Contents
Chapter 25: The Great Strike
Overview
During a tense KJA session over Anorco’s offshore jade, Hilo receives an anonymous warning just before a planted secretary, Ven Ema, slashes Ayt Mada’s throat. Hilo blocks the exit, letting Ayt’s allies hesitate. Ayt crashes through a window and flees, but a van bomb detonates, collapsing the boardroom onto Hilo.
Summary
Hilo attends a broadened KJA meeting with Woon, as leaders debate the Anorco corporation’s offshore mining protected by Ganlu Solutions International. Ayt Mada and Koben Yiro press hard-line positions, while Chairman Canto Pan steers discussion toward limits the clans might accept under Royal Council pressure.
An office assistant delivers Hilo an unsigned warning to leave immediately. Hilo tests the room’s reactions by sending Woon out first and announcing a “family emergency.” As suspicion rises, a secretary beside Ayt drops a water jug and plunges a hidden blade into Ayt’s neck, declaring herself Ven Emashan of the Ven family, seeking vengeance.
Ayt reacts with explosive jade, killing Ven Ema and collapsing the table’s edge, as penitents chant condemnation. Bleeding and failing, Ayt kneels while Koben Yiro panics. Hilo positions himself before the door, wordlessly preventing anyone from leaving, forcing a stalemate that would let Ayt die without direct action.
Seeing allies hesitate, Ayt musters strength, leaps through a cracked window, and crashes three stories down, staggering to her feet and fleeing. Hilo moves to pursue, then notices the damaged, empty van below. Before he can react further, the van explodes, demolishing the building’s ground floor and collapsing the third-floor boardroom onto Hilo.
Who Appears
- Kaul HiloNo Peak Pillar; receives a warning, blocks the exit after Ayt is stabbed, and is caught in the van bombing.
- Ayt Madashi (Ayt Mada)Mountain Pillar; throat slashed by a secretary, kills her attacker, escapes through a window, and flees wounded.
- Koben YiroMountain powerbroker; blusters and panics after Ayt is wounded, hesitates as Hilo blocks aid.
- Maik WoonActing Weather Man for No Peak; exits first with the warning note, ready to back Hilo from the hallway.
- Ven Emashan (Ven Ema)Undercover secretary; assassinates Ayt with a hidden blade, proclaims her Ven family vengeance, and is killed by Ayt.
- Canto PanKJA chairman; tries to moderate the meeting amid rising tensions over Anorco.
- Weather Man of Six Hands UnityRepresents Six Hands; voices pragmatic concerns and hesitates during the crisis.
- Pillar of Stone CupRemains seated, signaling refusal to oppose No Peak during the standoff.
- Pillar of Jo SunWavers during the confrontation; does not move against Hilo.
- Leader of Black TailFollows others in staying seated, avoiding escalation against No Peak.