The Zhao Group auditorium was already filled when Lina Zhao arrived.
Bright white lights illuminated the stage while dozens of journalists whispered among themselves, their cameras resting on tripods like silent weapons waiting to fire. Financial reporters, television crews, and business analysts from across the city had gathered with one burning question.
Was Zhao Group collapsing?
The rumors had spread fast.
Too fast.
Which meant Victor Han's influence in the media world was stronger than most people realized.
Behind the stage curtain, Director Chen adjusted his glasses nervously while scanning the latest financial reports on his tablet.
"Miss Zhao," he said quietly, "the market rumors are escalating faster than expected."
Lina stood beside the curtain, calm and perfectly composed.
"What are they saying now?" she asked.
Director Chen sighed.
"Several financial bloggers are claiming Zhao Group is preparing bankruptcy protection."
One of the junior executives gasped.
"That's ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous rumors still move markets," Zhang Wei muttered grimly.
Director Chen looked at Lina carefully.
"If we step on that stage without a strong response, the market could crash by the end of the day."
Lina didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she glanced toward the audience beyond the curtain.
Reporters.
Cameras.
Live broadcast feeds.
Every word she said today would travel across the entire business world.
Finally, she spoke.
"Are the evidence files ready?"
Director Chen nodded immediately.
"Yes. The digital records Adrian Lu provided have been verified."
Zhang Wei frowned slightly.
"We're really going to expose Han Corporation publicly?"
Lina's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
"But Victor Han is extremely powerful," Zhang Wei warned. "If we accuse him without absolute proof—"
"We have proof."
Her voice was calm.
Unshakable.
Director Chen straightened slightly.
"Miss Zhao… once this begins, there's no turning back."
Lina walked toward the stage entrance.
"That's the point."
An assistant approached quickly.
"Miss Zhao, the media is ready."
Lina nodded.
"Let's begin."
---
The moment Lina Zhao stepped onto the stage, the room exploded with flashing cameras.
Reporters immediately began shouting questions.
"Miss Zhao! Is Zhao Group facing financial collapse?"
"Are investors withdrawing their capital?"
"Is it true Zhao Group is seeking emergency loans?"
"Miss Zhao—!"
Lina raised one hand calmly.
The room slowly quieted.
Her voice was clear when she spoke.
"Good afternoon."
"Thank you all for attending on such short notice."
A reporter from a major financial network stood immediately.
"Miss Zhao, rumors suggest Zhao Group is facing a severe liquidity crisis. Can you confirm whether this is true?"
Lina looked directly at him.
"No."
The answer was simple.
Direct.
The room murmured.
Another reporter quickly raised her microphone.
"Then how do you explain the sudden investor withdrawals?"
Lina folded her hands on the podium.
"Fear."
The reporters exchanged confused glances.
"Fear spreads quickly when misinformation is involved."
A third journalist leaned forward.
"Are you suggesting the rumors are false?"
Lina nodded.
"Yes."
"Then who started them?" the reporter pressed.
Lina's eyes sharpened slightly.
"That is precisely why I called this conference."
The room fell silent.
Behind the stage, Director Chen activated the projection screen.
A large digital display appeared behind Lina.
The title read:
Market Manipulation Evidence Report
The journalists leaned forward instantly.
Lina continued calmly.
"Earlier this morning, a series of rumors spread claiming Zhao Group was experiencing severe financial instability."
She turned slightly, gesturing toward the screen.
"These rumors were not organic."
Director Chen clicked the remote.
The first slide appeared.
Encrypted message logs.
Financial blog instructions.
Anonymous rumor distribution networks.
Gasps spread across the room.
"These communications show a coordinated effort to manipulate investor sentiment."
A reporter stood abruptly.
"Are you saying someone deliberately created these rumors?"
"Yes."
"Who?" another journalist asked.
Lina paused.
The room was silent.
Then she said the name.
"Han Corporation."
The entire auditorium erupted.
Reporters began shouting questions at once.
"That's a serious accusation!"
"Do you have proof?"
"Miss Zhao, are you declaring a corporate conflict with Han Corporation?"
Lina remained calm while the chaos surged.
She simply nodded toward Director Chen.
Another slide appeared.
Network routing data.
Communication records.
Authorization signatures.
Every digital trace connected directly to Han Corporation's internal network.
The reporters fell silent again.
The evidence was undeniable.
One senior journalist slowly stood up.
"Miss Zhao… are you saying Han Corporation intentionally manipulated the market to damage Zhao Group?"
Lina's voice was steady.
"Yes."
A wave of murmurs swept the room.
Some reporters were already typing frantically on their phones.
Breaking news.
Market manipulation scandal.
Corporate war.
Meanwhile—
Across the city—
Victor Han was watching the press conference live from his office.
At first, he looked amused.
Then the evidence appeared.
Victor's smile vanished.
His assistant turned pale.
"Sir… those network logs…"
Victor's eyes darkened.
"How did they get that data?"
The assistant shook his head.
"I don't know."
Victor leaned forward slowly.
The evidence was real.
Which meant someone had breached his internal systems.
His voice dropped dangerously.
"Find out who accessed our network."
"Immediately."
The assistant rushed out.
Victor stared at the screen again.
Lina Zhao stood calmly before the reporters.
Confident.
Controlled.
Victor's expression hardened.
"So you want a public war…"
He leaned back in his chair.
"Fine."
But the real shock was still coming.
Back at the press conference—
A reporter raised her microphone again.
"Miss Zhao, what action will Zhao Group take now?"
Lina looked straight into the cameras.
Her answer was calm.
"Legal action."
The room stirred again.
"We will file a formal complaint with the Financial Regulatory Commission for market manipulation."
Several reporters gasped.
Another journalist asked quickly, "Miss Zhao, do you believe Han Corporation will face penalties?"
Lina's gaze was steady.
"If the investigation confirms the evidence…"
She paused slightly.
"Then Han Corporation could face billions in fines."
The words landed like thunder.
But Lina wasn't finished.
She turned slightly toward the cameras again.
"And one more thing."
The reporters leaned forward.
"If Han Corporation believes Zhao Group is weak…"
Her eyes turned cold.
"They are welcome to continue testing us."
Then she stepped away from the podium.
The conference room exploded with noise again.
Breaking headlines were already appearing across financial news platforms.
Zhao Group Accuses Han Corporation of Market Manipulation
Corporate War Begins
Financial Authorities Expected to Investigate
---
Inside Han Corporation's office, Victor Han slowly turned off the broadcast.
Silence filled the room.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he began to laugh softly.
His assistant returned nervously.
"Sir… the media is exploding with the story."
Victor nodded slowly.
"Yes."
He walked back toward the window.
"Interesting."
The assistant hesitated.
"What should we do?"
Victor's smile returned.
But it was colder now.
More dangerous.
"If Lina Zhao wants a public battle…"
He picked up his phone.
"Then we'll give her something much bigger."
The assistant swallowed.
"Sir?"
Victor's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Release the logistics sabotage."
The assistant's eyes widened.
"Today?"
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
He looked down at the city.
"Let's see how Zhao Group survives when their entire supply chain collapses."
---
Across the city, Lina Zhao stood by the window in her office, watching the afternoon sunlight fade slowly across the skyline.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Adrian Lu.
Adrian: Victor Han just activated the logistics attack.
Lina's expression didn't change.
She simply typed one reply.
Lina: Good.
Because this time—
She was ready.