The cityscape unfolds beneath a rising sun as Shiro Arcadia steps out of the car, the faint hint of the previous night's events still lingering on his face. His eyes scan the horizon—a beautiful city, clean and thriving, almost too perfect. He walks with purpose toward Arcadia Industries, his mind half-focused on the day ahead, and half-drifting back to the eerie confrontation with Ronen.
As Shiro enters the towering building, employees respectfully nod as he passes by, but he barely notices them. His thoughts are consumed with something else.
Meanwhile, across town…
Fenir stands in her lavish apartment, gazing out through floor-to-ceiling windows. The sprawling view of the city feels distant, disconnected. Her mind isn't here; it's back at the meeting with Shiro Arcadia. Despite his polite demeanor, something about him unnerved her—the way his eyes glowed in that sleek, cold room. A man with that much power didn't just make investments on a whim. He had plans.
She shakes off the feeling and reaches for her phone, typing out a text: We need to talk.
Cut to:
Shiro sits in his office, casually flipping through some documents. His mind wanders for a moment, a flashback to Ronen's sword slicing the air. That fight—if you could even call it that—was a warning, nothing more. But Ronen wouldn't stop there. He was planning something much bigger, something Shiro needed to be ready for.
His phone buzzes. It's a text from Fenir. He smirks, already guessing what she wants to discuss. Before he can respond, his office door opens. Hank enters, holding a folder with a grave expression on his face.
"Sir, we've received word from our contacts," Hank says, placing the folder on the desk. "It's about Ronen. He's been moving assets in the black market, acquiring weapons and building alliances."
Shiro's smirk vanishes. He picks up the folder and flips through the documents, his expression hardening. The pieces were starting to come together. Ronen was getting desperate, but he wasn't foolish. If he was moving this aggressively, there was something far more dangerous waiting on the horizon.
"Call the council," Shiro orders, his voice cold and steady. "We need to prepare for what's coming."
Hank nods, leaving the room without another word.
Later that evening…
Shiro stands on the balcony of his penthouse, staring out at the city. His mind is already three steps ahead, calculating the moves he needs to make. The war Ronen seeks won't just be fought in the shadows; it'll spill into the streets, into the lives of everyone in this city.
The wind picks up, and for a moment, Shiro closes his eyes. When he opens them, the gleam of his blue irises reflects the city lights below.
"Let's see if you're ready for this, Ronen.