The sharp scent of stale coffee mixed with the hum of flickering fluorescent lights greeted Tian as he slipped through the marble-clad corridors of Marvel Industries long after most employees had left. The building's glass façade, which by day shimmered with sleek corporate power, now seemed colder, almost predatory under the dim night lighting. This was the side of Marvel the board never showed in press releases or charity galas—the underbelly where secrets whispered in the shadows.
Tian's eyes, sharp despite the late hour, scanned the floor numbers as he took the elevator up to the executive wing. His role was still undefined, more a public stunt than a true position of power, but he had learned quickly to use his invisibility as an advantage. While others thought him a reckless heir-child, he moved carefully, gathering fragments of truth like a hunter trailing smoke.
The last few weeks had taught him that the corruption within Marvel was no mere rumor. It was a tangled web, thick with greed, deceit, and ruthless ambition. Tian had started connecting dots—offshore accounts, suspicious transactions, and unexplained shifts in Marvel's stock performance that didn't match their public statements.
Tonight, he had a lead—a whisper from a low-level employee who mentioned a series of clandestine meetings between key executives and unknown foreign representatives. According to the tip, these meetings were meant to finalize deals that could sell off Marvel's most valuable assets under the table.
As the elevator dinged at the 46th floor, Tian slipped out unnoticed. The hallway was deserted except for a flickering light at the far end. He moved toward the conference room where the meetings were said to take place. Peering through the frosted glass, he spotted silhouettes clustered around a large table, voices low but urgent. He couldn't catch the words, but the atmosphere felt electric with tension.
Drawing back, Tian's mind raced. He knew confronting these executives head-on would be suicide. The board's inner circle was fiercely protective of its secrets. Yet, he couldn't ignore the sense that the company his family built was bleeding out from within.
Returning to his "office" — a glass box more for show than function — Tian pulled open the drawers and rifled through files, receipts, and reports he'd discreetly collected. His reputation for wild antics, unpredictable mood swings, and outbursts worked in his favor here. Nobody took him seriously, so he moved freely, unnoticed.
His phone buzzed with a message from Jin Mei: Careful, Tian. This isn't a game. Some players are dangerous beyond words.
He typed back a quick reply, smirking: Since when did you start caring about the "wild card"?
Her answer was a dry: Because even a wildfire can burn the wrong people.
Jin Mei's warning wasn't just empty caution. She knew the company's bloodlines and power plays better than anyone. As Tian had learned, beneath her cool analytical exterior hid a sharp, relentless mind—and a loyalty that didn't bend easily to corporate spin.
Despite the risks, Tian refused to slow down. Tonight, he found a ledger tucked inside a forgotten filing cabinet—ancient and dusty, yet detailed with shocking precision. The entries were cryptic, marked in red ink with the phrase "Project Eclipse." The numbers didn't add up, showing large sums unaccounted for, and transfers to offshore accounts no one on the board mentioned publicly.
Tian's pulse quickened. Project Eclipse—he'd heard the name whispered only once before, from Jin Mei, who'd cautioned him to keep it under wraps. Now, the ledger confirmed that it was real, and likely the key to the board's most dangerous scheme.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated again. This time, an encrypted message popped up: "Trust no one. The enemy wears your face."
Tian froze, heart pounding. The warning was clear, chilling. A traitor was close—someone in his inner circle who fed information to those who wished to see him fail.
He scanned his contacts. Who could it be? Was it someone he already suspected? Or a new enemy hiding behind a friendly mask?
In the cold silence of the night, Tian realized one truth above all: in the game of power at Marvel Industries, nothing was as it seemed. Trust was a liability, and every ally could be an enemy in disguise.
He pocketed the ledger and slipped out, blending into the darkness outside. The veil of smoke was thickening, and Tian knew he had to prepare for the storm coming his way.