The cold text froze on the screen, like the tongue of a venomous snake, carrying the chill of death.

"A shadow should not return to the light."


James Morgan stared at that line, his pupils constricting. The room was deadly silent, with only the sound of his gradually slowing breath.

The person not only knew he had been released, but also used the word "shadow," precisely striking at the most secret puzzle deep in his heart—that silhouette in the photograph that closely resembled him.

Was it a warning? A test? Or the announcement of the beginning of a hunt?


He didn't reply, nor did he try to trace the number.

It would be meaningless; since the person chose this method, they wouldn't leave any traces. He silently deleted the text message and put the phone back in his pocket, his movements steady, as if he had just cleared a piece of spam.


But a storm was raging in his heart.

Who was this person? What was their purpose? If they wanted to expose him, they could have simply reported him to Victor Shaw. If they wanted to help him, why use such a threatening tone?

This text message was like a fog, making the already complex game of chess even more bewildering.

He walked to the window, checking again that there was nothing unusual downstairs. The night remained unchanged, but beneath that tranquility, countless prying eyes seemed to be lurking.

That night, James Morgan barely closed his eyes. His mind raced, filtering through every detail since entering Prosperity Group, every person he had encountered. Captain Wilson's seemingly casual reminder? The security guard at the entrance? Or perhaps some staff member who had brushed past him, someone he hadn't paid attention to?

Impossible to determine.

But he knew he needed to be more careful. Every step could trigger a trap, every oversight could lead to irreversible consequences.

The next day at work, James Morgan appeared more silent than usual, and more vigilant. He still diligently completed each inspection task, but the corners of his eyes were constantly alert to the movements around him.

He noticed that the atmosphere in the building today seemed more tense than in previous days.

Around 10 in the morning, several black luxury cars silently glided to the entrance of the main building. The door of the middle car opened, and Li Wei got out first. She quickly walked around to the other side and respectfully opened the door.

Victor Shaw stepped out.

This was the first time James Morgan had seen Victor Shaw at such close distance since his release from prison.

He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, his figure tall and straight, exuding confidence. Compared to seven years ago, his expression had lost some of its gentleness, replaced by the severity and authority that came with years in a position of power. Surrounded by a group of executives, he walked with measured steps toward the entrance, receiving the reverent gazes of employees along the way.

James Morgan stood next to the security booth at the entrance of the annex building, his head slightly lowered and his hat brim pulled down low. His hand gripping the walkie-talkie had knuckles turning white from the pressure. A bone-deep hatred churned in his chest, nearly breaking through the dam of rationality. It was this man who had taken everything from him, caused his father's death, and cast him into hell for seven years.

He could rush over right now, use every means at his disposal, and perish together with him.

But he couldn't.

That would be too merciful for Victor Shaw. What he wanted wasn't just Shaw's life, but to gradually crush everything he had carefully built, the glory and power he relied upon for his standing. He wanted Shaw to taste suffering a thousand times worse than his own amidst betrayal, isolation, and utter disgrace.

Victor Shaw seemed to sense something, his footsteps faltering slightly as his sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, lingering for less than half a second in the direction of James Morgan's security booth. That gaze was like a hawk's, carrying scrutiny and an inexplicable sense of pressure.

James Morgan's heart skipped a beat, but his body maintained absolute stillness, even controlling his breathing at the steadiest rhythm.

Shaw's gaze didn't focus, and he quickly withdrew it, continuing his conversation with the person beside him as he walked through the revolving glass door.

The crisis seemed temporarily averted.

But James knew that brief visual exchange was no coincidence. Shaw might not have recognized him, but he had certainly detected something unusual. It was a predator's instinct.

In the afternoon, James Morgan was temporarily assigned to assist with security for a small event in the main building's lobby. He stood in an inconspicuous corner, but his gaze constantly followed the giant electronic screen hanging in the hall, which was rolling through Prosperity Group's promotional video, frequently featuring Victor Shaw's image—confident, powerful, perfect.

During a break in the activities, he overheard two women in administrative uniforms chatting quietly nearby.

"President Shaw looked really scary when he came in just now."

"I heard the audit department seems to have found something bad. Secretary Li was furious today and called in the IT department people to scold them. It seems they're investigating some internal email leak..."

"No way? Who would dare?"

"Who knows? Just be careful these days and don't get caught in the crossfire."

Internal email leak? James Morgan's mind stirred. Could it be that besides the audit report, other information had been leaked as well? Was it done by that mysterious auditor? Or... someone else?

