Several kilometers away, in the top floor office of a luxury hotel overlooking the Arabian Sea, a man stood quietly beside a glass wall.
The city stretched endlessly beneath him.
Thousands of lights glowing across the night.
Ships moving slowly across the dark ocean horizon.
The man watched it all silently.
His name was Fu Liang.
And most people who knew him believed he was simply a wealthy Chinese investor involved in international shipping.
That belief was convenient.
Because the truth was far more complicated.
Fu Liang turned away from the window and walked slowly toward the center of the room.
The office was elegantly decorated—dark wood furniture, expensive artwork, and a long conference table made from polished black marble.
A single laptop rested on the table.
The screen displayed a photograph.
A young woman walking into an apartment building.
Nadia.
Fu Liang studied the image carefully.
His expression remained calm, almost thoughtful.
Behind him one of his assistants spoke quietly.
"Our men confirmed it. She visited Orion Strategic Consulting this morning."
Fu Liang nodded slightly.
"And?"
"She spoke with Varma."
The room grew silent.
Fu Liang's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That is… interesting."
The assistant hesitated.
"Should we intervene?"
Fu Liang walked slowly toward the table.
He closed the laptop gently.
"No."
"Sir?"
Fu Liang sat down in one of the chairs.
"Let us observe first."
"But if she discovers something—"
Fu Liang raised a hand.
The assistant fell silent immediately.
For several seconds Fu Liang simply sat there thinking.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Do you know why people who search for the truth are useful?"
The assistant looked confused.
"No, sir."
Fu Liang smiled faintly.
"Because they often uncover secrets for you."
Understanding slowly appeared on the assistant's face.
"You believe she might lead us to something?"
Fu Liang nodded.
"Yes."
He stood up again and walked toward the window.
"Ten years ago several loose ends were left behind after the port incident."
His reflection stared back at him in the glass.
"Some of those loose ends may still exist."
The assistant spoke carefully.
"And Varma?"
Fu Liang's smile faded slightly.
"Varma is… unpredictable."
He tapped the window lightly with one finger.
"But even he cannot control everything."
The assistant looked toward the laptop again.
"So what should we do about the girl?"
Fu Liang's gaze returned to the ocean horizon.
"Watch her."
"Nothing more?"
"For now."
He paused.
Then added quietly,
"But if she discovers something she should not…"
The unfinished sentence hung in the air.
The assistant nodded.
"I understand."
Fu Liang watched the distant ships moving slowly across the sea.
Ten years ago a small explosion at a port had nearly disrupted something very important.
A plan that had taken years to build.
But the incident had been contained.
The truth had been buried.
And everyone involved had moved on.
Or so he believed.
Now a single young woman had begun asking questions again.
Fu Liang smiled slightly.
"Let us see how far your curiosity takes you, Miss Nadia."
Because curiosity…
Had a way of leading people into very dangerous places.