The skyline of Valemir glittered beneath the night sky, a city draped in opulence, secrets, and ambition.
Inside a high-rise executive suite overlooking the heart of the city, Kip Mandari stood before a digital model of Jefferson Global's corporate structure, glass in hand, the ice in his whiskey clinking like a ticking clock. A sly smile curved on his lips as his fingers tapped at the display.
"Elsa thinks she's in control now," he murmured, watching her profile slide across the hologram. "But little does she know—she's still dancing in the empire I helped build."
He turned sharply as a soft knock came at the door.
"Come in."
A young assistant stepped in, slightly breathless. "Sir. The files you requested from the West Haven branch... they've been scrubbed. Someone's covering their tracks."
Kip's jaw clenched just slightly, but his smile returned just as fast. "Of course they are. That's what you do when you're guilty."
He stepped closer, voice silk and steel.
"Prepare the board presentation. And leak the discrepancy to the financial press — anonymously, of course. Let's see how Elsa handles a scandal she didn't start... but might just finish."
Elsewhere — In the city of Viremont
The ancient streets of Viremont buzzed with energy, but Elsa Jefferson was far from the shopping districts and art galleries that tourists adored.
She walked alone down a stone alley lined with forgotten temples and occult bookstores, her black trench coat flaring in the wind. Tucked into her palm was a carved pendant — the piece she'd retrieved from an old Jefferson vault, humming faintly with the same energy she'd felt when Chess fought Milo.
Everything in her gut told her it wasn't just a relic. It was a key.
A trail of scrolls and coded journals had led her here. Now, she stood at the arched gate of an old archive run by a secretive order of historians.
She stepped inside.
A hunched old woman behind the counter peered at her from under thick spectacles.
"You carry the mark," the woman rasped. "Few do."
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "You know what this is?"
"Not just know, child," the woman said, beckoning her closer. "You're following the trail of the second seal, aren't you?"
Elsa's breath caught.
"How—"
"Because only a descendant of a bloodline once tied to the order of Zhenlong can even touch it without being burned."
Elsa blinked. "Wait… my family?"
The woman nodded. "Oh, my dear. The Jefferson name once meant more than shipping routes and shareholder votes."
Elsa felt the world tilt beneath her.
So Chess wasn't the only one with a legacy buried in legend.
Back in Valemir – Aeris Holdings Private Lounge
Chess Golding reclined in a deep leather seat in a private lounge at Aeris Holdings, a place rarely seen by anyone but his inner circle.
But tonight, he wasn't plotting.
He was... thinking.
His fingers drummed lightly on the armrest as he watched the city through a one-way glass wall. Somewhere out there, Kip was moving pieces on the board. Somewhere else, Elsa was uncovering truths not even he had touched.
The wind shifted.
A familiar voice cut into the stillness.
"You've been quiet for too long."
Chess didn't turn. "That's how storms build."
Zyra, one of the few remaining envoys from the Supreme Sect, stepped into the lounge. Her robes were black with faint gold embroidery, her eyes ancient despite her youthful frame.
"You allowed Kip to move too freely," she said. "You think yourself in control, but he's not playing your game."
"I know," Chess said coolly. "Which is why I let him believe he's winning."
Zyra raised a brow. "And Elsa? She's following the seal now. Soon, she'll touch power older than you."
"She already has," Chess murmured, finally rising. "And if Kip makes the wrong move..."
He picked up his coat and glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable.
"He won't get a second."
Later That Night – Jefferson Global Headquarters
Kip stood at the podium before the board, oozing confidence.
"As you can see, the losses from West Haven weren't just clerical. They were systemic. And I fear... they point to leadership oversight."
He stepped aside as charts filled the screen behind him. Whispers moved through the boardroom like wildfire.
Elsa entered mid-presentation, her heels striking like a countdown.
"Funny," she said, strolling forward. "I thought I'd be the one presenting tonight."
Kip smirked. "Elsa. How... timely."
She handed a folder to every board member.
"Here's my counter-report. Including evidence that Kip Mandari was the acting regional consultant during the setup of the West Haven hub. You know what that means?"
She locked eyes with Kip.
"You're not exposing me, Kip. You're confessing."
Silence. And then a murmur from the board.
Check. And nearly mate.
But Kip only smiled, slow and snake-like.
"Well played, Elsa," he said softly. "But the game's far from over."
Closing Scene — Elsa's Apartment
Hours later, Elsa stepped into her apartment, exhausted but glowing with hard-earned fire.
She paused at the door — and found Chess standing in her kitchen, sleeves rolled up, two cups of tea steaming on the counter.
"You broke the boardroom today," he said simply.
"And you made tea?" she asked with a tired smile.
He stepped closer.
"I made progress," he said, brushing her hair from her face. "And I missed you."
She leaned into his chest, no words, just warmth.
And for the first time in days, silence didn't feel like a burden.
It felt like home.