Chapter 1

This country does not exist on any map.

It survives on smoke, on dark warehouses along the docks, on tobacco fields guarded by armed men, and on unwritten agreements valued higher than any law.

Tobacco is its bloodstream.

Not the legal product displayed behind glass counters, but raw leaves smuggled across borders, reprocessed, and traded through shadow routes. From there, money flows to syndicates, to officials, to protectors who ensure the system never stops turning.

Above it all stands AURA.

AURA is neither a government nor a syndicate. It is an umbrella. A keeper of balance. When one group grows too greedy, AURA applies pressure. When conflict threatens to become open war, AURA intervenes.

Omar leads from behind the curtain, calm and calculating. Beneath him, Diaz, AURA’s war commander, ensures that force remains precisely controlled.

One of the most vital routes under that balance is called CROCUS.

CROCUS controls the eastern tobacco corridor, vast fields, small ports, and a carefully structured distribution network. For years, they were known for stability. Quiet. Unreckless.

It all began with one name: Potlord.

He was the founder of CROCUS. Charismatic, respected, and slowly fading from the stage. Not defeated. Not dead. Simply silent. Days without decisions turned into weeks, and business could not afford to wait.

That night, the CROCUS meeting room was heavy with air. A long dark wooden table was surrounded by core officials, heads of distribution, finance, security, and logistics. No one spoke. Only exchanged looks, each carrying the same unspoken question. At the end of the table, Frost sat upright.

“Has Potlord not arrived?” one minister finally asked, his voice low but restless.

Frost folded his hands on the table. “He will,” he said shortly. “You all know that.”

“It’s been three days,” another replied. “The eastern fields are waiting. The sea routes are stalled. We can’t keep—”

The meeting room doors opened.

The conversation stopped instantly.

Potlord stepped inside, his pace calm, his expression unchanged, unreadable, almost gentle. He looked at each face in the room before taking the main seat.

“I apologize,” he said at last. Not loud. Not elaborate. “I know you’ve been waiting.”

No one interrupted.

“I did not call this meeting to explain my absence,” he continued. “I called you because I’ve made a decision.”

Several bodies stiffened.

“We are going to merge,” Potlord said. “With BOOM.”

Chairs shifted. Breaths were held. Frost turned sharply toward Potlord but remained silent.

“I know,” Potlord raised his hand slightly, “a decision like this should be discussed. But time has denied us that luxury. I need additional strength, not tomorrow, not next week. Now.”

He paused, then spoke more quietly. “And I take full responsibility for this choice.”

The door opened again.

A woman stepped inside with confidence so subtle it was almost silent. Her hair was neatly arranged, her gaze sharp yet warm. She carried no folders, no escort.

Potlord stood.

“Allow me to introduce,” he said, his tone shifting, becoming personal. “This is Snow.”

Potlord and Snow met eyes for a moment, too long to be purely formal, too brief to be careless.

“From today onward,” Potlord continued, “CROCUS will not be led by me alone. Snow will stand beside me.”

Several officials exchanged glances.

“Snow is no ordinary leader,” Potlord said. “She led BOOM through times most would not have survived. Their achievements are not rumors. They are real.”

Snow stepped forward.

“I’m not here to take anything from you,” she said, her voice calm and clear. “I’m here because I believe CROCUS can be stronger if we stop moving alone.”

Her gaze traveled around the table. Not challenging. Not submissive.

“BOOM brings discipline. CROCUS brings structure. If you allow the space, I will work for this name, not replace it.”

Silence followed. Then one pair of hands began to clap. Another joined. Until the room was filled with applause, restrained, but accepting.

Potlord sat back down, a faint smile forming.

That night, CROCUS accepted its new leader.

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