The following morning, the skies over the British metropolis remained shrouded in a curtain of relentless rain. Under the downpour, the Hanglung Tower stood especially serene. Raindrops slid down its glass façade like countless strands of silver, blurring the city's outline while lending it a soft, dreamlike charm.
Elena Cross's assistant, Evelyn Ward, along with two formally dressed men in business suits, stood under the awning near the tower's revolving door. Their anxious expressions and frequent glances toward the distance made it clear they were waiting for someone.
Behind them, the revolving door turned slowly, its soft mechanical hum merging with the rhythm of the rain outside.
Fine threads of rain drifted from the overcast sky, gentle and continuous. Where the drops hit the stone plaza in front of the tower, they burst into tiny splashes.
Evelyn rose slightly on her toes, peering through the misty air, but the rain distorted the view into a hazy mirage.
Though vehicles occasionally pulled into the car park, none seemed to be the one Evelyn was waiting for—until her eyes suddenly lit up. She quickly grabbed the umbrella at her side and dashed into the rain without hesitation.
A red Maserati pulled swiftly into the parking area. As soon as it stopped, Evelyn was already at the driver's side, shielding it with the umbrella.
Lyra Solis stepped out, dressed in a sharp white suit—elegant and poised. The tailored outfit, clean and refined, outlined her figure with a perfect balance of simplicity and precision, enhancing her composed demeanor.
Today, her hair was styled into a high bun, neatly gathered with a few wisps falling by her ears. Her makeup was subtle but impeccable, with just enough eye shadow and lip gloss to accentuate her natural beauty.
"Ms. Solis, Master Shandar and Director Walter Shaw are already upstairs. They're discussing the potential to continue collaboration with WanTech Corporation."
As soon as she saw Lyra, Evelyn relayed the latest developments swiftly, ensuring Lyra wouldn't be blindsided by any critical information gaps.
"Shandar?" Lyra's expression darkened. "Who asked him to come?"
Evelyn hesitated briefly, then said in a low voice, "Ms. Solis, the Chairman arranged it. He said Shandar was here to assist you."
"He's here to help me?" Lyra sneered. "It would be a miracle if he didn't make things worse. Has WanTech made any new demands?"
As they spoke, the two women quickly passed through the revolving door into Hanglung Tower. The two suited men standing nearby immediately straightened and respectfully greeted Lyra.
"Ms. Solis, these are our legal advisors, Lennox Frost and Reed Brooks. I brought them along in case their expertise could prove useful," Evelyn explained as Lyra's gaze landed on the two unfamiliar faces.
Lyra nodded and smiled kindly, shaking hands with them both. "Thank you. This matter with WanTech came up rather suddenly. I hope you'll be able to offer some legal perspective."
The two men exchanged a look and responded in unison, "Of course, Ms. Solis!"
…
Just after Lyra had finished discussing business with Jack Hayes from MineARC, she received a call from Evelyn back at the London office.
Evelyn explained that there was trouble with WanTech Corporation. They had contacted the R&D department to formally terminate their collaboration.
The reason was simple: according to WanTech, TenOcean Pharmaceuticals had failed to pay the agreed-upon development fees for their new drug, voiding the previous agreement and prompting a demand for £400,000 in breach penalties.
Lyra was stunned. She had personally wired £3 million to the company's account and oversaw the transfer herself. It had definitely gone through. So why was WanTech claiming the payment was never made?
Despite her shock, Lyra didn't confront WanTech immediately. Instead, over the next two days, she instructed Evelyn to investigate every detail thoroughly.
When the results came back, and an unfamiliar contract was presented to her—complete with her forged signature and the company seal—she realized she had walked into a trap.
The contract, dated one week after her grandfather's passing, was supposedly signed by her. Though the handwriting was nearly identical, Lyra could immediately tell it wasn't hers. Someone was playing a very dangerous game with WanTech.
Understanding this, Lyra had Evelyn arrange an urgent meeting with WanTech's senior leadership. She intended to confront them face to face and uncover what they were really after.
She hadn't been able to sleep last night, overwhelmed by anxiety and unable to confide in anyone. In a moment of weakness, she had called Kael Voss—only for that call to almost cost him his life.
"Ms. Solis, good morning. I'm Alistair Ford, Deputy Director of WanTech. It's a pleasure to meet you."
As Lyra and her party stepped out of the elevator on the 24th floor, a tall man with gold-rimmed glasses and a beaming smile approached them.
Lyra shook his hand briefly. Under Alistair's guidance, the group was led toward WanTech's offices on the 23rd floor.
"WanTech operates from the 20th to 26th floors," he explained as they walked. "This floor houses the administrative offices. If you're interested, I'd be happy to give you a tour afterward."
Alistair kept glancing at Lyra, captivated by her appearance. His words were laced with subtle hints, clearly hoping to engineer a moment alone with her.
Noticing his behavior, Lyra gave him a faint, polite smile. "This is my first visit to WanTech. I might take you up on that offer someday."
"Of course, anytime!" Alistair's heart leapt—Lyra's elegance and status made her an exceptionally desirable prospect. He wasn't about to pass up this opportunity.
With Alistair eagerly leading the way, they soon arrived at a meeting room. Before they even stepped inside, they heard an angry voice from within:
"This is outrageous! You're preying on our misfortune—this is nothing short of blackmail!"
Lyra paused. The voice was unmistakable—Walter Shaw, Director of TenOcean's research institute.
From the tone of his voice, it was clear he was arguing with someone. Walter had risen through the ranks from a junior researcher to lead the entire institute. The late Chairman Solis had invested heavily in his development, and Walter had proven his worth.
Though Lyra hadn't interacted with him much since taking over, she always assumed his coldness was merely the social awkwardness common among scientists.
But now, hearing him argue so passionately, even shouting in anger—it was clear something serious was happening inside that room.