Jincheng City. The Sky.
A military-grade helicopter painted entirely in matte black thundered over the skyline of Jincheng City. On the side, the logo of the Dragon Group (a dragon eating a dollar sign) gleamed in gold.
Inside the cabin, Li Wusheng sat with his legs crossed, swirling a glass of champagne that somehow didn't spill despite the turbulence.
Elara Vance sat opposite him. She was still wearing her grey janitor jumpsuit, clutching her mop bucket like a safety blanket.
"Look down," Li commanded, his voice fighting the roar of the rotors.
Elara looked. Below them, the city was a grid of traffic and smog. But in the center, shining like a diamond dropped in a mud puddle, was a massive structure.
The Golden Emperor Mall.
"That," Li announced, "is the most expensive retail space in the hemisphere. The floor tiles are made of imported Italian marble. The air conditioning is scented with jasmine. It is a place where commoners fear to tread."
