### Arc 3: The Rise of the Rival
#### Chapter 14: **The Trap is Set**
The early morning haze lifted as Jae-min arrived at the grand opening of his newest business venture, *AstraLux Technologies*. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as guests, media, and investors mingled in the sleek, futuristic lobby. Jae-min's team had outdone themselves, with holographic displays showcasing the company's latest innovations in AI and smart living.
Yeon-hee stood beside him, dressed in a sharp, elegant suit that matched her serious demeanor. "Today's launch is crucial," she said, scanning the room. "Noah's been trying to undermine this project for weeks. If this succeeds, it's a major blow to him."
Ji-ah joined them, holding a tablet with the latest updates. "The media coverage is strong. Elyra has already ensured the key outlets are pushing favorable stories. But keep your guard up. Noah's too quiet. He'll try something."
Jae-min nodded, his gaze sweeping the room. "Let him come. Today, we set the stage for his defeat."
---
As the event unfolded, Jae-min moved effortlessly through the crowd, engaging with investors and addressing reporters with his characteristic charm. Elyra, invisible to others, whispered updates in his ear.
"Keep an eye on the man near the refreshments," she said. "He's with Noah's PR team. Likely here to gather intel."
Jae-min smiled and excused himself from his conversation, making his way toward the refreshments. The man in question stiffened as Jae-min approached, his feigned smile betraying his nervousness.
"Enjoying the event?" Jae-min asked, his tone friendly but laced with subtle authority.
The man stammered, "Y-yes, it's impressive. You've done an excellent job."
"I'm glad to hear that," Jae-min said, his eyes narrowing. "Pass that feedback along to your boss, will you? I'm sure he'd love to know what success looks like."
The man paled and quickly excused himself, disappearing into the crowd.
---
Meanwhile, Soo-min paced anxiously in Noah's office, her frustration mounting. "Jae-min's launch is flawless. If this keeps up, it'll solidify his position in the industry. We need to act now."
Noah leaned back in his chair, a sinister smirk on his face. "Relax, Soo-min. The trap is already in place. Jae-min thinks he's won today, but by tonight, his world will start crumbling."
"What did you do?" Soo-min asked, suspicion and curiosity mixing in her voice.
"You'll see," Noah replied cryptically. "Sometimes, you don't need a hammer to break a foundation. A few well-placed cracks will do the job."
---
As the day turned into evening, the launch event transitioned into a more exclusive gathering. Jae-min, now in the company of Yeon-hee, Ji-ah, and a few key investors, toasted to the day's success.
"To the future of AstraLux," Ji-ah declared, raising her glass.
"To leaving Noah in the dust," Yeon-hee added with a smirk.
Jae-min chuckled. "I'll drink to that."
However, the celebration was short-lived. Elyra appeared, her expression unusually tense. "Jae-min, we have a problem."
"What is it?" he asked, setting his glass down.
"There's been a sudden surge of negative activity online. Anonymous accounts are releasing fabricated documents claiming AstraLux's technology is stolen. They're pushing the narrative hard."
Ji-ah cursed under her breath. "Noah. It has to be him."
Jae-min's jaw tightened. "Can we trace the source?"
"Already working on it," Elyra replied. "But it's spreading fast. If we don't respond quickly, it could damage our reputation."
Yeon-hee stepped forward. "We need a counterattack, and we need it now. Let's expose Noah's involvement."
"Not yet," Jae-min said, his mind racing. "If we act rashly, it could backfire. Let him think he's winning. We'll turn this against him when the time is right."
---
Back at Noah Corporation, Noah reveled in the chaos he'd unleashed. His phone buzzed with updates from his team, each report detailing the growing backlash against AstraLux.
"He won't recover from this," Noah said, raising a glass to himself.
But his celebration was interrupted by a call from one of his trusted allies. "We have a problem," the voice on the other end said.
"What problem?" Noah snapped.
"Jae-min's already countering. He's releasing evidence tying the smear campaign to us."
Noah's grin faltered. "How did he get that so quickly?"
---
Meanwhile, Jae-min sat in his office, Elyra and his team by his side. The holographic screen displayed a live feed of his carefully crafted response.
"Good evening," Jae-min said in the video, his tone calm yet firm. "Recently, false allegations have been made against AstraLux Technologies. Tonight, I'm here to set the record straight."
The video shifted to show concrete evidence of Noah's involvement, including emails and recordings. The tide began to turn as viewers realized the truth.
By the time the video ended, public opinion was firmly on Jae-min's side.
---
As the night wore on, Jae-min stood on the balcony of his penthouse, gazing out at the city. Elyra appeared beside him, her holographic form glowing softly.
"You handled that well," she said.
"It's not over yet," Jae-min replied. "Noah won't stop until one of us is destroyed. But I'll make sure it's him."
Elyra smiled faintly. "And I'll be here to make sure you succeed."
With the city lights below and the stars above, Jae-min's resolve burned brighter than ever. This was just the beginning.