Dawn broke over Jiangzhou City like a blade slicing through darkness.
The rain had stopped.
But the air still carried the scent of gunpowder, blood, and unfinished vengeance.
By six in the morning, the underground had already erupted.
Three financial firms linked to Zhao Minghao were raided simultaneously.
Two logistics monopolies announced emergency restructuring.
One regional bank quietly froze over four billion yuan in suspicious accounts.
And a provincial government liaison suddenly resigned.
The city trembled.
Inside Lin Cheng's command center, Chen Guoan stood rigid before a massive data wall.
"Capital withdrawal confirmed. Zhao Minghao's shell network is bleeding."
Wang Zhe walked in, jacket stained, eyes sharp.
"Six major underground nodes neutralized. Black Ridge has collapsed."
Lin Cheng sat calmly at the head of the table, fingers steepled.
"Good."
Su Manli stood quietly beside him, watching the city awaken through the glass walls.
For the first time, she truly felt the scale of the battlefield Lin Cheng walked every day.
This wasn't business.
This was war.
Across Jiangzhou, shockwaves spread.
Financial media exploded.
"Massive Corporate Collapse in Jiangzhou – Shadow Networks Exposed"
"Underground Financial Empire Crumbles Overnight"
"Who Is the Hidden Hand Behind the Cleanup?"
Speculation roared.
But one name began surfacing again and again.
Lin Cheng.
Inside the detention facility, Zhao Minghao stared at the reports in silence.
The black-suited man stood pale.
"Chairman Zhao… three of our provincial channels are compromised. If this continues—"
Zhao Minghao raised a hand.
"Enough."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Zhao Minghao: "Prepare the political blade."
The man inhaled sharply.
"You're going public?"
Zhao Minghao smiled faintly.
"Not yet."
He leaned back.
"First, we kill his reputation."
By noon, the strike arrived.
Anonymous reports flooded regulatory agencies.
Financial accusations.
Money laundering claims.
Foreign capital manipulation.
Illegal market interference.
Every charge perfectly calculated.
Within hours, Jiangzhou's financial supervision bureau announced:
"Emergency Investigation Into Tianyu Capital & Associated Enterprises."
The announcement detonated like a nuclear bomb.
Stock prices plunged.
Investor panic surged.
Social platforms exploded.
In the conference room, tension spiked.
Chen Guoan clenched his jaw. "They want to drag us into public execution."
"Classic Zhao Minghao," Wang Zhe muttered.
"Dirty and brutal."
Su Manli turned to Lin Cheng.
"Are you worried?"
Lin Cheng met her gaze.
"No."
Then he stood.
"Prepare the press conference."
Chen Guoan froze. "Now?"
Lin Cheng: "Yes."
At 3 PM, every major media outlet received the same invitation:
Emergency Financial Disclosure & Strategic Announcement – Tianyu Capital.
The venue:
Jiangzhou International Convention Center.
Attendance:
Mandatory.
The hall filled rapidly.
Journalists.
Financial analysts.
Government observers.
Corporate elites.
Thousands of eyes focused on the stage.
At precisely 3:30 PM, Lin Cheng stepped into the light.
Silence fell.
He stood tall, calm, dressed in a simple black suit.
No arrogance.
No flamboyance.
Just quiet authority.
"Today," Lin Cheng said evenly, "false accusations were raised against my company."
"So instead of hiding, I will show you everything."
The screen behind him lit up.
Capital flows.
Audit trails.
Investment structures.
International compliance certificates.
Each document verified.
Each channel clean.
The hall stirred.
Then—
Chen Guoan stepped forward.
"Additionally, Tianyu Capital announces the formation of the Jiangzhou Industrial Revitalization Fund."
Gasps echoed.
"Initial capital: 10 billion yuan."
The crowd erupted.
"This fund will support logistics, manufacturing, technology, and infrastructure development across Jiangzhou."
Silence returned.
Lin Cheng's voice followed.
"This is not speculation."
"This is long-term commitment."
Shockwaves rippled outward.
Markets reversed.
Stock prices surged.
Investor confidence skyrocketed.
Government representatives exchanged glances.
In a single stroke, Lin Cheng flipped the narrative.
From suspect—
To savior.
Inside the detention facility, Zhao Minghao stared at the live broadcast.
For the first time, his expression changed.
His fingers tightened slightly.
"So… you stepped into the light."
The black-suited man whispered, "Chairman Zhao… his influence is expanding too fast."
Zhao Minghao closed his eyes slowly.
"No."
"He just declared himself."
That night, Jiangzhou's political elite gathered.
One sentence echoed across every private room:
Lin Cheng has arrived.
On the rooftop of Tianyu Tower, Lin Cheng stood overlooking the city.
Su Manli walked beside him.
"You changed everything today."
"Yes," he replied.
Su Manli: "Are you afraid?"
Lin Cheng: "No."
Su Manli: "Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because from today on, no one hunts me anymore."
"They fear me."
Far away, Zhao Minghao stared into the darkness.
A cold smile slowly spread.
"Very well."
"Let's play on equal ground."