Leon's first assignment arrived without ceremony.
No meeting.
No briefing.
Just a secure file dropped into his temporary access folder at 7:12 AM.
Subject: Internal Efficiency Review – Strategic Procurement Unit
Leon skimmed the header once and understood immediately.
This wasn't about efficiency.
It was about trust.
Procurement controlled vendors, kickbacks, delays, favors. If Horizon wanted to know whether Leon was loyal—or dangerous—this was the place to look.
Leon closed the file.
He didn't open it yet.
The Strategic Procurement floor smelled like coffee and quiet panic.
People smiled too quickly.
Laughed too often.
Leon walked in with no badge and no escort, just a printed authorization code that made reception wave him through without questions.
Eyes followed him.
Who is he?
Why doesn't he look nervous?
A man stood from one of the desks and approached.
Early thirties. Crisp suit. Polite smile.
"Luo Ming," he said, extending a hand. "Deputy Manager."
Leon shook it. Firm. Brief.
"Leon," he replied.
Luo Ming's smile sharpened.
"We weren't told to expect an external advisor today," Luo Ming said casually.
Leon nodded. "That's usually how reviews work."
A flicker passed through Luo Ming's eyes.
Annoyance.
Good.
Leon took a seat at the open conference table and finally opened the file.
Vendor contracts. Payment delays. Internal approvals.
Messy.
But not sloppy.
Someone here knew how to hide.
The system interface shimmered faintly.
[Analysis Mode: Active]
[Pattern Recognition Boost Applied]
Leon's eyes moved faster.
Too fast for a normal consultant.
Dates aligned.
Signatures rotated.
One vendor stood out—not because it was corrupt, but because it was protected.
Every irregularity around it had been smoothed.
Leon glanced up.
Luo Ming was watching him too closely.
"You'll find everything is compliant," Luo Ming said lightly. "We run a tight operation."
Leon smiled. "The tight ones are always the most interesting."
Luo Ming laughed. "I like confidence."
Leon met his gaze. "I like preparation."
The air cooled.
By midday, Leon had identified three leverage points.
He reported none of them.
Instead, he sent a single message to Liu Wen.
Leon:
Procurement is stable.
One internal dependency worth monitoring.
No immediate action recommended.
The reply came minutes later.
Liu Wen:
Understood.
Good judgment.
Leon leaned back.
The first test wasn't about exposure.
It was about restraint.
Across the floor, Luo Ming exhaled quietly.
He had expected interrogation.
Pressure.
Instead, Leon had watched—and left.
Which was worse.
Luo Ming sent a message of his own.
Luo Ming:
External advisor reviewed procurement.
Found nothing actionable.
The response came almost instantly.
Unknown Contact:
Are you sure?
Luo Ming hesitated.
Then typed.
Luo Ming:
For now.
The system chimed softly.
[Loyalty Index Evaluated.]
[Result: Controlled Neutrality]
[Authority Points +6]
[Hidden Rival Identified.]
Luo Ming – Mid-Level Power Broker
Leon stood to leave.
As he passed Luo Ming's desk, he paused.
"You run a clean floor," Leon said.
Luo Ming smiled. "We try."
Leon leaned slightly closer.
"Just remember," he said quietly, "clean doesn't mean invisible."
He walked away.
Luo Ming's smile faded.
That evening, Leon reviewed the data again at home.
He wasn't ready to strike.
Not yet.
First, he needed something Horizon couldn't revoke.
Independent leverage.
The system interface pulsed.
[Next Objective Updated:]
Secure influence outside formal authority.
[Warning:]
Internal rival escalation probability increasing.
Leon closed his laptop.
Inside Horizon, people were starting to notice him.
Outside?
Someone else was watching.
And they wouldn't be as patient.