Jiang Han sat at the head of the war room, surrounded by his most trusted allies. The battle against the Architects was no longer about brute force—it was about control. And the best way to dismantle a shadow organisation? Make it collapse from within.
"We plant the idea that one of them has already turned," Jiang said, tapping his fingers against the table. His sharp gaze moved across the room, meeting the eyes of Mikhail Darmawan, Colonel Yusof, Adrian Yong, and Sophia Liew.
Mikhail smirked. "Classic psychological warfare. Make them suspect each other before they suspect us."
Sophia nodded, pulling up the profiles of their three primary suspects—Datuk Khalid Ismail, Roshan Krishnan, and Eddie Wong.
"We need to be subtle," she added. "If we push too hard, they'll shut down and vanish."
Jiang leaned back. "Then we don't push. We let them come to us."
---
Target: Datuk Khalid Ismail – Senior official in the Ministry of Defence, with access to classified government security information.
Colonel Yusof and Mikhail took point on this operation, shadowing Datuk Khalid's movements for the next twenty-four hours. His routine was predictable—meetings with high-ranking officials, discreet lunches with foreign contacts, late-night visits to an exclusive club in Seladang City.
It was during one of these late-night outings that Yusof and Mikhail made their move.
Inside Dahlia Lounge, a high-end private club reserved for government officials and corporate elites, Datuk Khalid sat at his usual corner booth. A bottle of aged whisky sat on the table as he spoke in hushed tones with an unidentified man in a tailored suit.
From across the room, Mikhail observed through the reflection of a polished marble pillar. "Who's our mystery guest?" he murmured into his earpiece.
Sophia's voice came through. "Running facial recognition now."
A few seconds later, her voice sharpened. "That's Tarek Al-Fayed, a former intelligence officer turned private contractor. He has ties to foreign arms deals and corporate espionage."
Colonel Yusof sipped his drink casually. "That means Khalid isn't just leaking information—he's selling it."
Mikhail smirked. "Perfect."
Now, all they had to do was make Khalid believe Tarek was about to betray him.
---
Target: Eddie Wong – Triton Holdings liaison, suspected of handling secret financial transactions for the Architects.
Jiang personally took on Eddie's case. Unlike Khalid, Eddie wasn't a government official—he was a businessman, which meant his loyalty wasn't ideological. It was financial.
So Jiang decided to hit him where it hurt.
Using his connections, he arranged for one of Eddie's shell accounts to be flagged for an audit. Within hours, the media picked up on a "financial irregularity" within Triton Holdings. It was nothing more than a whisper—a rumour designed to spread doubt.
As expected, Eddie's phone started ringing non-stop. He spent the next few hours making frantic calls, trying to cover his tracks.
Adrian, who was monitoring Eddie's office, smirked. "He's sweating."
Jiang watched the security feed, his expression calm. "Now we push him further."
That evening, an anonymous message was delivered to Eddie's personal email.
You have been compromised. Someone inside the Architects is turning against you. Move carefully.
It was enough. Eddie would now start doubting his handlers.
And when the time was right, Jiang would offer him a way out.
---
Target: Roshan Krishnan – Senior analyst at a security think tank, linked to offshore accounts tied to the Architects.
Unlike Khalid and Eddie, Roshan wasn't just selling information—he was actively shaping the Architects' strategy.
Sophia's research uncovered encrypted emails sent between Roshan and an offshore account linked to Celeste Moreau. The messages contained detailed analysis of the Aegis Sentinel Corps' operations, along with recommendations on how to destabilise their counter-surveillance tactics.
"This guy isn't just a mole," Adrian muttered. "He's one of their strategists."
Jiang's eyes darkened. "Then we turn his strategy against him."
Using an AI-generated message, Sophia crafted an intercepted communication—a fake email supposedly from the Architects to Roshan, expressing concerns about his loyalty.
The message was accidentally leaked through a secure channel, ensuring that Roshan would see it.
Within hours, Roshan erased his private files and started contacting his offshore accounts.
Sophia smirked. "He's panicking."
Jiang exhaled slowly. "Good."
The first seeds of paranoia had been planted.
---
Far from Seladang City, in an undisclosed location, Celeste Moreau was watching.
She leaned back in her chair, scrolling through the latest intelligence reports from her network. Something wasn't adding up.
Three of her key informants had suddenly changed their behaviour.
Khalid had cut off all external meetings. Eddie was frantically securing his financial assets. Roshan had purged his entire email history.
Celeste's expression remained calm, but her eyes sharpened.
Jiang Han.
He wasn't just investigating anymore.
He was attacking.
She exhaled, swirling the wine in her glass. "Interesting."
Turning to her masked associate, she murmured, "Send a message to Roshan."
The masked figure nodded. "What should it say?"
Celeste's lips curled into a smirk.
"Let's see how loyal he truly is."
---
Back at Aegis Sentinel Corps headquarters, Jiang sat at his desk, reviewing the real-time intelligence reports.
Everything was falling into place.
Khalid suspected Tarek was betraying him.
Eddie believed someone within the Architects had turned against him.
Roshan was running scared, wondering if he had been marked for elimination.
Now, it was time to tighten the noose.
Jiang turned to Colonel Yusof. "We prepare our next move carefully. Within forty-eight hours, one of them will break."
Mikhail smirked. "And when they do?"
Jiang's expression was cold.
"We make them think switching sides is their only option."
The Architects had built an empire in the shadows.
Now, Jiang Han was going to burn it down from within.
---
The waiting game was always the hardest part.
Jiang Han sat in his office, eyes locked on the digital feed displaying live behavioural analysis of their three targets. The data wasn't just numbers—it was patterns, deviations, fear.
One of them would crack first. It was only a matter of time.
Sophia Liew's voice came through the intercom. "We have movement. Roshan Krishnan just booked a last-minute flight to Bangkok. He's running."
Jiang smirked. "No, he's trying to run."
Colonel Yusof entered the room, already aware of the situation. "Do we intercept him at the airport?"
Jiang shook his head. "No. We let him think he's escaping. Then we remind him that there's nowhere left to run."
---
At Seladang International Airport, Roshan Krishnan moved quickly through the departure hall, a single carry-on bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes darted around nervously, sweat forming on his brow.
He had seen the message from the Architects. A test of loyalty. A veiled threat.
They think I've turned.
His heartbeat pounded.
Just as he neared the immigration checkpoint, his phone buzzed.
A blocked number.
Roshan hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"
A familiar voice spoke calmly.
"Going somewhere, Roshan?"
The blood drained from his face.
"J-Jiang Han…"
Jiang's voice remained steady. "The Architects won't protect you. But I will. If you talk."
Roshan swallowed hard. His escape plan was over before it began.
The trap had closed.