The auditorium brimmed with excitement as reporters, photographers, and tech enthusiasts filled the seats. Banners of the new game company fluttered gently overhead, with the *Eonmatrix* logo glowing on the massive screen behind the podium. Jianyu stood confidently before the crowd, dressed in a crisp charcoal-gray suit. His expression was calm yet assertive.
"Thank you all for coming," he began. "Today marks the beginning of a revolutionary chapter in the gaming industry. Our game, *X_Heroes*, has surpassed expectations, and we're proud to announce the formation of our official company: *Nextech Dynamics*."
Flashbulbs burst across the room.
Jianyu continued, "I stand before you today not only as the CEO but also as someone who has personally witnessed this dream's evolution. However, I only hold a 30 percent share in this venture. The chairman, the true architect behind this empire, has chosen to remain anonymous for now."
Gasps rippled across the room, and the mystery only deepened the buzz.
---
Back at Scentra's main office, Elara was in her element. She handed a list of cities to her mother's assistant, a sharp and capable woman named Lin Yue.
"I want to start expansion immediately," Elara said, her tone businesslike. "Scout premium storefronts in five major cities. Look for pedestrian-heavy locations. We need high visibility."
"Yes, Miss Elara," Lin Yue said with a nod, already opening her tablet to start the search.
After hours of planning, scheduling, and reviewing scent blends, Elara finally returned home. The sky was tinged in the soft blush of evening, and the scent of freshly cut grass hung in the air.
"Let's go for a drive," Mae suggested, her voice warm and hopeful. "Just the three of us. We've all been working too hard."
Elara smiled. "Let's take your new car."
Jianyu's eyes sparkled. "You two go on ahead, I'll grab my camera. This deserves a memory."
The family piled into the sleek, mid-range luxury SUV Elara had gifted her mother the previous week. As they drove along the winding city roads, Mae hummed softly to the radio, her hands light on the wheel.
"It's funny," Mae said with a nostalgic smile. "Driving like this reminds me of the time I used to take you to school. Remember those days?"
Elara's smile faded slightly, her eyes drifting to the window.
"Yes," she said slowly. "I remember."
What she didn't say was how those days had been tainted by sneers, whispers, and cruel pranks. Her father's abandonment had been a stain on her reputation. Classmates saw her as the 'unwanted girl,' and the teachers weren't much better.
"I think I'll visit the school next week," Elara murmured.
"Really?" Mae glanced over. "Just to see the place?"
"Something like that," Elara replied vaguely.
---
Far away, in an opulent room with thick velvet curtains and old-world furnishings, a man dressed in black stood silently before an older gentleman whose back was turned to the fire.
"Sir," the man said with a bow. "We've yet to receive a reply from Shadow."
The gentleman's fingers drummed on the armrest. His voice, when it came, was calm and low. "Then get someone else to do the job."
"Yes, sir."
The man bowed again and left, the heavy doors closing with a soft *thud*.
---
Later that night, Elara emerged from the spring within her relic space, her skin glowing with spiritual energy. She felt light, almost renewed. Draped in a soft silk robe, she stepped into her room and dried her damp hair with a towel.
Her laptop blinked on the desk, and she sighed, walking over to it. "You're getting slow," she muttered to the machine. "I should ask Uncle Jianyu to start looking into building something advanced after we stabilize the launch."
She sat down and booted up her private server, only to pause at what she saw.
A string of encrypted signals had triggered one of her passive detection scripts. Someone was actively searching for the relic.
Her brows narrowed. Fingers flying across the keyboard, Elara traced the signal, masked it, then rerouted the trail through multiple dummy locations across the globe. She injected false data into their search system and buried any trace of the relic's digital footprint.
Once the connection was severed, she leaned back in her chair, eyes dark and thoughtful.
"They're looking for it," she said softly. "But they won't find it. Not now. Not ever."
She stood and walked to the window. The city lights glittered beneath her, a sea of hope and chaos.
"I've worked too hard for this life. I lost everything once. I won't lose it again."
She reached for the necklace around her neck, the relic now warm against her skin, almost in agreement.
With the weight of purpose settling in her chest, she whispered to the night:
"Anyone who comes for me again... better be ready to pay the price."