"Chapter One" The Confluence of Murky Waters
She saw it in a dream— very same murky place, right where two rivers converged.
Rain poured down relentlessly. Under the open sky, two figures stood embedded in the thick mud.
Standing before a drenched, black-haired girl was a man of tall stature and athletic arms. His mud-splattered clothes were soaking wet, his damp hair scattered across his forehead, and within his mud-caked fist, a golden key glinted faintly under the dark sky. Reaching for his collar, he plucked off his tie, then rolled his sleeves further up his arms.
Strands of wet hair clung to the girl's cheeks as she tilted her neck back, gazing upward—past the heavy skies, toward the distant worlds beyond.
The man bent down once more, gathering fresh earth into his palm before drawing himself up straight. Extending his dirt-covered hand—and the glistening key buried within it—toward the girl, he called out over the roar of the rain and storm:
"Stay with me... We both need each other."
Startled, she snapped her gaze at him before looking back up at the sky.
Far above, a bird soared into view. Spreading its wings, it began to circle in the air directly over the man's head—circling again and again.
The girl raised her finger to point. Though no sound escaped her lips, her mouth moved to whisper silently, "Look there..."
Yet the man kept his hand outstretched, his plea relentless. "Stay with me... stay with me..."
High above them, the bird continued its orbit—a majestic creature of brilliant gold and crimson, with eyes that gleamed like blue diamonds.
With a sudden jolt, Florence snapped awake.
Bangkok—the vibrant heart of the Kingdom of Thailand and its most famous metropolis. A thriving crossroads of ancient traditions and modern ambition, where Theravada Buddhism echoed through the rhythm of daily life. The winding Chao Phraya River, grand golden spires, and lush tropical greenery nestled beside towering skyscrapers created a captivating city that felt both mystical and larger-than-life.
This morning, as usual, it was buzzing with energy: the roar of tuk-tuks, street market chatter, and carefree laughter. People were flowing into their daily routines along the bustling avenues, inside ornate shrines, and within towering high-rises.
In the middle of Bangkok's relentless commercial heart, a sleek glass skyscraper stood with calm authority. On its twentieth floor, state-of-the-art office cabins were lined up where employees moved with quiet urgency. The rhythmic clicking of keyboards and hushed telephone chatter signaled that the pulse of the city's corporate engine was in full motion.
Walking quickly along the floor was a young man carrying a file. Possessing Chinese features, he was of average height with a suppressed, eager expression on his face.
Barely controlling the joy visible on his face, he pressed the handle of an office door and pushed it open with force.
Inside, behind a heavy desk, sat a tired-looking, middle-aged man. Wearing a weary expression built over hours of sleepless stress, he lifted his bored eyes toward the intruder.
"Kaelen Tang, I do not want to hear any talk right now. I couldn't sleep all night. Do not disturb me."
"Khun Chandler...! Good news!" Pulling a chair close with a wide smile, Kaelen Tang sat down.
Khun Chandler waved his hand dismissively. "Do you think any news can make me happy right now? Due to my negligence, the Boss's laptop has been stolen, and are you concerned about your own tasks?" He fixed angry, narrowed eyes on Kaelen Tang. "Even the Boss does not know yet that his laptop—which contains our business's secret documents and was given to me to clean of viruses—is gone. Go away, for God's sake!"
"Sir, first listen to me," Kaelen spoke in a single breath. "I have traced the laptop."
Khun Chandler's slouched posture instantly straightened up. His eyes widened, his weary expression vanishing in seconds.
"What do you mean? How?" He leaned forward urgently.
