### **Arc 3: The Rise of the Rival**
#### **Chapter 9: Striking the First Blow**
The city lights of Seoul glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Jae-min's penthouse as he reviewed Elyra's report on Noah's latest moves. She stood beside him, her holographic figure flickering faintly, her expression one of grim determination.
"Noah's team has already reached out to several media outlets," Elyra began, scrolling through a list of intercepted communications. "They're planning to release a fabricated story about embezzlement in your past ventures. If this gains traction, it could tarnish your reputation permanently."
Jae-min rubbed his temples. "Typical Noah. He's trying to corner me into a defensive position."
"That's not all," Elyra continued, her voice sharpening. "I've identified a mole in your company. Someone's feeding him internal data."
Jae-min's eyes narrowed. "Do you have a name?"
Elyra nodded, pulling up a detailed employee profile. "It's a junior analyst in your financial department—Jung Min-seok. His communications align with Noah's leaks. He's been bought off."
Jae-min stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Get legal on standby. We're going to make an example of him."
Elyra raised a hand, her tone calm but insistent. "Before we act, we need to turn this situation to our advantage. Publicly firing him could make you look unstable. But if we handle this discreetly, we can spin it in our favor."
Jae-min leaned back against his desk, considering her words. "You're right. This isn't just about retaliation—it's about strategy."
---
At the same time, Ji-ah sat at her desk in her dimly lit apartment, scrolling through the leaked documents Noah had "anonymously" sent her. The allegations against Jae-min were damning on the surface, but her investigative instincts told her something was off.
The numbers didn't add up. The transactions were too clean, too perfectly timed to coincide with Jae-min's major deals. It felt fabricated.
Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Jae-min:
**"We need to talk. Now."**
Ji-ah hesitated for a moment before grabbing her coat.
---
In a quiet café far from the public eye, Ji-ah met Jae-min. He looked as calm and collected as ever, but the slight tension in his jaw gave away his frustration.
"You've seen the leaks," Jae-min said without preamble as Ji-ah sat down.
"I have," she replied, her tone neutral. "And I'm not convinced they're real."
Jae-min's eyebrow lifted slightly. "You're smarter than most journalists."
Ji-ah smirked. "Flattery won't get you anywhere. What's your angle?"
"My angle is the truth," Jae-min said firmly. "Noah's playing dirty, and he's using you as a pawn. But if you're willing to dig deeper, I'll give you access to the real story."
Ji-ah crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. "And why should I trust you? You're just as ruthless as he is."
"Because I'm not lying," Jae-min replied, his gaze steady. "And deep down, you know it."
Ji-ah stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. But if I find even a hint of dishonesty, I'll bury you."
---
Later that night, Jae-min convened a private meeting with his inner circle, including his trusted executives and a few of his closest allies. The mood was tense, but Jae-min exuded an air of calm control.
"We're going to counter Noah's smear campaign with hard facts," he began, addressing the room. "Elyra has already identified the mole. We'll quietly remove him from his position and use the evidence of his betrayal to discredit Noah's claims."
"What about the media?" one of his executives asked.
"We'll get ahead of the story," Jae-min replied. "I've already arranged for Ji-ah to have exclusive access to the truth. She's skeptical, but she's a professional. Once she verifies the facts, her report will carry more weight than Noah's lies."
"And if Noah escalates?" another voice asked.
Jae-min's lips curved into a smirk. "Then we escalate too. But for now, let's make the first move."
---
The chapter ends with Ji-ah returning to her apartment, her mind racing with thoughts of her meeting with Jae-min. She sat down at her desk, determination flashing in her eyes as she began piecing together the puzzle.
Meanwhile, Jae-min stood on the balcony of his penthouse, gazing out at the city. Elyra appeared beside him, her expression softening.
"You're taking a big risk trusting Ji-ah," she said.
"Sometimes, you have to gamble to win," Jae-min replied, his tone confident.
Elyra smiled faintly. "Let's hope it pays off."
In the shadows of another high-rise, Noah stood in his office, a glass of wine in hand. His eyes gleamed with malice as he stared at the skyline.
"Let's see how long you can keep up, Jae-min," he muttered.
The battle was only just beginning.