The golden morning sun washed over the public park, breathing life into the scenery. A group of elderly residents moved with fluid, ethereal grace as they practiced Tai Chi—a picture of absolute tranquility. Yet, at the tail end of the formation, three men looked like broken gears in a precision watch.
Ohm and Phueak, dressed in tracksuits, were struggling to mimic the leader's movements. What should have been poetic flow looked more like the jerky motions of robots running low on lubricant.
Beside them stood Adisorn. Clad in a high-end designer tracksuit, his handsome face was a mask of peak existential boredom. He never imagined his life as a master strategist would lead him to waving his arms in a park to the sound of traditional flute music. If Ohm hadn't insisted he had a lead on Yong Chang, Adisorn wouldn't have crawled out of bed for anything he considered this "frivolous."
"So, Mr. Sorn..." Ohm whispered through gritted teeth as they pushed their arms forward, feigning a casual conversation between strangers. "Yong Chang... he's gone far beyond CK Group's original orders."
Adisorn rotated his torso with a lazy stretch, cutting a sharp glance at Ohm. "How far?"
"He wasn't sent to Thailand to build alliances. He's using the CK Group name to swallow up local businesses for himself," Ohm explained, sinking into a slow leg sweep. "And he's swindled several board members out of their personal fortunes. The ball is at your feet, Sorn. This is your chance to crush the parasite that ruined you."
"And how exactly did you find out he's using the CK name as a front?" Adisorn asked, pivoting his stance.
"Board members Feng and Zhenhao," Ohm winked during the 'White Crane Spreads Its Wings' pose. "They're total believers now. They begged me for help after they realized they'd been fleeced."
Adisorn's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "So the board isn't as united as they seem. Yong Chang must be a professional chameleon to have scammed that many high-level players."
"Exactly," the chef replied proudly, transitioning into 'Waving Hands Like Clouds.' "But I noticed something... Yong Chang wouldn't dare pull a stunt this massive alone. He must have a green light from someone higher up than those two directors."
Adisorn's eyes narrowed. "My thoughts exactly."
THUD! "Ouch!"
The sound of a heavy impact broke the Tai Chi circle's concentration. Everyone turned to see Phueak splayed out on the grass, having lost his balance while attempting a difficult one-legged pose. The burly man waved his hand frantically with a dry laugh.
"Don't mind me! Just a minor internal energy blockage!"
Adisorn looked away, shaking his head in weary disbelief. Am I really trusting my life to this 'professional' team?
At the same hour, Gawin stepped into his new role as Director of the Green Hydrogen Project. Tum, his trusted secretary, followed close behind with a mountain of files.
Throughout the corridors, staff bowed respectfully to the new director. Gawin acknowledged them with a polite, practiced smile before entering his spacious new office. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the Shanghai skyline, looking like a digital painting.
"Mr. Tum... please coordinate with the Finance Department. I need the historical audit reports for this project immediately," Gawin commanded.
"Understood, Mr. Gawin," Tum replied.
Knock, knock, knock.
A rhythmic tap on the mahogany door echoed. Tum opened it and stiffened. Standing there was Lu Rong, the CFO and financial gatekeeper of the empire, wearing a predatory smile.
In his hands was a glass display case containing a model of an ancient treasure ship, crafted from fragrant sandalwood and bearing the CK Group flag.
"A welcoming gift for the new Director," Lu Rong said, handing the box to Tum. "Tell him I welcome him to the family. I hope this ship carries him toward the wealth... he's dreamed of."
"Would you like to see Mr. Gawin now, sir?" Tum asked politely.
"No need... I was just passing by," Lu Rong replied with a glint in his eyes. "I'll see him at the official board meeting. Until then."
As the CFO walked away, Tum felt a wave of cold dread wash over him. In his vision, the aura surrounding Lu Rong wasn't the usual corporate gold; it was a vortex of deep crimson and obsidian, billowing like a toxic flame—the unmistakable sign of a man consumed by malice and a deadly hidden agenda.