Shadows That Remain
The Apex Circle had been dismantled, its leaders imprisoned or dead, and its infrastructure reduced to ruins. But despite the victory, Jiang Han knew that the battle for Seladang City was far from over. The anonymous transmission from a hidden figure, warning of unseen architects, lingered in his mind.
Power never disappeared—it only shifted hands.
In the days following the Apex Circle's fall, the city had erupted in protests, demanding justice for years of manipulation and corruption. The Aegis Sentinel Corps worked tirelessly to stabilise the situation, but Jiang knew they were only holding back the inevitable storm. The deeper war—the one fought in shadows—was beginning.
---
The command centre was a hive of activity as intelligence reports flooded in. With the Apex Circle's infrastructure shattered, Seladang City's criminal underworld had entered a volatile phase. The power vacuum left in the Circle's absence was drawing in opportunists, each vying for control.
Adrian Yong stood before the digital map, highlighting key conflict zones. "We're seeing factions emerge in the wake of the Circle's downfall. Some are remnants of their old operations, while others are new players trying to seize control."
Sophia Liew, scanning through a series of encrypted messages, added, "It's not just the underworld. Certain political and corporate figures are trying to sweep their connections under the rug while consolidating their influence. The ones who weren't directly exposed are moving carefully, waiting to see how this plays out."
Mikhail Darmawan leaned against the table, his expression sharp. "They're waiting for us to make a mistake. If we don't act fast, they'll rebuild something just as bad as the Circle."
Colonel Yusof, ever the strategist, spoke next. "Then we act preemptively. The moment they show their hands, we move to intercept."
Jiang nodded. "We're not just cleaning up what the Circle left behind—we're making sure nothing like it ever rises again."
---
As the Corps worked to contain the growing unrest, Sophia intercepted another encrypted message. Unlike the first, this one wasn't a warning—it was an invitation.
"You're hunting ghosts, Jiang Han. But ghosts leave echoes. If you want answers, come to the Grand Orchid Hotel. Midnight."
Adrian read the message aloud, his expression unreadable. "It's a trap."
"Obviously," Mikhail muttered. "But we don't have a choice, do we?"
Jiang studied the message carefully. Whoever had sent it wasn't acting out of fear—they wanted to be found. "We go," he said finally. "But on our terms. Adrian, Mikhail, you're with me. Sophia, I want eyes on everything."
---
At precisely midnight, Jiang, Adrian, and Mikhail arrived at the Grand Orchid Hotel, an upscale venue known for hosting Seladang's elite. The lobby was near empty, save for a few night staff who barely spared them a glance.
Sophia's voice crackled in Jiang's earpiece. "I've got your surveillance feed. No obvious threats, but I don't like this."
Neither did Jiang.
They followed the instructions in the message, ascending to the top floor, where a private lounge overlooked the city skyline. Inside, a single figure awaited them.
A woman, elegantly dressed in a midnight blue suit, sat in an armchair, sipping a glass of wine. She was calm, composed, and entirely unbothered by their presence.
"Jiang Han," she greeted, her voice smooth and knowing. "I was wondering when we'd finally meet."
Jiang remained standing. "You have me at a disadvantage."
She smiled. "I do. But I don't intend to keep it that way."
Adrian's posture remained tense. "Who are you?"
She set her glass down and folded her hands. "My name is Celeste Moreau. And I represent the Architects."
---
The name sent a ripple of tension through the room.
Mikhail narrowed his eyes. "Never heard of them."
Celeste's smile didn't waver. "That's the point."
Jiang remained impassive. "You said we're hunting ghosts. I assume you're offering us something."
Celeste leaned forward slightly. "The Apex Circle was only one piece of a much larger game. You think you've won, but all you've done is remove an obstacle. The true powers that shape this city—shape the world—are still untouched."
Adrian scoffed. "You sound like a conspiracy theorist."
Celeste chuckled. "And yet here you are, listening." She glanced at Jiang. "You know the truth, don't you? The Circle was never truly at the top. There were always forces above them, watching, guiding. The ones who let them fall."
Jiang's silence was answer enough.
Mikhail exhaled slowly. "So what do you want?"
Celeste's gaze sharpened. "To offer a choice. Walk away now, let Seladang rebuild itself with the pieces that remain, and the Architects will leave you alone. Or… step into the unknown. Keep digging, and you'll find out just how deep this goes."
Jiang's voice was calm. "And if we refuse?"
Celeste took another sip of wine, her expression unreadable. "Then you'll make very powerful enemies."
The room fell silent, tension thickening the air.
Jiang finally spoke. "We don't walk away from unfinished fights."
Celeste studied him for a moment, then smiled. "I thought you might say that." She stood, smoothing her suit. "Then I suppose we'll see each other again."
She walked past them, pausing briefly beside Jiang. "A piece of advice: power is never truly destroyed. It simply waits for someone strong enough to claim it."
Then she was gone.
---
Back at headquarters, the meeting weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
Sophia had been silent since they returned, her fingers flying over her keyboard as she tried to uncover anything about Celeste Moreau or the Architects. Finally, she looked up. "Nothing. No records, no digital footprint. She's a ghost."
Adrian sighed. "Which means she was telling the truth."
Mikhail shook his head. "So what do we do? We just spent months dismantling the Circle, and now we're supposed to chase something even bigger?"
Jiang's voice was steady. "We do what we've always done. We fight."
He turned to his team. "The Architects think they can intimidate us into backing down. But we've already proven that no one is untouchable. If they believe they control this city from the shadows, we'll drag them into the light."
Mikhail smirked. "You know, I was almost looking forward to retirement."
Adrian chuckled. "You'd be terrible at it."
Sophia crossed her arms. "So where do we start?"
Jiang's gaze darkened. "With the ones still pulling the strings."
The battle for Seladang City had been won, but the war for its soul was far from over.
And the Aegis Sentinel Corps was ready.
To be continued…