Originally translated from the Thai language.

The obsidian-black limousine, polished to a mirror-like sheen and emblazoned with the resplendent gold insignia of the CK Group, glided seamlessly through the arteries of the Pudong District. Outside, a sprawling labyrinth of concrete and glass pierced the heavens, reflecting the afternoon sun until the skyline transformed into an infinite, shimmering hall of mirrors.

Inside the cabin, hushed save for the faint, rhythmic hum of the climate control, Gawin sat enveloped in a masterfully tailored light-brown suit. He looked every bit the formidable magnate, a man whose very presence commanded the ebb and flow of global finance. Beside him sat Tum, a figure of icy calm in a cream suit, his silence speaking volumes of his role as the discerning right hand.

As the convoy banked into the headquarters' perimeter, the CK Group’s crown jewel—a diamond-faceted skyscraper that pierced the clouds—loomed into view. Both men gazed through the tinted glass, their eyes as deep and unreadable as the abyssal reaches of the ocean. Beneath their masks of stoic indifference, they suppressed a thrumming excitement. In the global theater of commerce, one’s countenance is the primary fortress; it must never be breached, lest the enemy glimpse the secrets held within.

As the limousine came to a velvet halt, a phalanx of dark-uniformed staff snapped to attention, forming a guard of honor that stretched from the curb to the grand entrance. Their synchronized bows infused the air with a sense of ceremony—both sacred and formidable.

Su Jie, the strategic executive, stepped forward to open the door with the swiftest of humble gestures.

"Welcome to CK Group, Mr. Gawin. The board members and Chairman Li Ming are awaiting your arrival in the Grand Chamber," Su Jie announced with a precisely calculated smile, lowering his gaze in a sign of profound respect for this vital ally.

Gawin stepped out with an effortless, regal grace, ignoring the weight of a dozen scrutinizing eyes. He offered a slight, authoritative nod—friendly, yet laced with an undeniable power that could not be overlooked. Their footsteps echoed with a steady rhythm across the plush, deep-crimson velvet carpet. For Gawin, the sensation was reminiscent of the day he ascended to the throne of Wonder Package, yet today, the stakes were infinitely higher, and far more perilous.

The two entered a panoramic glass elevator that soared toward the 30th floor. Shanghai receded beneath them, shrinking into a miniature play-set as they rose—a reflection of their own ascent to the zenith of power.

Ding.

The chime signaled their arrival. The doors slid open to reveal a magnificent foyer adorned with priceless masterworks. Gawin and Tum stepped out in unison, moving toward the colossal, hand-carved wooden doors that stood between them and the most influential board in Asia. Security personnel slowly pushed the doors inward, like the parting of a curtain for a performance the entire world was destined to watch.

Inside the Grand Chamber, the warm-white glow of the chandeliers illuminated a sprawling table surrounded by high-ranking executives in somber, dark suits. At the far end of the hall, Dr. Li Ming and Lu Rong rose in a practiced, formal gesture. Their eyes were a complex blend of soaring anticipation, guardedness, and the silent opening moves of a political game that was, at this very second, officially underway.