Sometimes the most dangerous battlefield in the world…
is not a war zone.
It is a room full of powerful people watching you.
And today—
Elara Hart was about to walk into one.
---
Morning sunlight spilled across the snowy skyline of Zurich.
The International Economic Summit had already begun.
Inside the massive glass convention hall, the most powerful figures in finance, politics, and technology gathered under one roof.
CEOs.
Billionaires.
Government leaders.
Economists.
And today—
Two names dominated every conversation.
Ares Valentino.
Elara Hart.
Outside the venue, hundreds of reporters crowded behind security barriers.
Cameras flashed endlessly.
"Is Elara Hart really coming?"
"Will Ares Valentino appear?"
"Is Project Helios real?"
No one had answers.
Yet.
---
Inside the VIP control room, Damien Volkov watched the global broadcast screens.
Every news channel was covering the summit.
Exactly as he planned.
Rayan stood beside him.
"You're enjoying this too much."
Volkov smiled faintly.
"Power is not about force."
He sipped his coffee calmly.
"It's about anticipation."
Rayan crossed his arms.
"You think she'll walk through that door."
Volkov didn't hesitate.
"She will."
---
Meanwhile—
A black armored car stopped outside the summit building.
Security guards immediately surrounded it.
Reporters rushed forward.
Cameras exploded in flashes.
The door opened.
First—
Marcus stepped out.
Already stressed.
"Oh great," he muttered.
"A thousand cameras. Fantastic."
Then Luca appeared.
Scanning the area like a predator.
The reporters shouted.
"Is Elara Hart inside?!"
"Marcus! Is Project Helios real?!"
But the crowd suddenly went silent.
Because the final door opened.
And Ares Valentino stepped out.
Tall.
Cold.
Immovable.
His presence alone made the crowd step back.
Reporters shouted louder.
"Ares! Is Volkov threatening you?"
"Is this economic warfare?"
But Ares ignored every question.
Because someone else stepped out of the car.
Elara.
The cameras went wild.
The woman the world was now obsessed with had arrived.
And she looked completely calm.
---
Inside the summit hall, whispers spread instantly.
"She came."
"That's Elara Hart."
"Is she really the Helios subject?"
Hundreds of eyes turned toward the entrance.
And then—
The doors opened.
Ares and Elara walked in together.
Every conversation stopped.
Some people stared with curiosity.
Others with fear.
But a few—
With calculation.
Among them—
Damien Volkov.
From the balcony above, he watched her enter.
And for the first time in years…
He looked genuinely intrigued.
"So," he whispered softly.
"You accepted my invitation."
---
Elara felt it immediately.
The weight of attention.
Every person in the room analyzing her.
Measuring her.
Trying to understand the mystery surrounding her.
Marcus leaned toward Ares.
"This room is filled with sharks."
Ares replied quietly.
"Then let them swim."
Because he knew something they didn't.
Elara was not prey.
---
The summit moderator stepped onto the stage.
A famous global economist.
He adjusted his microphone nervously.
"Ladies and gentlemen… we have an unexpected guest today."
The room chuckled slightly.
He continued.
"Miss Elara Hart."
More whispers.
"Recently connected to the Helios research project."
The giant screens behind him lit up.
Showing her name.
Her face.
Her connection to Ares Valentino.
And the world-changing predictions linked to Helios.
The moderator hesitated.
Then asked the question everyone wanted answered.
"Miss Hart…"
"Are you truly capable of predicting global economic events?"
The entire hall fell silent.
Hundreds of people waiting for one answer.
Elara walked slowly toward the stage.
Ares watched carefully.
Marcus whispered.
"This is insane."
But Elara didn't look nervous.
She reached the microphone calmly.
And looked at