Lin Feng leaned back in the executive chair of his new Apex Council office, a sleek glass-paneled hub nestled deep within Huating's central innovation district. From this altitude, the city sprawled beneath him like a slow, breathing creature—one he was learning to tame, but never trust.
Across from him sat Jian Xianyu, her arms crossed, eyes intense.
"The press conference was a hit," she said. "Momentum's on our side—for now."
Lin nodded. "For now. Zixuan's too quiet. I doubt he's nursing wounds."
She hesitated, then spoke bluntly, "You think he'll use the media?"
Lin turned back toward the window. "He has to. His traditional levers aren't working. He needs to redefine the narrative."
And that was the danger. In a world increasingly ruled by headlines, truth didn't matter—only the loudest echo.
---
By mid-morning, his prediction bore fruit.
A coordinated series of articles erupted across several news platforms. Headlines read:
