At six in the morning, Claire stood before her apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows, watching Manhattan's skyline brighten. She was already dressed in an impeccably tailored navy business suit, prepared for the important meeting ahead.
The symbol on her wrist glowed faintly in the morning light, reminding her that last night's adventure wasn't a dream. She gently touched the two jade tokens at her chest, feeling the energy flowing within them.
"Ready?" James's voice came from behind. He sat at her dining table with a steaming cup of tea. Since last night's operation, he had insisted on ensuring her safety.
"I'm not sure," Claire turned, unconsciously adjusting her suit collar. "The meeting with Ms. Zhang... I don't even know where to begin."
"Just treat it like any other meeting," James said, handing her a cup of tea. "Remember, you're not just an Awakened, you're also an excellent headhunter. Use your professional skills."
Claire accepted the tea, feeling its warmth seep into her palms. "That boy from yesterday..."
"Dr. Chen is taking care of him." James's expression turned serious. "That symbol was indeed remarkable. Dr. Chen says he's never seen two marks so similar."
Before Claire could ask more, her phone rang. It was David.
"Good morning, Claire." David's voice sounded tired. "The board just finished an emergency meeting. They're... very interested in your report."
Claire raised an eyebrow. The report she had stayed up late writing last night had focused on analyzing Turner Tech's management structure and potential issues. Of course, she now knew those "potential issues" were closely tied to the world of the Awakened.
"Ms. Zhang scheduled a meeting for ten this morning," she said. "I'll give you a complete update."
Hanging up, she looked at James. "What do you think Turner Tech really wants? A tech company controlled by Awakened..."
"That's exactly what we need you to find out," Lucas's voice suddenly rang out. He had somehow appeared in her living room, impeccable as ever in his suit. "The Council is very interested in this."
Claire narrowed her eyes. "So that's why you want me to continue with this project? I'm your spy?"
"No," James said immediately. "You're an Awakened, but also a professional. You have a unique perspective to understand both worlds."
Lucas settled elegantly onto the sofa. "Besides, my dear, aren't you curious why you, specifically, were drawn into all this?"
Claire felt the jade token warm slightly. Yes, it was all too coincidental - her awakening, Turner Tech's plans, the boy with the identical symbol...
"Fine," she took a deep breath. "How should I approach this meeting?"
"Just be yourself," James said. "But be careful. The world of the Awakened is dangerous, especially when business and power intertwine."
"I'll be watching from the shadows," Lucas added with a mysterious smile. "After all, the Council is quite interested in Turner Tech's true intentions."
Claire checked the time - time to leave. She did a final equipment check: phone, tablet, folders, and... she touched the jade tokens at her chest. These had become essential items now too.
"Remember," James said as she prepared to leave. "If anything seems wrong, break the token immediately."
She nodded and stepped into the elevator. The mirrored walls reflected her image: beneath her polished professional appearance lurked a newly Awakened being. A perfect fusion of two identities.
Turner Tech's headquarters towered in central Manhattan, its glass walls glinting coldly in the sunlight. As soon as Claire entered the lobby, she felt the difference - energy flows here had a unique rhythm, as if carefully guided by some force.
"Ms. Lin," an elegant middle-aged woman approached. "Ms. Zhang is waiting. Please follow me."
The elevator went straight to the top floor. As they ascended, Claire felt the energy field's intensity increasing. When the doors opened, she was almost overwhelmed by the wave of energy that hit her.
Ms. Zhang's office occupied a corner of the top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides overlooking the city. As Claire entered, a woman in a grey suit stood by the window.
"Welcome, Ms. Lin," Ms. Zhang turned, revealing a meaningful smile. "Or should I say, welcome to the world of the Awakened?"
Claire maintained her professional composure. "It seems we have much to discuss, Ms. Zhang."
"Please, call me Meiling." Ms. Zhang gestured for her to sit. "After all, we'll soon become... very close partners."
As she spoke, the energy flows in the room suddenly became more active. Claire could feel a powerful force slowly awakening.
"What do you want?" she asked directly.
"A better world," Meiling smiled. "A world where Awakened and ordinary people can coexist harmoniously. And it all needs to start in the business sector."