Was there some kind of connection between that "shadow" text message and the undercurrents within?

After his shift, James Morgan didn't leave immediately. Using the excuse of verifying a patrol record, he went to the property management company's surveillance room.

From here, he could view surveillance footage of most public areas. Although he couldn't access the core area permissions, it was enough to observe personnel movements and situations in certain specific areas.

He pretended to casually flip through the log book, while his peripheral vision remained locked on the surveillance footage of several key corridors.

He saw Li Wei hurriedly entering the elevator, saw the IT department supervisor coming down from the top floor with a grim expression, and saw several unfamiliar people in formal suits with serious expressions entering and exiting Victor Shaw's exclusive floor.

The wind fills the tower before the mountain rain comes.

Victor Shaw's kingdom wasn't as stable as it appeared.

Just as he was about to leave, the door to the surveillance room was pushed open, and Captain Wilson walked in.

"James Morgan? You haven't left yet?" Captain Wilson looked surprised to see him.

"Just finishing up, Captain Wilson. I'll leave as soon as we verify this record." James Morgan raised the record book in his hand, his demeanor natural.

Captain Wilson nodded and walked to the main console, seemingly intending to retrieve some footage. After a few operations, he asked with feigned casualness: "Haven't encountered anything strange lately? Or seen any suspicious people?"

Alarm bells rang in James Morgan's mind, but his face displayed just the right amount of bewilderment. "Strange things? No. What's going on, Captain?"

Captain Wilson stared at the screen without looking at him, his tone casual. "Nothing much, just that the group is conducting internal security checks, and the higher-ups are demanding strict compliance. If you see any suspicious people or incidents, remember to report immediately."

"Understood, Captain. I'll remember that." James Morgan replied obediently.

He gathered his belongings and left the monitoring room. Behind him, Captain Wilson's seemingly casual gaze felt like needles stabbing into his back.

Was Captain Wilson just making casual conversation, or was there hidden meaning? Did that text message have any connection to this seemingly careless security captain?

A cloud of suspicion.

Walking out of the building, the evening breeze carried a chill. James Morgan felt an unprecedented sense of isolation.

The enemies were not only powerful but also hidden behind a veil of fog. Victor Shaw's overt pressure, the mysterious text message's covert warning, and possibly unknown forces within the organization...

He took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, then dialed Gregory Gould's number.

"Uncle Gould, it's me. There's an anonymous text message..." He briefly described the content of the message. "Also, the group seems to be investigating an email leak. The situation is tense."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Gregory Gould's voice came through, heavy with concern: "I'll look into the text message. As for the internal investigation... it's unfavorable for us, but it's also an opportunity. In chaos, it's easier to find weaknesses. Be extremely careful. I'll look into that Captain Wilson a bit."

"Mm." James Morgan hung up the phone.

He stood on the bustling street, looking at the prosperous yet cold city before him.

He was a shadow, forced to hide in the darkness beneath the light.

But shadows also have their own way of revenge.

He lifted his head, his gaze piercing through the gaps between skyscrapers toward the gray, hazy sky.

Victor Shaw, the game between us is becoming more and more interesting.

However, the roles of hunter and prey have perhaps already been quietly exchanged without notice. And what he, this "shadow," must do is drag this seemingly stable realm of light completely into endless darkness.

He stepped forward, once again melting into the crowd. His retreating figure was resolute, like a drawn blade—though sheathed, its sharpness was evident. Each step from now on would be more dangerous and more crucial.

He needed to find that auditor, needed to understand the meaning of "shadow," needed to tear open a path for survival within the net that Victor Shaw had cast.

Meanwhile, at the top floor of Prosperity Group, Victor Shaw stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city below. Li Wei stood behind him, respectfully delivering her report.

"...The internal investigation is still ongoing, and no clear source of the leak has been identified yet. The property management company has also arranged staff to keep an eye out, but there have been no unusual reports so far."

Victor Shaw didn't turn around, his voice as cold as ice.

"Continue the investigation. I don't believe in coincidences. That report, along with some recent 'accidents,' must have someone behind them pulling strings. Find this person and bring them to me."

His gaze was grim, with a hint of barely perceptible irritation.

Seven years had passed, yet that name that should have been rotting in prison, that shadow long forgotten, seemed to be secretly at work again, disturbing the order he had established with great effort.

He would absolutely not allow anyone to destroy everything he possessed.

No matter who it was, he would crush them completely.