The moment Lumian stepped off the plane, he could feel the weight of the city, the thousands of people bustling and buzzing. It was sure different from Maomoa
New York. The heart of the modern world. A place that pulsed with power and ambition. And now, the home of his next move.
The ferry ride and flight had been uneventful. Shirley had spent most of it staring out at the ocean, her thoughts locked behind a quiet tension she refused to acknowledge. Lumian hadn't pushed. He had bigger things to focus on.
Like what waited for him inside the Vanguard's headquarters.
By the time they reached Midtown Manhattan, the sun had begun to set, casting golden light against the towering skyline.
And then he saw it.
Vanguard Headquarters.
A glass-and-steel monolith, standing tall amidst the skyscrapers. The golden eagle insignia of the organization gleamed under the city lights, plastered boldly at the top for all to see. There was nothing secretive about it.
