International Waters – Aboard the Black Star Yacht
The ocean stretched endlessly under the darkened sky, the waves crashing violently against the massive yacht that sat motionless like a predator waiting to strike.
Inside the lavish private cabin, the air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and power.
A tall figure stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his silhouette sharp and dangerous against the lightning-lit sea. His fingers tapped a rhythmic pattern against the polished mahogany desk, his cold eyes fixed on the encrypted message glowing on the tablet before him.
The Lu Empire may have fallen, but the crown was far from claimed. And the next throne wasn't built on land—it would rise from the global financial chaos left in the empire's wake.
Like a spider at the center of an invisible web, he had waited… watching as pawns destroyed each other, and now, he would make his move.
Scene Switch – Imperial Crown Villa
Selina stood on the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against her skin as she gazed out over the scarred city.
Her hands rested on the iron railing, her fingers unconsciously tracing the engraved Lu crest. Her heart ached, but her spine remained straight and unyielding.
Damian approached slowly behind her, his arm still in a sling but his presence as commanding as ever.
"You're restless," he observed, his voice low.
Selina didn't turn.
"Something's coming, Damian. And this time… it's not just for us. It's for everything."
She felt it in her bones—that heavy, suffocating weight of an approaching storm. But unlike before, she wouldn't run from it.
She would stand and face it—no matter the cost.
Her courage was no longer a fragile flame in the wind; it had become a raging wildfire, impossible to extinguish.
Scene Switch – The Black Star Yacht
The man turned fully to face the room, revealing his face under the dim chandelier light—an unfamiliar but eerily familiar pair of eyes.
He lifted a glass of rare vintage wine, his lips curling into a slow, dangerous smile.
"Tell Miss Jiang…" he said, swirling the wine, "…the Silent King is ready to collect his debts."
Selina's phone buzzed violently on the balcony railing.
A single message flashed across the screen:
"The true King never dies. Expect me by sunrise. — X"
Selina's hands tightened around the phone, her eyes darkening.
"Let the game begin."