Chapter 2 : The Iron Wall Clocks

The trading floor of ASANO Heavy Industries operated with the brutal, mechanical efficiency of a slaughterhouse. Hundreds of monitors cast a pale, cold glow over rows of identical analysts in dark suits. At the center of this web stood Ren Asano, his hands resting lightly on the polished mahogany railing of the observation balcony. To the financial world, he was the Iron Wall—unyielding, flawless, and completely immune to panic. But inside his chest, a ghost was waking up.

"The Ministry of Defense is hesitating on the automated drone contract," his chief secretary murmured, keeping her eyes fixed strictly on her tablet. "They are citing security anomalies detected during the last server migration. They fear foreign corporate espionage." Ren did not turn around. "The security anomalies were cleared forty-eight hours ago. Akira handled them personally.

The Ministry isn't afraid of espionage; they are being squeezed. By whom? "We believe it is a legal auditor faction within the government," she replied, her voice dropping. "An internal audit request was filed anonymously this morning. They are demanding a full review of our maritime shipping sub-

Contracts from the last five years.

A cold smile touched Ren’s lips. Jin. The youngest brother had wasted no time. He was using his position as Corporate Auditor to poison Ren's government relationships from the inside out. If the maritime contracts were audited, the shell companies Ren used to quietly subsidize Akira’s black-budget research facilities would be

exposed. It wouldn't just ruin Ren; it would drag Akira into the light, exposing him to their father’s immediate wrath.

Ren pulled out his encrypted phone. He didn’t call Jin; he called the one person who controlled the narrative."Hana," Ren said when the line clicked open. "The Ministry of Defense needs a distraction. A significant one. "Good morning to you too, big brother," Hana’s voice purred through the speaker, accompanied by the faint clinking of porcelain teacups. "I see Jin has already started chewing on your ankles. I noticed the legal filings.

Unfortunate."

"I need a media blackout on the Ministry’s internal audit committee," Ren stated flatly. "And I need the press focused on a political scandal. The Vice Minister of Economy's private offshore accounts. Akira has the data."

BIG FIVE : MONEY OR JUSTICE 1 "Akira's data is always so dirty," Hana laughed softly. "But what do I get in return, Ren? If I bury the Ministry's

audit, I am actively taking your side in Father's little game. Jin will come for my throats next."

"If my maritime contracts are exposed, the supply chain for your luxury imports in Osaka collapses within a week," Ren said smoothly. "I shield your logistics, Hana. You shield my reputation. That is the contract."

There was a brief pause on the line. The playful warmth vanished from Hana’s voice, replaced by the sharp, calculating intellect she usually kept hidden. "Deal. The Vice Minister will be trending on social media by noon. His career will be over by dinner. But remember this, Ren... I am only protecting my own throat. The moment your wall falls, I won't hesitate to step over your corpse."

"I expect nothing less," Ren said, and hung up. He looked back down at the trading floor, his knuckles

tightening against the wooden rail. He was protecting his siblings from their father's ultimate trap, but to do it, he had to play the monster perfectly.

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