The corridor outside the lounge was empty.
Alex walked slowly beside Adrian.
Neither of them spoke at first.
The quiet inside the estate felt heavier now.
Like the building itself knew something had shifted.
Alex finally broke the silence.
"So."
Adrian glanced at him.
"So what?"
Alex shoved his hands in his pockets.
"That was Victor's opening move."
"Yes."
"And he thinks he's winning."
"Yes."
Alex nodded slowly.
"That's interesting."
Adrian stopped walking.
Alex took another step before realizing and turning back.
"You have that look again," Alex said.
Adrian's expression stayed calm.
"What look?"
"The one where you're about to do something dangerous."
Adrian didn't deny it.
Alex sighed.
"I knew it."
Adrian looked down the hallway.
"Elena."
She appeared from around the corner almost immediately.
Like she had been waiting.
"Status?" Adrian asked.
Elena handed him her tablet.
"Two more companies are reconsidering their agreements."
Alex whistled quietly.
"Victor's working fast."
"Yes," Elena said.
Adrian studied the screen.
"How long before the news spreads?"
"An hour," Elena answered.
Alex leaned against the wall.
"That's bad."
Adrian handed the tablet back.
"Prepare the statement."
Elena nodded.
"I'll handle it."
She left quickly.
Alex watched her go.
"That woman moves like a spy."
"Yes."
Alex looked back at Adrian.
"So what's your move?"
Adrian walked toward the staircase.
"Come with me."
Alex followed.
"Where are we going?"
"Control room."
Alex blinked.
"This place has a control room?"
"Yes."
They reached a secure door at the end of the hall.
Adrian entered a code.
The door opened.
Inside, several large screens covered the wall.
Graphs.
Financial markets.
Shipping routes.
Contract networks.
Alex stared.
"This looks like NASA."
Adrian stepped inside.
"This is where we monitor the company."
Alex walked toward the screens.
One graph was already dropping.
Red numbers moved across the display.
"That's Victor's work," Alex said.
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his chin.
"So he hits your contracts…"
"Yes."
"…then spreads rumors…"
"Yes."
Alex turned.
"And tonight is the big move."
Adrian nodded once.
Alex sighed.
"That man really enjoys drama."
Adrian typed something on the control panel.
The screens changed.
New data appeared.
Alex leaned closer.
"What's that?"
Adrian spoke calmly.
"Our leverage."
Alex frowned.
"Leverage against Victor?"
"Yes."
Alex studied the screen.
A list of companies appeared.
Ports.
Energy routes.
Shipping alliances.
Alex looked back at Adrian.
"You're planning a counterattack."
"Yes."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Finally."
Adrian glanced at him.
"You enjoy this."
Alex shrugged.
"I enjoy watching arrogant people lose."
Adrian's phone vibrated.
He checked the message.
Then he looked at Elena's screen feed.
"Elena confirmed the press statement."
Alex crossed his arms.
"What does it say?"
Adrian answered simply.
"That Laurent International is acquiring two new logistics networks."
Alex blinked.
"That's… big."
"Yes."
Alex looked back at the red market graph.
"That will reverse the pressure."
"Yes."
Alex shook his head slowly.
"You're insane."
Adrian didn't respond.
Alex walked closer to another screen.
Satellite images showed cargo ports along the coast.
"So you're taking his strategy…"
"Yes."
"…and flipping it."
"Yes."
Alex laughed quietly.
"You're terrifying."
Adrian continued typing.
The system processed the update.
Alex leaned against the console.
"You know something?"
Adrian waited.
"You and Victor are very similar."
Adrian glanced at him.
"How?"
"You both plan wars years in advance."
Adrian returned his attention to the screen.
"Yes."
Alex sighed.
"That sounds exhausting."
Before Adrian could answer, the door opened.
Elena entered quickly.
"The statement just went public."
Alex turned toward the main screen.
Numbers moved.
The red graph slowed.
Then shifted slightly upward.
Alex smiled.
"There it is."
Elena nodded.
"Market response is stabilizing."
Adrian watched the screen quietly.
Alex leaned back.
"So Victor's move failed."
Elena shook her head.
"Not yet."
Alex frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Elena looked at Adrian.
"He still has the final piece."
Alex crossed his arms.
"Tonight."
"Yes."
Alex sighed.
"I really hate suspense."
The control room door opened again.
A security guard stepped inside.
"Mr. Laurent."
Adrian looked at him.
"Yes."
"Victor Moreau has left the estate."
Alex blinked.
"That's fast."
The guard continued.
"He requested a private helicopter."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"Destination?"
"We're tracking it now."
Alex looked at the screens.
"That seems suspicious."
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
The guard stepped aside.
Another security officer rushed in.
His voice was urgent.
"We have confirmation."
Adrian turned.
"Where is he going?"
The officer hesitated.
Then he said,
"Port Meridian."
The room went still.
Alex looked at Adrian.
"That's one of your biggest shipping hubs."
"Yes."
Elena spoke quietly.
"He's moving early."
Alex frowned.
"Moving what?"
Adrian's voice turned colder.
"Cargo."
Alex blinked.
"What kind of cargo?"
Adrian looked at the port map on the screen.
His expression changed slightly.
Alex had seen that look before.
Danger.
"He's planning a blockade," Adrian said.
Elena nodded.
"If he shuts down Meridian tonight…"
Alex finished the sentence.
"Your entire shipping corridor collapses."
The silence in the room deepened.
Alex looked at the screen again.
"That's not business."
Adrian's voice stayed calm.
"No."
Alex exhaled slowly.
"That's war."
Adrian turned toward Elena.
"Prepare the transport."
Elena nodded immediately.
"Yes."
Alex looked at him.
"Wait."
Adrian met his eyes.
"We're going to Meridian."
Alex blinked.
"We?"
"Yes."
Alex rubbed his face.
"You realize this is insane."
"Yes."
Alex looked at the port map again.
Victor Moreau was already flying there.
Preparing the strike.
And Adrian Laurent was about to meet him again.
Alex sighed.
"Well."
Adrian waited.
Alex grabbed his jacket.
"I guess I'm coming."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You don't have to."
Alex smiled faintly.
"I know."
Then he added,
"But someone has to keep this interesting."
Elena shook her head slightly.
"You're both impossible."
Alex looked at the screen one last time.
Port Meridian flashed red on the map.
Victor's trap.
Adrian's counter.
And somewhere between them—
A shipping empire about to collide.
Alex turned toward the door.
"Let's go stop a billionaire."
Adrian didn't argue.
Which meant the real battle had just begun.