The corporate boardroom on the twenty‑third floor felt impossibly cavernous in the soft afternoon light. Floor‑to‑ceiling windows framed a panorama of the city—gleaming towers and distant harbor cranes—yet none of it mattered in the hush that fell as Lin Wantang and Qi Siheng entered arm‑in‑arm. Jasper scuttled at their heels, dragon‑jade pawn in hand, under the watchful eye of Wen Tao.
Half the board members occupied leather chairs around the polished ebony table; the rest piped in via holo‑screens. At the head sat Chairman Wu, flanked by the head of legal and the CFO. On the table lay three thick binders labeled **“Forensic Audit,"** **“Yao Statement,"** and **“Corporate Coup Evidence."**
Siheng cleared his throat. “Thank you all for convening on such short notice. Today we address the
