The stifling heat of Ho Chi Minh City clung to everything, a reminder of the simmering tensions beneath the surface. The streets bustled with life—bikes weaving through traffic, street vendors calling out their wares, and tourists mingling with locals. But for Bintang and Clarissa, the city was a battlefield, its vibrant exterior concealing the shadowy operations of the Nine Dragons.
The duo had tracked their lead to an office complex near the Saigon River, ostensibly a hub for environmental research but, in reality, a front for Syndicate operations. A corrupt government official, Nguyễn Thanh Quân, managed the façade, ensuring the Syndicate's activities remained under the radar. Quân’s alliances stretched deep, from business magnates to Loy Xing Zhe, the Nine Dragons’ representative in the ASEAN region.
Inside a dimly lit room on the fifth floor, Clarissa leaned over a large map spread across a cluttered desk.