The night deepened over the city, casting long shadows across the skyline. Inside Zhao Group headquarters, most of the employees had already left, leaving only the quiet hum of computers and the faint glow of emergency corridor lights. The building felt like a sleeping giant, vast and silent, but the war being waged within its walls was far from over.
In the chairman's office, Lina Zhao sat alone behind her desk, reviewing internal security reports projected onto her tablet screen. The blue light illuminated her face, highlighting the sharp focus in her eyes.
Logistics network disruption.
Signal routing interference.
Transportation synchronization failure.
Victor Han had moved faster than she expected. Not violently, but precisely. Like a predator tightening its grip without revealing its claws, he was cutting off her air supply one tube at a time.
Lina's fingers tapped slowly against the glass surface of the tablet. The rhythm was steady, betraying none of the tension coiling in her chest.
"Director Chen," she called calmly.
The office door opened almost immediately. Chen had been waiting nearby, ready to respond.
"Yes, Miss Zhao," Director Chen said as he stepped inside. He looked tired, the weight of the crisis pressing on his shoulders.
"How many logistics routes are currently inactive?" Lina asked without looking up.
Director Chen hesitated before answering, consulting his own notes. "The primary north distribution channel is disabled. Two secondary backup routes are also showing unstable signal verification."
Lina closed the tablet screen. The sound was sharp in the quiet room.
Victor Han was attempting a suffocation strategy. Not destruction. Pressure. Slow economic strangulation. He wanted her to panic, to make a mistake, to beg for mercy.
"Activate manual transportation verification protocols," Lina said quietly.
Director Chen nodded. "Already in preparation."
He paused, shifting his weight. Then he spoke again cautiously. "Miss Zhao… internal audit monitoring has been announced to the company."
Lina looked up. Her gaze was steady. "Employee reactions?"
"Mostly nervous," Director Chen admitted. "Some departments are worried about possible investigation. Rumors are spreading."
Lina nodded slowly. Fear was spreading. Good. Fear would force the traitor to move. Victor was hunting for a leak, and she would use his own hunt against him.
"Let it continue," Lina said.
Director Chen looked slightly surprised. "Miss Zhao… are we using psychological pressure strategy?"
"Yes," Lina replied calmly. "Victor Han is hunting a traitor. So we will let the invisible pressure grow until someone exposes themselves."
Director Chen bowed slightly. "I understand."
He turned toward the door, hand on the handle. Before leaving, he spoke again quietly. "Miss Zhao… there is one more thing."
"What is it?" Lina asked.
"Lu Corporation has quietly blocked several external attempts to interfere with our supplier communication network."
Lina's expression did not change, but something shifted in her eyes. Adrian Lu. She had expected that, but knowing he was actively intervening changed the dynamic.
"Do not investigate Lu Corporation's internal actions," Lina said.
"Yes, Miss Zhao."
Director Chen left the office. The door clicked shut, and silence returned.
Lina stood up slowly and walked toward the window. The city lights below shimmered quietly under the dark sky, indifferent to the corporate battle raging above them.
Adrian Lu…
What exactly is your objective?
Her phone vibrated suddenly on the desk. The screen lit up the dark room.
Unknown number.
Again.
She answered, bringing the phone to her ear. "Hello."
Adrian Lu's voice came through calmly, smooth as velvet. "Good evening, Miss Zhao."
Lina's eyes narrowed slightly. "You have excellent timing, Chairman Lu."
Adrian chuckled softly. "I try."
Silence fell between them for a moment, filled only by the faint hum of the connection. Then Adrian spoke.
"Logistics disruption has begun."
"Yes," Lina said.
"You are not panicking," Adrian observed.
"Should I?" Lina asked.
"No." Adrian's voice carried faint amusement. "Panic is usually a sign of poor preparation."
Lina looked down at the city streets below, watching the cars move like streams of light. "Why are you informing me about Victor's strategy?" she asked.
"Because I want to see your response."
"That is not a reason," Lina said.
Adrian did not reply immediately. After a few seconds, he spoke quietly. "Because I am curious whether you truly came back stronger."
Lina's fingers tightened slightly around the phone. The air in the room seemed to grow colder.
Reborn.
Did he suspect it?
Or was it just intuition?
"Chairman Lu," Lina said slowly, "you are very dangerous."
Adrian laughed softly. "I hear that often."
Another pause. Then Adrian said, "Victor Han is trying to expose the traitor inside Zhao Group."
"I know," Lina replied.
"Do you know who it is?"
"Yes."
The answer came very calmly. No hesitation. No doubt.
Adrian was silent for a moment. Then he spoke again. "Do you intend to reveal them tonight?"
"No," Lina said.
"Why?"
"Because Victor wants them to move."
Adrian's voice softened slightly. "You are letting the traitor expose themselves."
"Yes."
Adrian chuckled quietly. "Very interesting strategy."
Then he added one sentence, his tone shifting to serious. "Be careful tomorrow morning."
"Why?" Lina asked.
"Because Victor Han's real objective is not logistics disruption."
Lina's eyes darkened. "What is it?"
Adrian answered slowly. "He is preparing to collapse your investor confidence network."
The line went silent.
Investor network.
If that fell… Zhao Group would face capital withdrawal pressure. Victor was attacking three layers simultaneously. Supplier chain. Internal security. Financial confidence.
This was not a simple business war. This was corporate assassination.
"Thank you for the information," Lina said.
"You are welcome," Adrian replied.
Before ending the call, he added quietly, "Miss Zhao."
"Yes?"
"I am beginning to understand why Victor Han is interested in you."
Then the call ended.
Lina lowered the phone slowly. Outside, the wind moved gently across the balcony, cooling the heat of the moment.
Victor Han…
Adrian Lu…
The chessboard was already set. Pieces were moving in the shadows, kings and queens positioning for the kill. But Lina smiled faintly, the expression barely visible in the dark room.
Because the player who remembered the future… was always one move ahead.