Everything changed in the year 2789.
The year everything gained traction.
The year the government discovered Nina Piao's diaries.
More importantly—
The year they identified a weakness within the Piao family.
A point they could exploit.
To finally gain control over what had been preserved for centuries.
After 2789, the government began a wide search.
Focusing on the Everworth bloodline.
They searched relentlessly.
Year after year.
For over two decades.
Until they finally found one.
A surviving member of the Everworth family.
Close enough to validate the connection.
Close enough to be useful.
What they found was underwhelming.
A gambling addict.
The last surviving branch of the Everworth family.
But it was enough.
Enough to prove a connection.
Enough to justify investment.
So they built the family back up.
Carefully.
Patiently.
With one goal in mind.
To one day stand against the Piao family.
And gain access to the diaries without ever having to pay for them.
They never succeeded.
But they never stopped either.
Year after year, they ensured the Everworth line continued.
Waiting for the right moment.
A weakened Piao.
A possible marriage.
A quiet insertion.
A government spy, placed where no one would suspect.
The Everworth family had also been entrusted with another secret.
One buried just as deeply.
An illegitimate child.
Born from Grace's father and a woman outside the family.
Which meant—
Kael Everwyn.
What the government did not understand—
Was that the Piao family was far more connected than they realized.
Not only could they identify every spy placed within their ranks—
They were also the ones training them.
There was something else the government didn't know.
Something much older.
Back in Abby's time—
"Guess even—" the old man started, not even realizing he might be in danger.
Hearing that raspy voice, Grace Piao snapped out of her daze.
Her eyes lowered.
Scanning the file.
Searching for something.
"—A top conglomerate like the Piao industry still needs to work on their basic etiquette lessons."
Mr. Everworth finished speaking with a smile on his face.
What he didn't realize—
A single piece of crumpled paper was already flying toward him.
Faster and faster as it closed the distance.
A bit earlier—
Grace had swiftly found what she needed.
A page detailing Garfield Everworth's criminal history.
Collected by their spies.
She crumpled it.
And threw it toward him.
Back to the present—
The cramped piece of paper flipped across a quarter of the room.
The old man flinched into a defensive pose, covering his face when he realized the paper was probably heading for him.