The Fire and the Storm

Hainan’s humid night air hung heavy as the team gathered in the shadowy corners of a centuries-old tea house nestled away from the city’s gleaming towers. Inside, the dim glow of paper lanterns cast flickering shadows over a wooden table. Zhang Wei sat at its center, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group like a predator assessing prey.

“You’ve come to the right man,” Zhang began, his voice smooth but edged with bitterness. “If you want to dismantle the Syndicate’s financial network, you’ll need me. Nobody knows their system better.”

Clarissa leaned forward, her piercing eyes locking onto his. “Why would you help us? What’s your angle?”

Zhang’s lips curved into a humorless smile. “You don’t mince words. Good. My angle is simple: revenge. The Syndicate gutted my business and drove my family into exile. I’m not asking for your trust—just the chance to destroy them.”