Water for the People, Not for Profit" and "Stand with Rafael."
HydraCorp's lawyers fought back in court, but their filings were buried under the weight of evidence, leaks, and public outrage. A mid-level manager flipped, trading testimony for protection. Internal emails spilled into the open. Each revelation struck like another hammer blow.
By week's end, HydraCorp's once-invincible name was synonymous with corruption. Their stock lost a third of its value. Key government allies distanced themselves. For the first time in decades, the giant staggered.
Back in the warehouse, Rafael gathered his people. The celebration still rang in the air, but he raised a hand for silence.
"This isn't just about beating HydraCorp," he said quietly. "This is about proving that no one—not even the biggest—can bury the truth forever. We're still small. We're still vulnerable. But today we showed that even the biggest predators can bleed."
His words settled deep into the hearts of those listening.
The Codex flickered in his mind, its message cold but steady:
"Milestone Complete: HydraCorp Strategic Defeat. Expansion Path Cleared. Probability of rival emergence: 92%. Prepare for next stage."
Rafael kept the glow to himself. To his people, it was enough that they saw a man who had stood against giants and lived.
For now, the war with HydraCorp was over. The city exhaled. The predator had fallen.