The photos taken by the mobile phone were blurry, with shadows and distortions caused by the dim lighting of the utility room.

But those numbers, those fragments of company names, appeared to James Morgan more clear and glaring than any high-definition image.


He didn't return to his dilapidated rented apartment but instead took several detours, and after ensuring no one was following him, entered an inconspicuous internet café with a narrow storefront deep within the old district.

Smoke lingered in the air, keyboards clattered loudly, filled with the curses of young gaming addicts. This was the perfect place to hide.

He sat at a machine in the farthest corner, imported the photos, and without any editing, sent them directly through the encrypted channel provided by Gregory Gould. His accompanying message was just a few brief words: "Starlight Capital, suspected related accounts, investigate immediately."


After completing all this, he erased all traces of his activity and left the internet cafe as quietly as a drop of water merging into the ocean.

The cool night breeze helped calm his feverish mind. He knew this was just the beginning. This fragment of an audit report from an unknown source couldn't serve as court evidence, nor could it directly implicate Victor Shaw. But it was like a key, opening a door to something even darker, pointing to the direction for investigation.


In the days that followed, James Morgan continued playing the role of the quiet, diligent security guard. He paid more attention to rumors circulating within the group, especially any snippets about audits and movements at the top level.

The situation indeed seemed to be getting tense.

He had seen Victor Shaw's chief secretary Li Wei hurrying in and out several times, her meticulously made-up face betraying unmistakable anxiety.

The group's internal email system occasionally released personnel transfer notices that appeared routine but carried deeper implications, involving several middle managers from the Finance Department and Overseas Business Division.

Victor Shaw was cleaning house. He was removing anyone who might have accessed Starlight Capital's core secrets or noticed anything about the internal audit.

James Morgan observed these undercurrents silently, like a cold reef. He knew that Shaw's vigilance and actions precisely confirmed the authenticity and destructive power of that audit report.

That evening, he received a call from Gregory Gould, asking to meet at an abandoned warehouse at the docks. Gould had chosen the location—remote enough, safe enough.

The warehouse was filled with rusted containers, the air permeated by the briny smell of seawater and the putrid scent of rust. Only a dim incandescent light cast wavering shadows across the vast space.

Gregory Gould stood at the boundary between light and shadow in a dark overcoat, his expression grave.

"I had someone take a preliminary look at what you sent me," Gregory Gould said without pleasantries, getting straight to the point, his voice echoing in the empty warehouse. "There's a strong correlation. That account you remember, along with several large sums that flowed out of Starlight Capital over the past two years—they all ended up in the same network of shell companies in an offshore financial center, using methods identical to those from seven years ago."

Despite having anticipated this, hearing the confirmation made James Morgan's heart feel as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand. Anger intertwined with an almost cruel calmness.

"Victor Shaw... he's still bleeding people dry in the same way," James Morgan said in a low voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

"And his appetite has grown even bigger." Gregory Gould added with furrowed brows. "Starlight Capital is nominally engaged in overseas investments, but in reality, based on the fragments you provided and information from my channels, it's likely a massive capital pool used to transfer group profits, evade regulations, and possibly even involve more complex money laundering operations. That internal audit must have touched on the core issues."

"Who conducted the audit?" James Morgan asked. Anyone who could perform such an audit under Victor Shaw's nose was no ordinary person.

"Still investigating—it's very covert. Shaw's quick reaction indicates this person was either bought by him or is also in great danger." Gregory Gould looked at James Morgan. "How are things on your end? Are you safe?"

"Safe for now," James Morgan said. "Shaw is conducting an internal purge—his attention should still be focused up there."

"Don't let your guard down," Gregory Gould warned. "Shaw has reached his current position because his reach and sensitivity are beyond imagination. You got lucky this time, but you might not be so fortunate next time. That courier..."

"I'll keep an eye out," James Morgan interrupted him. That courier and the report that suddenly appeared did seem suspicious.

Was it the internal opposition using him to relay information? Or another trap to draw him in? He needed time to discern.

"What do you plan to do next?" Gregory Gould asked.

James Morgan's gaze drifted to the dark sea beyond the warehouse window, where distant ship lights flickered like will-o'-the-wisps.

"Find the person who did the audit," he said slowly. "Or find more 'accidents' like this report. Victor Shaw's system isn't impenetrable. Where there are cracks, light will shine through."

He needed more cracks. He needed to make Victor Shaw feel threatened not just by external investigations, but by internal threats beyond his control. Fear would make him make mistakes.

"About Sylvia Sterling..." Gregory Gould hesitated. "She contacted me yesterday, asking about your situation. She's very concerned, and seems determined to continue investigating that subsidiary."

James Morgan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Tell her to stop. Now is not the time." The offensive against Victor Shaw had already begun, and any slight movement could bring catastrophic consequences. Sylvia Sterling's persistence touched him, but he couldn't let her put herself in danger because of him.

"I'll try my best. But that girl—she's quite stubborn." Gregory Gould sighed.

The two exchanged more information and contact methods in hushed tones, then disappeared into the thick night as if they had never been there.

It was late when he returned to his rented apartment. James didn't turn on the lights, sitting in darkness as he organized all the clues in his mind. Starlight Capital, linked accounts, internal audit, Victor Shaw's purge... the fragments were slowly coming together.

However, he felt he was missing something. The courier who handed him the box, that blurry figure in the photograph who looked just like him... these details haunted him like ghosts.

Just as he was deep in thought, the burner phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated once. Not a call, but an anonymous text message from an untraceable virtual number.

The screen displayed only a brief, spine-chilling sentence: "A shadow should not return to the light."

James Morgan's breathing stopped instantly, every muscle in his body tensing.

Shadow?

Was it referring to him? Saying that someone who should have disappeared in prison shouldn't reappear in the world under the sunlight?

Who sent it? Victor Shaw? Li Wei? Or that mysterious auditor? Or perhaps the "shadow" in the photo himself?

The sender knew he was out, and might have already noticed him.

In the darkness, James Morgan held his phone, his fingertips ice-cold. The advantage of knowing his enemy while remaining unknown himself seemed to be quietly shifting.

A true game of chess was only just beginning.

And he would need to hide deeper than the shadows, and be more patient than the hunter.