She pressed a button on her desk, and screens on the wall lit up, displaying complex charts and data.
"Turner Tech isn't just a technology company," she explained. "We're researching how to combine Awakened abilities with modern technology. Imagine if we could let ordinary people sense the existence of energy flows..."
Claire's heart rate quickened. The concept was bold, almost challenging the boundaries between the two worlds.
"Does the Council allow this?" she asked cautiously.
Meiling's smile took on a sharp edge. "The Council... they're too conservative. Times are changing, and we need to change with them. That's why we need you, Claire Lin. You stand at the intersection of both worlds, you can see more possibilities."
Just then, Claire felt a familiar energy fluctuation. Lucas was nearby, obviously monitoring this conversation closely.
"Your proposal is interesting," she said, fingers unconsciously brushing the symbol on her wrist. "But I need to know more details."
"Of course," Meiling walked toward a safe. "Let me show you something. These documents..."
Her words suddenly stopped. Claire felt a powerful energy surge from the bottom of the building. Alarms immediately started blaring.
"It seems some people couldn't wait," Meiling sighed. "The Shadow Organization is always so impatient."
Claire stood up, instinctively releasing smoke for protection. She now understood that this meeting had never been just a business negotiation from the start.
"What do they want?" she asked, quietly placing her hand on the jade token.
"The same thing we do," Meiling said, her hands beginning to emit a faint blue glow. "Just through different means. Ready to witness real corporate warfare, Ms. Lin?"
Claire took a deep breath. It seemed her career was about to take an unprecedented turn.
And this time, she would need to utilize both her Awakened powers and her professional wisdom.
The building shook violently, and the glass windows made ominous cracking sounds. Claire could feel multiple powerful energy streams conflicting, nearly tearing apart the building's energy field.
"We need to leave," she said, her professional instincts immediately assessing escape routes.
Meiling remained calm. "Don't worry, the building's defense system is already activated. Turner Tech's headquarters isn't an ordinary office building." As she spoke, her fingers moved swiftly across her desk. The energy flow throughout the floor immediately shifted, forming a stable shield.
"So this is your research result?" Claire watched in amazement at the perfect fusion of energy and technology.
"Just a part of it," Meiling smiled. "The combination of modern technology and ancient power is far more natural than most people imagine. But now, we have more urgent matters to handle."
She opened a display screen showing real-time surveillance of various locations in the building. The Shadow Organization's people had already breached one defense line and were moving upward.
"They want the experimental data," Meiling explained. "Especially the research on energy conversion."
Claire was about to speak when she felt a strong premonition. She instinctively lunged toward Meiling while releasing a smoke barrier. The next second, the office windows shattered as a dark figure leaped in from outside.
"Nice reaction," came a familiar voice. It was the grey-clad man from the warehouse last night. "But this time, I'm not alone."
As he spoke, several more figures appeared at the broken windows. Claire noticed they all wore some kind of special device that seemed to allow them to move freely at high altitude.
"The fusion of technology and power," the grey-clad man said mockingly. "Seems Turner Tech isn't the only one researching this."
Meiling straightened, her aura completely transforming. The gentle business executive vanished, replaced by a powerful Awakened. "You really think you can cause trouble in my territory?"
The energy fluctuations suddenly turned violent. Claire watched as Meiling formed hand seals, and all the energy flows in the floor responded to her call. Electronic devices throughout the office activated, creating a strange resonance with the energy flows.
"This is exactly what we're looking for," the grey-clad man said. "Technology that can control and amplify energy flows."
Claire realized the situation was far more complex than she had imagined. This wasn't just a conflict between two organizations, but concerned the future direction of the entire Awakened world.
Just then, her jade token suddenly burned hot. Almost simultaneously, another wall of the office exploded. James and Lucas emerged from the dust cloud.
"Perfect timing," Meiling said, her tone tinged with resignation. "Looks like this company meeting is about to turn into an all-out brawl."
Claire took a deep breath, letting smoke swirl around her. It was time to prove she could handle herself not just in boardrooms, but in situations like this as well.
After all, whether in business warfare or supernatural battles, it was all about balance and application of power. And that was exactly her expertise.
The battle was about to begin.