Chapter 9: Whispers of a Greater Enemy
That morning, Adrian's office felt like a silent battlefield.The special tax investigation team had arrived, filling the conference room with an icy air of formality and a barrage of sharp questions. Adrian sat across from them, calm and composed, as if this were nothing more than another routine business meeting. Yet beneath his composed exterior, the ring on his finger pulsed with a warm thrum, and his mind was working at lightning speed.
"Mr. Bong," began the head of the team—a sharp-eyed woman in her fifties—"we have received reports of large, suspicious financial transactions involving foreign entities. We require full access to all your financial records, both domestic and international."
Adrian nodded."Of course. Bong Food Industries has always operated with complete transparency. I'll make sure our finance team provides everything you need."
As he spoke, Adrian's telepathy worked overtime, sifting through the thoughts that lurked behind the formal questions.The remnants of Asong's network… Jakarta businessmen eager to see Adrian fall… they feared Bong Food Industries' expansion into Beijing would monopolize the Asian market…
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smile."I'd also like to know—who exactly filed this complaint? A company of our size is bound to attract… unwarranted attention from certain parties."
The woman's mind flickered with thoughts he wasn't meant to hear: Can't reveal the source… direct orders from above… political pressure at play…
Adrian didn't just cooperate fully; he used this opportunity to gather intelligence on his new enemies. He allowed them to dig, but at the same time, he focused his telepathy on each member of the team, probing for weaknesses, connections, or hidden motives.
He discovered that some had indirect ties to corrupt public officials—officials bribed by those "Jakarta businessmen" to put pressure on him. This wasn't about taxes alone; it was a coordinated attempt to cripple Bong Food Industries.
In the midst of the investigation, a message flashed on Adrian's phone. From Bobi."Cousin, I heard there's trouble at your office. Need help 'cleaning up' the mess? I've got friends who can make problems disappear."
Adrian read the message coldly. Bobi, now deeply entangled with his troublemaking community organization and a few shady officials, was trying to exploit the situation.
He ignored it. Bobi was just a pawn in a much larger game. This investigation, Adrian realized, wasn't just about Jakarta businessmen or Asong's remnants—it was a breadcrumb trail leading to a greater antagonist, a shadowy organization with a vested interest in the coming global chaos and a hunger to control all resources.
Outside Adrian's office walls, the world was showing even more ominous signs of collapse.News alerts streamed onto his phone, painting a grim picture:Mass starvation sweeping across Africa, triggering waves of migration that overwhelmed Europe's borders. Infrastructure in major North American cities crumbling under relentless snowstorms, followed by record-shattering heatwaves.
Public panic was spreading. Viral videos of small-scale riots in supermarkets and frenzied hoarding flooded the internet. Governments worldwide scrambled to impose emergency measures, but they were visibly overwhelmed and ineffective. Fragile political and economic systems were beginning to crack under the pressure of climate catastrophe.
Stranger phenomena followed.Unusual earthquakes shook historically stable regions. Dormant volcanoes erupted without warning, spewing ash that blotted out the sun. Magnetic anomalies disrupted navigation and communications, adding to the chaos. Even over Adrian's own city, the skies often glowed with an unsettling red hue—a disturbing omen.
In his underground training facility, Adrian worked tirelessly.The ring's dimensional space had become a colossal warehouse of hope. He had duplicated stockpiles of hardy crop seeds, advanced farming equipment, essential medicines, and countless fuel tanks. He envisioned a future where these supplies would be distributed to the starving—lifelines in a dying world.
His training had also intensified. He pushed the limits of his physical enhancement, discovering new facets of his power: blinding speed, unmatched endurance, and even accelerated healing—minor wounds closing within seconds. He kept the ring's full potential secret, even from Uncle Suryo. The weight of that secret was heavy, but he knew it was the only way to protect himself and his plans.
That night, Adrian held another private video call with Mr. Qiao.The screen revealed the older man's grave face, framed by the bustling background of Beijing's emergency command center.
"Uncle Qiao," Adrian began, "the situation is getting worse. Reports from our branches worldwide confirm what we feared. This is no longer just unusual weather."
Mr. Qiao nodded, fatigue etched into his features."I know, Adrian. Beijing is feeling it too. Food prices are soaring, and there are small riots on the outskirts. We've made significant progress in building the distribution network and strategic reserves, just as you suggested."
"Good," Adrian replied. "One more thing, Uncle. I want Mengmeng and her grandmother flown to Indonesia—to my home. I want them safe here, under my watch."
Mr. Qiao hesitated, then gave a firm nod."It will be arranged. They'll be safe here until everything is ready."
Ending the call, Adrian felt the growing weight of the secret he carried. He possessed extraordinary power, yet had to hide it from everyone—even those he trusted most. It was a constant moral dilemma: trust versus the need for protection.
His thoughts drifted back to Mengmeng—her innocent smile, her grandmother's dignified grace. His vision crystallized further: he couldn't save all of humanity, but he could save those who were worth saving. His company would be the backbone; the ring, his inexhaustible resource.
The subplot of Mengmeng was a constant reminder of his core motivation—to shield innocence and offer hope in a crumbling world.
The tax investigation eventually ended with no findings that could harm Adrian. He had cooperated fully, and there was no evidence to support the false claims. But Adrian had gained something far more valuable: he now knew the identities of his new enemies, and that they were only fragments of a larger network.
Beyond his window, the night sky over the city burned with an unnatural crimson glow.The true storm—the foretold apocalypse—was drawing near.
Adrian Bong was ready.He was no longer merely surviving; he would become a proactive force, standing against the coming darkness and saving those he deemed worthy.