Prologue: No name. No face. Just a mind powerful enough to catch his attention.
"How many skilled candidates do we have?" Zaden didn't bother looking up as he spoke, his tone calm but commanding. "Forget experience. I want raw talent—knowledge, skill. Put only the best resumes on my table."
"Yes, sir," the manager replied quickly. "They're already there."
Zaden picked up the first file, then the next, and the next, each resume receiving the same cold, calculated scrutiny. Some were set aside; most were discarded without hesitation. None impressed him.
Until one did.
His hand stilled. There was no name, no photograph, no background—nothing.
And yet, the content was exceptional. Sharp. Precise. Fearless. It wasn't just intelligence, it was vision, strategy, control.
"Who is this?" he demanded, his voice slicing through the silence. "Manager."
The man hurried forward. "Yes, sir?"
"Find this person," Zaden said, his grip tightening on the paper, "and bring them to me. Immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Within minutes, the search began. Sam checked the lobby—no one. He dialed the number listed—no answer. He sent an email—no reply.
Nothing.
Unease crept in as he returned and explained everything to the manager, who hesitated before stepping into Zaden's office.
"What do you mean you can't find them?"
Zaden's voice was low. Dangerous.
"There's no name, no photo… nothing to trace," the manager said carefully.
Zaden held up the resume, his gaze intense. "But this mind—this mind is extraordinary. I want this person."
Silence filled the room.
The manager quickly tracked the number's last known location and handed over the address. Zaden didn't waste another second.
The drive took him far beyond the city, into the quiet isolation of the hills. The deeper he went, the heavier the silence became—until a lone house appeared. Still. Lifeless. No lights. No sound. No movement.
Zaden stepped out of his car slowly, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. "What kind of game is this?" he muttered, his jaw tightening as irritation burned into anger.
He walked to the door, then stopped. After a brief pause, he pulled out a pen and wrote on a piece of paper:
"I'm Zaden, CEO of Yaren Company. I've read your resume. Be at my office tomorrow. This is not a request."
He placed it firmly against the door, then turned and walked away without looking back.
By the time he returned to the office, the atmosphere had already shifted. The moment Zaden stepped inside, silence fell—heavy, suffocating.
He slammed his hand against the desk, sending files scattering across the room.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Fear rooted them in place.
But beneath his anger, something unfamiliar stirred. Something dangerous.
For the first time in his life, Zaden wasn't in control.
He was chasing someone.
And whoever they were…
they weren't afraid of him.