The entire office fell dead silent.
Everyone realized in that moment: the man who usually brushed off work reports had been listening intently today for a reason. He'd uncovered someone siphoning company funds, and now he was playing a high - stakes game of cat and mouse.
No one dared speak. They all knew Fyren was ruthless—he measured profits to the last cent, and only he took advantage. Anyone foolish enough to cross him would find their bones picked clean. Someone was about to face the music.
Fyren said, "For a project this big, of course someone wants a cut. I get that. But stealing needs finesse. Minister Solomon, wouldn't you agree?"
Solomon was already trembling. "Yes, yes, Fyren is absolutely right." He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, his breath coming in heavy gasps.
Fyren continued, "Over a billion in upfront funds, and someone siphons off two hundred million. Impressive. I checked the smallest receipt—twenty thousand yuan. Cute, breaking it into small sums. I could send my own brother to the police, but think: who's more slippery than my brother?"
The deputy minister ripped off his tie, voice shaking with anger. "Fyren! Investigate me! I'm not afraid! I've worked in finance for decades. I'm no stranger to money, but I swear my loyalty to Dasheng Group! The old chairman mentored me, and I've never forgotten that. Now that he's stepped back, I stay to repay him. You're clearly accusing me! I demand an internal audit—voluntarily! I need to clear my name. I can't... I can't face the old chairman with this stigma!"
Solomon whirled, shouting, "Shut up!"
Fyren smiled thinly. "Solomon, Deputy Minister—your temper's as fiery as ever."
Solomon scrambled to intervene. "He's always been like this, even under the old chairman. I'll... I'll talk to him."
Fyren cut in, "Listen up. I want that money traced and returned to the account. If we can't track the funds or get them back in three days, I won't be so civil."
The deputy minister roared, "No need for three days! I won't go home tonight! Call your team—start investigating me now, with government supervisors and financial reps from the other three groups watching!"
Solomon turned ashen. "This... isn't wise," he stammered. "We should solve this internally first. Involving authorities will hurt the project. Fyren, we must prioritize the big picture."
"Right." Fyren nodded. "Minister Solomon is mature and prudent—his thinking aligns with mine. So, three days. I'll say this again." He jabbed a finger on the table. "I'm not short on ways to deal with you. I'm giving you a chance. Sneak that money back! Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Solomon scrambled to soothe him. "Oh, Fyren, we'll handle this internally. I swear, we'll root out whoever stole from the company and make them pay." Forcing a smile, he escorted Fyren out. "Don't stress yourself—Dasheng needs you! Leave this to me. I'll get you answers."
Fyren's eyes narrowed. "You'd better, Solomon."
"Yes, yes! You show me kindness, and I won't fail you."
Fyren shot a dark look at the still-seething deputy minister. "Useless bastard—stubborn as a rock!" He turned and left.
Back in his office, the secretaries trembled. They knew Fyren's outburst meant trouble—and possible corruption. Everyone knew his true talent: not business, but auditing. He tolerated no one stealing from him.
The secretaries bowed their heads as he entered. "Hello, Fyren."
Chloe and Zaring followed him in. The door had barely closed before Fyren pulled Chloe close. "Come here."
Chloe stiffened. "Fyren, you scared me!"
"I didn't yell at you. What's the fear?"
"Everything." Her voice shook. Years of anxiety were ingrained—years of walking on eggshells, of fearing the boss who could decide lives with a word. When Fyren was happy, they breathed easier; when he was angry, they felt their necks on the chopping block.
"You're terrifying when you lose your temper," she whispered.
Fyren laughed harshly. "Those bastards think they can steal from me? They'll cough up every penny."
Chloe settled into his lap, switching to a coquettish tone. "The deputy minister seemed honest. Why yell at him? He invited oversight, which means he's clean, right?"
"Ah! How can you judge who's honest by appearances? The most righteous ones might be the guiltiest."
"I think Solomon seemed awfully nervous."
Fyren cupped Chloe's face in his hands. "You noticed too?"
"Uh-huh."
Zaring finished watering Fyren's plants, clapped his hands, and turned. "The problem's with Solomon—everyone must see that, right?"
Fyren snorted. "They didn't just see it. They've known from the start."
"Known?!" Chloe and Zaring gaped.
Fyren stroked Chloe's thigh. "Think: with two or three billion, can one or two people embezzle that alone? It's a chain. Everyone on it gets a cut, from top to bottom."
Zaring leaned in. "You knew that? Then why not expose them all and crush them? They're stealing from you!"
Fyren grinned. "Hell, the whole chain is feeding off me. Should I decapitate everyone? Who'd work for me then?"
"Oh..." Chloe bit her lip. "Then you should at least take down the ringleader as a warning."
Fyren shook his head, serious. "Won't help. With billions at stake, even lightning can't scare off greed. Look at movies—cat burglars and robber gangs risk their lives for tens of millions in jewels. If they're bold enough for that, why fear an audit?"
"Then there's no solution?"
"None. Throughout history, no one's kept a team perfectly clean. It's human nature. You can't fight human nature in big business. When the water's too clear, there are no fish. I could account for every penny if it were ten thousand, but with billions? Impossible. They need their 'perks'."
Chloe blushed as Fyren's hand slipped under her bra. "Fyren, stop."
Zaring chuckled. "You see through things and stay magnanimous."
"Qiushou Chen told me to focus on the big picture. As long as we stay on course, don't sweat the details."
Chloe frowned. "Why yell at the deputy minister? Everyone in the company trusts his character and ability—he can't be part of this."
"Not originally." Fyren said. "I need him on my side. He has to keep watch for me."
"Huh?" They both looked confused. "Since you need his help, why berate him?"
"He should've been minister, but he's too honest. If he headed finance, the others would undercut and isolate him for blocking their profits. That's why he's deputy. "
"Then why scold him?"
"To light a fire under him. Now he's probably frothing at the mouth to track that money down, hahaha!" Fyren laughed heartily. "A man who doesn't steal cares most about his reputation—he can't stand being suspected. So even without me pushing, he'll go nuts trying to find the mole and clear his name."
Chloe frowned in thought. "So truly honest people can't lead teams?"
Fyren pinched her chin. "Not that they can't, but not in this case." He sighed. "The project's just started. I can't let internal tensions run high. If the team implodes, workflows collapse, and the whole management structure needs rebuilding. The big picture matters more. So yeah—he'll hunt that traitor like a dog to save face, no need for me to lift a finger."
Chloe's eyes sparkled with adoration. "Fyren, I hardly recognize you. You never talked like this before."
He nodded. "Sullivan Zhang would lap this up. If something happens to me, he could hold things together."
Zaring and Chloe exchanged glances. If something happens? What did he mean?
Just then, the intercom buzzed. "Fyren, two gentlemen to see you."
Chloe pressed the button. "You don't have appointments today."
"They call themselves Tactician and Gold King. Say you'll see them as soon as you hear the names."
Zaring and Chloe turned to Fyren, but he didn't flinch.
"Send them in."