Chapter Two: The Talents They Threw Away

No publicity without your consent.” Su picked up an old ball and pointed at a wastebasket eight yards away. “Ten shots. Make seven, and I’ll hear the rest.” Only a fraction of Lu’s body had recovered, but his touch had never truly left. The first dropped cleanly, the second caught the rim, the third missed. His tenth traced a soft arc beneath the white warehouse lights. Seven. Su studied him, then added a clause: No one may restrict playing time on the basis of gender. Lu stamped the contract. [Third core member recruited.] Outside, the Skyvault Dynasty’s training complex blazed in the distance. Lu put the contract inside his coat. Soon the giant would learn that the sparks it had discarded were gathering into a fire in Northport.