The night sky stretched quietly above the city.
Stars were hidden behind the haze of urban light.
From the highest floor of Han Corporation headquarters, Victor Han stood motionless beside the glass window.
He held a wine glass that reflected the faint golden glow of the city lights below.
Traffic moved slowly in the distance.
Like scattered threads of light weaving through darkness.
Behind him, his assistant stood respectfully.
Waiting.
Breathing softly.
"Sir," the assistant said carefully.
"Zhao Group internal encryption transmission has been confirmed."
Victor did not speak immediately.
He lifted the wine glass slowly.
Took a calm sip.
The liquid was rich.
Dark.
Like the night outside.
Then, with the same composed voice he always used, he asked,
"Was the source verified?"
"Yes, sir," the assistant replied.
"The transmission originated from the internal maintenance terminal."
"Authentication codes match Zhao Group security protocols."
Silence settled inside the room.
Heavy.
Significant.
Victor closed his eyes slightly.
A faint, satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
It did not reach his eyes.
"Good," Victor said quietly.
He placed the wine glass down on the black marble desk.
Click.
The sound was sharp in the quiet room.
"Miss Zhao is very intelligent," Victor continued.
His voice was smooth.
Dangerous.
The assistant nodded silently.
However, Victor's expression did not carry celebration.
Only calculation.
Cold.
Precise.
"In business warfare," Victor said slowly.
"Intelligence alone is not enough."
His dark eyes deepened.
Like pools of ink.
"If the fortress falls from inside," Victor said.
"External defense becomes meaningless."
The assistant listened quietly.
He knew better than to interrupt.
Victor walked slowly back toward his desk.
His hands rested on the leather surface.
"Allow Zhao Group to believe their internal system is compromised," Victor said.
"Do not initiate aggressive follow-up attacks."
The assistant blinked slightly.
Confusion flickered across his face.
"Sir… may I ask why?"
Victor turned toward him.
A cold, predatory light flickered in his eyes.
"Because," Victor said softly.
"I want Lina Zhao to relax."
"I want her to feel safe."
The assistant felt a chill run down his spine.
Victor Han was not celebrating victory.
He was hunting something deeper.
He was waiting for the prey to stop running.
***
At the same time.
Inside Zhao Group headquarters.
The internal surveillance control room was dimly lit.
The glow of monitoring screens washed over the walls in shades of blue and green.
Supervisor Lin stood beside Lina Zhao.
Her posture was rigid.
Alert.
"Miss Zhao," Supervisor Lin said quietly.
"The fake encryption transmission was successfully delivered."
Lina nodded once.
Her eyes were fixed on the main screen.
"Good."
Supervisor Lin hesitated before speaking again.
"Victor Han will believe our internal network security has been breached."
"Yes," Lina replied calmly.
Supervisor Lin frowned slightly.
"Then… he will proceed to the next phase of attack."
"Yes."
Silence filled the room.
The hum of servers was the only sound.
Supervisor Lin lowered her head slightly.
"Miss Zhao… may I ask something?"
"Go ahead," Lina said.
"Why allow the traitor to transmit fake data?"
"Why not stop him immediately?"
Lina walked slowly toward the surveillance screen.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Cold.
Determined.
"Because Victor Han is extremely cautious," Lina said.
"If I expose the traitor immediately, Victor will change strategy."
"He will retreat."
"He will hide."
She turned to look at Supervisor Lin.
"But if Victor believes infiltration succeeded…"
"He will reveal deeper layers of his plan."
"He will commit."
Lina's voice dropped lower.
"The best trap," she said quietly.
"Is the one the enemy believes they built themselves."
Supervisor Lin bowed slightly.
Respect.
Awe.
"I understand."
***
Night deepened.
The city slept.
But the war continued.
Inside Han Corporation penthouse.
Victor Han received a new operational report.
His assistant handed him the tablet.
The screen glowed in the dark.
"Sir," the assistant said.
"Zhao Group internal network verification stability is decreasing."
Victor's gaze sharpened.
"Show me."
The assistant opened the system data.
Verification authentication signals were failing slowly.
Not abruptly.
But systematically.
Like a structure losing internal cohesion.
Brick by brick.
Victor smiled faintly.
"Excellent."
He turned slightly.
"Prepare Phase Two operation."
"Yes, sir."
"Financial pressure," Victor said.
"Break their confidence."
***
Midnight passed silently.
The clock ticked toward morning.
Inside Zhao Group headquarters, Lina stood alone near the balcony window.
The city lights below shimmered quietly.
Distant.
Unaware.
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello."
Adrian Lu's calm voice came through the line.
Smooth.
Low.
"You allowed the transmission."
"Yes," Lina replied.
"Victor believes he succeeded."
"Yes."
Silence stretched between them.
Filled with unspoken understanding.
Then Adrian spoke quietly.
"Tomorrow morning, he will begin financial confidence disruption."
Lina closed her eyes briefly.
"As expected."
Adrian continued.
"He wants to force investor withdrawal pressure."
"He wants to cause a panic."
"Yes."
Another pause.
The wind rustled in the background.
Then Adrian said,
"You are more dangerous than Victor Han realizes."
Lina did not respond.
Because she knew something Victor did not know.
Victor Han was not the only hunter.
And she was not the same prey.
***
Morning arrived.
The sun rose over the skyline.
But the atmosphere was heavy.
Inside Han Corporation office.
The assistant spoke quickly.
"Sir, Zhao Group investor communication signals show instability."
"Rumors are spreading."
Victor nodded slowly.
"Begin market confidence pressure campaign."
"Yes, sir."
Victor stood beside the window.
His silhouette was sharp against the light.
"Today," he said quietly.
"Zhao Group will feel financial isolation."
"They will beg for mercy."
***
Inside Zhao Group headquarters.
Director Chen rushed into the chairman's office.
He looked panicked.
"Miss Zhao!"
"What is it?" Lina asked calmly.
She did not look up from her documents.
"Han Corporation has initiated large-scale investor psychological pressure signals."
"Stock prices are fluctuating."
Lina turned slowly.
"Investor reactions?"
"Several partners are requesting emergency capital withdrawal meetings."
"They are scared."
Silence followed.
Thick.
Tense.
Then Lina smiled faintly.
"Good."
Director Chen blinked.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
"Good…?"
"Yes."
Because Victor Han believed he was winning.
He thought she was scrambling.
He thought she was weak.
But Lina was waiting for one event.
The final move.
The traitor's escape attempt.
***
Far away.
Inside Han Corporation penthouse.
Victor Han received final confirmation.
"Sir," the assistant said.
"Zhao Group internal encryption monitoring shows continued instability."
"Their defense is crumbling."
Victor closed his eyes slowly.
A hunter's smile appeared on his lips.
Satisfied.
Arrogant.
"Excellent."
He whispered softly,
"Lina Zhao…"
"Let me see how you survive this collapse."
***
But inside Zhao Group headquarters.
Lina stood alone under the balcony night wind.
The sun had set again.
Another day passed.
Her phone vibrated again.
Unknown number.
She answered.
The nervous man's voice spoke.
Breathless.
Desperate.
"Miss Zhao… I want protection."
"They know I contacted you."
"I need to leave."
Lina's voice was very calm.
Cold.
Final.
"Go to the designated safe monitoring location."
"Room 402."
"Wait there."
"Yes… thank you, Miss Zhao."
"I'll go now."
The call ended.
Lina's eyes became very cold.
Like ice.
Like steel.
Because the traitor was about to move.
He was running into the trap.
Victor thought he was winning.
But he had just lost his pawn.
And tonight—
The invisible blade would reveal itself.
The game was over.
Before it had truly begun.