The ballroom at the Conrad Hong Kong buzzed with energy that pulsed through the air like static before a storm. Rows of journalists from Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Manila filled the seats, their badges swinging as they shuffled, adjusted camera lenses, tested recorders, and exchanged rapid-fire comments in half a dozen languages. The large LED screens at the front glowed with the Nova Technologies logo, crisp and futuristic against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour shining through towering glass windows. The entire room was a spectacle, curated and polished in that effortless corporate way that cost millions to look simple.
Sofia sat near the center, her press badge heavy on her chest like it had gained weight overnight. Her notebook lay open on her lap, but her pen hovered uselessly
