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The cool air of the Manhattan apartment felt like a sanctuary after the claustrophobic air of JFK. I dropped my single carry-on bag by the entryway, walked straight to my home office, and booted up the secure terminal. / Chapter 36 / 40

Chapter 36 - The Counter-Strike

Back in Manhattan, the morning sun cast long, sharp shadows across the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse office. I sat at my executive desk, reviewing the encrypted surveillance summary Marcus had compiled regarding Julian Vance’s movements in Geneva.

"He thinks he can operate in the shadows of European banking regulations," Marcus said, pacing slightly across the hardwood floor, his expression tense. "Julian has been quietly consolidating the fragmented remnants of the old syndicate under a new shell corporation registered in Liechtenstein—Vesper Holdings."

I didn't look up from my tablet, my fingers scrolling calmly through the registry data Marcus had flagged. "He’s trying to rebuild the exact same supply-chain network Alexander used to launder physical commodities through Vanguard Capital."

"Exactly," Marcus confirmed. "And he’s currently courting several major institutional investors in Zurich to fund their new shipping logistics framework. If Vesper Holdings gets off the ground, they'll have the capital to launch another coordinated attack on our European assets."

I tapped the screen, locking the tablet and looking up at Marcus with absolute composure.

"We don't wait for him to secure funding, Marcus," I said quietly. "We preemptively sever his financial arteries before he even leaves the negotiation table in Zurich."

"How?" Marcus asked, raising an eyebrow. "Vesper Holdings is registered offshore under strict Swiss privacy laws."

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"Swiss privacy laws protect legitimate private wealth, Marcus—they don't protect criminal enterprises operating under falsified beneficial ownership declarations," I replied, standing up smoothly and buttoning my blazer. "Contact our legal liaison in Bern. File an immediate emergency injunction under international anti-money laundering treaties, citing direct operational continuity with the dismantled Vanguard syndicate. And leak the ownership registry to the European financial press."

Marcus grinned, a fierce, approving light flashing in his eyes. "Consider it done, boss. Julian won't know what hit him."

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