Inside the hotel, the lavish banquet was already in full swing. Tables lined with vibrant dishes of local seafood and delicacies stretched across the hall, the scent of grilled fish and tropical fruits filling the air.
Martin entered the grand ballroom, his eyes scanning the room filled with officials, their secretaries, and trusted aides.
These were people who didn't often attend media events, their faces unfamiliar to the public eye, but they held immense power over the small islands they governed.
Martin shook hands with one leader after another, collecting business cards and memorizing faces.
No one introduced themselves by name, merely by title—Minister of Trade, Secretary of Environmental Affairs, Director of Infrastructure Development.
